Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6637058
-
Patent Number
6,637,058
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, April 23, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 28, 200320 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 005 636
- 005 637
- 005 638
- 005 643
- 005 645
- 005 6559
- 005 740
- 005 953
- 005 727
- 005 644
- 005 654
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A surgical prone pillow structure utilizing a base member formed of a compressible resilient material which rapidly assumes an original configuration upon the release of pressure. A upper member formed of a molded resilient closed cell foam material is also employed. The upper member possesses a soft outer surface which is contoured to contact the head of a patient while the patient lies in a prone position. The base member and the soft upper member are connected to one another to form seams which are soft to the touch.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a novel and useful surgical prone pillow structure.
Surgical pillows are generally used to support the head and face of a patient during the performance of surgical procedures. In the past, many pillows have been devised to support the head of persons. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,799,275 and 5,163,195, as well as European Patent EP 0880925 A1 show pillow structures which are intended to provide comfort to the user in various situations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,448 describes a prone position support pillow with cut outs to accommodate anatomical features of the face to provide comfort to the user.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,752,064, 5,269,035, 5,613,501, Des. 298,992 and Des. 337,914 show surgical pillows having contoured upper face regions to support the user during surgical procedures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,983 describes a head and chin rest usable for facedown surgical procedures. The base of the pillow has a rocker structure to allow pivoting of the head and chin rest of the patient. The head and chin rests are stabilized with a wedge such as a small towel when a comfortable position is determined.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,831 teaches a surgical pillow having a base portion formed of coarse foam which permits air to pass. An upper portion is formed of soft or fine open cell foam which also is pervious to air. The upper foam is finer than the foam employed in the base portion.
A pillow structure which enjoys the resiliency of certain foam materials yet provides a soft contoured non-abrasive surface for contact with the user would be a notable advance in the medical field.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention a novel and useful surgical prone pillow structure is herein provided.
The structure of the present invention includes a base member formed of a resilient material. The base member is compressed from an original configuration under pressure and is capable of assuming the original configuration upon the removal of such pressure. For example, the base member may be formed of an open cell foam material of moderate density. The base member may be formed by die-cutting. Such die-cutting would contour the inner portion of the base member to conform to the extremities of the face which may enter that region.
An upper member is also included in the present invention. The upper member is formed of a molded resilient, closed cell foam material. The upper member possesses a very soft outer surface which is contoured to contact the head of the patient in a position for the performance of surgery. The contoured upper member closely follows the contours of the base member therebelow.
Means is also provided for connecting the base member to the upper member. Such connecting means may take the form of an adhesive which holds the base member to the upper member. A seam is formed between the base member and the upper member which is soft to the touch. Such non-abrasive seam is achieved by recessing the adhesive material away from the outer surfaces of the upper member and base member. Thus, cured adhesive, which tends to be quite hard, is not accessible to the skin of the patient using the structure of the present invention.
In many cases, the upper member may be formed of closed cell foam material of a certain density. Such density may be varied according to the surgery being performed and the characteristics of the patient, such as weight and size, the density of the base member is not varied. In addition, the mass of the base member generally exceeds the mass of the upper member to provide stability to the pillow structure of the present invention. The base member, possessing excellent resiliency, generally forms a shock absorbing element, while the upper member, although resilient, provides softness and comfort.
It may be apparent that a novel and useful surgical prone pillow structure has hereinabove been described.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a surgical pillow structure which includes a very resilient base member and a less resilient, but soft, upper member utilized in tandem.
Another object of the present invention is to provide surgical pillow structure which employs an upper member portion which is molded to provide a soft and easily contoured element that effectively fits facial features of a patient.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a surgical pillow structure which includes polymeric foam members of different characteristics which are seamed together without creating abrasive edges.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a surgical pillow structure which comfortably supports a patient during surgery and eliminates abrasion injury during surgical procedures.
A further object of the present is to provide a surgical pillow structure which incorporates the employment of an intubation tube.
The invention possesses other objects and advantages especially as concerns particular characteristics and features thereof which will become apparent as the specification continues.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1
is a side elevational view of the structure of the present invention showing portions in cutaway configuration for the purpose of revealing material characteristics.
FIG. 2
is a top plan view of the pillow structure of the present invention.
FIG. 3
is a sectional view taken along line
3
—
3
of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is a elevational view taken along line
4
—
4
of FIG.
2
.
FIG. 5
is a side elevational view of the structure of the present invention in use with a patient, shown in phantom.
