WO2015102481A1

WO2015102481A1 - An immobilizer and a system therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2015102481A1
Application number: PCT/MY2014/050017
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ismail MOHD SAIBOON; Bala Krishnian R. MUNIANDY; Mohd Johar JAAFAR; Kok Beng GAN; Ameer Ezam HAMZAH
Original assignee: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Priority date: 2014-01-06
Filing date: 2014-12-23
Publication date: 2015-07-09
Also published as: WO2015102481A4

Abstract

The present invention relates to an immobilizer (100) and a system (200) therefor. The immobilizer (100) comprising: a plurality of members (110) spaced apart from each other and for independently wrapping a portion of each side of a pelvic region of a wearer to facilitate immobilization of the pelvic region; a plurality of fasteners (10) connected to each of the immobilizing members (110); and a plurality of straps (120) adjustable in length, each of the straps (120) for mating with one of the fasteners (10) connected to one of the immobilizing members (110) and each of the straps (120) for passing under the wearer's lumbar lordosis and across the wearer's lower back when the wearer is lying supine in order to mate with another one of the fasteners (10) connected to another one of the immobilizing members (110).

Description

AN IMMOBILIZER AND A SYSTEM THEREFOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an immobilizer and a system therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An immobilizer can be utilized to provide a tamponade effect in situ for a wearer who may be a trauma patient suffering from a fractured pelvis, inter alia, from a car crash or a fall. A patient injured from an accident with a fractured bone can possibly cause damage to nearby tissues, nerves and/or blood vessels potentially leading to internal bleeding and can be painful to him/her. Pelvic injuries can occur after a fall, including for old people as the quality of their bones are not as well as when they were young. By immobilizing the injured area and its vicinity through providing pressure by compression and a tamponade effect thereof, the immobilizer which is commonly applied when the patient is in a supine position, can prevent additional injuries from additional movements of broken bones of the patient thereby minimizing the blood loss.

In these exemplary cases supra, inevitably, the supine patient have be moved using side- rolling (log-rolling) or lifting of the legs when applying an immobilizer in order to wrap the injured body therewith, notwithstanding that this additional moving of the patient can possibly aggravate the injuries. In vehicle accidents, concomitant fractures at the lower limb are common among patients in which current immobilizers fail to address while at the same time allow life-saving medical procedures to be performed at the lower limbs.

Some immobilizers hitherto are for a one-time usage as they are cut and sized to fit the dimensions of the patient notwithstanding it being a waste which could be solved by developing a reusable and functional immobilizer adaptable for use with different patient dimensions from a child to an adult and removes the time expended in cutting the immobilizer prior to performing any medical procedures unto the patient in a hospital. Other immobilizers which are reusable however, require additional log-rolling or lifting of the legs when applying thereof to a patient, which as mentioned supra, can possibly aggravate the injuries of the patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an immobilizer and a system therefor.

The immobilizer comprises a plurality of immobilizing members, a plurality of fasteners connected to the immobilizing members and a plurality of straps for mating with the fasteners.

The immobilizing members are spaced apart from each other and for independently wrapping a portion of each side of a pelvic region of a wearer to facilitate immobilization of the pelvic region. The straps are adjustable in length to provide compression towards the pelvic region, each of the straps for mating with one of the fasteners connected to one of the immobilizing members and each of the straps are for passing under the wearer's lumbar lordosis and across the wearer's lower back when the wearer is lying supine in order to mate with another one of the fasteners connected to another one of the immobilizing members. Hence, the wearer does not have to be substantially moved, rolled or lifted for the application of the immobilizer. Additionally, the immobilizer is reusable without cutting the immobilizer by detaching the straps from the fasteners and is manufacturable in one size but usable for different wearer's dimensions. Further, the immobilizer can include a plurality of fluid inflatable bladders for adjusting pressure from the compression towards the pelvic region, particularly offloading pressure towards the pelvic region in order to mitigate or obviate complications such as pressure sore, while still having compression and tamponade effect maintained on the pelvic region.

The system comprises one or more immobilizers, each of the immobilizers are as described in more details herein.

In some implementations of the present invention, the immobilizer is for immobilizing the pelvic region of a wearer. The immobilizer can include thigh wrappers for immobilization of the wearer's thigh, and can further include lower limb wrappers for immobilization of the wearer's lower limbs, including tibia and fibula.

