IMMOBILIZATION MASK

Abstract

The present invention relates to an immobilization mask comprising a first layer comprising a low temperature thermoplastic material, the first layer having a first side and a second side; at least one dimensionally stable attachment section connected to the first layer; and at least one deformable molding member connected to the first side or to the second side of the first layer. The present invention also relates to a method of immobilizing a patient's body part, comprising the steps of applying an immobilization mask comprising a first layer having a low temperature thermoplastic material and at least one dimensionally stable attachment section connected to the first layer, wherein at least one deformable molding member is placed between the first layer and the patient's head; and molding the first layer tightly to the patient's head and to the molding member.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An immobilization mask, comprising: a first layer comprising a low temperature thermoplastic material, the first layer having a first side and a second side; at least one dimensionally stable attachment section connected to the first layer; and at least one deformable molding member contacting the first side or the second side of the first layer.

17. The mask according to claim 16, further comprising a second layer comprising a low temperature thermoplastic material, wherein the first layer and the second layer contact each other, with the molding member lying in between the first layer and the second layer.

18. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the first layer and/or the second layer comprises an inlay section having different deformation properties than the low temperature thermoplastic material of at least one of the first layer or the second layer.

19. The mask according to claim 18, wherein the inlay section has a lower resistance to deformation than the low temperature thermoplastic material of at least one of the first layer or the second layer.

20. The mask according to claim 18, wherein the inlay section comprises a low temperature thermoplastic material different from the material of at least one of the first layer or the second layer.

21. The mask according to claim 18, wherein the material thickness of the inlay section is different from the material thickness of at least one of the first layer or the second layer.

22. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the molding member is permanently connected to at least one of the first layer or the second layer.

23. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the molding member is made from a radiolucent material.

24. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the molding member is releasably connected to the first layer or the second layer such that the molding member can be removed after the mask has been molded onto a head of a patient.

25. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the molding member has an elongated shape.

26. The mask according to claim 16, wherein at least one molding member runs across the first layer over substantially the whole extent of the first layer.

27. The mask according to claim 26, wherein at least one molding member extends beyond an edge of at least one of the first layer or the second layer.

28. The mask according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the first layer or the second layer comprises at least one cutout for at least one of a nose or eyes of a patient.

29. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the molding member is stretchable to conform to the lengthening of the first layer when being molded to a head of a patient.

30. A method of immobilizing a body part of a patient, comprising the following steps: applying an immobilization mask comprising a first layer having a low temperature thermoplastic material and at least one dimensionally stable attachment section connected to the first layer, wherein at least one deformable molding member is placed between the first layer and the patient's body part; and molding the first layer tightly to the patient's body part and to the molding member.

31. An immobilization mask configured to be molded to a patient's body part, comprising: a first layer comprising a low temperature thermoplastic material, the first layer having a first side and a second side; at least two dimensionally stable attachment sections connected to opposing ends of the first layer; and at least one deformable molding member contacting the first side or the second side of the first layer, wherein the first layer adapts to the contour of the patient's body part and also to the contour of the at least one deformable molding member.

32. The immobilization mask of claim 31 wherein the at least one deformable molding member is placed between the first layer and the patient's body part.

33. The immobilization mask of claim 32 wherein the at least one deformable molding member forms a corrugation that increases an overall rigidity of the immobilization mask.

34. The immobilization mask of claim 31 wherein the at least one deformable molding member is releasably connected to the first layer such that the molding member can be removed after the mask has been molded onto a head of a patient.

35. The immobilization mask of claim 31 wherein the at least one molding member is stretchable.

Description

[0036] In the following, the invention is described with reference to the figures which represent preferred embodiments of the invention without limiting the invention to the specific features shown in the figures.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view on a head immobilization mask being a specific embodiment of the inventive immobilization mask;

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a top view onto the mask of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a side view on the mask of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along line A-A of the mask shown in FIG. 2;

[0041] FIGS. 5 and 6 show further alternative embodiments of the present invention.

[0042] The head immobilization mask shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a first upper layer 1 and a second lower layer 2 which contact each other over their whole extent and which may have substantially rectangular shape before they are molded to the patient's head. On two opposing sides of the first layer 1 and the second layer 2 two dimensionally stable attachment sections formed as rails 3 are connected to each of the layers 1 and 2, that allow the mask to be rigidly attached to a head immobilization device (not shown). Two elongated molding members 4 (shown in broken lines) are provided between the first layer 1 and the second layer 2, which cause that corresponding elongated corrugations will be formed in the first layer 1 after the mask has been molded to tightly fit to the patient's face. The corrugations run across the whole extent of the mask from the left rail 3 to the right rail 3, thereby increasing the bending resistance of the mask in a direction running alongside the corrugations. However, the inventive mask may also comprise molding members 4 running in any other suitable direction. Additionally or alternatively, the inventive mask may also comprise “interrupted” corrugations caused by interrupted elongated molding members having a discontinuous cross-section. For example, a corrugation may be formed by two molding members, wherein one molding member can be removed by pulling it to one side of the mask and the other molding member may be removed by pulling it to the other side of the mask.

[0043] The mask further comprises three cutouts 6 for the nose and both eyes of the patient, wherein in the expected vicinity of the root of the nose an insert 5 is permanently embedded in the second, lower mask layer 2, which comprises a low temperature thermoplastic material that, when being heated to a certain temperature, will become softer than the low temperature thermoplastic material of the first layer 1 and the second layer 2 to allow for molding a nose bridge to the patient's root of the nose.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along line A-A in FIG. 2. It can be seen that after the elongated molding members 4 have been removed, hollow longitudinal tubes will be left between the upper layer 1 and the lower layer 2 that increase the mask's rigidity.

[0045] FIGS. 5 and 6 show alternative embodiments of the inventive head immobilization mask, having one single combined cutout for both, the nose and the eyes of the patient. Alternatively, the cutout can be extended to uncover the mouth and/or ear region of the patient. The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 comprises a large insert 5 that extends into the mask's cutout 6, wherein the insert 5 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is mostly confined to the extent of the first and the second mask layers 1 and 2 above the combined cutout 6.