Medical Support Pillow for Facilitating Tracheal Intubation on Obese Patient
A medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient comprises a base section, an upper pad, a left arm rest, and a right arm rest. The base section comprises a head section, a back section, and an indentation. The head section and the back section are connected to each other, and the indentation is positioned in between the head section and the back section. The upper pad is positioned within the head section and it can be rotated within the head section. An obese patient is able to position his or her head and neck within the head section and the indentation. Positioning of the medical support pillow allows easy ventilation and intubation on an obese patient as it effectively raises the patient's head and neck above the chest and creates the head in fully stable extension position.
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/478,550 filed on Apr. 25, 2011.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to an apparatus which raises an obese patient's head and neck above the thorax and creates an ideal position for ventilation and intubation. The ideal position fully extends the obese patient's neck in backward so that easy ventilation and intubation can be performed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is an improvement of the U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,288, and the present invention includes additional components and specifically designs for obese patients. According to the National Center for Health, obesity is increasing greatly in the United States. 63% of Americans are overweight with a BMI (body mass index) over 25.0; 31% are obese with a BMI of over 30.0; 3.8 million people have a body weight over 300 pounds. As the population of obese people increase, the amount of surgeries related to the obese population are also increasing. According to the text book of Clinical Anesthesia: “The obese patient may need further positioning to move the mass of the chest away from the plane across which the laryngoscope handle will sweep as it is manipulated into the mouth. This may require placing a wedge-shaped lift (e.g., blankets, pillows) under the scapula, shoulders, and nape of neck, raising the head and the neck above the thorax and providing a grade to allow gravity to take the mass away from the airway”. Positioning the obese patient with a roll under the scapulas and an occipital rest and asking the obese patient to fully extend the atlanto-occipital joint before induction may facilitate awake or conventional laryngoscopy and intubation. The present invention effectively raises the obese patient's head and neck above the thorax and maintains the patient's head and neck in a stable extended position, which is also known as the sniff position. The present invention facilitates mask ventilation, direct laryngoscopy, insertion of laryngeal mask and fiberoptic bronchoscope-aided intubation.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
Proper alignment of the airway between the mouth and the rima glottidis allows easy intubation of the patients. In order to achieve successful direct laryngoscopy in the patients, an oral axis 5, a pharyngeal axis 6, and a laryngeal axis 7 must be aligned. In reference to
The present invention effortlessly aligns the oral axis 5, the pharyngeal axis 6, and the laryngeal axis 7 of the obese patient so that the intubation can be take placed in a safe manner. In reference to
In reference to
The back section 12 comprises a third side surface 121, a fourth side surface 122, a front surface 123, and an inclined surface 124. The third side surface 121 and the fourth side surface 122 are oppositely positioned from each other. The bottom surface 15 is perpendicularly positioned with the third side surface 121 and the fourth side surface 122 from below. The third side surface 121 and the fourth side surface 122 have an upper end portion 13 and a lower end portion 14, where the upper end portion's 13 height is higher than the lower end portion's 14 height. The upper end portion 13 is positioned with the head section 11, and the front surface 123 is angularly positioned with the lower end portion 14. The inclined surface 124 is positioned with the first side surface 111 and the second side surface 112, and the inclined surface 124 is oppositely positioned from the bottom surface 15. The inclined surface 124 extends from the lower end portion 14 to upper end portion 13. The back section 12 has a width W2 and a length L2. In the preferred embodiment, the width W2 is about 40 centimeters and the length L2 is about 45 centimeters. The upper end portion 13 has a height H3, and the front surface 123 has a width W3. The length of the front surface 123 is same as the length L2, and the height H3 is also equal to the height H2. In the preferred embodiment, the height H3 is about 20 centimeters and the width W3 is about 1 centimeter.
In reference to
In reference to
The present invention is made of high quality foam. Although the present invention is made of high quality foam, the present invention can also be made from rubber, plastic, or any other materials. Furthermore, the preferred embodiments have been described with particular dimensions, it is to be understood that the present invention can be configured to have other dimensions suitable for differently structured body types, such as infant, child, teen, or adult.
In reference to
The present invention can also be used in the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). When the present invention is used during the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a victim's airway is quickly and effectively opened in a hospital or in an emergency medical service. This allows proper ventilation to the victim and increases the efficiency of the CPR, and the obese patient can be ventilated immediately by any one while waiting for an intubation. The present invention can also be used in postoperative period to prevent airway obstruction as the obese patients recover from general anesthesia. The present invention prevents respiratory arrest due to airway obstruction in the postoperative obese patients who are not totally awake. In addition, the present invention can be used in a lateral position such as in the performance of colonoscopy. When the pillow is used in the lateral position, the slope side of the inclined surface 124 and the obese patient's face are positioned in the same direction.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient comprises,
- a base section;
- an upper pad;
- a left arm rest;
- a right arm rest;
- the base section comprises a head section, a back section, a bottom surface, and an indentation;
- the upper pad comprises a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a back panel, a concave panel, and an upper pad cavity;
- the head section being adjacently positioned above the back section;
- the bottom surface being positioned below the head section and the back section;
- the indentation being centrally positioned between the head section and the back section opposite from the bottom surface;
- the upper pad being positioned on the head section; and
- the left arm rest and the right arm rest being oppositely located below the head section.
2. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 1 comprises,
- the top panel being located parallel with the bottom surface;
- the back panel being perpendicularly positioned with the top panel;
- the first side panel being perpendicularly positioned with the back panel and the top panel from an end;
- the second side panel being perpendicularly positioned with the back panel and the top panel and oppositely located from the first side panel;
- the concave panel being positioned with the first side panel and the second side panel and located below the top panel; and
- the upper pad cavity being centrally positioned on the top panel.
3. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 1 comprises,
- the head section comprises a first side surface, a second side surface, a back surface, a concave surface, and a base cavity;
- the first side surface being oppositely located from the second side surface;
- the first side surface and the second side surface being perpendicularly positioned with the bottom surface;
- the back surface being oppositely located from the back section;
- the back surface being perpendicularly positioned with the first side surface and the second side surface;
- the concave surface being oppositely located from the bottom surface;
- the concave surface being perpendicularly positioned with the first side surface and the second side surface; and
- the base cavity being centrally positioned on the concave surface.
4. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 3 comprises,
- the first side surface being positioned parallel with the first side panel; and
- the second side surface being positioned parallel with the second side panel.
5. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 1 comprises,
- the back section comprises a third side surface, a third side surface, a front surface, and an inclined surface;
- the third side surface being oppositely located from the fourth side surface;
- the third side surface and the fourth side surface being perpendicularly positioned with the bottom surface;
- the front surface being oppositely located from the head section;
- the front surface being angularly positioned with the third side surface and the fourth side surface;
- the inclined surface being oppositely located from the bottom surface; and
- the inclined surface being perpendicularly positioned with the third side surface and the fourth side surface.
6. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 5 comprises,
- the third side surface and the fourth side surface comprises an upper end portion and lower end portion; and
- the inclined surface being extended from the lower end portion to upper end portion.
7. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 1 comprises,
- the right arm rest being adjacently located with the first side panel; and
- the left arm rest being adjacently located with the second side panel.
8. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 7 comprises,
- the left arm rest and the right arm rest each comprises an arm channel, a first pair of sidewalls, a second pair of sidewalls, a top wall, and a bottom wall;
- the first pair of sidewalls being oppositely positioned from each other;
- the second pair of sidewalls being oppositely positioned from each other;
- the first pair of sidewalls being perpendicularly positioned with the second pair of sidewalls;
- the top wall being positioned with the first pair of sidewalls and the second pair of sidewalls from above;
- the bottom wall being positioned with the first pair of sidewalls and the second pair of sidewalls from below; and
- the arm channel being centrally positioned on the top panel between the first pair of sidewalls.
9. A medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient comprises,
- a base section;
- an upper pad;
- a left arm rest;
- a right arm rest;
- the base section comprises a head section, a back section, a bottom surface, and an indentation;
- the upper pad comprises a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a back panel, a concave panel, and an upper pad cavity;
- the head section being adjacently positioned above the back section;
- the bottom surface being positioned below the head section and the back section;
- the indentation being centrally positioned between the head section and the back section opposite from the bottom surface;
- the upper pad being positioned on the head section;
- the left arm rest and the right arm rest being oppositely located below the head section;
- the right arm rest being adjacently located with the first side panel; and
- the left arm rest being adjacently located with the second side panel.
10. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 9 comprises,
- the top panel being located parallel with the bottom surface;
- the back panel being perpendicularly positioned with the top panel;
- the first side panel being perpendicularly positioned with the back panel and the top panel from an end;
- the second side panel being perpendicularly positioned with the back panel and the top panel and oppositely located from the first side panel;
- the concave panel being positioned with the first side panel and the second side panel and located below the top panel; and
- the upper pad cavity being centrally positioned on the top panel.
11. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 9 comprises,
- the head section comprises a first side surface, a second side surface, a back surface, a concave surface, and a base cavity;
- the first side surface being oppositely located from the second side surface;
- the first side surface and the second side surface being perpendicularly positioned with the bottom surface;
- the back surface being oppositely located from the back section;
- the back surface being perpendicularly positioned with the first side surface and the second side surface;
- the concave surface being oppositely located from the bottom surface;
- the concave surface being perpendicularly positioned with the first side surface and the second side surface; and
- the base cavity being centrally positioned on the concave surface.
12. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 11 comprises,
- the first side surface being positioned parallel with the first side panel; and
- the second side surface being positioned parallel with the second side panel.
13. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 9 comprises,
- the back section comprises a third side surface, a third side surface, a front surface, and an inclined surface;
- the third side surface being oppositely located from the fourth side surface;
- the third side surface and the fourth side surface being perpendicularly positioned with the bottom surface;
- the front surface being oppositely located from the head section;
- the front surface being angularly positioned with the third side surface and the fourth side surface;
- the inclined surface being oppositely located from the bottom surface; and
- the inclined surface being perpendicularly positioned with the third side surface and the fourth side surface.
14. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 13 comprises,
- the third side surface and the fourth side surface comprises an upper end portion and lower end portion; and
- the inclined surface being extended from the lower end portion to upper end portion.
15. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 9 comprises,
- the left arm rest and the right arm rest each comprises an arm channel, a first pair of sidewalls, a second pair of sidewalls, a top wall, and a bottom wall;
- the first pair of sidewalls being oppositely positioned from each other;
- the second pair of sidewalls being oppositely positioned from each other;
- the first pair of sidewalls being perpendicularly positioned with the second pair of sidewalls;
- the top wall being positioned with the first pair of sidewalls and the second pair of sidewalls from above;
- the bottom wall being positioned with the first pair of sidewalls and the second pair of sidewalls from below; and
- the arm channel being centrally positioned on the top panel between the first pair of sidewalls.
16. A medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient comprises,
- a base section;
- an upper pad;
- a left arm rest;
- a right arm rest;
- the base section comprises a head section, a back section, a bottom surface, and an indentation;
- the upper pad comprises a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a back panel, a concave panel, and an upper pad cavity;
- the head section being adjacently positioned above the back section;
- the bottom surface being positioned below the head section and the back section;
- the indentation being centrally positioned between the head section and the back section opposite from the bottom surface;
- the upper pad being positioned on the head section;
- the left arm rest and the right arm rest being oppositely located below the head section;
- the right arm rest being adjacently located with the first side panel; and
- the left arm rest being adjacently located with the second side panel.
17. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 16 comprises,
- the top panel being located parallel with the bottom surface;
- the back panel being perpendicularly positioned with the top panel;
- the first side panel being perpendicularly positioned with the back panel and the top panel from an end;
- the second side panel being perpendicularly positioned with the back panel and the top panel and oppositely located from the first side panel;
- the concave panel being positioned with the first side panel and the second side panel and located below the top panel; and
- the upper pad cavity being centrally positioned on the top panel.
18. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 16 comprises,
- the head section comprises a first side surface, a second side surface, a back surface, a concave surface, and a base cavity;
- the first side surface being oppositely located from the second side surface;
- the first side surface and the second side surface being perpendicularly positioned with the bottom surface;
- the back surface being oppositely located from the back section;
- the back surface being perpendicularly positioned with the first side surface and the second side surface;
- the concave surface being oppositely located from the bottom surface;
- the concave surface being perpendicularly positioned with the first side surface and the second side surface;
- the base cavity being centrally positioned on the concave surface;
- the first side surface being positioned parallel with the first side panel; and
- the second side surface being positioned parallel with the second side panel.
19. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 16 comprises,
- the back section comprises a third side surface, a third side surface, a front surface, and an inclined surface;
- the third side surface being oppositely located from the fourth side surface;
- the third side surface and the fourth side surface being perpendicularly positioned with the bottom surface;
- the front surface being oppositely located from the head section;
- the front surface being angularly positioned with the third side surface and the fourth side surface;
- the inclined surface being oppositely located from the bottom surface;
- the inclined surface being perpendicularly positioned with the third side surface and the fourth side surface;
- the third side surface and the fourth side surface comprises an upper end portion and lower end portion; and
- the inclined surface being extended from the lower end portion to upper end portion.
20. The medical support pillow for facilitating tracheal intubation on obese patient as claimed in claim 16 comprises,
- the left arm rest and the right arm rest each comprises an arm channel, a first pair of sidewalls, a second pair of sidewalls, a top wall, and a bottom wall;
- the first pair of sidewalls being oppositely positioned from each other;
- the second pair of sidewalls being oppositely positioned from each other;
- the first pair of sidewalls being perpendicularly positioned with the second pair of sidewalls;
- the top wall being positioned with the first pair of sidewalls and the second pair of sidewalls from above;
- the bottom wall being positioned with the first pair of sidewalls and the second pair of sidewalls from below; and
- the arm channel being centrally positioned on the top panel between the first pair of sidewalls.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 25, 2012
Publication Date: Oct 25, 2012
Inventor: Kaiduan Pi (Coram, NY)
Application Number: 13/455,196
International Classification: A47C 20/00 (20060101);