Inflatable Cervical Traction Collar Shaped for a Child's Neck

The problem

Inflatable cervical traction collars are sold widely for adults, but children’s necks are shorter and curve differently, and a collar that rests on the collarbones can slip, press unevenly or fail to fit a small frame. According to the patent, the inventors at a children’s hospital set out to make a traction device that follows the physiological curve of a child’s neck, fits children of different sizes and stays stable on the shoulders.

The solution

1. The air collar (1) is a C-shaped ring, open at the back, made of three rubber air rings joined top to bottom and connected inside so they inflate together. The surface is covered with flannel.
2. The collar is taller at the front than at the back, so its top surface forms a slope that matches the child’s neck curve.
3. An adjusting strap (11) at the open end closes the collar around the neck and sets how snugly it fits.
4. An inflation tube (5) connects the collar to an inflation bulb valve (2) - an air hose, valve and latex bulb, similar to a blood-pressure cuff bulb. A vent sealed by a plug lets the air out.
5. Two shoulder struts (4) are fixed under the collar. They are telescoping, so the collar can be raised or lowered.
6. At the bottom of each strut is a U-shaped shoulder cap (3) that sits over the shoulder. A rotating joint between strut and cap lets the cap follow the shoulder slope.

Who it is for

• Pediatric orthopedic and rehab suppliers looking for a child-size traction collar to add to a line that today offers mostly adult sizes.
• Medical device brands with FDA registration who want a simple, non-powered pediatric product to develop and register.
• Durable medical equipment distributors serving children’s hospitals, physical therapy clinics and home-care programs.
• Physical therapy product companies building pediatric kits around posture and neck support.

How it works

The main parts

Using it (as described in the patent)

1. Adjust the struts to the child’s neck length with the collar deflated.
2. Place the caps over the shoulders and close the strap around the neck.
3. Pump the bulb - the patent describes adjusting the inflation through the bulb valve to reach the most suitable height.
4. Release the air through the vent after use; the collar folds flat for storage and travel.

All use of a traction device on a child is directed by the treating clinician; the steps above only describe the mechanism.

Applications

Pediatric orthopedic clinics

Clinics that prescribe neck support or traction for children need a device sized for them rather than the smallest adult collar.

Children’s hospital rehab departments

Therapists working with posture and neck conditions can use an adjustable collar across a range of ages.

Home-care programs

The patent describes the device as easy to carry and deflatable when idle, which suits families following a home program set by a clinician.

Medical supply catalogs

Distributors can offer a pediatric size alongside existing adult inflatable collars.

Where it is less suitable

• Self-treatment without clinical direction - traction on a child’s neck is a medical decision; the product is supplied through clinical channels.
• Children with latex allergy - the standard bulb uses a latex ball, so a latex-free bulb must be specified.
• Adults - the slope and size are designed for children; adult versions are a different product.