An articulated chin rest is assembly is provided for supporting the chin of a patient under monitored anesthesia care, sedation, general anesthesia, or other medical procedure to ensure that their airway is unobscured. The assembly may comprise a clamp adaptable to grip a variety of structures, a first and a second length of rigid material sequentially and rotatably connected to the clamp, and a chin rest finally rotatably connected to the second length of rigid material. Means for rotatably linking the clamp, first and second lengths of rigid material, and chin rest allow each element to rotate in three dimensional space so that the assembly mechanically mimics, and is ultimately usable in place of, an anesthesiologist's hand for tilting the patient's head and securely supporting the patient's chin.

By providing elevation of the upper back above the hospital bed, extension of the entire cervical spine will provide better visualization than achieved by the prior art such as the sniffing position. An additional benefit of using this device is that with full extension of the neck, the position for cricothyroidotomy is also optimized, should standard endotracheal intubation fail. This device will be of particular benefit in the intubation of obese patients, providing good extension and adequate visualization without the need for excessive strength to manipulate the patient's head and neck. The same position also facilitates placement of central venous catheters in the internal jugular or subclavian veins in obese or kyphotic patients.

A surgical chin strap for stabilizing a patient's head and airway to improve oxygen delivery during surgery includes a chin cup, a first cranial strap, and a second cranial strap. The chin cup is terminally connected to the first cranial strap and the second cranial strap. The chin cup is secured about a patient's chin, while the free ends of the first cranial strap and the second cranial strap are affixed to a table. The first cranial strap includes a first fastener and a first plurality of restraining holes for securing the first cranial strap to the table. The second cranial strap includes a second fastener and a second plurality of restraining holes for securing the second cranial strap to the table. A third cranial strap may be used to stabilize the patient's forehead; the third cranial strap running perpendicular to the first cranial strap and the second cranial strap.

An articulated chin rest is assembly is provided for supporting the chin of a patient under monitored anesthesia care, sedation, general anesthesia, or other medical procedure to ensure that their airway is unobscured. The assembly may comprise a clamp adaptable to grip a variety of structures, a first and a second length of rigid material sequentially and rotatably connected to the clamp, and a chin rest finally rotatably connected to the second length of rigid material. Means for rotatably linking the clamp, first and second lengths of rigid material, and chin rest allow each element to rotate in three dimensional space so that the assembly mechanically mimics, and is ultimately usable in place of, an anesthesiologist's hand for tilting the patient's head and securely supporting the patient's chin.

Disclosed is a head positioning device for use in laryngoscopy, having a base plate, a head plate, at least one proximal arm and at least one distal arm. The head plate has a proximal end and a distal end. The at least one proximal arm is pivotally connected between the base plate and at or near the proximal end of the head plate. The at least one distal arm is pivotally connected between the base plate and at or near the distal end of the head plate. The proximal and distal arms are operable during use to simultaneously elevate the head plate above the base plate and tilt it at an angle such that the proximal end of the head plate is in a higher elevated position than the distal end.

A device and method for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a patient. The device is an extendable airway bridge which is initially in a collapsed or storage configuration. The airway bridge is made of a lightweight, inexpensive material such as high strength cardboard. Upon use, the airway bridge is unfolded and then fixed into an operating configuration through a number of hook and latch fabric portions or an adhesive or glue. Once in the operating configuration, the patient is laid onto the airway bridge which holds the patient in a position so as to prevent occlusion of the patient's oral airway. CPR may then be performed on the patient. After use, the airway bridge may be released and then brought back into the collapsed or storage configuration or, alternatively, simply disposed of.

A device and method for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a patient. The device is an extendable airway bridge which is initially in a collapsed or storage configuration. Upon use, the airway bridge is unfolded and then fixed into an operating configuration by locking at least one incline portion and at least one vertical portion into a static position. The structural strength of the airway bridge is then increased by manipulating a support disposed on the incline portion so that it is engaged with a slot or aperture defined within a base of the airway bridge. Once in the operating configuration, the patient is laid onto the airway bridge which holds the patient in a position so as to prevent occlusion of the patient's oral airway. CPR may then be performed on the patient.

A pair of pads is held against the remus of a patient's jaw, to prevent the jaw from slipping back and causing an airway obstruction, while the patient's neck is hyperextended to also cause the patient's airway to stay open. A device including the adjustable jaw pads as well as a triangularly shaped portion over which the patient's neck rests is not required to be attached to the surface on which the patient is lying, and permits the patient to be rolled on either side while still maintaining the patency of the patient's airway.

An elevation device used in the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and after resuscitation includes a base and an upper support operably coupled to the base. The upper support is configured to elevate an individual's upper back, shoulders and head. The elevation device also includes a chest compression device coupled with the base. The chest compression device is configured to compress the chest and to actively decompress the chest.

A patient bed is provided in a healthcare facility having a network including a real time locating system (RTLS) and an electronic medical records (EMR) computer. The patient bed includes bed control circuitry that is configured to receive at least one protocol messages from the EMR computer and, in response to the at least one protocol message, enables at least one bed safety protocol in which at least one bed condition is monitored by the bed control circuitry. The bed control circuitry generates an alert in response to the at least one bed condition being in an undesirable state and no caregiver being present in the patient room as determined by the RTLS and communicated to the bed circuitry. The bed control circuitry suspends monitoring the at least one bed condition in response to the RTLS indicating to the bed control circuitry that at least one caregiver is present in the patient room.