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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. An adjustable head support for ensuring passive immobilization of a
patient's head while the patient is lying in a prone position comprising:
a base support having a lower rail and an upper rail;
said lower and upper rails formed from a continuous piece of wire bent into
a pair of multi-sided shapes arranged in lower and upper parallel planes,
and having one side of each lower and upper multi-sided shapes open, with
short horizontal wire portions on the open sides of said shapes extending
away from said shapes and parallel to the spinal axis of a patient
utilizing said adjustable head support and in the same planes as said
multi-sided shapes, said short horizontal wire portions of said lower and
upper multi-sided shapes being interconnected by short vertical portions
of said continuous piece of wire such that a spring hinge action is
effected between said lower and upper rails, said spring hinge action
having an effective pivot point near the base of the patient's neck;
said lower rail for engaging a support surface such as a mattress; and
said upper rail having a first means for adjustably supporting a pad upon
which a patient's chin rests and having a second means for adjustably
supporting a pad upon which a patient's forehead rests.
2. An adjustable head support according to claim 1, wherein:
said lower rail and said upper rail are connected together such that the
base support provides a floating effect for a patient's head while lying
in the prone position.
3. An adjustable head support according to claim 1, wherein:
said first means for supporting a pad upon which a patient's chin rests
comprises a strap laterally adjustable in connectors attached to said rail
whereby the distance between said mattress to the strap may be adjusted to
provide a distance of 11/2 ".
4. An adjustable head support according to claim 1, wherein:
said second means for supporting a pad upon which a patient's forehead
rests comprises a second strap laterally adjustable in connectors attached
to said rail whereby the distance between said mattress and said strap may
be adjusted and whereby the connectors may be longitudinally adjustable on
said rail so that the distance between said first strap and said second
strap may be set.
5. An adjustable head support according to claim 1, wherein:
said hydraulic means comprises antiseptic get in said pads ensuring maximum
equalization of pressure on facial bone structure.
6. An adjustable head support according to claim 1, wherein:
said hydraulic means comprises fluid circulating between said pads by
suitable tubing.
7. An adjustable head support according to claim 8, wherein:
said fluid means has heating and cooling means for regulating the
temperature of said fluid circulating between said pads.
8. An adjustable head support according to claim 6, wherein:
sonic means is associated with the fluid means for applying vibratory
frequency to said pads for tissue and sensory stimulation.
9. An adjustable head support for ensuring passive immobilization of a
patient's head while the patient is lying in a prone position comprising:
a base support having a lower rail and an upper rail; said lower and upper
rials formed from a continuous piece of wire bent into a pair of
multi-sided shapes arranged in lower and upper parallel planes, and having
one side of each lower and upper multi-sided shapes open, with short
horizontal wire portions on the open sides of said shapes extending away
from said shapes and parallel to the spinal axis of a patient utilizing
said adjustable head support and in the same planes as said multi-sided
shapes, said short horizontal wire portions of said lower and upper
multi-sided shapes being interconnected by short vertical portions of said
continuous piece of wire such that a spring hinge action is effected
between said lower and upper rails, said spring hinge action having an
effective pivot point near the base of the patient's neck;
said lower rail or engaging a support surface such as a mattress; and
said upper rail having a first means for adjustably supporting a pad upon
which a patient's chin rests and having a second means for adjustably
supporting a pad upon which a patient's forehead rests;
said first and second straps telescopically received in connectors attached
to said upper rail, and
said pads having hydraulic means to enhance the comfort of a patient while
lying on the subject support.
10. An adjustable head support for ensuring passive immobilization of a
patient's head while the patient is lying in a prone position comprising:
a base support having a lower rail and an upper rail; said lower and upper
rails formed from a continuous piece of wire bent into a pair of
multi-sided shapes arranged in lower and upper parallel planes, and having
one side of each lower and upper multi-sided shapes open, with short
horizontal wire portions on the open sides of said shapes extending away
from said shapes and parallel to the spinal axis of a patient utilizing
said adjustable head support and in the same planes as said multi-sided
shapes, said short horizontal wire portions of said lower and upper
multi-sided shapes being interconnected by short vertical portions of said
continuous piece of wire such that a spring hinge action is effected
between said lower and upper rails, said spring hinge action having an
effective pivot point near the base of the patient's neck;
said lower rail for engaging a support surface such as a mattress; and
said upper rail having a first strap for supporting a pad upon which a
patient's chin rests, said strap laterally adjustable in connectors
attached on said rail whereby the vertical distance from the mattress to
the strap may be set; said upper rail having a second strap for supporting
a pad upon which a patient's forehead rests, said strap laterally
adjustable in connectors attached to said rail, and said connectors
longitudinally adjustable on said rail whereby the vertical distance from
the mattress to the strap may be set, and whereby the distance between the
first strap and the second strap may be adjusted; and said pads having
hydraulic means to enhance the comfort of a patient while lying in the
prone position.
