Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F5/00—Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints; Nursing devices; Anti-rape devices
  • A61F5/01—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces
  • A61F5/04—Devices for stretching or reducing fractured limbs; Devices for distractions; Splints
  • A61F5/05—Devices for stretching or reducing fractured limbs; Devices for distractions; Splints for immobilising
  • A61F5/055—Cervical collars
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F7/00—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body
  • A61F2007/0001—Body part
  • A61F2007/0002—Head or parts thereof
  • A61F2007/0009—Throat or neck
  • A61F2007/001—Throat only
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F7/00—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body
  • A61F7/10—Cooling bags, e.g. ice-bags
  • A61F7/106—Cooling bags, e.g. ice-bags self-cooling, e.g. using a chemical reaction

Definitions

• the invention integrates technologies relating to cervical immobilization and to therapeutic induction of mild cerebral hypothermia by transcutaneous cooling of oxygenated blood flowing through carotid arteries.
• Cervical immobilization collars are often used by first-responders, such as EMTs, to stabilize the neck, head, and spine of a patient immediately after a trauma has occurred. While this procedure is generally effective to prevent further injury, it is helpful to begin to treat the patient's trauma before reaching the hospital.
• One method of treatment may include cooling the patient's brain. Brain cooling, i.e., reducing brain temperatures by as little as one or two degrees Celsius, produces a neuroprotective effect against deleterious responses associated with brain injuries. This mild cerebral hypothermia inhibits the release of
• neuroexcitetory amino acids e.g., aspartate and glutamine
• the neuroprotective effect is most pronounced if brain cooling is affected as soon as possible following an injury.
• Protocols for first responders generally do not incorporate effective procedures for initiating brain cooling. For example, it is known to apply cold packs to the patient's body, to the groin, skull, and under the arm. This type of cooling, however, imparts systemic cooling, rather than selective cooling, and may not effectively drop the temperature of the patient's brain.
• a kit for cooling the carotid arteries includes a cervical immobilization collar and a cooling element.
• the cervical immobilization collar is comprised of a substantially annular support structure having an extended axial length, at least two cheek support structures having an extended vertical length, and an anterior opening that may be covered with a door.
• the door has a body-facing surface on which a pressure member may be secured and an outward-facing surface.
• the kit also includes a cooling element that may be disposed within the anterior opening and can be secured to the substantially annular support structure by placing the cooling element between the anterior portion of a user's neck and the pressure member located on the door.
• the cooling element is at least partially covered with a lining layer.
• the cooling element may include endothermic material that is activated by distortion.
• the pressure member includes at least two foam inserts disposed on the body-facing surface of the door that are used to exert pressure on the cooling element in a position relative to a user's carotid arteries.
• the door and the anterior opening include a first edge portion and second edge portion.
• the door may be attached to the anterior support structure at the first edge portion of the anterior opening with a hinge.
• the second edge portion of the door is attachable to the anterior support structure at the second edge portion of the anterior opening.
• the door and the anterior opening have a shape that is substantially similar to the shape of the cooling element.
• the substantially annular support structure may include a rear opening.
• FIG. 1 is perspective view of a cervical immobilization collar.
• FIG. 2 is a top view of a the cervical immobilization collar.
• FIG. 3 is a front view of the cervical immobilization collar.
• FIG. 4 is a top view of a cooling element for use in the cervical immobilization collar.
• FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of the temperatures obtained by the activated cooling element over time.
• FIG. 6 is a top view of a cooling element for use with a neck band.
• FIG. 7 is a rear view of the cervical immobilization collar.
• a cervical immobilization collar 10 may be used to stabilize a patient's spine, neck, and head immediately following a trauma.
• a cervical immobilization collar 10 for use with cooling elements may generally include a substantially annular support structure 12 with an anterior portion 16, which wraps around the front of the patient's neck, and a posterior portion 18, which wraps around the back of the patient's neck.
• the anterior portion 16 and the posterior portion 18 may be formed of a single piece of material.
• the anterior portion 16 and posterior portion 18 may be separate components connected on one or both sides of the neck by a joint or by an attachment mechanism, such as a hook and loop fastener.
• the substantially annular support structure 12 can be formed (preferably by pour or injection molding) from a variety of materials including plastics, polymers, or carbon or poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide fiber.
