Importance

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Abstract

A cervical thoracic orthosis includes a chest plate and a back plate overlying a patient's chest and back, adjustable shoulder straps and waist straps for securing the chest and back plate to the patient's upper torso, an occipital support conforming to the shape of the patient's occipital region, an upright occipital support bar adjustably securing the occipital support to the back plate, a flexible chin support suspended inside a rigid chin support member, and an upright chin support bar adjustably securing the chin support member, to the chest plate. Axially rigid but bendable lateral support rods are fastened between the occipital support and the chin support member to provide a rigid surrounding frame structure that holds the patient's head in any fixed desired orientation. The lateral support rods are bendable to a desired configuration and releasably adjustable in length for shaping the rigid outer frame structure. The chin support member has a recessed region so that to the patient's chin is supported entirely by the flexible chin support without contacting the rigid chin support member while the sides of the chin support member apply a more rigid support to the jaw. A flexible forehead strap secured to the occipital support includes a non-skid skin adhesion material to enhance frictional contact with the patient's forehead for resisting movement of the patient's head even in the temporary absence of the chin support.

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First Claim