11. An adjustable head support according to claim 10 wherein:
said connectors having securing means for said straps and said rail
comprising a unique nut and bolt arrangement.
12. An adjustable head support according to claim 11, wherein:
said bolt has a rounded outer end portion, a threaded shank portion, a
reduced portion and an arrow-like end portion, and said nut has a threaded
bore to receive the threaded shank portion, a chamber to receive the
reduced shank portion and arrow-like end portion, and means extending into
said chamber behind the arrow-like end portion to ensure that the bolt
cannot be completely turned out of the nut.
13. An adjustable head support according to claim 12 wherein:
said means extending into said chamber comprises a set-screw.
14. An adjustable head support according to claim 12, wherein:
said means extending into said chamber comprises a taut wire. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to an adjustable cranial support device which
provides the vitrectomy patient with as comfortable a head support as
possible for the duration of the number of days the patient is required to
lie in a prone position following surgery or other procedures.
2. Prior Art
The prior art shows various designs of head supports for use by patients
who must lie in a prone position.
Wynkoop (U.S. Pat. No. 2,803,022) shows such a device. In addition to
providing a head support, the device also provides areas for supporting
the upper body. Treace (U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,831) discloses a head support
constructed from foam material and includes a base portion 15 and a pair
of pads 33, 35 supported on the base portion. Eary (U.S. Pat. No.
3,828,377) shows an adjustable body support having a face support 6 and
shoulder rests 4, 5 supported on base 2. Eary (U.S. Pat. No. 1,913,155)
discloses an adjustable head and shoulder rest comprising shoulder rests
6, 7 and face rests 3, 4 and 5 and Osborne (U.S. Pat. No. 4,504,050) shows
a head support 8 mounted for movement on flanges 6 and 7.
None of these patents show a simplified flexible, lightweight, stainless
steel frame having laterally and longitudinally adjustable pad-supporting
straps which ensure the vitrectomy patient of optimum head support while
lying in the prone position after surgery or other procedures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is a need for a simple, inexpensive, portable support which ensures
the most comfortable head support for a patient while lying in the prone
position.
It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a head support
for a patient which is designed to permit access to a patient's eyes, nose
and mouth without disturbing immobilization of the head, and, at the same
time, allow the patient to have breathing room while lying in a prone
position after vitrectomy surgery.
Another object of this invention is to provide a head support having a
unique, flexible, lightweight, stainless steel frame which provides a
floating effect for a patient's head while the patient is lying in a prone
position.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide the frame with
adjustable straps for supporting removable pads upon which a patient's
chin and forehead rests.
Still another object of this invention is to provide unique fastening means
for permitting adjustment and securement of the pad-supporting straps on
the frame.
Another object of this invention is the provision of chin and forehead
supporting pads which comprise plastic shells filled with antiseptic gel,
thus providing soft, resilient supports for a patient's head.
A further object of this invention is the utilization of fluid-filled pads
instead of the gel-filled plastic shell and the provision of
interconnecting means for the fluid-filled pads whereby the fluid may
circulate between the chin-supporting pad and the forehead-supporting pad.
A special object of this invention is to provide temperature regulating
means for said fluid-filled pads to ensure critical temperature control
for the circulating fluid.
Yet another special object of this invention is to provide the fluid-filled
pads with sonic application means to control the frequency and intensity
of tissue/sensory stimulation.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those
skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from a reading of the
following specifications when taken in light of the annexed drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a female patient lying in a prone position
with her head supported in the head support of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a male patient lying in a prone position
with his head supported in the head support of this invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention showing the various
components in exploded arrangement and showing temperature controlling
means and sonic application means connected to the supporting pads.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the upper portion of the frame showing the
adjustable straps attached thereto.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the frame showing the fastening means which permit
adjustment of the straps telescopically of each other and longitudinally
along the rail of the upper frame portion.