The details of the present invention and one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description infra, and in which other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the Figures appended hereto, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is an exploded top view of an exemplary immobilizer, showing outer sides of immobilizing members and and outer sides of lower limb wrappers.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an inner side of an immobilizing member of an exemplary immobilizer. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a handle of an exemplary immobilizer. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary immobilizer.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a lumbar lordosis of a human lying supine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments and examples described herein relates to immobilizers and system therefor. However, the embodiments and examples are intended to be non-limiting. The immobilizers can be used for immobilizing a pelvic region of a wearer and providing a tamponade effect to the pelvic region.

Referring to FIG. 1 to 4, the exemplary immobilizer (100) and a system (200) therefor are shown. The immobilizer (100) comprises a plurality of immobilizing members (110) spaced apart from each other and for independently wrapping a portion of each side of the pelvic region of the wearer to facilitate immobilization of the pelvic region, such that when the immobilizer (100) is worn by the wearer, the immobilizing members (110) expose the wearer's lower back. The immobilizing members (110) are pliable and can be made of skin- friendly material.

The immobilizer (100) further comprises a plurality of fasteners (10) connected to each of the immobilizing members (110) and a plurality of straps (120) adjustable in length to provide compression towards the pelvic region, each of the straps (120) for mating with one of the fasteners (10) connected to one of the immobilizing members (110) and each of the straps (120) for passing under the wearer's lumbar lordosis (301) and across the wearer's lower back when the wearer is lying supine in order to mate with another one of the fasteners (10) connected to another one of the immobilizing members (110). FIG. 4 shows the wearer's lumbar lordosis (301) which is a natural inward curvature of a body due to the curved formation of the lumbar vertebrae (302) and adjacent to the buttocks (303). When the wearer is lying supine, the lumbar lordosis (301) form a hollow having two open ends so that the straps (120) can pass under the wearer's lumbar lordosis (301) and across the wearer's lower back. Hence, the wearer does not have to be substantially moved, rolled or lifted for the application of the immobilizer (100) by connecting the immobilizing members (110) through the use of fasteners (10) and straps (120) having dimensions that enable the straps (120) to pass under the wearer's lumbar lordosis (301) and across the wearer's lower back when the wearer is lying supine.

In FIG. 1, the straps (120) are shown to have two strap fasteners (20), wherein one of the strap fasteners (20) is for mating with one of the fasteners (10) connected to one of the immobilizing members (110) and another of the strap fasteners (20) for mating with another one of the fasteners (10) connected to another one of the immobilizing members (110). The strap fasteners (20) are also for passing under the wearer's lumbar lordosis (301) and across the wearer's lower back when the wearer is lying supine. In one embodiment, the two strap fasteners (20) are of the same kind, thus the one of the fasteners (10) and the another one of the fasteners (10) are fasteners of the same kind and are able to cause the strap fasteners (20) to mate therewith. In another embodiment, the two straps (20) are of different kinds, thus the one of the fasteners (10) and the another one of the fasteners (10) are of different kinds and are able to cause the strap fasteners (20) to mate therewith. The straps (120) can be adjusted to a desired tightness by means of an adjusting mechanism when wrapping the pelvic region thereby causing compression and a tamponade effect thereof. In yet another embodiment, the fasteners (10) and hence the corresponding strap fasteners (10) are buckle type fasteners. The immobilizer (100) of claim 1, wherein the fasteners (10) are positioned at lateral sides of the wearer when the immobilizer (100) is in operation. The lateral sides are preferred over the posterior for easy fastening and stabilization of the mating between the fasteners (10) and the straps (120). The lateral sides are preferred over the anterior so that the fasteners (10) and the straps (120) do not create obstacles during medical procedures, inter alia, pin insertions of an external fixator at the abdomino-pelvic area. The straps (120) and fasteners (10) are preferably color-coded to facilitate in identifying the appropriate mating of straps (120) and fasteners (10) during emergency responses.

At least some fasteners (10) and at least some straps (120) are for providing some compression to the wearer's greater trochanters when positioned at a plane defined by the wearer's greater trochanters when the immobilizer (100) is in operation so as to provide force to the wearer's sacroiliac joint at the pelvic region and to close the open pelvic ring fracture as a result of a trauma to the pelvis, thereby providing stability to a fractured pelvis.

The at least some straps (120) are for mating with the at least some fasteners (10). The immobilizer (100) further comprises an iliac crest guider (11) to facilitate positioning of the at least some fasteners (10) and the at least some straps (120) at the plane defined by the wearer's greater trochanters. The iliac crest guider (11) can be a brim (not shown) of the immobilizing member (120) in one embodiment, while in another embodiment, the iliac crest guider (11) can be a band on the immobilizing member (120).