• the annular support structure 12 comprises SCLAIR® 2712 high density polyethylene, manufactured by NOVA Chemicals supplied by Entec Polymers.
• a hook and loop fastener strap 20 extends from a distal end 22 of the posterior portion 18 for releasably engaging a mating hook-and-loop fastener patch (not shown) mounted on the proximal end 24 of the anterior portion 16 of the substantially annular support structure 12.
• the anterior portion 16 of the substantially annular support structure 12 may include cheek support structures 26.
• the cheek support structures 26 may generally extend vertically from the either side of the chin rest 14 and are configured to cover the area generally associated with the patient's cheek.
• the cheek support structures 26 may be used to prevent significant rotational or lateral movement of the patient's head.
• the cheek support structures 26 may be formed integrally as a part of the substantially annular support structure 12, as shown, or may be formed separately and mounted on to the substantially annular support structure 12 with an appropriate adhesive or attachment mechanism. In another embodiment (not shown), the annular support structure 12 may not include cheek supports.
• the cervical immobilization collar 10 also includes an anterior opening 28 in the anterior portion 16 of the substantially annular support structure 12.
• the anterior opening 28 is defined by the frame of the substantially annular support structure 12.
• Traditional neck braces may include an opening in the front of the brace, but the opening is generally only large enough to provide access to the patient's trachea in a case of a blocked airway.
• the anterior opening 28 in the cervical immobilization collar 10 is designed to traverse the front of the patient's neck, exposing both of the patient's carotid artery regions, as opposed to only the trachea region.
• the cervical immobilization collar 10 also includes a door 30 that covers the anterior opening 28.
• a first edge portion of the door 30 is attached to the frame of the substantially annular support structure 12 at or about one end, or a first edge portion, of the anterior opening 28 with a hinge 32, or other appropriate fastening mechanism.
• a two part hinge may be used.
• the first part of the hinge 34 may be integrally formed as part of the frame of the substantially annular support structure 12.
• the first part of the hinge 34 may comprise from one, and preferably three, elastically deformable flanges.
• the second part of the hinge 36 may be integrally formed as part of the first edge portion of the door 30.
• the second part of the hinge 36 may snapped in to place within the first part of the hinge 34 by deforming the flanges. Once snapped in place, the second part of the hinge 36 is rotatable within the flanges of the first part of the hinge 34 so that the door 30 may be opened and closed, relative to the frame of the substantially annular support structure 12.
• the hinge 32 may be a living hinge (not shown) that is integrally formed between the first edge portion of the door 30 and the frame of the annular support structure 12.
• a second edge portion of the door 30 may be fastened to the frame of the substantially annular support structure 12 at a second edge portion of the anterior opening 28 with second hook and loop fastener strap 38 (shown in FIG. 3), which extends from the second edge portion of the door 30, and a mating hook-and-loop fastener patch (not shown) mounted on or about the frame of the substantially annular support structure 12 at or near the second edge portion of the anterior opening 28.
• the closure may also be effectuated with a snap fit mechanism; pressure fit mechanisms, buttons, latches, adhesives, or other appropriate fastening mechanism.
• the anterior opening 28 extends substantially across the majority of the anterior portion 16 of the substantially annular support structure 12.
• the immobilization collar 10 must be strong enough to support the patient's neck and prevent flexion, or movement in which the chin is lowered down toward the chest. In traditional neck braces, this strength is provided by the structural material between the chin rest and the bottom of the brace.
• the large anterior opening 28, and lack of structural material between the chin rest 14 and the bottom of the collar 10 may compromise the strength and support provided by the immobilization collar 10, particularly in the vertical plane.
• the patient may be able to move their head up and down, even when wearing the collar 10.
• support members are built into the substantially annular support structure 12.
• a horizontally protruding ledge 40 may extend
• the ledge 40 may be integrally formed as part of the annular support structure 12 and may preferably extend across the entire anterior portion 16 of the frame of the substantially annular support structure 12.
• the door 30 may include a shelf 44 that extends perpendicularly from the top edge of the door 30, as shown in FIG. 1, inward toward the patient's body.
• the shelf 44 may be integrally formed as part of the door 30.
• the shelf 44 may also include gaps 46 that allow the shelf 44, as part of the door 30, to bend during use.
