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US-20260124060-A1 - CERVICAL COLLAR

US20260124060A1US 20260124060 A1US20260124060 A1US 20260124060A1US-20260124060-A1

Abstract

A cervical collar that facilitates therapeutic hypothermia is provided and includes a cooling device having a front portion and a back portion fixedly coupled to the front portion on one side and removably coupled to the front portion on an opposite side. A fastening device removably couples the back portion to the front portion on the opposite side. The cooling device induces hypothermia in at least a portion of a patient. A sensor is provided that measures a physical characteristic of the patient.

Inventors

  • Robert Michael Maher

Assignees

  • NeuroRescue Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251231

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A system for heating or cooling, comprising: a temperature modulation material capable of raising or lowering a temperature of a portion of a bodily region of a user; and a wearable device configured to retain the temperature modulation material within an interior of the wearable device, wherein the wearable device can be removably applied to a portion of the bodily region of the user, thereby altering a temperature of the portion of the bodily region of the user via contact of the wearable device with the portion of the bodily region.
  2. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature modulation material is retained in a container in the wearable device.
  3. 3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a pack integrated into the wearable device forms or contains the temperature modulation material.
  4. 4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature modulation material is held by a cover configured to be interposed between the temperature modulation material and the user.
  5. 5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature indicator configured to provide an indication of a temperature of the temperature modulation material.
  6. 6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device is configured to indicate that the temperature modulation material has a temperature that provides adequate warming or cooling to the user.
  7. 7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device is configured to indicate that the temperature modulation material is approaching a temperature that does not provide adequate warming or cooling to the user.
  8. 8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device is configured to indicate that the temperature modulation material has a temperature that does not provide adequate warming or cooling to the user.
  9. 9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a liquid material circulated through the wearable device.
  10. 10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a gas material circulated through the wearable device.
  11. 11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a solid material retained in the wearable device.
  12. 12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device comprises an outer surface and an inner surface which retain the temperature modulation material therebetween.
  13. 13 . A wearable device comprising: an outer surface and an inner surface having a retaining space formed therebetween; a temperature altering substance retained within the space between the outer surface and the inner surface, wherein the wearable device is fixable to a user and configured to contact a target body region of the user when worn by the user; and wherein the temperature altering substance retained in the space between the outer surface and the inner surface affects blood flowing through the target body region thereby altering a temperature of the blood flowing through the target body region.
  14. 14 . The wearable device of claim 12 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a liquid material circulated through the wearable device
  15. 15 . The wearable device of claim 12 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a gas material circulated through the wearable device.
  16. 16 . The wearable device of claim 12 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a solid material retained in the wearable device.
  17. 17 . A method of modulating body temperature or a user, comprising: placing a wearable device on a bodily region of the user; supplying a temperature modulation material to the wearable device such that the wearable device retains the temperature modulation material; selectively contacting at least one target bodily region of the user with the wearable device; and holding or fixing the wearable device to the at least one target body region until a target body temperature of the user is reached.
  18. 18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a liquid or a gas, and wherein the method further comprises a step of adjusting a flow rate of the temperature modulation material.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a pack, and wherein the method further comprises a step of replacing the temperature modulation material with a new pack.
  20. 20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising a step of determining a temperature of the temperature modulation material is not adequate to provide cooling or heating to the user prior to adjusting the flow rate of the temperature modulation material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/663,647 entitled “CERVICAL COLLAR” filed May 14, 2024, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/571,756 entitled “CERVICAL COLLAR” filed Jan. 10, 2022 which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/528,046 entitled “CERVICAL COLLAR” filed Jul. 31, 2019 which is a Continuation-in-Part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/287,227, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,426,658, entitled “CERVICAL COLLAR” filed Oct. 6, 2016, which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/052,346, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,486,354, entitled “CERVICAL COLLAR” filed Oct. 11, 2013, which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/309,173, now abandoned, entitled “CERVICAL COLLAR” filed Dec. 1, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/419,018 entitled “CERVICAL COLLAR” filed on Dec. 2, 2010. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/571,756 is also a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/528,090, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,224,533 entitled “CERVICAL COLLAR” filed on Jul. 31, 2019, which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/287,227, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,426,658, entitled “CERVICAL COLLAR” filed Oct. 6, 2016. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/528,090 and Ser. No. 16/528,046 also claims priority to U.S. Provisional 62/834,781 filed on Apr. 16, 2018. The entirety of each of the above-noted applications is incorporated herein by reference. ORIGIN The innovation disclosed herein relates to a cervical collar and more particularly to a cervical collar employing a cooling device for therapeutic hypothermia. BACKGROUND A “neck brace” or “cervical collar” is a medical, and more particularly an orthopedic, device that is often used to support the cervical portion of a patient's spinal cord by immobilizing the head and neck region. These devices are often used by emergency medical technicians (EMTs), for example when responding to victims of traumatic head or neck injuries. Other uses of the devices include treatment of chronic medical conditions, sports injuries or the like. Traumatic head or neck injury can expose a patient to extensive spinal cord injury which could escalate to full or partial paralysis, or even death. In an effort to minimize these risks and to stabilize the top vertebrae, EMTs, and other medical personnel, often position a cervical collar on patients as a precautionary measure. Additional stabilization methods can be accomplished by way of other devices such as a backboard. Other uses of the cervical collar are for treatment of injuries including, strains, sprains or whiplash. The innovation disclosed herein is an improvement to the conventional cervical collars described above. SUMMARY The following presents a simplified summary of the innovation in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview of the innovation. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the innovation or to delineate the scope of the innovation. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the innovation in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. In accordance one aspect of the innovation, a system that facilitates therapeutic hypothermia that includes a cervical/neck collar including an outer shell having a front portion and a back portion fixedly coupled to the front portion on one side and removably coupled to the front portion on an opposite side, and a bladder disposed on an interior of the outer shell, wherein the bladder selectively targets blood flowing through cerebral circulation arteries thereby changing a temperature of the blood flowing through the cerebral circulation arteries to a patient's brain. In accordance with another aspect of the innovation, a system is disclosed that facilitates prevention of over-heating and/or comfort that includes a cervical/neck collar that includes an outer shell having a front portion and a back portion fixedly coupled to the front portion on one side and removably coupled to the front portion on an opposite side, a bladder configured to hold fluid disposed on an interior of the outer shell. In accordance with another aspect of the innovation, a cervical collar is disclosed that includes an outer shell having a front portion and a back portion fixedly coupled to the front portion on one side and removably coupled to the front portion on an opposite side, a bladder configured to hold fluid disposed on an interior of the outer shell, and an indicator that changes color based on a change in a measurable event, wherein the bladder is the indicator. In accordance with another aspect of the innovation, a cervical collar is disclosed that includes a bladder without an outer shell. In one aspect, the bladder may comprise an outer