The iliac crest guider (11) is preferably at a distance of 12.5 cm from the at least some fasteners (10) corresponding to a distance between a human's iliac crest to the human's greater trochanter. The widths of the at least some straps (120) are at least 5 cm so as to accommodate, within uncertainties from anthropometric studies, the range of possible distance from a human's iliac crest to the human's greater trochanter. The immobilizing members (100) further include a plurality of anterior openings (111) to provide access to an area of the pelvis for performing surgical operations. Each of the immobilizing members (110) further comprises first male and female fasteners (14, 15), second male and female fasteners (16, 17), a first flap (12) and a second flap (13). When the first flap (12) and second flap (13) are folded, the first male and female fasteners (14, 15) connect to each other, and the second male and female fasteners (16, 17) connect to each other so as to enlarge the anterior openings (111) to provide access to a larger area of the pelvic region, including the abdominal wall for performing surgical operations that need a larger area, such as laparotomy. The first male and female fasteners (14, 15) and the second male and female fasteners (16, 17) are preferably hook and loop fasteners, inter alia, VELCRO.

The plurality of straps (120) and fasteners (10) allow medical personnel to detach some of the straps (120) from some of the fasteners (10) for surgical procedures to be performed to the abdomino-pelvic area while the immobilizer (100) is being worn by the wearer at all times. Further, the present invention allows the immobilizer (100) to be reusable without cutting the immobilizer (100) by detaching the straps (120) from the fasteners (10). The immobilizer (100) further comprises a plurality of fluid inflatable bladders (115) as shown in FIG. 2 for adjusting pressure from the compression towards the pelvic region, particularly offloading pressure towards the pelvic region, inter alia, the greater trochanter region in order to mitigate or obviate complications such as pressure sore, while still having compression and tamponade effect maintained on the pelvic region. The fluid can be, inter alia, gas and air. The fluid inflatable bladders (115) are connected or inserted to an inner side of the immobilizing members (110) and connectable to pressure monitoring devices (not shown) preferably electronically functioning so as to enable the measuring and monitoring of the pressure provided towards the pelvic region, including the pelvic ring and for pressure adjustment thereof.

Each of the immobilizing members (110) further comprises a thigh wrapper (112) for wrapping the wearer's thigh so as to provide immobilization thereof by connecting first thigh fastener (113) and second thigh fastener (114) of, inter alia, hook and loop type fasteners. The immobilizer (100) comprising the thigh wrapper (112) to allow for urinary catheterization in order to gauge the circulation status of the wearer and to allow medical personnel to perform any angio-embolizations on the wearer. Each of the immobilizing members (110) further comprises a handle (18), as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG 3, to facilitate in lifting the wearer in situ to another site in a safe manner. The handles (18) are preferred to be positioned at lateral sides of the wearer when the immobilizer (100) is in operation.

A common occurence among vehicle accidents is the injury to the lower limbs apart from the pelvic or the hip area. To accommodate the immobilization of the lower limbs, the immobilizer (100) further comprises of a pair of lower limb wrappers (130) attachable to the immobilizing members (110) by means of first lower limb fasteners (31) and second thigh fasteners (114) or a different fastener disposed on the immobilizing members (110) of, inter alia, hook and loop type fasteners. When lower limb flaps (32) are connected to second lower limb fasteners (33), the lower limb wrappers (130) are caused to wrap the lower limbs. The second lower limb fasteners (33) are preferred to be hook and loop type fasteners. To accommodate the wearer's feet, the lower limb wrappers (130) further include feet openings (34).

The immobilizer (100) is preferably made of materials including a stain -resistant material to resist staining thereof by body fluids, such as sputum, blood and urine for easy cleaning of the immobilizer (100). It is also preferred that the immobilizer (100) be made of materials including a radiolucent material such that the immobilizer (100) can still be worn by the wearer without the need for removal therefrom when performing radiography. Preferably, the immobilizer (100) is made of polyurethane.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system, comprising: one or more immobilizers (100), wherein each of the immobilizers (100) are as described supra.

The present invention also provides a system (200), comprising: one or more immobilizers (100), each of the immobilizers (100) comprising: a plurality of immobilizing members (110) spaced apart from each other and for independently wrapping a portion of each side of a pelvic region of a wearer to facilitate immobilization of the pelvic region, such that when the immobilizer (100) is worn by the wearer, the immobilizing members (110) expose the wearer's lower back.

The system (200) further comprises a plurality of fasteners (10) connected to each of the immobilizing members (110); and a plurality of straps (120) adjustable in length, each of the straps (120) for mating with one of the fasteners (10) connected to one of the immobilizing members (110) and each of the straps (120) for passing under the wearer's lumbar lordosis (201) and across the wearer's lower back when the wearer is lying supine in order to mate with another one of the fasteners (10) connected to another one of the immobilizing members (110).