• the panels may include a lining layer, that covers at least the body-facing panel 54 of the cooling element 52 that comes into contact with the patient's neck.
• the lining layer substantially covers the body-facing panel 54 of the cooling element 52.
• both panels of the cooling element 52 are covered with the lining layer.
• the lining layer may be made of fabric, for example a non- woven material, and may generally be used to provide comfort and prevent skin irritation, skin degradation, and potential frostbite. The lining layer may be adhered to the panels or may be detachable.
• the panels of the cooling element include a lining layer comprised of a non-woven material that is adhered to one or both of the panels.
• the panels may be comprised of a film-like material.
• a 0.007 mm non-woven lining layer is laminated onto a 2.5 mm linear low density white polyethylene film to form both panels of the cooling element 52.
• the water permeability of the panels may be 0.41 grams/lOOsq in/24 hrs and the oxygen gas permeability may be less than 9.0 cc/100 sq in/24 hrs.
• the cooling element 52 may be approximately 10 to about 12 inches long and may include about 90 to about 110 g urea, about 45 to about 55 g
• the cooling element 52 may be about 10 inches long and include about 100 g urea, about 50 g Carbamakool , and water.
• the cooling element 36 may be about 11 inches long and include about 110 g urea, about 55 g CarbamakoolTM, and water.
• the cooling element 52 also includes a liquid-filled, preferably water, frangible packet (not shown).
• the liquid-filled packet is also sealed between the panels of the cooling element 52.
• the cooling material in the cooling element preferably reaches a temperature of 20°F to 45°F, desirably 25°F to 35°F, within a minute of activation, and maintains the
• cooling elements 52 are available from Nortech Labs, 125 Sherwood Avenue Farmingdale, NY 11735.
• the cooling element 52 including a fabric lining layer laminated to the panels, allows the user to place the cooling element 52 directly on the skin of the patient for up to 20 to 30 minutes. Moreover, laminating, or otherwise adhering, the fabric lining layer to the panels film prevents the cooling element 52 from slipping out of place and away from the carotid arteries when in use against the patient's neck.
• the reduced temperature produced by the mixture of urea, CarbamakoolTM, and water is measured on the outer surface of the cooling element 52.
• the temperature that the patient comes in contact with is measured to evaluate the amount of heat extraction effectuated by the cooling element 52.
• Using a fabric lining layer insulates the cooling element 52, and therefore the internal capacity of the cooling element 52 and the amount of urea and CarbamakoolTMused therein is important to properly extract heat from the patient's carotid arteries.
• samples A-E were tested. Each sample was 10 inches in length and included 100 g urea, and 50 g CarbamakoolTM. Both panels of samples A-E were comprised of a 0.007 mm non- woven lining layer laminated onto a 2.5 mm linear low density white polyethylene film.
• Samples A-E were compared with commercially available un-lined cold packs from Medlogix Inc., P.O. Box 2157, Chester, VA 23831 (product code 10-01) (Standards A-E).
• the lots of un-lined commercially available code packs were comprised of urea and water.
• Standards A-E were activated by squeezing then shaking 10 times.
• the Standards were folded and inserted into 16 oz Styrofoam cups.
• the ambient temperature, 68.7°F was recorded and thermocouples were place in the fold of each Standard about one inch from the bottom of the cups. Temperature readings were recorded once a minute with the last recording made after 30 minutes.
• Each Standard was reshaken after a two minute elapsed time. The results are shown in Table II below:
• the lined cooling element 52 (labeled as Series 1) surprisingly reached an average temperature of 31.46°F within one minute of being activated (as shown in FIG. 5 at minute 2).
• the cooling element continues to cool to an average low of 27.14°F within 4 minutes of activation and remains under 35°F for at least 30 minutes.
• the control cold packs by Medlogix (FIG. 5, Series 2), even without a lining layer, do not achieve the desired average temperature within a minute of activation.
• the control cold packs by Medlogix (FIG. 5, Series 2)
• Medlogix cold packs as shown in Series 2, did not reach the desired temperature, but remain at an average of between 45 °F and 50°F.
• the cooling element 52 may also be used without the cooling collar 10 to treat pain or to impart selective brain cooling via the carotid arteries when head and neck injury are not suspected.
