Abstract
An apparatus for supporting the neck and head of a user for airway management includes a base support section with a sloping ramp for supporting the user's shoulders and back, where the base support section can rest on a resting surface (i.e., a surface on which the apparatus is positioned), a front side, two opposing sides and a back side with the sloping ramp extending from a front edge of the apparatus to a top head-receiving portion. In general, the apparatus can be made in different sizes for accommodating different individuals. In some embodiments, the base support section can have a width in a range of about 20 inches to about 30 inches, a depth in a range of about 16 to about 17 inches and a height in a range of about 12 to about 15 inches, though other sizes can also be employed.
Claims
1. A support apparatus for supporting and maintaining the head and neck of a user in the supine sniff position in which the Occipito-Atlanto-Axial joint is extended upwards and the head is angled downward to achieve alignment of the airway axes, comprising: a pillow having opposing left and right sides, a back side, a front side, and a bottom surface; a sloped ramp surface sloping up and away from the front side at an angle in a range of about 15 to 45 from the front side; and a head/neck support section comprising a neck supporting surface for supporting the user's neck, said head/neck support section further comprising a head support surface for supporting the head, said head supporting surface including a central surface that slopes downwardly and away from the neck supporting surface and downwardly and away from an outer edge of the head supporting surface; said head/neck support section being dimensioned to align the user's oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and tracheal axes and maintain said alignment as the user's head is supported by said head supporting surface.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a base that is substantially rectilinear in shape.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sloped ramp surface has at least one receptacle for receiving at least one of the user's scapulas.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said at least one receptacle has a width in a range of about 2 inches to about 7 inches.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said at least one receptacle has a length in a range of about 3 inches to about 14 inches.
6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said at least one receptacle has a depth in a range of about 0.5 inches to about 4 inches.
7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein an edge of said at least one receptacle is within about 2 inches to about 6 inches from a top edge of the apparatus.
8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said receptacle has a polygonal shape.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sloped ramp support surface comprises a plurality of ridges.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said ridges have a depth in a range of about 0.2 inches to about 1 inch.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said ridges cover an area of said sloped surface equal to greater than about 9 square inches.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said area of the sloped surface covered by said ridges is in a range of about 9 square inches to about 100 square inches.
13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said ridges are uniformly separated from one another.
14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said ridges are non-uniformly separated from one another.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the neck supporting surface in the neck/head support section has a substantially oval shape.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said neck supporting surface has a maximum diameter of at least 8 inches.
17. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein a middle portion of the neck supporting surface in the neck/head support section is lower than a top edge of the neck supporting section by at least 0.125 inches.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said middle portion of the neck supporting surface is lower than said top edges by a distance in a range of about 0.125 inches and 0.5 inches.
19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is formed of a polymeric material.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said polymeric material comprises urethane.
21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said polymeric material is foamed.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said foamed polymeric material comprises foamed polyurethane.
23. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein a highest edge of the neck supporting surface is between about 0.5 and about 4 inches higher than a lowest point on the head supporting surface.
24. A support apparatus for supporting and maintaining the head and neck of a user in the sniff position in which the Occipito-Atlanto-Axial joint is extended upwards and the head is angled downward to achieve alignment of the airway axes, comprising: a pillow having opposing left and right sides, a back side, a front side, and a bottom surface and a top surface, said top surface comprising a sloping ramp surface with one or more receptacles for receiving at least one of the user's scapula and lower shoulder, wherein the sloped ramp surface has one or more polygonal receptacles having a width in a range of about 2 inches to about 14 inches and a length in a range of about 3 inches to about 14 inches, with edges of the receptacles being within 2 inches and up to 8 inches from a top edge of theapparatus, with the eceptacles having a depth in a range from about 0.5 inches to about 4 inches; at least one head/neck supporting section for supporting the user's head and neck, the head/neck supporting section comprising a neck support surface positioned at aneck end of the head/neck section; said head/neck supporting section further comprising a head support surface for supporting the user's head, wherein said head support surface comprises a central surface that slopes down and away from the neck support surface and down and away from an outer the edge of the head support surface; and wherein said head support surface and said neck support surface are dimensioned to provide a substantial alignment of the oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and tracheal axes when the user's head is received in said head support surface.
