Height, depth and circumferential adjustment mechanisms for cervical collar
Cervical collars, components thereof, and methods of using them overcome issues with conventional cervical collars.
1 . An adjustable cervical collar comprising:
a body portion adapted and configured to rest against an anterior portion of a subject;
a chin portion movably coupled to the body portion;
a first shaft assembly and a second shaft assembly each rotatably mounted on opposing lateral regions of the body portion, the first shaft assembly and the second shaft assembly each comprising:
a lead screw adjustably engaged with the chin portion such that rotation of the lead screw causes the chin portion to raise and lower, and
a drive shaft comprising flexible joints and configured to drive rotation of the lead screw; and
an adjustment knob rotatably engaged with the drive shaft of the first shaft assembly and rotatably engaged with the drive shaft of the second shaft assembly.
2 . The adjustable cervical collar of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first shaft assembly, the second shaft assembly, and the adjustment knob is located externally to the body portion.
3 . The adjustable cervical collar of claim 1 , wherein the lead screw of each of the first shaft assembly and the second shaft assembly is adjustably engaged with the chin portion through a respective slot disposed in the opposing lateral regions of the body portion.
4 . The adjustable cervical collar of claim 1 , further comprising a posterior component adapted and configured to rest on a posterior surface of the subject's neck and configured to couple to the body portion.
5 . The adjustable cervical collar of claim 1 , comprising a locking mechanism, wherein:
the locking mechanism being disposed in a first orientation prevents the adjustment knob from rotating, and
the locking mechanism being in a second orientation allows the adjustment knob to rotate.
6 . An adjustable cervical collar comprising:
a body portion adapted and configured to rest against an anterior portion of a subject;
a chin portion movably coupled to the body portion;
a posterior component adapted and configured to rest on a posterior surface of the subject's neck and couple to the body portion;
a first shaft assembly and a second shaft assembly each rotatably mounted on opposing lateral regions of the body portion, the first shaft assembly and the second shaft assembly each comprising:
a lead screw adjustably engaged with the chin portion such that rotation of the lead screw causes the chin portion to raise and lower, and
a drive shaft comprising flexible joints and configured to drive rotation of the lead screw; and
an adjustment knob rotatably engaged with the drive shaft of the first shaft assembly and rotatably engaged with the drive shaft of the second shaft assembly; and
a strap alignment mechanism configured and adapted to connect the posterior component to the body portion.
7 . The adjustable cervical collar of claim 6 , wherein:
the strap alignment mechanism is located externally to one or more of the body portion and the posterior component; and
one or more of the first shaft assembly, the second shaft assembly, and the adjustment knob is located externally to the body portion.
8 . The adjustable cervical collar of claim 6 , comprising a locking mechanism configured to be disposed in either a first orientation or a second orientation, wherein:
the locking mechanism being disposed in the first orientation prevents the adjustment knob from rotating, and
the locking mechanism being in the second orientation allows the adjustment knob to rotate.
9 . The adjustable cervical collar of claim 6 , wherein the strap alignment mechanism comprises at least one strap configured to be disengaged from and re-engaged to the body portion by a user without adjusting a relative positioning of the strap with respect to the strap alignment mechanism.
10 . The adjustable cervical collar of claim 6 , wherein the lead screw of each of the first shaft assembly and the second shaft assembly is adjustably engaged with the chin portion through a respective slot disposed in the respective opposing lateral region of the body portion.
11 . A method of using an adjustable cervical collar, the method comprising:
positioning a body portion of the adjustable cervical collar against an anterior portion of a subject, wherein the adjustable cervical collar comprises a chin portion movably coupled to the body portion and configured to be disposed under a chin of the subject;
positioning a posterior component of the adjustable cervical collar on the posterior surface of a neck of the subject;
coupling a first portion of a strap of a strap alignment mechanism of the adjustable cervical collar to an anterior mating piece of the body portion, at least a portion of the strap alignment mechanism coupled to the posterior component; and
rotating an adjustment knob positioned on the body portion to, thereby, raise and lower the chin portion to a desired orientation with respect to the chin of the subject, wherein:
the adjustable cervical collar further comprises a first shaft assembly and a second shaft assembly each rotatably mounted on opposing lateral regions of the body portion, the first shaft assembly and a second shaft assembly each comprising:
a lead screw adjustably engaged with the chin portion such that rotation of the lead screw causes the chin portion to raise and lower, and
a drive shaft comprising flexible joints and configured to drive rotation of the lead screw; and
the adjustable cervical collar further comprises an adjustment knob rotatably engaged with the drive shaft of the first shaft assembly and rotatably engaged with the drive shaft of the second shaft assembly.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising adjusting a length of the strap of the strap alignment mechanism such that a desired tightness is achieved once the first portion of the tightening mechanism is secured into the anterior mating piece of the body portion.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the lead screw of each of the first shaft assembly and the second shaft assembly is adjustably engaged with the chin portion through a respective slot disposed in the opposing lateral regions of the body portion.