Spine board with interior channels

Abstract

A mechanism for securing a cervical collar to a spine board includes a collar stabilization key having a leading end and a trailing end. The collar stabilization key is inserted into a longitudinal channel located within a main body of the spine board and has a first end that intersects with a first end of the main body and a second end. The leading end of the collar stabilization key mates with a post coupled to a cervical collar so as to secure the cervical collar to the main body of the spine board and the trailing end of the collar stabilization key locks the collar stabilization key in the longitudinal channel and to the main body.

1 . A mechanism for securing a cervical collar to a spine board, the mechanism comprising:
 a collar stabilization key having a leading end and a trailing end, wherein the collar stabilization key is inserted into a longitudinal channel located within a main body of the spine board and having a first end that intersects with a first end of the main body and a second end, the leading end of the collar stabilization key mates with a post coupled to a cervical collar so as to secure the cervical collar to the main body of the spine board and the trailing end of the collar stabilization key locks the collar stabilization key in the longitudinal channel and to the main body.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the collar stabilization key comprises a pair of forks having interior facing surfaces that face each other, the pair of forks extend from the leading end to a point along a length of the collar stabilization key and being configured to capture the post between the pair of forks to secure the cervical collar to the main body of the spine board. 
     
     
         3 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the post comprises a distal end having a flange that is greater in diameter than a diameter of the post, wherein the collar stabilization key mates with the post between the flange and the cervical collar. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the collar stabilization key further comprises a button that is located on a top of the collar stabilization key and near the trailing end of the collar stabilization key, the button depresses during insertion of the collar stabilization key into the longitudinal channel and the button releases into an opening in the main body of the spine board to lock the collar stabilization key to the main body and for securing the cervical collar. 
     
     
         5 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the main body of the spine board comprises an opening that extends at least from a top surface of the spine board and intersects with the longitudinal channel, the post that is coupled to the cervical collar is placed through the opening so as to mate with the collar stabilization key. 
     
     
         6 . A spine board comprising:
 a main body comprising:
 a top surface and an opposing bottom surface; 
 a first end and an opposing second end that define a length of the main body; 
 a first longitudinal side and an opposing second longitudinal side that define a width of the main body, wherein the first and second longitudinal sides connect the first end to the second end; 
   a longitudinal channel extending longitudinally within the main body having a first end that intersects with the first end of the main body and a second end;   an opening that extends at least from the top surface of the main body and intersects with the longitudinal channel;   a cervical collar having a post that extends outwardly from a bottom of the cervical collar, the post of the cervical collar being removably positioned in the opening; and   a longitudinal cartridge removably secured in the channel and configured to capture and secure the post of the cervical collar to the main body of the spine board.   
     
     
         7 . The spine board of  claim 6 , wherein the longitudinal cartridge comprises a leading end and a trailing end, wherein when the longitudinal cartridge is loaded into the longitudinal channel and locked to the main body the leading end aligns with the opening in the main body and the trailing end aligns with the first end of the longitudinal channel. 
     
     
         8 . The spine board of  claim 7 , wherein the cartridge comprises a button that is located on a top of the cartridge and near the trailing end of the cartridge, the button depresses during insertion of the cartridge into the longitudinal channel and the button releases into an aperture in the main body to lock the cartridge to the main body to secure the cervical collar when the cartridge captures the post of the cervical collar. 
     
     
         9 . The spine board of  claim 8 , wherein the aperture is located adjacent the first end of the spine board, extends from the top surface of the main body and intersects with the longitudinal channel. 
     
     
         10 . The spine board of  claim 6 , wherein the longitudinal cartridge comprises a pair of forks having interior facing surfaces that face each other, the pair of forks extend from the leading end of the longitudinal cartridge to a point along a length of the longitudinal cartridge and being configured to capture the post between the pair of forks to secure the cervical collar to the main body of the spine board. 
     
     
         11 . The spine board of  claim 6 , wherein the post comprises a distal end having a flange that is greater in diameter than a diameter of the post, wherein the cartridge mates with the post between the flange and the cervical collar. 
     
     
         12 . The spine board of  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of lateral channels extending laterally within the main body, wherein each first end of each lateral channel intersects with the first longitudinal side of the main body and each second end of each lateral channel intersects with the second longitudinal side of the main body. 
     
     
         13 . The spine board of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of lateral cartridges each containing a strap configured to secure a patient to the top surface of the spine board and each lateral cartridge being removably inserted and locked into one of the plurality of lateral channels, wherein the lateral cartridges each have a leading end that is located at the first end of the lateral channels and a trailing end that is located at the second ends of the lateral channels. 
     
     
         14 . The spine board of  claim 13 , wherein each lateral cartridge comprises a button that is located on a top of the lateral cartridge and near the trailing end of the lateral cartridge, the button depresses during insertion of the lateral cartridge into the lateral channel and the button releases into an aperture in the main body to lock the lateral cartridge to the main body. 
     
     
         15 . The spine board of  claim 14 , wherein the aperture is located adjacent the first longitudinal end of the spine board, extends from the top surface of the main body and intersects with the lateral channel. 
     
     
         16 . The spine board of  claim 13 , further comprising a pair of through holes centrally located on the spine board, extending from the top surface of the main body and intersecting with the lateral channel that is located closest to the opening in the main body for the cervical collar. 
     
     
         17 . The spine board of  claim 16 , wherein the lateral cartridge inserted into the lateral channel that intersects with the pair of through holes comprises a shoulder strap having ends that exit through the pair of through holes to secure shoulders of the patient. 
     
     
         18 . A method of securing a cervical collar to a spine board, the method comprising:
 inserting a collar stabilization key having a leading end and a trailing end into a longitudinal channel located within a main body of the spine board, the longitudinal channel having a first end that intersects with a first end of the main body and a second end;   mating the leading end of the collar stabilization key with a post coupled to a cervical collar; and   locking the collar stabilization key in the longitudinal channel and to the main body to secure the cervical collar to the main body of the spine board.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the locking the collar stabilization key further comprises depressing a button that is located on a top of the collar stabilization key and near the trailing end of the collar stabilization key during insertion of the collar stabilization key into the longitudinal channel and releasing the button into an opening in the main body. 
     
     
         20 . The mechanism of  claim 18 , placing the post that is coupled to the cervical collar through an opening that extends at least from a top surface of the spine board and intersects with the longitudinal channel so as to allow the collar stabilization key to mate with the cervical collar.