Multifunctional medical supply receptacle and methods of use thereof

1 . A multifunctional medical supply receptacle (MMSR), comprising:

an elongated, substantially planar structure comprising:

a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being opposite the second surface;

at least two substantially planar segments, the at least two substantially planar segments forming the substantially planar structure; and

at least one hinged linker joining the at least two substantially planar segments, wherein the at least two substantially planar segments become a longitudinally rigid support structure responsive to a lateral bend across the at least one hinged linker, and wherein the substantially planar structure is selectively reconfigurable between a first closed configuration and a second configuration;

wherein in the first closed configuration, the substantially planar structure is arranged in a hollow, extruded, and prismatic or cylindrical shape to function as a storage apparatus; and

wherein in the second configuration, the substantially planar structure is arranged in an alternate predetermined shape to function as at least one of a plurality of medical or emergency devices consisting of an orthopedic splint device, a pelvic binder device, a thoracic splint device, a cervical collar device, an extremity and junctional tourniquet device, an emergency pressure bandage, an immobilized patient transport device, or any combination thereof, and wherein the second configuration is achieved by an adjustment of the at least one hinged linker; and

at least one receptacle pod forming an interior volume wherein supplies are stored, wherein the at least one receptacle pod comprises at least one closable opening, and wherein the at least one receptacle pod is configured to be attached to at least the first surface of the elongated, substantially planar structure.

2 . The MMSR of claim 1 , wherein the elongated, substantially planar structure comprises a semirigid material that is flexible at least longitudinally and laterally, wherein the semirigid material comprises at least one of a thermoset polymer, a thermoplastic polymer, a polycarbonate, or acrylic.

3 . The MMSR of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the elongated, substantially planar structure is on an interior of the hollow, extruded, and prismatic or cylindrical shape, and the second surface of the elongated, substantially planar structure is on an exterior of the hollow, extruded, and prismatic or cylindrical shape.

4 . The MMSR of claim 3 , wherein the substantially planar structure selectably forms the hollow, extruded, and prismatic or cylindrical shape around the at least one receptacle pod, and wherein the at least one receptacle pod at least partially fills a space created within the hollow, extruded, and prismatic or cylindrical shape.

5 . The MMSR of claim 3 , wherein the hollow, extruded, and prismatic or cylindrical shape comprises a shape selected from a group consisting of: circular, ovular, oblong, polygonal, triangular, rectangular, square, quadrilateral, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, and trapezoidal.

6 . The MMSR of claim 1 , wherein the at least one receptacle pod is removably attached via a hook and loop fastener to the first surface of the elongated, substantially planar structure.

7 . The MMSR of claim 1 , wherein the multifunctional medical supply receptacle further comprises a tightening component that selectably fastens the substantially planar structure peripherally closed.

8 . The MMSR of claim 1 , further comprising an emergency lighting system comprising:

one or more illumination devices removably coupled to at least one of a plurality of external edges of the elongated, substantially planar structure, the one or more illumination devices configured to provide illumination responsive to the MMSR being reconfigured from the first closed configuration to an open configuration.

9 . The MMSR of claim 1 , wherein the hinged linker comprises a seam sewn in a textile material disposed between the at least two substantially planar segments.

10 . The MMSR of claim 1 , wherein the elongated, substantially planar structure comprises a semirigid material, and wherein the hinged linker comprises at least one of:

a crease in the semirigid material; or

a joint in the semirigid material.

11 . A multifunctional medical supply receptacle (MMSR), comprising:

an elongated, substantially planar structure comprising:

a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being opposite the second surface;

at least one substantially planar segment, the at least one substantially planar segment forming the substantially planar structure;

a first closed configuration, wherein the substantially planar structure is arranged in a hollow, extruded, and prismatic or cylindrical shape to function as a storage apparatus; and

a second configuration, wherein the substantially planar structure is arranged in an alternate predetermined shape to function as at least one of a plurality of medical or emergency devices consisting of an orthopedic splint device, a pelvic binder device, a thoracic splint device, a cervical collar device, an extremity and junctional tourniquet device, an emergency pressure bandage, an immobilized patient transport device, or any combination thereof, and wherein the second configuration is achieved by an adjustment of the at least one substantially planar segment; and

at least one receptacle pod forming an interior volume wherein supplies are stored, wherein the at least one receptacle pod comprises at least one closable opening, and wherein the at least one receptacle pod is configured to be attached to at least the first surface of the elongated, substantially planar structure;

wherein the elongated, substantially planar structure comprises a semirigid material that is flexible at least longitudinally and laterally; and wherein the semirigid material becomes longitudinally rigid responsive to a lateral bend across at least a portion of the length of the planar structure.