While the present invention is described with reference to illustrative embodiments, it should not be construed to be limited thereto. Those skilled in the art will recognize additional variations and embodiments without recourse to inventive activities or without departing from the intent of the disclosure as defined by the claims appended hereto. List of reference numerals:

100 Immobilizer

110 Immobilizing member

10 Fastener

11 Iliac crest guider

12 First flap

13 Second flap

14, 15 First male and female fasteners 16, 17 Second male and female fasteners

18 Handle

111 Anterior opening

112 Thigh wrapper

113 First thigh fastener

114 Second thigh fastener

115 Fluid inflatable bladder

120 Strap

20 Strap fastener

130 Lower limb wrapper

31 First lower limb fastener

32 Lower limb flap

33 Second lower limb fastener

34 Feet opening

200 System

301 Lumbar lordosis

302 Lumbar vertebrae

303 Buttocks

Claims

1. An immobilizer (100) comprising:

a plurality of immobilizing members (110) spaced apart from each other and for independently wrapping a portion of each side of a pelvic region of a wearer to facilitate immobilization of the pelvic region, such that when the immobilizer (100) is in operation, the immobilizing members (110) expose the wearer's lower back;

a plurality of fasteners (10) connected to each of the immobilizing members (110); and a plurality of straps (120) adjustable in length to provide compression towards the pelvic region, each of the straps (120) for mating with one of the fasteners (10) connected to one of the immobilizing members (110) and each of the straps (120) for passing under the wearer's lumbar lordosis (301) and across the wearer's lower back when the wearer is lying supine in order to mate with another one of the fasteners (10) connected to another one of the immobilizing members (110).

2. The immobilizer (100) of claim 1, wherein the fasteners (10) are positioned at lateral sides of the wearer when the immobilizer (100) is in operation.

3. The immobilizer (100) of claim 1, wherein at least some fasteners (10) and at least some straps (120) are for providing some compression to the wearer's greater trochanters when positioned at a plane defined by the wearer's greater trochanters when the immobilizer (100) is in operation and wherein the at least some straps (120) are for mating with the at least some fasteners (10).

4. The immobilizer (100) of claim 3, wherein widths of the at least some straps (120) are at least 5 cm.

5. The immobilizer (100) of claim 3 further comprising an iliac crest guider (11) to facilitate positioning of the at least some fasteners (10) and the at least some straps (120) at the plane defined by the wearer's greater trochanters.

6. The immobilizer (100) of claim 5, wherein the iliac crest guider (11) is at a distance of 12.5 cm from the at least some fasteners (10).

7. The immobilizer (100) of claim 1, wherein the fasteners (10) are buckle type fasteners.

8. The immobilizer (100) of claim 1, wherein the immobilizing members (100) include a plurality of anterior openings (111) to provide access to an area of the pelvic region for performing surgical operations.

9. The immobilizer (100) of claim 8, wherein each of the immobilizing members (110) further comprising first male and female fasteners (14, 15), second male and female fasteners (16, 17), a first flap (12) and a second flap (13) such that when the first flap (12) and second flap (13) are folded, the first male and female fasteners (14, 15) connect to each other, and the second male and female fasteners (16, 17) connect to each other so as to enlarge the anterior openings (111) to provide access to a larger area of the pelvic region for performing surgical operations.

10. The immobilizer (100) of claim 9, wherein the first male and female fasteners (14, 15), and the second male and female fasteners (16, 17) are hook and loop fasteners.

11. The immobilizer (100) of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of fluid inflatable bladders (115) for adjusting pressure from the compression towards the pelvic region.

12. The immobilizer (100) of claim 1, wherein each of the immobilizing members (110) further comprises a thigh wrapper (112) to immobilize the wearer's thigh.

13. The immobilizer (100) of claim 1, wherein each of the immobilizing members (110) further comprises a handle ( 18) to facilitate in lifting the wearer.

14. The immobilizer (100) of claim 1 further comprising a pair of lower limb wrappers (130) attachable to the immobilizing members (110) to immobilize the wearer's lower limbs.

15. A system (200), comprising:

one or more immobilizers (100), each of the immobilizers (100) comprising:

a plurality of fasteners (10) connected to each of the immobilizing members (110); and

a plurality of straps (120) adjustable in length, each of the straps (120) for mating with one of the fasteners (10) connected to one of the immobilizing members (110) and each of the straps (120) for passing under the wearer's lumbar lordosis (201) and across the wearer's lower back when the wearer is lying supine in order to mate with another one of the fasteners (10) connected to another one of the immobilizing members (110).