Immobilizer device

Claim 2

An immobilizer for use in X-ray or surgical procedures on a patient comprising: a completely flexible radiotransparent member including flexible restraining means, said flexible member having a front surface adapted to extend longitudinally adjacent the posterior of said patient and a posterior surface; said restraining means adapted to extend around portions of said patient and secure said patient to said flexible member and against mvoement; and a rigid radiotransparent backing member removably attached to one of said surfaces of said flexible radiotransparent member to alternatively provide a rigid support for said member when desired.

Claim 3

The immobilizer of claim 1 wherein said rigid radio-transparent backing member comprises a plurality of inflexible support elements removably joined by radiotransparent connecting means to form, alternately, a rigid unitary support element for said flexible member when connected, and individual support elements for predetermined sections of said flexible member when disconnected, whereby said immobilizer is capable of flexibly bending between said sections when said backing member is in said latter configuration.

Claim 4

The immobilizer of claim 2 wherein said inflexible support elements each include channel means, said radiotransparent connecting means being slidably disposed in said channels for movement therein, whereby said connecting means are inserted in said channels to form said rigid unitary support element, or removed to permit said flexible radiotransparent member to bend.

Claim 5

The immobilizer of claim 2 wherein said restraining means is adapted to restrain a patient by engaging and securing various portions of said patient's body against movement; said connecting means including at least one slidable member which when removed permits said patient to bend at the pelvic region.

Claim 6

The immobilizer of claim 4 wherein said connecting means includes an additional slidable member which, when removed, permits said patient to bend at the knees.

Claim 7

The immobilizer of claim 1 wherein said restraining means includes: a plurality of pairs of straps; each strap of each said pair adapted to overlap the other strap of said pair in a mating relationship when said straps are extended over said patient; and fastening means provided along the surfaces of said straps to secure said straps in said mating relationship for securing said patient in said immobilizer.

Claim 8

The immobilizer of claim 1 wherein said flexible radiotransparent member includes: loop means extending posterior of said flexible radiotransparent member and extending around and attaching said rigid backing member to said flexible member; and pocket means fixed adjacent either end of the posterior of said flexible member, said pocket means receiving the uppermost and lowermost ends of said rigid backing member to prevent lengthwise movement of said rigid backing member.

Claim 9

The immobilizer of claim 1 wherein said flexible member and said backing member comprise mating apertures located adjacent one another to provide access for injecting medicinal or other materials into the anal portion of said patient.

Claim 10

The immobilizer of claim 1 wherein said flexible restraining means includes a plurality of flexible strap means disposed lengthwise of said flexible member in spaced relation adjacent portions of said flexible member disposed to correspond to the head region, chest region, abdomen region, knees, ankles, and elbows of said patient; said chest, abdomen, knee, elbow and ankle corresponding portions of said restraining means each comprising a pair of strap members with mating means on at least one surface of said strap members to secure the ends of said strap members together when disposed around a portion of said patient; said head region restraining means comprising an additional pair of strap members with mating means on at least one surface of one strap member adapted to extend over the forehead of said patient and fasten to the other head strap member.

Claim 11

The immobilizer of claim 1 wherein said restraining means comprises pairs of straps attached to said flexible member with mating means on at least one surface of each strap to secure the ends of said straps together when disposed around a portion of said patient; said straps disposed to correspond to the knee and elbow locations of said patient, said straps having slots spaced from the point of attachment to said flexible member; said ends of said straps adapted to be looped through said slots to provide adjustable restraining means for the limbs of said patient; said ends of each said strap extending around the region of a portion of the limb to be immobilized, passing through its respective slot, drawn tightly around said region of said limb portion, and passing again around and over said limb region to attach to said other of said pair of straps; said elbow restraining means including a loop on the posterior surface of said flexible member and extending across said flexible member; said loop providing slidable movement of said elbow restraining means relative to said flexible member.