25. The support apparatus of claim 24, wherein said substantial alignment of the oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and tracheal axes is characterized by the user's cervical spine experiencing an extension in a range of about 5 to about 20 degrees and the user's lower cervical spine experiencing a flexion in a range of about 5 degrees to about 15 degrees.
26. A support apparatus for supporting and maintaining the head and neck of a user in the sniff position in which the Occipito-Atlanto-Axial joint is extended upwards and the head is angled downward to achieve alignment of the airway axes, comprising: a pillow having opposing left and right sides, a back side, a front side, and a bottom surface; a head support surface and a neck support surface for supporting the head and the neck of the user, said head support surface including a central surface that slopes down and away from the neck support surface and down and away from an outer edge of the head support surface; said head and neck support surfaces being dimensioned to provide substantial alignment of the oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and tracheal axes of the user; a ramp surface sloping away from the front side towards the neck support surface and the head support surface, wherein the ramp exhibits a slope in a range of about 15 to about 45 relative to a front edge of the pillow and wherein a length of the ramp measured from the front edge of the pillow to the front of the neck support surface is between about 10 inches and about 18 inches, wherein the sloped ramp surface has one or more polygonal receptacles having a width in a range of about 2 inches and to about 7 inches and a length in a range of about 3 inches to about 14 inches, with edges of the receptacles being within 2 inches and up to 8 inches from a top edge of the pillow and within 2 inches and up to 6 inches from a side edge of the sloped ramp surface, said receptacles having a depth in a range from about 0.5 inches up to about 4 inches; and wherein said head support surface includes a central surface that slopes downwardly and away from the neck support surface and downwardly and away from an outer edge of the head support surface; and wherein the head support and neck support surfaces are dimensioned to provide substantial alignment of the oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and tracheal axes.
27. The support separator of claim 26, wherein said substantial alignment of the axes is characterized by the user's cervical spine experiencing an extension in a range of about 5 to about 20 degrees and the user's lower cervical spine experiencing a flexion in a range of about 5 degrees to about 15 degrees.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1A is a plan schematic view of a pillow according to an embodiment of the present teachings,
[0027] FIG. 1B is a schematic front view of the pillow depicted in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1C is a schematic side view of the pillow depicted in FIG. 1A,
[0028] FIGS. 1-E and 1D schematically depict examples of a head receiving section of the pillow depicted in FIG. 1A,
[0029] FIG. 1F is a schematic sectional view of the pillow depicted in FIG. 1A illustrating a plurality of ridges disposed on the sloped ramp surface for inhibiting the slippage of a user supported by that surface,
[0030] FIG. 1G schematically depicts a pillow according to an embodiment, which includes a plurality of waffle-like undulations on a sloped ramp surface thereof for inhibiting the slippage of a user supported on that surface,
[0031] FIG. 1H is a schematic side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1G,
[0032] FIG. 1I schematically depicts an embodiment of a pillow in which an anti-slippage sheet covers at least a portion of the sloped ramp surface,
[0033] FIG. 1J schematically depicts an embodiment of a pillow according to the present teachings, which includes a plurality of V-shaped ridges on a sloped ramp surface thereof for inhibiting, and preferably preventing, the slippage of a user supported by that surface,
[0034] FIG. 1K is a plan view of a pillow according to an embodiment, depicting dimensions of various features of the pillow, and
[0035] FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C provide side and section views of the pillow depicted in FIG. 1A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] Reference will be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals will indicate like elements. While specific configurations are discussed it should be noted that this is for illustrative purposes. The present invention relates to a pillow for aligning the oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and tracheal axes and the extension of the Occipito-Atlanto-Axial joint, together with flexion of the lower cervical spine for airway management with the user in the supine position while providing a convenient and cost-effective way to provide differing sizes of pillows to accommodate widely varying patient morphologies. Airway management involves adjusting the patient's head and neck for improved ventilation and respiration. By improving the position of a user's head and neck, the user can experience improved sleep, rest, oxygenation and ventilation and avoid airway obstruction and airflow turbulence that may result, for example, in snoring. A conventional pillow for aligning the upper airways of the human head and neck while in the supine position has certain shortcomings, which the current invention addresses. For example, a conventional pillow can be of uniform monolithic design with a flat sloped ramping surface, which may cause discomfort to the user, specifically in the scapula and lower shoulder areas. This can in turn prevent the user from resting or sleeping comfortably. In addition, the user may slide down the sloped ramp surface preventing comfortable use of the pillow. The current disclosure addresses, among others, these shortcomings.