For a better understanding of the invention reference is made the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which should be referenced to the hereinabove described drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Various aspects of the present invention will evolve from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which should be taken together with the above delineated drawings.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in whole in the drawings by reference character
10
. Surgical prone pillow structure
10
includes as one of its elements a base member
12
formed as a block of resilient material. For example, base member
12
may be formed of an open cell, die-cut, polymeric material such as polyurethane, polyethylene, and the like. Most importantly, base member
12
is formed of a resilient material which is capable of being compressed from an original configuration under pressure to a compressed state. Release of such pressure will allow the base member
12
to assume its original configuration within a short time period, a matter of seconds. Base member
12
, being an open cell foam, permits the passage of air therethrough and into cavity
14
which extends through base member
12
from upper surface
16
to lower surface
18
. Base member
12
is essentially a rectangular solid formed by top surface
16
, bottom surface
18
, and upwardly extending side portion
20
.
Structure
10
also includes as one of its elements an upper member
22
. Upper member
22
includes a bottom surface
24
, an upper surface
26
, and side surface
28
. Again, upper member
22
takes the form of a rectangular solid and includes an extension of cavity
14
through the center portion, best shown in FIG.
2
. Upper member
22
is formed of a molded, resilient closed cell foam material such that upper surface
26
, and the edge portions surrounding cavity
14
are radius. All the surfaces
24
,
26
, and
28
of upper member
22
are soft. Upper member
22
is resilient, but not as resilient as base member
12
. Upper member
22
may be formed into various densities depending of the type of surgical procedure being used and the characteristics of the patient being operated upon. For example, a heavier of bulkier patient would require upper member
22
to possess a higher density. The mass of upper member
22
is somewhat less than the mass of base member
12
to provide stability to the structure
10
as shown.
An aperture
30
through base member
12
allows the insertion of an intubation tube
52
during surgical procedures. Slot
32
of upper member
22
and slit
34
of base member
12
permit the intubation tube to be pushed downwardly into aperture
30
for use.
Pillow structure
10
also includes means
36
for connecting base member
12
to upper member
22
, FIG.
3
. Means
36
may take the form of an adhesive layer
38
which is constructed of any suitable material capable of bonding upper member
22
to base member
12
. Most importantly, seam
40
is formed between base member
12
and upper member
22
. Adhesive layer
38
is recessed from outer surface of base member
12
and outer surface
28
of upper member
22
, leaving a gap
42
. Any contact with the surfaces of base member
12
and/or upper member
22
will not entail contacting hardened adhesive layer
38
. It should be noted that seam
40
extends about the outer surface of structure
10
. In addition, a seam
44
is formed between inner surface
46
of upper member
22
and inner surface
48
of base member
12
, FIG.
4
. Seam
44
is located within cavity
14
of structure
10
.
In operation, upper member
22
is selected from a particular density and adhered to base member
12
by the use of connecting means
36
, namely adhesive layer
38
. Positioning of adhesive layer
38
between upper member
22
and base member
12
obviates hard edges between base member
12
and upper member
22
. Intubation tube
52
is then passed through aperture
30
using slot
32
and slit
34
. The patient's head
50
is then placed facedown into cavity
14
of structure
10
. The skin portions of head
50
contact soft upper member surface
26
and side surface
46
within cavity
14
. Seam
44
between base member
12
and upper member
22
is also soft to the touch since adhesive layer
38
is recessed from such surfaces at seam
44
. The patient
50
is supported comfortably and is unlikely to receive abrasive injuries due to structure
10
while a surgical procedure takes place.
While in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A surgical prone pillow structure, comprising:a. a base member, said base member formed of a resilient material being compressible from an original configuration under pressure and being capable of assuming said original configuration upon the removal of said pressure; b. an upper member formed of a molded resilient closed cell foam material said upper member possessing a soft outer surface contained to contact the head of the patient in a position for the performance of surgery thereupon, said upper member overlying said base member; c. a cavity extending through said base member and said upper member overlying said base member; and d. means for connecting said base member to said upper member, said means including a surface of said base member nested against a surface of said upper member, said surfaces of said base member and said upper member terminating in a seam in said cavity, said surface of said upper member, said layer of adhesive being recessed from said seam at said cavity.
- 2. The structure of claim 1 in which said base member is constructed of an open cell foam polymeric material.
- 3. The structure of claim 1 in which the density of said upper member differs from the density of said base member.
- 4. The structure of claim 1 in which the mass of said base member exceeds the mass of said upper member.
US Referenced Citations (24)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2244000 |
Nov 1991 |
GB |