Cushion for use after a breast operation

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A cushion for use when lying in a prone position after breast surgery, the cushion comprising: a base body with a recess, wherein the base body is formed of two-layers and comprises a first, harder layer of foamed plastic and a second, softer layer of a viscoelastic material, the base body including a head end and an abdominal end, wherein the base body has a closed shape and encloses the recess over its entire circumference, wherein the height of the base body decreases continuously in a longitudinal direction towards the abdominal end of the base body, and wherein at least in a region of the abdominal end the height of at least the first, harder layer of the base body is lower in a central region than at lateral edges of the cushion.

2. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the outer contour of the base body has a concave, arcuate shape in plan view at the abdominal end to form an accommodation for the abdomen.

3. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the outer contour of the base body has a concave, arcuate shape in plan view at the head end.

4. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the first, harder layer of the base body is interrupted at the abdominal end in the center between the lateral edges of the cushion.

5. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the height of the entire base body is lower in a central region than at the lateral edges of the cushion.

6. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the base body has rounded edges in plan view.

7. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the recess is oblong in plan view with rounded lateral sections or oval.

8. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein a pull means is provided by means of which the length of the base body from the head end to the abdominal end can be varied and fixed.

9. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the height of the first harder layer is at least twice the height of the second, softer layer.

10. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the cushion has an elevation portion, which increases the overall height of the cushion for a particularly high pressure relief.

11. A method for use of a cushion according to claim 1, the method comprising: using the cushion as a support for the chest and shoulders of a patient resting in a prone position.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising arranging a pillow on which a patient's head rests at the head end.

Description

(1) Further practical embodiments and advantages of the invention are described below in connection with the drawings. The figures show:

(2) FIG. 1 a cushion according to the invention in a plan view,

(3) FIG. 2 the cushion from FIG. 1 in a perspective view from diagonally above,

(4) FIG. 3 the cushion from FIGS. 1 and 2 in a side view,

(5) FIG. 4 the cushion from FIGS. 1 to 3 in a sectional view along section line IV-IV from FIG. 1,

(6) FIG. 5 a second version of a cushion in a sectional view analogous to FIG. 4,

(7) FIG. 6 a sectional view of a variant of the cushion corresponding to FIG. 4, in which the harder layer of the base body is interrupted in the area of the solar plexus, and

(8) FIG. 7 a sectional view of the variant corresponding to FIG. 6 with an additional cushion which increases the overall height of the cushion.

(9) FIG. 1 shows a cushion 10 in plan view. The cushion 10 has a base body 12 with a recess 14, which is enclosed by the base body 12. The recess 14 is essentially oval. However, it can also be designed as an elongated hole with rounded lateral edges. The base body 12 has rounded edges in plan view to avoid sharp edges that can cause pressure marks.

(10) Cushion 10 has an abdominal end 16 which, when the cushion 10 is used, points towards the patient's abdomen. The outer contour of the abdominal end 16 is concave in an arcuate shape so that an indentation 18 is formed in the center of the abdominal end, forming an accommodation for the abdomen 20. Starting from the lateral edges 22a, 22b, this creates two wing sections 24a, 24b which carry the patient's rib arches.

(11) On the side of cushion 10 opposite the abdominal end 16, the cushion 10 has a head end 26. The outer contour of the head end 26 also has a concave, arcuate shape, so that an indentation 28 is formed from the lateral edges 22a, 22b towards the center in plan view. The indentation 28 forms an accommodation 30 for a conventional cushion on which the head rests.

(12) As can be clearly seen in FIG. 2, the height at the edge of the recess 14 in the center is lower than at the lateral edges 22a, 22b, so that a trough-like depression 32 for the neck and a trough-like depression 34 for the solar plexus are formed in the center of the cushion 10. The neck and the solar plexus are thus relieved from uncomfortably high pressure. It is also possible to relieve only the solar plexus by means of a trough-like depression 34 at the abdominal end of the cushion 10. With this pressure relief the patient's weight is supported on the cushion via the lateral rib arches and/or shoulders. As an alternative to a depression of the entire base body 12, a depression only in the harder layer in the center may also be provided, as described below.

(13) The transition from the head end 26 to the side edges 22a, 22b is rounded, thus allowing a patient to place her arms around the cushion 10 without worrying about pressure marks due to sharp corners or edges.