[0037] Various terms are used herein in accordance with their ordinary meanings. The term about as used herein denotes a variation of at most 10% around a numerical value. A substantial alignment of oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and tracheal axes as used herein means that an angle formed between any two of these axes is in a range of 00 and about 300 with the Occipito-Atlanto-Axial joint having an angle of between about 50 and about 300 when a user's head and neck are positioned in the apparatus.
[0038] With reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E,1F, 1G, 1H, 1I, 1J, and 1K, a pillow (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention is disclosed, which allows alignment of the user's head and neck into the sniff position with a sloped ramp support surface, which includes scapula receptacles to relieve pressure on user's shoulder blades and upper back and anti-slide ridges or notches cut or otherwise formed into that surface to prevent users from sliding down the surface. The scapula receptacles can cooperate synergistically with the placement of a user in a supine sniff position to improve the user's ventilation and oxygenation. In particular, the scapula receptacles can help pull the user's shoulders back, and open up the user's chest to improve ventilation and oxygenation, thus further enhancing the improved ventilation and oxygenation afforded by placement of the user in a supine sniff position.
[0039] With reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, one embodiment of pillow (100), which can rest on a resting surface (not shown), includes a sloped ramp support surface (101) and comprises a head/neck support section (102) cut or otherwise formed into the apex or crest of pillow (100). Head/neck support section (102) has head support receiving portion (103) having a head support surface (103) with front neck support ridge (104), which cooperatively help position the user's airways into the sniff position. Pillow (100) can be made of various materials including, among other polymeric materials, polyurethane foam, EVA, latex foam, memory foam or other similar materials with features cut out or formed into it.
[0040] FIG. 1A illustrates a plan view of pillow (100) comprising sloped ramp surface (101), head/neck support section (102), head receiving area (103) and front ridge neck support ridge (104), with scapula receptacles (105) and anti-slide ridges (106) cut or otherwise formed into sloped ramp support surface (101).
[0041] FIG. 1B is a front view of pillow (100) comprising sloped ramp surface (101) having anti-slide ridges (106) cut or otherwise formed into said surface, scapula receptacles (105) formed on the lateral sides of the sloped ramp surface, and head neck support section (102) with front neck support ridge (104) cut or otherwise formed at the apex or crest of pillow (100). In some embodiments, the scapula receptacles can be positioned between about 1 inch to about 8 inches from the crest or top of the pillow.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 1C, which is a side view of pillow 100, sloped ramp surface (101) can comprise an inclined surface. Anti-slide ridges (106) can be formed in a variety of different ways, e.g., they can be cut or otherwise formed into sloped ramp surface (101). The head/neck support section (102), which can be formed (e.g., cut) into the apex or crest of pillow (100), can include a neck support ridge (104) at the front portion thereof for supporting a user's neck. Sloped ramp surface (101) can facilitate inspiration by taking the center of gravity of the weight of the chest and abdomen away from the lung/diaphragm functional unit, as well as decreasing the problem of gastrointestinal reflux. As shown in FIGS. 1C and 1E, in this embodiment, the sloped ramp surface (101) can form an angle with respect to a bottom surface (109) of the pillow, which can rest on a resting surface. In some embodiments, the angle can be between about 15 degrees to about 30 degrees, though other angles can also be used. Further, an angle formed by the intersection of the sloped ramp surface (101), and a plane (111) formed by the neck support ridge (104), and the head receiving area (103) can be, for example, in a range of about 15 degrees to about 60 degrees to help place the user's cervical spine and head in the correct position relative to the thoracic and lumbar spine.
