Motion restriction device

Abstract

There is disclosed a patient restraint assembly including a head restraint configured to extend around the patient's head, at least one securement member (4) extending from the first end of the head restraint, and at least one securement member (5) extending from the second end of the head restraint, said securement members (4, 5) being configured to releasably secure said head restraint to a support table, an adjustment unit (15) to adjust the tension in the securement member(s) (4, 5), wherein adjustment of the adjustment unit (15) applies the same force simultaneously to the securement member(s) (4) at the first end and the securement member(s) (5) at the second end of the head restraint.

Claims

1. A patient restraint assembly including: a head restraint configured to extend around a patient's head, said head restraint including a first end configured to be positioned towards one side of the patient's head and a second end configured to be positioned towards the other side of the patient's head, at least one securement member extending from the first end of the head restraint, and at least one securement member extending from the second end of the head restraint, said securement members being configured to releasably secure said head restraint to a support table, and an adjustment unit to adjust the tension in the securement member(s), wherein adjustment of the adjustment unit applies a same force simultaneously to the securement member(s) at the first end and the securement member(s) at the second end of the head restraint.

2. The restraint assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the securement members is attached to the adjustment unit at an affixment, wherein the or each affixment is movable relative to the central lateral axis of the head restraint between a tensioned position and an untensioned position and movement from the untensioned position towards the tensioned position increases the tension in the securement members.

3. The restraint assembly of claim 2 wherein the adjustment unit includes more than one affixment, and all of the affixments are movable between the tensioned position and the untensioned position through adjustment of one mechanism.

4. The restraint assembly of claim 2 wherein the securement member(s) at the first end of the head restraint are attached to a first affixment, and the securement member(s) at the second end of the head restraint are attached to a second affixment, wherein movement of the first affixment and the second affixment from the untensioned position towards the tensioned position is effected through movement of the first affixment and the second affixment towards each other.

5. The restraint assembly of claim 1 wherein the securement member(s) extend from the first end of the head restraint in a first direction and in a second direction, said first and second directions separated by 5 to 120 degrees and the securement member(s) extend from the second end of the head restraint in a third and fourth direction, said third and fourth directions separated by 10 to 120 degrees.

6. The restraint assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first and second directions are separated by 5 to 60 degrees; and the third and fourth directions are separated by 5 to 60 degrees.

7. The restraint assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the head restraint includes a first side, disposed between the first end and the second end and configured to face towards the top of the patient's head in use, and wherein the securement member(s) at the first end of the head restraint extend from the first end at an angle of more than 90 degrees from the plane intersecting the mid-point of the head restraint and the first side of the head restraint and the securement member(s) at the second end of the head restraint extend from the second end at an angle of more than 90 degrees from the plane intersecting the mid-point of the head restraint and the first side of the head restraint.

8. The restraint assembly of claim 5 including a first and second securement member, the first securement member extending from the first end of the head restraint in the first and second directions, and the second securement member extending from the second end of the head restraint in the third and fourth directions.

9. The restraint assembly of claim 6 wherein the head restraint is in the form of an elongate member configured to extend around at least 50% of the patient's head in use, the first direction is 95 to 120 degrees from the plane intersecting the mid-point of the head restraint and the first side of the head restraint, the second direction is 110 to 135 degrees from the plane intersecting the mid-point of the head restraint and the first side of the head restraint, the third direction is 230 to 250 degrees from the plane intersecting the mid-point of the head restraint and the first side of the head restraint, and the fourth direction, 240 to 265 degrees from the plane intersecting the mid-point of the head restraint and the first side of the head restraint.

10. The restraint assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the head restraint is in the form of an elongate member configured to extend around at least 50% of the patient's head in use, the first direction is 10 to 60 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the elongate member, the second direction is 300 to 350 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the elongate member, the third direction is 170 to 120 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the elongate member, and the fourth direction is 190 to 240 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

11. The restraint assembly of claim 1 wherein the head restraint is symmetrical across the central lateral axis of the head restraint.

12. The restraint assembly of claim 3 wherein each affixment is provided on a body, and each of the bodies and the mechanism comprises teeth, the teeth of the mechanism interlocking with the teeth of each of the bodies.

13. The restraint assembly of claim 3 wherein the mechanism is rotated to move the affixments between the tensioned and the untensioned position.

14. A kit of parts comprising the patient restraint assembly of claim 1 and instructions for use.

15. A patient restraint including: a support table, a head restraint configured to extend around a patient's head, said head restraint including a first end configured to be positioned towards one side of the patient's head and a second end configured to be positioned towards the other side of the patient's head, at least one securement member extending from the first end of the head restraint, and at least one securement member extending from the second end of the head restraint, said securement members releasably securing said head restraint to the support table, and an adjustment unit to adjust the tension in the securement members, wherein adjustment of the adjustment unit applies a same force simultaneously to the securement member(s) at the first end and the securement member(s) at the second end of the head restraint.

16. The restraint as claimed in claim 15 wherein the securement member(s) at each of the first and second ends of the head restraint are releasably secured to the support table and the head restraint is at a longitudinal position on the support table between the positions at which the securement member(s) are releasably secured to the support table.

17. The restraint as claimed in claim 15 wherein the support table comprises a head end towards which the patient's head is configured to be provided during use, and a foot end, towards which the patient's feet are configured to be provided during use and wherein the head restraint is at a longitudinal position closer to the head end of the support table than the positions at which the securement members at each end of the head restraint are releasably secured to the support table.