• the cooling element may be used in a neck band configuration that comprises a cooling element 52 and a left wing 62 and a right wing 64 attached to each end of the cooling element.
• the cooling pack 52 may be activated and placed over the patient's carotid arteries, with the wings 62, 64 may be wrapped around the patient's neck and attached to one another in the posterior of the neck with a suitable attachment mechanism, such as a hook and loop fastener (not shown).
• the cooling element 52 may include one or more endothermic packs, such as those containing compartments of ammonium nitrate and water separated by rupturable membranes. In this embodiment, deforming the cooling elements 52 so as to apply differential pressure between the compartments or to otherwise break the membrane can activate such cooling elements 52.
• the cervical immobilization collar 10 is placed around a patient's neck, and the cooling element 52 is activated and placed in the anterior opening 28. The door 30 is then closed over the cooling element 52, securing the cooling element 52 between the door 30 and the patient's neck.
• the cooling element 52 will generally overlie the carotid arteries of the patient's neck and function as a heat extractor for withdrawing heat from blood flowing through the patient's carotid arteries.
• the cooling element 52 conforms to the particularities of individual patient's necks, thereby maximizing skin contact area for more efficiently
• the cooling element 52 conforms to the patient's neck by using pressure members 56 mounted on a body- facing surface of the door 30.
• the door 30 has a body-facing surface and an outward-facing surface (shown in FIG. 2).
• the body-facing surface includes two spaced-apart, pyramid- shaped pressure members 56 that extend toward the user.
• the pressure members 56 may be formed of other shapes, including blocks, tubes, or any other suitable shape extends toward the patient's neck when the door 30 is closed.
• the pressure members 56 are placed on the body- facing surface in a position that, when the collar 10 is in use, exerts pressure on the cooling element 52 to maximize skin contact in the carotid artery area.
• the pressure members 56 may be integrally formed with the body-facing surface of the door 30 or may be attached to the body- facing surface of the door 30 by suitable means, including an adhesive.
• the pressure member 56 may be integrally formed with the door 30.
• the pressure members 56 may be made of foam, plastic, or other suitable material.
• the pressure members 56 may be made of a 2.8 lb. density open cell urethane foam.
• the pressure members 56 should be formed so that the pressure exerted on the patient's carotid arties does not block the patient's airway.
• a temperature gauge such as a thermochromic strip, can be used for monitoring the temperature of the collar or the cooling element.
• the protocol includes determining the size of collar 10 that the patient requires. Available sizes include conventional no neck, short, regular, and tall cervical immobilization collars.
• the collar 10 is then applied to the patient and the door 30 is opened.
• the cooling element 52 is then activated by breaking the liquid filled packet and shaking the cooling element 52 for about 15 to about 20 seconds.
• the cooling element 52 is then placed in the anterior opening 28 in the frame of the substantially annular support structure 12 and secured to the patient's neck by closing the door 30.
• the cooling element 52 is in thermal transcutaneous communication with at least one of the patient's carotid arteries through an anterior portion of the patient's neck, thus initiating a flow of heat from the one or more carotid arteries through the anterior portion of the patient's neck to the cooling element and the reducing temperature of the patient's brain without inducing systemic hypothermia.
• the protocol can also include monitoring one or more parameters related to circulatory performance of the patient through one or more sensors carried by the immobilization collar.
• the monitored parameters can include oxygen saturation, pulse rate, blood pressure, or blood temperature. Sensors can also be used to monitor the thermal performance of the cooling element.
• the protocol of claim can also include measuring a pulse rate of the patient manually by temporarily displacing the cooling element from an opening in the collar over the patient's carotid triangle.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Nursing (AREA)
• Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)
• Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)

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• 2011
  • 2011-10-27 CA CA2995041A patent/CA2995041A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2011-10-27 EP EP11837088.1A patent/EP2632395A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2011-10-27 CN CN201180061671.3A patent/CN103429198B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2011-10-27 BR BR112013010389A patent/BR112013010389A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2011-10-27 WO PCT/US2011/058090 patent/WO2012058427A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2011-10-27 CA CA2816451A patent/CA2816451A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2011-10-27 JP JP2013536827A patent/JP5931891B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2011-10-27 CN CN201510666221.7A patent/CN105326597B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2015
  • 2015-12-25 JP JP2015254704A patent/JP6203242B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related

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