FIG. 6 is a side view of a supporting strap with reinforcing means for
preventing dishing of the strap by the weight of a patient's head.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the strap connecting portion in folded-out form.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the strap connecting portion folded to form
a connection for the end of the strap.
FIG. 9 is a side view in section of the bolt and nut securing means with a
set-screw in position to prevent the bolt from being turned out of the
socket.
FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9 showing an alternative means
for retaining the bolt in the nut.
FIG. 11 is a side view of the means for securing the supporting pads to the
supporting straps.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of fluid-filled supporting pads
interconnected by hollow tubes.
FIG. 13 is a side-section view of a chin-supporting pad taken along the
line 13--13 of FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 is a side-section view of a forehead-supporting pad taken along the
line 14--14 of FIG. 12.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the antiseptic gel-filled supporting pads.
FIG. 16 is a side-section view of the chin-supporting pad taken along the
line 16--16 of FIG. 15.
FIG. 17 is a side-section view of the forehead-supporting pad taken along
the line 17--17 of FIG. 15.
FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of a disposable adhesive-backed air
breathing pad removably attached to the forehead and chin-supporting pads.
FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the supporting pads and
disposable air breathing pads.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Referring now in more detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a female patient
P lying in the prone position, which is required following vitrectomy
surgery, with her head supported in the head support device 10 of the
invention. Pillows PL are used to maintain the body as close to horizontal
as possible. This ensures maximum comfort for the patient and optimum
support of the patient's head.
FIG. 2 shows a male patient P lying in the prone position with the head
supported in the head support 10. Pillows PL are used to maintain the body
as close to horizontal as possible. Any number of pillows may be used.
In FIG. 3 there is shown a head support 10 which includes a base portion 12
comprising an upper rail portion 14 and a lower rail portion 16. The upper
rail portion 14 has an oblique leg 18 and a horizontal arm 20. The lower
rail portion 16 has an oblique leg 22 and a horizontal arm 23 which is
parallel to and spaced a distance from the common connecting rod 24. It
will be understood that the rails 14 and 16 are continuous, being
constructed from a single piece of stainless steel heavy duty wire. It
also will be appreciated that configuration of the legs opposite 18, 20,
22, 23, and 24 is exactly the same.
Supported on the upper rail portion 14 is a strap 26 having end connectors
28, 30. The connectors 28, 30, FIG. 7, are made from a T-shaped flat
stainless steel metal having short arms 32, 34, and having knurled
surfaces 36, 38 at the outer ends. The long arm 40 has scribe lines 42 for
ease of location of bending the outer half 44 around the mandrel (whose
diameter equates to that of the support frame) and over the inner half 46.
Each half 44, 46 has square holes 48, which, when the halves overlay each
other as in FIG. 8, are aligned over each other and the knurled ends will
engage the ends 50, one shown, of the strap 26. When the end 50 is
inserted in the connector 28, FIG. 8, the slots 52 will lie between the
sets of square holes 48. To secure the ends 50 in the connectors 28, 30
the nut 60 and bolt 62, having square shoulders to mate with the square
holes, are used. The bolt 62 comprises a rounded outer end 64, larger in
diameter than the square holes 48, a square shoulder 65, a threaded shank
66, a reduced portion 68 and an arrow-like end 70. The nut 60 has a
threaded bore 72, and a chamber 74 with a transverse threaded bore 76 for
screwing a setscrew 78.
As seen in FIGS. 4-6, the connectors 28, 30 are slidably mounted on the
rail 14 opposite each other. The ends 50 of the strap 26 are telescoped in
the connectors such that the slots 52 lie between the holes 48. The bolt
62 with square shoulder 65 is inserted through the square holes 48 and
slots 50 and tightened such that the knurled surfaces bite against the
ends of the strap. Once tightened, the set-screw 78 is turned in and
abutts the reduced portion 68 behind the arrow-like end 70 to lock the
bolt in place. It will be seen that the strap may be adjusted inwardly or
outwardly of the connectors 28, 30 by loosening the nut and bolt. This
provides for adjustment of the height of a patient's head above the
mattress, not shown. The desired height of the patient's head is one inch
to one and one half inches above the mattress. The other set of square
holes 81 receive a similar nut 60 and bolt 62 which, when tightened,
secure the connectors 28, 30 to the rail 14. In order to permit
longitudinal movements of the connectors along the rail 14, it is only
necessary to loosen the nut and bolt, FIG. 5.
