Surgical Pillow
A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user includes a neck rest member to support the neck of the user and having an aperture, a headrest member to support the head of the user, a base member to position and support the neck rest member and the headrest member, a support member to cooperate with the aperture of the neck rest member to support the neck rest member. The headset member includes a first outwardly projecting member and a second outwardly projecting member. The first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member form an angle of approximately 90°. The aperture may be substantially D shaped, and the support member may be substantially a cylinder. The first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member may form a substantial V shape and the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member includes a curved top surface. The neck rest member includes a inclined front surface, and the neck rest member includes a curved top surface.
The present invention relates to an useful surgical pillow structure.
Surgical pillows are generally used to support the head and neck 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.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,058 discloses 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. An 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.
None of these references discloses a surgical pillow that is adequate to provide for head and neck support for a surgical application.
BRIEF SUMMARYIn accordance with the present invention, an useful surgical prone pillow structure is herein provided.
A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user includes a neck rest member to support the neck of the user and having an aperture, a headrest member to support the head of the user, a base member to position and support the neck rest member and the headrest member, a support member to cooperate with the aperture of the neck rest member to support the neck rest member.
The headset member includes a first outwardly projecting member and a second outwardly projecting member.
The first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member form an angle of approximately 90°.
The aperture may be substantially D shaped, and the support member may be substantially a cylinder.
The first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member may form a substantial V shape and the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member includes a curved top surface.
The neck rest member includes a inclined front surface, and the neck rest member includes a curved top surface.
The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
The neck rest member 102 and the headrest member 104 may be formed from a closed cell form material which is compressible resilient and which returns to the original configuration.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.
Claims
1) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user, comprising:
- a neck rest member to support the neck of the user and having an aperture;
- a headrest member to support the head of the user;
- a base member to position and support the neck rest member and the headrest member;
- a support member to cooperate with the aperture of the neck rest member to support the neck rest member.
2) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 1, wherein the headset member includes a first outwardly projecting member and a second outwardly projecting member.
3) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 2, wherein the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member form an angle of approximately 90°.
4) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 1, wherein the aperture is substantially D shaped.
5) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 1, wherein the support member is substantially a cylinder.
6) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 2, wherein the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member forms a substantial V shape.
7) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 2, wherein the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member includes a curved top surface.
8) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 2, wherein the neck rest member includes a inclined front surface.
9) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 1, wherein the neck rest member includes a curved top surface.
10) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user, comprising the steps of:
- forming a neck rest member to support the neck of the user and having an aperture;
- forming a headrest member to support the head of the user;
- forming a base member to position and support the neck rest member and the headrest member;
- forming a support member to cooperate with the aperture of the neck rest member to support the neck rest member.
11) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 10, wherein the headset member includes a first outwardly projecting member and a second outwardly projecting member.
12) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 11, wherein the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member form an angle of approximately 90°.
13) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 10, wherein the aperture is substantially D shaped.
14) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 10, wherein the support member is substantially a cylinder.
15) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 11, wherein the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member forms a substantial V shape.
16) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 11, wherein the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member includes a curved top surface.
17) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 11, wherein the neck rest member includes a inclined front surface.
18) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 10, wherein the neck rest member includes a curved top surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 27, 2007
Publication Date: Jan 29, 2009
Inventor: Gery Hsu (Wichita, KS)
Application Number: 11/829,306
International Classification: A47C 20/00 (20060101);