HEAD SUPPORT APPARATUS

Abstract

There is proposed a head support apparatus, comprising a frame and an adjustable sling member. The frame including a base and at least two spaced apart upwardly extending side walls, the base being supportable on a patient receiving surface. The adjustable sling member configured to be reversibly attached to a head of a patient, wherein the sling member being reversibly couplable to the upwardly extending side walls of the frame to thereby support the head of the patient above the patient receiving surface. This allows a practitioner to check the patients eyes for anything pressing on them and to check the breathing tube for position, circuit disconnection, kinking or blockages, even when the patient is positioned in the prone orientation.

Claims

1. A patient head support apparatus, comprising: a frame including a base and at least two spaced apart upwardly extending side walls, the base being adapted to be supported on a patient receiving surface; and an adjustable sling member configured to be reversibly attached to a head of the patient, wherein the sling member is reversibly couplable to the upwardly extending side walls of the frame to thereby support the head of the patient above the patient receiving surface.

2. The patient head support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, being configured to support the head of said patient positioned in a prone orientation.

3. The patient head support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, being configured to support the head of said patient positioned in a supine orientation, a left lateral recumbent orientation, or a right lateral recumbent orientation.

4. The patient head support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the frame includes a generally rigid base, having two spaced apart generally rigid side walls extending upwardly from edges thereof.

5. The patient head support apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the frame comprises two interconnectable portions being connectable to form the base and side walls.

6. The patient head support apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the side walls include respective voids extending therethrough, wherein the voids are graspable by a practitioner for repositioning said patient head support apparatus when the patient's head is supported thereon.

7. The patient head support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adjustable sling member includes a head/face abutment portion, adjustment straps, a head securing member, handles, and couplings.

8. The patient head support apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the head/face abutment portion comprises a resilient deformable pad being configured to conform to a unique profile of the patient's head or face.

9. The patient head support apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the head/face abutment portion includes a void or voids extending therethrough that are positionable relative to the eyes and mouth/nose regions of the patient's face, whereby the eyes and mouth/nose regions of the patent patient are visible or accessible throughout a medical procedure or operation, when the patient is positioned in a prone orientation.

10. The patient head support apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the resilient deformable pad is reversibly couplable to the adjustable sling member.

11. The patient head support apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the adjustment straps are configured to be fixedly connected to the head/face abutment portion and adjustable connected through respective apertures in a respective handle, and wherein the adjustment straps are used to modify the position of the patient's head once the adjustable sling member has been attached to the frame, to thereby ensure the patient's head is adequately supported whilst allowing access, either physical or visual, to the eye region and/or mouth/nose regions of the patient.

12. The patient head support apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein each handle incorporates a respective coupling which is configured to engage an upper edge of a respective side wall of the frame, whereby each handle is reversibly couplable to a respective side wall of the frame.

13. The patient head support apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein a first adjustment strap is adapted to extend across or adjacent the forehead region of the patient between the spaced apart side walls of the frame, and a second adjustment strap is adapted to extend across or adjacent the chin region of the patient between the spaced apart side walls.

14. The patient head support apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein a void of the patient head support apparatus is configured to register with a surgical eye shield reversibly affixable to the patient's face, to thereby assists in the correct fitting of the adjustable sling member and maintaining the adjustable sling member's position relative to the face when the patient is being moved or during the medical procedure or operation.

15. The patient head support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one sensor is embedded into, or is attached to a face engaging surface of the adjustable sling member for monitoring dynamic pressure changes throughout a medical procedure or operation.

16. A method of supporting the head of a patient in a prone orientation, including the steps of: providing a head support apparatus in accordance with claim 1; positioning the patient in a supine orientation; attaching an adjustable sling member of the head support apparatus to the head of the patient, wherein an abutment portion of the adjustable sling member abuts the face of the patient and a void or voids extending through the abutment portion permits visual observation of, or access to, the patient's eye region and/or mouth/nose regions; rolling or otherwise moving the patient into the prone orientation, wherein handles of the adjustable sling member are utilised to support the head of the patient, and permitting further adjustment of the patient's body and limbs while supporting the patient's head; positioning a frame of head support apparatus below and adjacent the face of the patient; attaching the adjustable sling member to the side walls of the frame wherein the patient's head is spaced apart from a surface on which the patient is positioned; and adjusting straps of the adjustable sling member to ensure appropriate head height and angle relative to the patient's body, while providing adequate support of the patient's head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of the invention and, together with the description and claims, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings,

[0045] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the head support apparatus, comprising a frame and an adjustable sling member attached thereto;

[0046] FIG. 2 is an end view of the head support apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0047] FIG. 3 is a side view of the head support apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 4 is a top view of the head support apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating the adjustable sling member detached from the frame;

[0049] FIG. 5 is a side view of the head support apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating the support of a patient's head;

[0050] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 5;

[0051] FIG. 7 is a top view of the frame of FIG. 1, illustrating the separate portions that are attachable to thereby form the frame;

[0052] FIG. 8 is a partial view of one of the side walls of FIG. 1, illustrating the attachment of the handle;

[0053] FIG. 9 is a partial view of the handle of FIG. 8;

[0054] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the handle of FIG. 8;

[0055] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the head support apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating the adjustment of one of the straps, without a patient's head shown;

[0056] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the head support apparatus of FIG. 11, illustrating the attachment of the strap to a fastener portion on the handle;

