Cervical-thoracic orthosis and method

Claim 1

A cervical-thoracic orthosis for minimizing relative motion between the head and thorax of a patient, and thus of the cervical spine, said orthosis comprising, a sternal pad for bearing against the anterior aspect of the sternal site of the patient; an interscapular pad for bearing against the posterior aspect of the interscapular region of the patient; and two lateral pads for bearing against the respective lateral aspects of the thorax beneath the arms of the patient, support means interconnecting said pads; and means for connecting said support means to a halo ring, said orthosis making no substantial engagement with the thorax of the patient except through said pads, said orthosis having no structure which substantially contacts the upper aspect of the shoulder girdle, the posterior aspect of the scapula, the pectoralis major muscle and breast tissue, or the upper portion of the abdomen of the patient, said orthosis thereby minimizing the possibility that movement of any of such non-contacted areas relative to said pads could apply undesirable forces to the head and neck, and thus permitting less relative motion between the head and the thorax than a device deriving substantial support from other areas of the thorax than those engaged by said pads.

Claim 12

A method of stabilizing the cervical spine of a patient against movement, comprising, supporting an orthosis on the patient by substantially engaging it with only the following sites on the patient's thorax: the anterior aspect of the sternal site; the posterior aspect of the interscapular region; and the two lateral aspects of the thorax; securing said orthosis on the patient so that it bears only on said sites and moves only as said sites move, spacing said orthosis outwardly from the following areas of the body surface which are movable relative to the thorax: the upper aspect of the shoulder girdle, the posterior aspect of the scapula, the pectoralis major muscle and breast tissue, and the upper portion of the abdomen; securing a halo ring around the head of a patient, and rigidly connecting said halo ring to said orthosis.

Claim 13

A method of stabilizing the cervical spine of a patient against movement, comprising, supporting an orthosis on the patient by substantially engaging it with only the following sites on the patient's thorax: the anterior aspect of the sternal site; the posterior aspect of the interscapular region; and the two lateral aspects of the thorax; securing said orthosis on the patient so that it bears only on said sites and moves only as said sites move, spacing said orthosis outwardly from the following areas of the body surface which are movable relative to the thorax: the upper aspect of the shoulder girdle, the posterior aspect of the scapula, the pectoralis major muscle and breast tissue, and the upper portion of the abdomen; securing a halo ring around the head of a patient, and rigidly connecting said halo ring to said orthosis.