The present invention relates to a head support for supporting a patient's head while the patient is in a prone position. The head support comprises a body of compliant material whose shape provides a forehead support region, at least one further support region for supporting a lower portion of the patient's face, and a void which accommodates the patient's eyes, nose and mouth in use. According to one aspect of the invention, a viewing opening is provided which faces laterally and provides in use a line of sight from the exterior of the head support into the void, the viewing opening having a periphery which is an unbroken loop.

A surgical frame and method for use thereof is provided. The surgical frame is capable of reconfiguration before, during, or after surgery. The surgical frame includes a main beam that can be rotated, raised/lowered, and tilted upwardly/downwardly to afford positioning and repositioning of a patient supported thereon. The surgical frame also includes a reconfigurable upper leg support for supporting portions of the upper legs, the hips, and the lower back of the patient to facilitate positioning and repositioning there during surgery. The upper leg support via reconfiguration thereof can accommodate patients of different sizes, can provide flexure of the patient's lumbar spine to facilitate surgical access thereto, and can prevent unwanted torsion of a patient's spine during such reconfiguration.

A surgical frame and method for use thereof is provided. The surgical frame is capable of reconfiguration before, during, or after surgery. The surgical frame includes a translating beam that is moveable between at least a first lateral position and a second lateral position. The translating beam is used to join a first support portion and a second support portion of the surgical frame to one another, and movement of the translating beam affords access to a patient receiving area.

A head support device for use with a bed includes a head-receiving component; a base component adapted to rest on a stable surface; a vertically-oriented spine component extending upwards from the base component to the head-receiving component; and at least one bed-connection structure extending horizontally from an intermediate position along the spine component.

Embodiments of cradle frames and cushions are described herein. A cradle frame includes a connection assembly, a support assembly, and a gear assembly. The connection assembly is configured to couple the cradle frame to a structure. The support assembly includes two side sections, and a middle section that is curved and positioned substantially between the two side sections. The gear assembly is coupled to the adjustment assembly for controlling the positioning of the support assembly. A cushion has a contoured upper side, and one or more opening in the middle part of the cushion on the underside.

A system for turning a patient supported on a patient support apparatus includes a U-shaped frame and a rectangular frame pivotably coupled to the U-shaped frame. The rectangular frame includes first and second sheet grippers configured to removeably couple a plurality of sheets to the system and secure the patient between the sheets. The rectangular frame, the sheets, and the patient are configured to rotate at least 180 degrees relative to the U-shaped frame after the U-shaped frame, the rectangular frame, the sheets, and the patient are raised at least a clearance distance above the patient support apparatus.

The invention relates to a cushion for use when lying in a prone position after breast surgery, the cushion (10) having a base body (12) with a recess (14). The underlying object of the present invention is to provide a cushion which can be used after breast surgery for lying or sleeping in a prone position and which also offers a high degree of lying comfort and protection for the operated breast. For this purpose, the base body (12) is formed of two layers and has a first harder layer (36) of foamed plastic and a second softer layer (38) of a viscoelastic material.

A device for inserting a support beneath an object is provided that includes an eversible tubular membrane with a closed end and an open end with the open end sealably connected to a container enclosing a pressurized fluid, wherein the closed end is connected such that it can be retracted under tension through the inside of the tube formed by the radially outward facing aspect of the membrane, and wherein with pressure and/or tension changes the membrane can be eversibly extended and retracted between two surfaces. In addition, the membrane may be co-everted with a sling or draw sheet such that the sling or draw sheet can be inserted between two surfaces along with the membrane. Further, multiple eversible membranes may be inserted between two surfaces or beneath an object or a patient in accordance with the disclosed invention.

The invention provides a bed capable of providing postural support to a user, the bed comprising: a headrest (10) having an adjustable height; a backrest (12) having an adjustable angle (a)of inclination to incline the user's back; and a shoulder and arm rest (11) positioned between the headrest and the backrest; wherein the headrest (10), backrest (12) and the shoulder and arm rest (11) are configurable to form a channel (14) extending between and separating the headrest (10 and the backrest (12) when the headrest (10) and backrest (12) are adjusted in elevated positions, and configurable to form a substantially even sleeping surface of the backrest (12) and shoulder and arm rest (11) without forming the channel (14) when the backrest (12) is adjusted to a flat angle of inclination. The invention also provides an insert capable of being inserted into an outer bed frame in the construction of the bed, and a kit for construction of the bed.

A support platform for body treatment is provided and includes a supporting frame, a resilient pad, a guide passageway, a cushion and a control assembly. The resilient pad is secured to the supporting frame and includes an upper surface positioned opposite the supporting frame. The guide passageway extends from the upper surface and through the resilient pad toward the supporting frame. The cushion includes a lower surface side and is connected to control assembly so that it vertically positions the lower surface side along the guide passageway.