18. A method of restraining a patient using the patient restraint of claim 15, the method comprising: placing the patient on the support table; extending the head restraint around the patient's head; securing the head restraint to the support table using the securement member(s), said securement member(s) extending from the first side and the second side of the patient's head, generally in first, second, third and fourth directions; and adjusting the tension in the securement member(s) through adjustment of the adjustment unit.

19. A kit of parts comprising the patient restraint of claim 15 and instructions for use.

Description

(1) The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation shown from above of the patient restraint of the present invention prior to attachment of the securement members to the head restraint;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation shown from above of the patient restraint of FIG. 1 following attachment of the securement members to the head restraint;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the head restraint of the present invention without the securement members;

(5) FIG. 4 provides a schematic representation of the head restraint of FIG. 3 being tightened;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of the head restraint of FIGS. 3 and 4 with securement members attached, the adjustment unit being in the untensioned position;

(7) FIG. 6 provides a close up of the head restraint of FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of the head restraint of FIGS. 5 and 6, the adjustment unit being in the tensioned position;

(9) FIG. 8 shows the head pad and head restraint of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 7;

(10) FIG. 9 shows the patient restraint of the present invention as a kit of parts;

(11) FIGS. 10a-10i provides schematic representations of the adjustment unit and the components thereof;

(12) FIGS. 11a-11d provides schematic representations of the head pad;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a securement member of the patient restraint of the present invention including a clip for securement to the support table;

(14) FIG. 13 is a side view of a further embodiment of the head restraint of FIG. 1;

(15) FIGS. 14A and 14B are views of the head restraint of FIG. 13 in combination with a further embodiment of the securement members of FIG. 2; and

(16) FIGS. 15A and 15B show a patient being restrained by the head restraint and securement members of FIGS. 14A and B.

(17) The patient restraint, 1, of FIG. 1 includes a support table, 2, including handle openings therein, 3. Two securement members are provided, 4, 5, both of which are secured in handle openings, 3, of the support table 2. The patient is shown in FIG. 1, 10, and the securement members, 4, 5 are secured in handle openings, 3, of the support table 2 at a longitudinal position, 11, 12 above the patient's head and at a longitudinal position, 13, 14, below the patient's head. The securement members of FIG. 1, 4, 5, are shown prior to attachment to the head restraint. The head restraint is provided around the patient's head and an adjustment unit, 15, is attached to the head restraint and provided over the patient's forehead.

(18) FIG. 2 shows the securement members, 4, 5 attached to the head restraint through attachment of the securement members to two affixments, 16, 17, on the adjustment unit, 15, The adjustment unit, 15, is shown in more detail in several subsequent Figures. FIG. 3 shows a substantially circular head pad, 20 to support the back of the patient's head in use. The head pad 20 is for placement on the support table, 2. The head pad, 20, includes a depression formed from concentric circular depressions. The head restraint 30 is in the form of strap 31 extending around the back of the head pad 20, and attached thereto at two positions off set from the centre of the head pad. Each end of the head restraint strap, 31, extends through a slit, 32, 33, in the adjustment unit 15. Each end of the head restraint strap, 31 doubles back on itself and is secured by means of a Velcro® fastening. As shown in FIG. 4, the head restraint and adjustment unit deform to the patient's head curvature. The adjustment unit, 15 includes a plate, 40, an adjustment mechanism in the form of a wheel, 41 and two affixments 16, 17 for attaching the securement members. FIG. 6 shows the affixments, 16, 17, in an untensioned position, and FIG. 7 shows them in a tensioned position. The affixments 16, 17 are in the form of a peg provided on a body, 42, 43 including teeth, 44, 45 at the side thereof facing the wheel 41. The wheel includes teeth, 46 which interlock with the teeth 44, 45. Movement of the wheel causes corresponding movement of the bodies 42, 43 including the affixments causing movement of the affixments between the tensioned and untensioned positions.

(19) A further embodiment of the head restraint and securement members is illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 15.

(20) In the previously-described embodiment the device is normally secured using cord with clips on either end which are fed through handle gaps and clipped back on themselves. In the present embodiment, these cords have been replaced by medical tape. 3M Durapore Surgical tape (2.5 cm width) is used, but other widths and types of tape are usable providing they have approximately comparable physical properties. Typically the tape is supplied with the head restrain device, but need not be.

(21) In use, the tape is attached to the spinal board (by tying a knot, using appropriate adhesive, clips (50), clamps, and so on), and is looped around the pegs on the headpad and then attached back to the board (typically around 10 cm from the point of attachment of the other end of the tape, but other distances are possible). Thus a loop is formed around the pegs, with each side and each end of the tape being stuck to the board. In practice, the best arrangement was considered to have the tape secured in line with the top of the ear and in line with the shoulder on the board, and the same when securing to a bed. Thus in this embodiment the angle between the two lengths of tape on each end of the head restraint is approximately 20 degrees, but can of course be smaller or larger depending on the application, the patient, the bed or board, the properties of the tape, the method of affixing the tape to the board or bed, and so on.

(22) By using tape instead of cord, the pegs on the headstrap are required to be modified slightly. The pegs of the first embodiment are typically shorter and have knurling (to stop slippage). The pegs of the present embodiment are slightly longer to better secure the thick tape, and the knurling is less (or not) needed, but can still be provided as desired and appropriate.

(23) As before, the centre dial turns to bring the pegs closer together. This takes any slack out of the tape, either upon initial application or if the tape stretches.

(24) Various modifications and variations of the described aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes of carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the relevant fields are intended to be within the scope of the following Claims.