The Aspen Vista™ CTO4 Patient Handbook provides comprehensive instructions for the proper application, care, and maintenance of the Aspen Vista™ CTO4 brace, a medical device designed to support and stabilize the cervical and upper thoracic spine. This brace is intended to help patients with conditions requiring spinal immobilization, as determined by a physician. The manual emphasizes adherence to physician's instructions for safe and effective care.
Function Description
The Aspen Vista™ CTO4 is a cervical-thoracic orthosis (CTO) that provides rigid support to the neck and upper back. Its primary function is to restrict movement of the cervical and upper thoracic spine, facilitating healing and preventing further injury. The brace is designed with various components that can be customized to meet specific patient needs, ensuring an optimal fit and therapeutic outcome. It features a multi-post collar system, anterior and posterior struts, and a lumbar belt with a posterior panel, all working in conjunction to provide comprehensive immobilization.
Important Technical Specifications
While specific technical specifications like material composition or weight are not explicitly detailed in the provided pages, the manual highlights several design features that contribute to its functionality:
- MultiPost Collar: This component is crucial for cervical support and can be adjusted to achieve the best fit as instructed by a physician.
- Anterior and Posterior Struts: These struts are key structural elements that connect the collar to the lumbar belt, providing rigid support. The anterior strut can be added or removed based on the patient's progression of care, as advised by a healthcare provider. The posterior strut slides into a slot on the lumbar belt's posterior panel and locks into place with connection posts.
- Lumbar Belt Posterior Panel: This panel anchors the posterior strut, distributing forces and providing stability to the lower part of the brace.
- Adjustable Straps: The brace incorporates multiple loop straps for securing the collar and back panel, allowing for even tightening and adjustment for comfort.
- Padded Components: All contact points with the patient's body are equipped with pads to enhance comfort and prevent skin irritation. These pads are designed for easy removal and replacement.
Usage Features
The manual provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for applying and adjusting the Aspen Vista™ CTO4 brace:
- Initial Positioning: The patient is log-rolled to position the posterior strut and collar back panel, ensuring the loop straps are correctly placed between the ear and the trapezius.
- Collar Placement: The sides of the collar are positioned up and over the trapezius muscles. It is noted that the chin piece does not necessarily need to touch the chin initially.
- MultiPost Collar Adjustment: The Vista MultiPost Collar is positioned according to the physician's instructions to achieve the best fit.
- Strap Tightening: Both collar straps are tightened to secure the cervical component.
- Back Panel Attachment: Back panel clips are attached to the sides of the vest, and straps are pulled evenly to tighten the back panel. Strap padding is adjusted for comfort.
- Chin Piece Check: The back of the chin piece is checked to ensure it is not pressing inward on the throat. If it is, the back ends of the side panels are lifted up and off the trapezius muscles.
- Lumbar Pad Strap Check: The lumbar pad straps are checked again to ensure they are comfortable and secure.
Adding/Removing the Anterior Strut:
- Adding: The tabs of the anterior clip on the Vista CTO Anterior strut are aligned with the slots on the front of the Vista Collar and pushed until they snap into place.
- Removing: The tabs on each end of the clip are pushed in, and the strut is pulled away from the collar. This action is performed as instructed by a healthcare provider based on the patient's care progression.
Adding/Removing the Posterior Strut:
- Adding: The three connection posts of the posterior strut are aligned with the three openings in the Vista MultiPost back panel and pushed into position. The strut support is then pushed down to lock into place, ensuring all three connectors are engaged. The posterior strut is slid into the slot on the lumbar belt posterior panel until it snaps into place.
- Removing: To remove, a button on the bottom of the posterior connection point (on both the collar and the lumbar pad) is pressed, and the strut is slid up. This procedure may be instructed by a healthcare provider for patients who are supine in bed.
Maintenance Features
The manual outlines clear instructions for cleaning and replacing the brace's pads to ensure hygiene and longevity:
Pad Removal:
- Pads are removed by peeling them away from the hook dots that attach them to the plastic shell.
- For some pads, specifically those in the collar and lumbar region, straps must first be unthreaded by pushing them through the slits in the pad and then through the slots in the outer edge of the plastic.
Pad Washing:
- Pads should be hand-washed with mild soap and warm water.
- Machine washing or bleaching is explicitly prohibited.
- Pads must be rinsed thoroughly.
- The plastic shell can be wiped with mild soap and water, then rinsed and towel-dried before re-attaching pads.
Pad Drying:
- Excess water is squeezed out of the pads using a towel.
- Pads should be allowed to completely air dry by laying them on a towel.
- Heat should not be used for drying.
- Replacement pads should be used during drying time to maintain continuous brace use.
Pad Replacement:
- All pads are designed with a green side facing the plastic and a white side facing the patient.
- To reattach pads, the green side must be properly aligned with the corresponding hook dots on the brace.
- For the upper pad on the collar, the top piece must cover the front and rear edges of the plastic components.
- To replace the back pad, the green side is attached to the hook dots on the back panel. Once aligned, the straps need to be re-threaded through the padding and plastic slots.
Aspen Medical Products, LLC provides a One Year Limited Warranty to the original purchaser, covering defects in material and workmanship for one year. The sole obligation of Aspen Medical Products, LLC in case of a warranty breach is to repair or replace the defective product or part(s). The warranty is void under specific conditions, including if the product was not purchased through authorized channels, if it is altered, if non-Aspen Medical Products parts are used, or if it is not used according to the instructions. The warranty explicitly disclaims all other warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, and excludes liability for direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages. The manual advises users to review all material for proper use and notes that the warranty provides specific legal rights that may vary by state.
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