(14) FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 show the two-part design of the base body 12. The base body 12 comprises a first harder layer 36 made of a foamed plastic and a second softer layer 38 made of a viscoelastic material. In this embodiment, the height h1 of the first layer 36 is about three times the height h2 of the second layer 38 (see FIG. 3). This makes the cushion 10 in this embodiment particularly stable.

(15) As can also be clearly seen in the side view in FIG. 3 and in the longitudinal section in FIG. 4, the height of the base body 12 decreases linearly or wedge-shaped from the recess 14 towards the abdominal end 16. This results in a continuous and smooth transition from the edge of the recess 14 to the abdominal end 16 of the cushion 10. At the head end 26, the cushion 10 has a height, which must be compensated by a pillow on which the patient's head rests.

(16) FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a cushion 10, the cushion 10 being essentially identical to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The second embodiment in FIG. 5 differs from the first embodiment in that a pull means 40a, 40b is provided on the base body 12. The pull means 40a, 40b is formed by a strap with a width of approx. 10 mm and consists of two parts. The first part 40a is attached, for example glued or sewn on, to the underside of the head end 26 in the area of the pillow accommodation 30. It extends towards the abdominal end 16 into the recess 14. The second part 40b of the pull means is attached to the underside of the abdominal end 16 and extends towards the head end 26 into the recess 14. The parts 40a, 40b of the pull means therefore run underneath the cushion 10 and overlap in the area of the recess 14. The parts 40a, 40b of the pull means are provided with the loop part and the hook part of a hook and loop fastener on the surfaces facing each other, so that the pull means 40a, 40b is designed to be adjustable in length in order to enable the change of the extension of the cushion 10 in the longitudinal direction. The pull means can also be provided with other means for length adjustment, e.g. with a buckle through which the strap is passed. Alternatively, the two parts of the pull means may be formed by soft fabric straps, which are knotted together or connected by a loop.

(17) FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of cushion 10, in which the first hard layer 36 of the base body 12 is interrupted towards the abdominal end 16 of cushion 10. In other words, the cushion 10 does not have a first hard layer 36 of the base body 12 in the center between the two lateral edges 22a, 22b over a distance of approx. 30 to 60 mm and consists only of the second softer layer 38. This facilitates the production of the first harder layer 36 of the base body 12. By interrupting the first harder layer 36 of the base body 12 at the abdominal end of the cushion 10, it is easier to prepare bevels at the first harder layer 36 of the base body within the recess 14 with a knife or a sawing device. In addition, the pressure release of the solar plexus is considerably increased. Some patients find the pressure caused by the harder material of the base body 12 in the area of the solar plexus unpleasant. The absence of the harder layer 36 in the center of the cushion avoids unpleasant pressure.

(18) The height of the cushion from FIGS. 4 to 6 is preferably in the range of 130 to 150 mm. This height has proven to be the optimum value for relieving the breast during healing, on the one hand for relieving pressure and on the other hand for a comfortable sleeping position.

(19) In the first 10 days after breast surgery, the patient wears a compression bra and is particularly sensitive to pressure loads. During these days, the pressure relief provided by the 130 to 150 mm high cushion is usually not sufficient and the cushion should be designed about 80 mm higher. FIG. 7 shows such a cushion, obtained from cushion 10 of FIG. 6 with an 80 mm high elevation 41. The elevation 41 is composed of the base elevation 42, which consists of the harder material 46 of the harder layer 36, and the abdominal elevation, which consists of the softer material 48 of the softer layer 38. This high cushion provides considerable relief during the first days after surgery, but offers a less comfortable sleeping position.

(20) The features of the invention disclosed in the present description, in the drawings as well as in the claims may be essential for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments, either individually or in any combination. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments. It may be varied within the scope of the claims taking into account the knowledge of a person skilled in the art.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(21) 10 cushion

(22) 12 base body

(23) 14 recess

(24) 16 abdominal end

(25) 18 indentation

(26) 20 abdominal accommodation

(27) 22a, 22b lateral edge p 24a, 24b wing section

(28) 26 head end

(29) 28 indentation

(30) 30 pillow accommodation

(31) 32 depression (neck area)

(32) 34 depression (abdominal area)

(33) 36 first harder layer

(34) 38 second softer layer

(35) 40a first part of the pull means

(36) 40b second part of the pull means

(37) 41 elevation

(38) 42 base body elevation

(39) 46 harder material

(40) 48 softer material