US 4,657,003 AGranted

Immobilizer device

AssigneeCramer Products, Inc.

InventorH. Robert Wirtz

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Abstract

Immobilizing device for restraining a body portion or limb, comprising an air impervious pliant bag, e.g. of urethane coated nylon fabric, a plurality of lightweight expanded beads, e.g. polystyrene beads, preferably of relatively uniform large size of a diameter greater than 5 mm placed within the bag, and a self-closing valve communicating with the interior of the bag for evacuating air therefrom. The beads are free to be moved and accumulate in those areas where support is most needed. When the interior of the bag is evacuated, the beads are compacted by the collapsing bag and deformed into a rigid construction around the body member for support and restraint thereof. The bag is shaped to completely surround the body member to be supported and releasable strap means preferably are provided to maintain the bag in wrapped position around the body member before and after evacuation. After a period of use, introduction of air into the interior of the bag through the valve again permits freedom of movement of the beads and causes the device to collapse, and the device can then be removed from around the body member by releasing the strap means.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A vacuum immobilizer device being reversibly convertible from a collapsed and easily manipulated condition wherein said device may be roughly conformed to an object to be supported to a rigidified condition wherein said device maintains a substantially firm shape and is suitable for immobilizing the object to be supported, said device comprising:

(a) an air impervious lightweight pliant envelope having an interior and an exterior surface;
(b) a plurality of lightweight expanded polymer beads having exterior surfaces and diameters of generally greater than five millimeters, loosely filling a portion of the interior volume of said envelope;
(c) said envelope substantially being open internally so as to permit movement of said beads throughout said envelope and to permit said beads to accumulate in the areas of said envelope where support is required;
said envelope interior surface being relatively low friction relative to said beads and said bead exterior surfaces being relatively slippery with respect to said envelope interior surface;
and said envelope including a fabric support and being generally non-elastic;
(d) whereby when a vacuum is applied to said envelope interior so as to produce a partial vacuum within said envelope, said beads are slippery with respect to said envelope interior and said envelope fabric support tends to support said envelope and limit said envelope from being drawn tightly between adjacent beads such that said beads are generally movable within said envelope to allow easier adjustment of the device to conform to the object to be supported and to provide better patient comfort;
(e) detachable securement means coupled to said envelope for securing said envelope about the object to be supported;
and
(f) valve means mounted on said envelope exterior surface and communicating with said envelope interior, whereby a vacuum source can be connected to said valve for reducing the air pressure inside said envelope, compressing said beads into contact with each other and pulling said envelope into contact with said beads and whereby air can be readmitted through said valve into said envelope interior to convert said device from said rigidified condition to said collapsed condition.

6 more elements

In an immobilizer device of the type being reversibly convertible by application of an internal vacuum between a collapsed condition in which said device can be manipulated to conform to an object to be supported and a rigidified condition in which said device retains a generally firm shape immobilizing a part of the body of a patient;

said device including:
(a) an airtight pliant bag having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
(b) a plurality of expanded polymer beads filling a portion of an interior volume of said bag;
(c) valve means mounted on said bag exterior surface and communicating with the interior thereof for enabling drawing of at least partial vacuum within said bag to generally rigidify said device when said device is about the object to be supported in a desired position;
the improvement comprising:
(d) substantially each of said beads having a diameter between five and ten millimeters and said beads being slippery relative to said bag interior;
(e) said bag being substantially free of internal obstructions;
(f) said bag including a relatively low friction interior surface permitting freedom of flow of said beads in said envelope when said bag is manipulated to conform to and about an object to be supported in a desired position, and permitting said beads to pack together in areas of said bag where support is required;
(g) said bag being constructed of a fabric supported generally non-elastic polymer sheet, such that said sheet resists being drawn between beads when a vacuum is drawn within said bag;
(h) whereby when at least a partial vacuum is drawn within said bag, said bag becomes in general rigid, however, said beads are generally manipulative within said bag so as to allow adjustment of said device to better conform to the object to be supported or to provide better patient comfort.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.