Claim 12

The immobilizer of claim 1 wherein said restraining means includes elbow restraining means pivotally attached to said flexible member whereby said elbow restraining means is alternatively disposed in a first position whereby the elbows of the patient are secured against movement adjacent and alongside the torso of said patient, and pivotally movable to a second position whereby the elbows of the patient are secured against movement alongside the head of said patient.

Claim 13

The immobilizer of claim 11 wherein said elbow restraining means is pivotally attached along a transverse axis to the posterior of said flexible member and is adapted to pivot about said axis to move between said first position and said second position, said elbow restraining means including: pairs of straps attached to said flexible member with mating means on at least one surface of each strap to secure the ends of said straps together when disposed around the elbow of said patient; said straps having slots spaced from the point of attachment to said flexible member; said ends of said straps adapted to be looped through said slots to provide an adjustable restraining means for the elbows of said patient.

Claim 14

The immobilizer of claim 12 wherein said straps extend across a region of said flexible member corresponding to the chest of said patient and attach to each other when said elbow restraining means is in said first position, whereby said elbow restraining means simultaneously secures the elbows and the chest of said patient against movement when applied.

Claim 15

The immobilizer of claim 11 including: first strap means extending laterally across a portion of said restraining means; second strap means axially fixed to said flexible member and extending beneath said first strap means, whereby the longitudinal position of said restraining means is adjusted by sliding said restraining means along said second strap means.

Claim 16

The immobilizer of claim 1 wherein: said restraining means extends from said flexible member and includes a first flexible strap positioned to secure the arms and chest of the patient against relative movement, and a second flexible strap positioned to secure the legs of the patient against relative movement, whereby the patient may bend at the thighs and/or knees while restrained in said immobilizer and said rigid radiotransparent backing member is removed from said flexible member.

Claim 17

The immobilizer of claim 15 including: third restraining means for securing the head of said patient against movement relative to said flexible member.

Claim 18

The immobilizer of claim 15 including: third restraining means adapted to secure the thighs of said patient against movement relative to said flexible member.

Claim 19

The immobilizer of claim 15 including third restraining means adapted to secure the torso of said patient against movement relative to said flexible member.

Claim 20

The immobilizer of claim 1 wherein said flexible radiotransparent member including said restraining means is composed of a disposable material.

Claim 21

The immobilizer of claim 1 wherein: said flexible member includes a pair of slots adjacent the upper portion thereof; head restraining means mounted upon a longitudinal strap; said longitudinal strap extending through said slots whereby one end of said strap loops back into contact with a central portion of said longitudinal strap; self attachment means on said one end of said longitudinal strap to removably adhere said end of said strap to said central portion of said strap; said head restraining means including laterally extending strap means for engaging the forehead of said patient; and longitudinally extending strap means extending around the head of said patient.

Claim 22

An immobilizer for use in X-ray or surgical procedures on a patient comprising: a flexible radiotransparent member having front and posterior surfaces; a rigid radiotransparent backing member removably attached to one of said surfaces of said flexible member to provide a rigid support therefore; said flexible member including at least one pair of strap means extending therefrom, said strap means having self attachment means at the ends thereof; said strap means also including slots which receive an end of one of said straps after said strap has passed around a limb of said patient, whereby said strap is capable of being positioned in said slot to secure any size limb against movement relative to said backing member.

Claim 23

An immobilizer for use in X-ray or surgical procedures on a patient comprising: a flexible radiotransparent member having front and posterior surfaces; a rigid radiotransparent backing member removably attached to one of said surfaces of said flexible member to provide a rigid support therefore; said flexible member including at least one pair of strap means extending therefrom, said strap means having self attachment means at the ends thereof; said strap means also including slots which receive an end of one of said straps after said strap has passed around a limb of said patient, whereby said strap is capable of being positioned in said slot to secure any size limb against movement relative to said backing member.

Claim 24

The immobilizer of claim 21 including an additional pair of strap means extending from said flexible member and adapted to extend around and be secured adjacent an additional portion of said patient, whereby said limb and said additional portion of said patient are secured against relative movement.