[0043] In this embodiment, the ridges (106) can be straight, in other embodiments, the ridges (106) can have other forms. For examples, FIG. 1J schematically depicts an example of a pillow (100) according to the present disclosure, which includes V-shaped ridges (106) disposed on a ramp surface (101) thereof. While in these embodiments the ridges are uniformly spaced relative to one another, in other embodiments, they can be non-uniformly spaced relative to one another.
[0044] Further, in some embodiments, other features can be used in addition to, or instead of, the ridges to ensure that a user (e.g., a patient) will not slip down the sloped ramp surface. For example, FIG. 1G shows an embodiment of a pillow (100) that includes the sloped ramp support surface (101) with scapula receptacles (105) cut out or otherwise formed in the pillow at lateral sides of the sloped ramp support surface (101). As discussed above, the sloped ramp support surface (101) can provide pressure relief to a user's scapula and lower shoulder areas. As shown, a plurality of undulations, e.g., waffle-like indents and/or outdents (112), can be provided on the sloped ramp surface (101), e.g., cut or otherwise formed in the surface, to inhibit, and preferably prevent, a user from sliding down the sloped ramp surface. In some embodiments, an average height of the undulations can be, for example, in a range of about inches to about 3 inches. Axis E-E can provide a sectional view of the anti-slip undulations formed in the sloped ramp surface (101). For example, the waffle-like undulations can be formed of a convoluted polymer, such as, polyurethane, elastic polyurethane or latex.
[0045] FIG. 1I shows a front view of one embodiment of the pillow 100 in which a sheet (113), which can be formed of a natural and/or synthetic fabric, can cover at least a portion of the sloped ramp surface (101). The fabric sheet (113) can be glued or otherwise attached to the sloped ramp surface (101) along an upper edge (114) of the fabric (113) and/or can be attached to the sloped ramp surface in other ways. Alternatively or additionally, one or more edges of the fabric (113) can be molded into the sloped ramp surface. The fabric sheet can be preferably formed of a material that can help maintain a user on the sloped ramp surface without slippage. By way of example, some suitable materials from which the fabric sheet (113) can be formed can include, without limitation, silk, nylon, rayon, cotton, wool or any combination of these materials.
[0046] FIG. 1B shows a front view of one embodiment of pillow 100 that includes sloped ramp support surface (101) with scapula receptacles (105) cut out or otherwise formed in the pillow at lateral sides of the sloped ramp support surface (101). The sloped ramp support surface (101) can provide pressure relief to a user's scapular and lower shoulder areas. Further, anti-slip ridges (106), which can be cut or otherwise formed into sloped ramp surface (101), can inhibit, and preferably prevent, a user, from sliding down the sloped ramp support surface (101).
[0047] FIG. 1C illustrates a side view of one embodiment of pillow (100) that includes sloped ramp surface (101) with anti-slip ridges (106). Head/neck support section (102) can be cut or otherwise formed into the apex or crest of pillow (100) with front support ridge (104) at the front of said section.
[0048] With reference to FIG. 1D, which illustrates details and a sectional view of head/neck support section (102) along axis B-B, the head/neck support section (102) can include a head receiving portion (103) having a head support surface (103), which slopes downwardly and away from an outer edge (103) of the head receiving portion (103) and towards the bottom of the head receiving portion. Front neck support ridge (104) and occiput connecting line (107) work together with head support surface (103) in aligning the user's airways into the sniff position. It can be seen that the depth and size of head support surface (103) and the depth of the neck support at occiput connecting line (107) relative to the outer edges of neck support ridge (108) as well as the size of neck support ridge (104) can be varied. By varying the dimensions of these features it can be seen that the dimensions of features of the head/neck support sections can be varied to fit many user morphologies. In some embodiments, the neck support ridge (104) can have a width in a range of about 4 to about 12 inches while the head receiving portion (103) can have a diameter in a range of about four to twelve inches. Further, the head receiving portion (103) can have a substantially oval cross-sectional shape, in other embodiments, it can have other shapes, e.g., a circular shape.