12 . The MMSR of claim 11 , wherein the elongated, substantially planar structure further comprises at least one storage pocket attached to at least the first surface.

13 . A method of using a multifunctional medical supply receptacle (MMSR), comprising:

providing the MMSR, the MMSR comprising:

an elongated, substantially planar structure comprising:

a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being opposite the second surface;

at least one substantially planar segment, the at least one substantially planar segment forming the substantially planar structure;

a first closed configuration, wherein the substantially planar structure is arranged in a hollow, extruded, and prismatic or cylindrical shape to function as a storage apparatus; and

a second configuration, wherein the substantially planar structure is arranged in an alternate predetermined shape to function as at least one of a plurality of medical or emergency devices, and wherein the second configuration is achieved by an adjustment of the at least one substantially planar segment; and

at least one receptacle pod forming an interior volume wherein supplies are stored, wherein the at least one receptacle pod comprises at least one closable opening, and wherein the at least one receptacle pod is configured to be attached to at least the first surface of the elongated, substantially planar structure; and

converting the MMSR into at least one of the plurality of medical or emergency devices via the adjustment of the at least one substantially planar segment, wherein the at least one of the plurality of medical or emergency devices consists of an orthopedic splint device, a pelvic binder device, a thoracic splint device, a cervical collar device, an extremity and junctional tourniquet device, an emergency pressure bandage, an immobilized patient transport device, or any combination thereof;

wherein the elongated, substantially planar structure comprises a semirigid material that is flexible at least longitudinally and laterally; and wherein the semirigid material becomes longitudinally rigid responsive to a lateral bend across at least a portion of the length of the planar structure.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein converting the MMSR into the at least one of the plurality of medical or emergency devices comprises:

situating the elongated, substantially planar structure of the MMSR to a patient in need of an orthopedic splint by aligning a longitudinal length of the MMSR parallel to a medial length of an injured body portion of the patient in need of an orthopedic splint;

applying a lateral-bend across at least a portion of a total length of the elongated, substantially planar structure of the MMSR; and

wrapping a first retention component circumferentially around the elongated, substantially planar structure and the injured body portion.

15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein converting the MMSR into the at least one of the plurality of medical or emergency devices comprises:

wrapping the elongated, substantially planar structure longitudinally or lengthwise and circumferentially around a perimeter of hips of a patient in need of a pelvic binder;

wrapping a tightening component peripherally around and parallel longitudinally to the elongated, substantially planar structure of the MMSR; and

tightening the tightening component until a predetermined amount of pressure is achieved around the perimeter of the hips of a patient.

16 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein converting the MMSR into the at least one of the plurality of medical or emergency devices comprises:

wrapping the elongated, substantially planar structure longitudinally or lengthwise and circumferentially around an injured limb of a patient in need of a tourniquet, proximal to a hemorrhaging vein and/or artery; and

compressing the hemorrhaging vein or artery by tightening a tightening component of the MMSR until a distal bleeding is controlled.

17 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the elongated, substantially planar structure of the MMSR further comprises a notch, and wherein converting the MMSR into the at least one of the plurality of medical or emergency devices comprises:

securing the elongated, substantially planar structure longitudinally or lengthwise and circumferentially around a perimeter of a neck of a patient in need of an orthopedic cervical collar device; and

positioning the notch beneath a jaw and chin of the patient.

18 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein converting the MMSR into the at least one of the plurality of medical or emergency devices comprises:

securing the elongated, substantially planar structure longitudinally or lengthwise and circumferentially around a perimeter of a thorax of a patient in need of a thoracic splint device; and

tightening a tightening component until a predetermined amount of pressure is achieved around the perimeter of a thorax of a patient.

19 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the MMSR further comprises an expandable separator device, and wherein converting the MMSR into the at least one of the plurality of medical or emergency devices comprises:

wrapping the elongated, substantially planar structure and/or a tightening component longitudinally or lengthwise and circumferentially around a perimeter of a bleeding junction of a patient in need of a junctional tourniquet device;

situating the expandable separator device over a hemorrhaging junctional artery and/or vein, proximal a hemorrhaging junctional injury site and therebetween the patient and the elongated, substantially planar structure and/or the tightening component;

tightening the elongated, substantially planar structure and/or the tightening component in place circumferentially around the perimeter of the bleeding junction; and

expanding the expandable separator device.

20 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the elongated, substantially planar structure further comprises a plurality of transport handles, and wherein converting the MMSR into the at least one of the plurality of medical or emergency devices comprises:

placing a patient in need of transport on the elongated, substantially planar structure; and

transporting the patient using the plurality of transport handles.