An alternate form of bolt retaining means is shown in FIG. 10. The nut 60
has a wire 61 passing through the chamber such that its point of contact
with the bolt 62, not shown, is the point 71 of the arrow-like end 70. It
will be appreciated that the taut wire 61 moves outwardly as the arrow
passes inwardly of the chamber 74. Once beyond the widest end of the
arrow, the wire springs inwardly and abutts the reduced portion 68 thus
maintaining the bolt in place. There is sufficient distance from the
set-screw, on the one hand, and the wire on the other, and the widest end
of the arrow to allow the bolt to be turned out of the bore 72 to make the
necessary adjustments.
Fastened to the rail 14 on legs 20 near the leg 24 is a second strap 80,
FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, secured by a nut and bolt 60, 62 similar to that of
strap 26. The strap 80 is larger in width than strap 26, having extensions
82, 84. The extension 84 is notched to form an opening 86. A pair of holes
88 will receive the shank portions of bolts to secure a support pad to the
strap 80 to be explained in more detail below.
It will be appreciated that the strap 80 may be adjusted telescopically in
connectors 28, 30 and longitudinally along the legs 20 by loosening nuts
and bolts 60, 62. The strap 80 has a reinforcing strip 86, FIG. 6, secured
thereto by fasteners such as bolts or rivets 88. This reinforcing is
important to prevent dishing of the strap 80 by the weight of a patient's
head.
The supporting pads 90 and 91, one shown, FIGS. 11-16, comprise a plastic
shell filled with antiseptic gel 92 to form a pneumatic or hydraulic
support for a patient's forehead and chin. The pad 90 has one end of a
bolt 94 secured inside the shell with the threaded shank portion 96
extending through the holes 98 in the straps 26. Nuts 100, secured in
support straps 101 which are fastened at one end to the straps 26 by
rivets 103, secure the bolts and pads to the straps 26. The straps 101
retain the nuts 100 at a location near holes 96.
FIG. 15 shows the pads 90, 91 in spaced-apart relationship as they would
appear when secured to straps 80 and 26 respectively. Pad 90 is notched to
form an opening 102 for the mouth of a patient and an opening 104, for the
nose. It will thus be apparent that access to the patient's mouth and nose
may be had through these openings without moving the patient's head.
FIGS. 16 and 17 shows the cross-sectional views of the forehead-supporting
pad 91 and the chin-supporting pad 90 respectively, with the shank portion
96 of bolts 94.
The pads 90 and 91 may be factory-filled and sealed with an antiseptic gel,
FIGS. 15-17, or filled with an antiseptic fluid 110, FIGS. 12-14, through
fill hole 112 having cap 114. The fluid-filled pads 90 and 91 have
interconnecting tubes 116, 118 whereby the fluid may circulate between the
pads for heat transfer as well as pressure equalization. The fluid
circulating through pads 90, 91 may be heated or cooled by circulating
pump 120, FIG. 3. The circulating pump 120 incorporates not only a rotary
circulating pump for circulating the pad fluid, but also a heat exchanger
for cooling the pad fluid by means of an outside source (e.g. commercial
chilled-water devices or tap water) and thermostatically controlled
heating elements for precise control of the pad fluid temperature.
The circulating pump 120 will have batteries when used away from
conventional electric sources and plug, not shown, to connect it to a
conventional source of electricity.
Further, the pads 90, 91 may be attachable to a sonic transducer 130 having
lines 132 connected to a suitable receiver inside the pads to cause sonic
vibrations to the pads to produce tissue/sensory stimulation. This
application is especially useful for paralyzed patients.
The pads 90, 91, FIG. 19, will be covered with disposable sanitary covers
140, 142 for patient comfort and protection. These sanitary covers
comprise a bottom layer 144, only one pad to be discussed, having an
adhesive coating for attachment to the pads 90, 91, an intermediate
moisture-absorbing layer 146, and outer face-engaging layer 148. This
layer 148 may be a soft breathable material of a suitable type. The layers
144-148 are secured together to form a one-piece disposable cover, FIG.
19. The covers permit air circulation between the patient's skin and the
pads. The pads 90, 91 are of a composition that can be put into a gas
sterilizer and thus are reusable.
The unique adjustment features of the chin and forehead support pads
provides for pre-surgery fitting of the head support to the precise
dimensions of the patient's face.
While the invention has been described with respect to the preferred
embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art to
which the invention pertains, that numerous changes may be made therein
without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
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Description |
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