[0049] FIG. 1E is a side view of line c-c (FIG. 1A) and shows head/neck support section (102) having head support surface (103), which slopes downwardly and away from the edges of said surface and towards the user's head. Front neck support ridge (104) is at front side of head support surface (103). Occipital connecting line (107) bisects front neck support ridge (104) and defines the lowest point on front neck support ridge (104).
[0050] FIG. 1F, a sectional view along axis A-A, depicts the sloped ramp surface (101) having anti-slip ridges (106) cut or otherwise formed into pillow. As shown, the sloped ramp surface (101) can form an angle in a range of about 150 and 300 with the front edge of the pillow and a bottom surface (109) of the pillow 100.
[0051] FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C depict an embodiment of a pillow 200 according to embodiments disclosed herein. As shown, while in use, the pillow rests on a resting surface (202). User A is shown with head positioned in pillow (200), user's neck B is positioned on front neck support ridge (205) with occipital contact line (208) bisecting the center of front neck support ridge (205); the back sides of head C are supported on surface (207), which slopes downwardly and away from front neck support surface (204). Axis D-D represents the oropharyngeal axis, axis E-E represents the laryngeal axis, and axis F-F represents the tracheal axis. Due to the slope of the head support surface (207) and its relationship with the front neck support ridge (205), lateral movement of the user's head can be facilitated and automatic positioning of the user into the sniff position can be accomplished. As a result of the orientation of surfaces (207), (204) and (208) axes E-E, T-T and L-L can be aligned so as to place the user into the sniff position. Because head support surface (207) slopes downwardly from front neck ridge (205) the Occipito-Atlanto-Axial joint is extended upwards and head C is angled downwardly towards the support surface to align head C and neck B of the user into the sniff position via alignment of airways E-W, T-T and L-L. When user head C is positioned as shown, the Occiput H of the user's skull is in line with Occipital connecting line (208), which bisects front neck support ridge (205), with the head C contacting sloped support surface (207) that keeps the user in the sniff position. Anti-slip ridges (209) cut or otherwise formed into the pillow at the lateral sides of the sloped ramp support surface (209) help prevent the user from sliding down the sloped support surface. Further, the scapula receptacles (211) help relieve pressure and stress on user's scapula and lower shoulder regions.
[0052] A pillow according to the invention can be made in a variety of different sizes so as to accommodate different individuals. By way of example, with reference to FIG. 1K, in some embodiments, the head receiving portion (103) can have an inner diameter on a top portion thereof in a range of about 4 to about 12 inches. Further, the neck supporting ridge (102) can have a width (NW) in a range of about 4 inches to about 12 inches. The ridge (102) can have a thickness (NT) in a range of about inches to about 2 inches, and height above the edge of the head receiving portion in a range of about inches to about 4 inches. Further, each of the scapula receptacles can have a length (SL) in a range of about 3 inches to about 14 inches and width (a dimension perpendicular to length) in a range of about 2 to about 12 inches and a depth (SD) in a range of about 0.5 inches to about 4 inches. In some embodiments, each scapula receptacle is separated from the top of the apparatus by a distance (SL) in a range of about 1 to about 8 inches.
[0053] As discussed above, an apparatus according to the present teachings can be fabricated using a plurality of polymeric materials. In some embodiments, an apparatus according to the present teachings can be formed of a foamed polymeric material. In some such embodiments, the density of the foamed polymeric material can be in a range of about 1.5 to about 5 pounds/ft3. Further, in some embodiments, the apparatus can exhibit a hardness characterized by an IDL (indentation-deflection-load) value in a range of about 12 to about 50, e.g., in a range of about 20 to about 40.
[0054] Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various changes can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.
