Methods of immobilizing the head of a patient include heating a thermoplastic mask preform to a formable temperature, forming the thermoplastic mask over at least a mouth of the patient, and pushing a mouth receiving end of a bite piece into a portion of the thermoplastic mask preform that is positioned over the mouth of the patient, which moves the portion of the thermoplastic mask preform into the mouth of the patient. The methods also include allowing the thermoplastic mask preform to cool from the formable temperature, causing the portion of the thermoplastic mask moved into the mouth of the patient to harden.

The positioning of the mandible clamp within the person's jaw or mouth is accomplished by either of two embodiments. One embodiment uses a pair of flanged surface that allow a person to push a barb through the gap in a person's teeth on the upper teeth and the lower teeth to hold the jaw shut during presentation to the family. This first embodiment contemplates use for a period who has natural teeth at the time of death. The second embodiment resembles a clamp that is placed over the person's gums both on the upper gum as well as the lower gum to secure the jaws together. This second embodiment is used with person's who did not have natural teeth at the time of death. After the respective openings are placed over the gum areas of the person's upper and lower gums a tension member slides over the outside surface of the clamp to produce gripping of the gum by the device. A plurality of gripping knobs on the interior of the respective clamps is provided to produce additional grip on the person's gums.

A directional lock or a headgear or interface assembly has one or more directional locks that include a catch arrangement for initiating or assisting in movement of a lock member of the direction lock. In some configurations, the catch arrangement assists movement of the lock member in only a portion of a range of travel of the lock member. In some configurations, the directional lock has a housing and a sleeve and the catch arrangement has a catch arm carried by the sleeve. The catch arm includes a catch end that contacts the lock member, which can be a lock washer in some configurations.

A system and method are disclosed for a patient positioning device for beam radiation therapy and radiological imaging. The system includes a base and a patient support surface coupled to the base, and the patient support surface includes a lower patient support hingedly coupled to the base and an upper support hingedly coupled to the lower patient support. The system also includes a substantially flat hinge that forms a continuous upper surface with an upper support surface of the lower patient support and the lower patient support.

A head stabilization system including a head restraint mechanism and a head harness configured to engage a head of a patient. The head restraint mechanism is configured to be operatively disposed on a patient support device and includes a generally vertically upstanding arcuate tilt guide. The head harness is releasably attachable to and at least partially supported by the head restraint mechanism. The head harness is selectively repositionable generally vertically relative to the tilt guide. The head restraint mechanism is configured to stabilize the head harness relative to the patient support device. The head restraint mechanism is configured to selectively allow lateral flexion of a neck of the patient, lateral rotation of the head of the patient, and extension and flexion of the neck of the patient.

A device and a method for creating and/or maintaining an obstruction free upper respiratory passages. The device is configured to fit under the chin of a subject adjacent to the subject's neck at an external location corresponding approximately with the subject's soft tissue associated with the neck's anterior triangle. The device is capable of exerting negative pressure on the surface of a subject's neck, displacing the soft tissue forward and enlarging the airway.

The present invention relates to a helmet support exoskeleton and harness therefor that allow offloading the weight of head mounted equipment such as helmets and other equipment related to helmets in order to prevent and reduce neck fatigue, strain, and injuries without causing discomfort or impeding mobility of an operator. Through the use of a helmet- and harness-mounted linkage assembly, the weight is translated from an operator's head to his or her torso. This further allows the operator to wear additional and heavier equipment without causing discomforts and reduces the risk of neck injuries.

The device is made of two, independent bands. Each band is made of a stretchable material that can be stretched over and around a user's head. The first band is made to be placed around a user's jaw and the top of a user's head. The band comes down and across both sides of the face and around the chin of the user. This first band is used to simultaneously keep the user's jaws, mouth, and lips closed if desired. The second band is made to be placed around user's forehead and is used to keep the first band in place. The second band may or may not be physically attached to the first band.

Arrangements described herein relate to systems, apparatuses, and methods for a disposable kit containing medical items configured for a medical device including a head cradle to support a head of a subject, the disposable kit includes a container that encloses a head cradle pad configured to be affixed to the head cradle, at least one fiducial marker configured to be disposed on a location at the head of the subject, and at least one enclosure configured to cover a portion of the medical device.

A cranial deformation orthosis device for a head of an infant, including a rigid outer shell with an anterior portion detachably connected to a posterior portion. The anterior portion is shaped and configured to be donned on a forward portion of the head of the infant. The posterior portion is shaped and configured to be donned on an aft portion of the head of the infant. Each of the anterior portion and the posterior portion can include an inner surface having at least one lined zone having selectively positioned padding to prevent head growth and at least one unlined zone having a plurality of ventilation holes extended through the inner surface to an outer surface and selectively configured to allow growth or movement of the head to reshape the head of the infant.