Supportive upper body constraint device
A supportive upper body constraint device comprising a base comprising a foam material with a preselected impression load deflection (ILD) ratio for a desired resiliency, and a smooth-surface cover on the base comprising an elastomeric foam material with an ILD ratio less than the base. The device comprises opposing support members on the base, the cover supportingly disposed by the base and support members in a concave contour defining a cavity.
This invention relates generally to the field of durable medical equipment and more particularly without limitation to a supportive upper body constraint device for supporting a user's upper body in a reclined position while constraining lateral movement of the user's upper body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere are a number of physical ailments or conditions requiring a person to rest or sleep on their back in a partially reclined upright position. Sleep disorders such as apnea and snoring often times can only be controlled or prevented by such an upright reclined position. Surgical procedures such as back or shoulder surgery typically require such post-operative sleeping and resting posture in order to properly support the body while convalescing. Recovery from rotator cuff surgery, for example, typically involves about a four-week regimen of sleeping in a sling and being constrained in some manner to prevent rolling over onto the surgically repaired shoulder.
One solution widely used is propping the person up on several stacked pillows. There are at least a couple of disadvantages to this solution. First, the person will typically attempt to roll laterally to one side or the other as part of the normal sleep pattern. Because the pillows don't provide adequate lateral constraining support, this can cause excruciating pain and damage to the body when the person is in post-operative care, particularly in the case of a post-operative shoulder recovery. Second, because the pillows lack sufficient resiliency, even when staying in a position reclining on their back, typically one or more pillows will compress under the user's body weight and fail to provide comfortable support necessary to prevent undue stress on muscles and joints.
Especially because of the former problem above, it is not unusual for a doctor to recommend that a shoulder-surgery patient sleep in a reclining chair for a time while convalescing. This is because the reclining chair provides sufficient lateral support, preventing the patient from rolling onto or imparting strain onto the shoulder joint. Although sleeping in a recliner provides lateral support, this benefit comes at the expense of a restful night of sleep because the reclining chair does not offer a comfortable sleeping position for an extended time. The reclining chair constrains not only the upper body, necessarily so, but also constrains the lower body and legs in an awkward partially-bent posture that is not conducive to repositioning during sleep or rest for comfort sake. This lack of comfort typically leads to the loss of sleep, which can be detrimental to the patient's timely recovery and return to normal activities.
It has been determined, however, that a longitudinally disposed wedge-shaped supportive device comprising opposing laterally directed support members can be constructed to provide an improved solution to this problem. The longitudinally disposed wedge-shaped portion can be placed onto a bed or other supporting surface for supporting the upper body. The opposing laterally directed support members cradle the upper body to constrain lateral movement. Although the upper body is constrained laterally, the lower body and legs are supported by the bed or other supporting surface and are therefore substantially freely repositionable for better comfort. The device comprises a relatively higher-density supporting portion for resiliency with a relatively lesser-density covering continuously conforming and adjusting to the upper body shape. The covering preferably comprises an elastomeric foam type of material with a smooth engagement surface to envelop the upper body, providing continguous engagement and thereby continuous support of a joint such as a shoulder joint. It has been observed that such a device offers upper body lateral support better than that of a reclining chair and with far-better sleeping and resting comfort. It is to these improvements and others as exemplified by the description that embodiments of the present invention are directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe embodiments of the present invention contemplate a supportive upper body constraint device. The device comprises a base comprising a foam material with an impression load deflection (ILD) ratio greater than about 40, and a cover on the base comprising a smooth-surface foam material with an ILD ratio less than the base. In one embodiment the cover comprises an elastomeric foam material with an ILD ratio less than about 14. In one embodiment the cover comprises a foam material with a density in the range of about 3.8 to 4 pounds per cubic foot.
The device comprises opposing support members on the base, the cover supportingly disposed by the base and support members in a concave contour defining a cavity. In one embodiment the support members are wedge-shaped; alternatively the support members can be radially-shaped. The base and support members can be discretely made and joined together, or they can be unitarily constructed.
One aspect of the embodiments of the present invention contemplates a supportive upper body constraint device comprising a base and means supported by the base for constraining the upper body by imparting a supporting engagement continuously molding and adjusting to a shape of the upper body maintaining complete contiguous contact against the upper body. The means for constraining is characterized by a cover comprising a viscoelastic foam material. The means for constraining is characterized by opposing support members on the base supporting the cover in a concave contour defining a central cavity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
It will be noted that the upper surface against which a user reclines is of a concave contour defining a cavity 110 in which the user is cradled for constraining lateral support.
The wedge-shaped base 102 comprises an incline surface 107. Opposing laterally directed wedge-shaped support members 108 extend from the incline surface 107. In
As discussed, the base 102 is preferably a relatively stiff material for optimal resiliency under extended loading. However, such a material is not conformable to the upper body shape for optimal contiguous supporting engagement. A cover 116 of a relatively less stiff material is continuously placed over the support members 108 and over the portion of the incline surface 107 between the support members, the cover 116 thereby supportingly disposed in a concave contour defining the cavity 110.
Illustratively, the cover 116 comprises a viscoelastic foam material with a 10-12 ILD ratio and with 3.8-4 pound density. In this manner, the cover 116 supports the user's upper body and is supported, in turn, by the base 102 and support members 108. The cover 116 can be attached by any of a number of fastening methods such as adhesive or removably attachable fasteners such as but not limited to Velcro, snaps, ties, buttons, tabs, zippers, and the like. By using a removably attachable fastener the cover 116 can advantageously be changed according to a user's personal preference or support needs.
Generally, the support members 108 supportingly engage the user's extremities so as to cradle the upper body within the centrally disposed cavity 110 defined by the base 102 and opposing support members 108. In this manner, the base 102 provides the necessary reclining support against the back and the support members 108 act to envelop the upper body for lateral constraining support. The lateral constraining support supports the body in a neutral position for convalescence, and prevents rolling over onto a convalescing shoulder.
In the embodiment illustrated in
Embodiments of the present invention contemplate a supportive upper body constraint device comprising a base and means supported by the base for constraining the upper body by imparting a supporting engagement continuously molding and adjusting to a shape of the upper body maintaining complete contiguous contact against the upper body. It will be noted the means for constraining explicitly does not contemplate the use of non-contiguous contacting materials such as, without limitation, a convoluted-surface material generally known as “egg crate” type material. The means for constraining is characterized by a cover comprising a viscoelastic foam material. The means for constraining is characterized by opposing support members on the base supporting the cover in a concave contour defining a central cavity.
It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. In addition, although the preferred embodiment described herein is directed to durable medical equipment, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the teachings of the present invention can be applied to other devices, so as to generally form supportive reclining devices, for example, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. A supportive upper body constraint device, comprising:
- a base comprising a foam material with an impression load deflection (ILD) ratio greater than about 40; and
- a cover on the base comprising a foam material with an ILD ratio less than the base.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the cover comprises an elastomeric foam material with an ILD ratio less than about 14.
3. The device of claim 1 comprising opposing support members on the base, the cover supportingly disposed in a concave contour defining a cavity.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein the cover comprises a material having a smooth surface.
5. The device of claim 3 wherein the base and support members are unitarily constructed.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein the cover comprises a foam material with a density in the range of about 3.8 to 4 pounds per cubic foot
7. A supportive upper body constraint device, comprising:
- a base comprising a substantially flat longitudinal surface and an inclined surface;
- a pair of opposing support members on the inclined surface; and
- a cover continuously covering the support members and a portion of the inclined surface between the support members comprising a viscoelastic foam material.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein the support members are wedge-shaped, the cover supportingly disposed in a concave contour defining a cavity.
9. The device of claim 7 wherein the cover comprises a smooth surface.
10. The device of claim 7 wherein the base and support members are unitarily formed.
11. The device of claim 7 wherein the base comprises a foam material with an impression load deflection (ILD) ratio greater than 40.
12. The device of claim 7 wherein the cover comprises a foam with an ILD ratio less than 14.
13. The device of claim 12 wherein the cover comprises a foam material with a density in the range of about 3.8 to 4 pounds per cubic foot.
14. A supportive upper body constraint device, comprising:
- a base; and
- means supported by the base for constraining the upper body by imparting a supporting engagement continuously molding and adjusting to a shape of the upper body maintaining contiguous contact against the upper body.
15. The device of claim 14 wherein the means for constraining is characterized by a cover comprising a viscoelastic foam material.
16. The device of claim 165 wherein the means of r constraining is characterized by opposing support members on the base supporting the cover in a concave contour defining a central cavity.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein the means for constraining is characterized by wedge-shaped support members.
18. The device of claim 14 wherein the base comprises a foam material with an impression load deflection (ILD) ratio greater than 40.
19. The device of claim 15 wherein the means for constraining is characterized by the cover comprising a foam material with an ILD ratio less than 14.
20. The device of claim 15 wherein the means for constraining is characterized by the cover comprising a foam material with a density in the range of about 3.8 to 4 pounds per cubic foot.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 5, 2004
Publication Date: Aug 11, 2005
Inventor: Mark Temple (Oklahoma City, OK)
Application Number: 10/772,509