[0057] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the head support apparatus of FIG. 11, illustrating the removal of the strap from the fastener portion on the handle for further adjustment;

[0058] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the head support apparatus of FIG. 11, illustrating all straps attached to respective fastener portions;

[0059] FIG. 15 is a side view illustrating the head support apparatus of FIG. 14, with a patient's head in position;

[0060] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the head support apparatus, illustrating the adjustable sling member detached from the frame;

[0061] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the head support apparatus of FIG. 16, illustrating the adjustable sling member attached to the frame;

[0062] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the head support apparatus of FIG. 17, illustrating the head of a patient supported thereon; and

[0063] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the frame of FIG. 16 illustrating the separate portions that are attachable to thereby form the rigid frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED AND EXEMPLIFIED EMBODIMENTS

[0064] Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

[0065] Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, there is illustrated a head support apparatus 10, demonstrating by way of examples, arrangements in which the principles of the present invention may be employed.

[0066] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the head support apparatus 10, includes a frame 12 having spaced apart upwardly extending side walls 14, 16, and a base 18. The frame 12 may comprise two generally identical portions that can be attached together to form the base and side walls, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 19. This can assist in transport and/or manufacture of the apparatus 10, however the reader should appreciate that the base and side walls may be unitary in construction.

[0067] The apparatus 10 further comprises an adjustable sling member 20 configured to engage a head 22 of a patient 24, being positioned on a patient receiving surface 26, such as an operating table, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0068] The sling member 20 is reversibly attachable to the upwardly extending side walls 14, 16 to thereby support the head of the patient 24, in the prone orientation, as illustrated in the figures. However, the skilled addressee will appreciate that the patient 24 can be supported in the supine orientation or right/left lateral recumbent orientations.

[0069] The side walls 14, 16 include respective voids 28 that extend therethrough, which can be grasped by a practitioner and used to assist in repositioning the apparatus 10, when the patient's head 22 is supported thereon. The voids 28 can also be used when the frame 12 is being positioned below the patient's face or removed after use.

[0070] The adjustable sling member 20 includes an abutment portion 30, adjustment straps 32, 34, a head securing band 36, handles 38, 40, and couplings 70.

[0071] The abutment portion 30 comprises a resilient deformable pad 42 and a backing 44 attached thereto. The backing 44 is fixedly connected to, or forms part of, the adjustment straps 32, 34 and head securing band 36.

[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the resilient deformable pad 42 includes a void 46 extending therethrough, which is positionable relative to the eyes and mouth/nose of the patient 22, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. This means that the eyes and mouth/nose regions of the patient are visible and/or accessible during use of the apparatus 10. The reader will however appreciate that multiple voids may be used rather than the single generally T-shaped void, as illustrated in the figures.

[0073] As further illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the portion of the void 46 corresponding to the eye region of the patient 24, is dimensioned to accommodate the eye cover 100 previously disclosed by the present Applicant in International Application, PCT/AU2015/050481 entitled SURGICAL EYE SHIELD, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0074] In some embodiments, the surgical eye shield 100 or similar device is configured to register with the void 46 which thereby assists in the correct fitting of the adjustable sling member 20 and maintaining its position relative to the face when the patient is being moved or during the medical procedure. The surgical eye shield 100 or similar device is attached to the face of the patient and therefore holds the resilient deformable pad 42, and hence the adjustable sling member 20 in place during use.

[0075] In one form, the surgical eye shield 100 or similar device is shaped to frictionally engage the edge of the void 46 through the resilient deformable pad 42. This means that the visual access to the patient's eyes is maintained, while inhibiting impact which may occur to the patient's eyes during the medical procedure.

[0076] Preferably, the adjustment strap/s 32 extends across, or adjacent the forehead region of the patient and the adjustment strap/s 34 extends across, or adjacent the chin region of the patient between the spaced apart side walls 14, 16 of the frame 12.

[0077] The handles 38, 40 are adjustably couplable to the adjustment straps 32, 34. In the present embodiment, the adjustment straps 32, 34 extend through respective slots 50 in the handles 38, 40 to facilitate the adjustment.

[0078] The handles 38, 40 further include respective voids 52 and grips 54 to assist a practitioner with the grasping thereof.

[0079] As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 19, the frame 12 comprises two generally identical portions 60a, 60b, each including a tongue 62 that is configured to engage a respective passageway 64. Each tongue 62 includes hooks 66 that are adapted to engage a respective slot 68, which adjoin a corresponding passageway 64.

[0080] As illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10, the handle 40 in the present embodiment incorporate coupling 70 in the form of a downwardly open channel. The downwardly open channel is configured to engage a correspondingly shaped upper edge 72 of the side wall 16. The reader will appreciate that handle 38 also includes a downwardly open channel 70, which is configured to engage a correspondingly shaped upper edge 72 of the side wall 14, as illustrated in FIG. 16.

[0081] FIGS. 11 to 15, illustrate the adjustment of the adjustable sling member 20. The adjustment straps 32, 34, and head securing band 36 include respective hook and loop fastener portions for adjustment thereof. FIG. 11 illustrates the strap 34, having a loop portion 74, detached from the corresponding hook portion 76 on the handle 38. The reader will appreciate that this also applies to the straps 32 and attachment to handle 40. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that FIGS. 11 to 14 do not illustrate the patient's head 22 so as to not obscure the features of the apparatus 10.

[0082] FIG. 12 illustrates the attachment of the loop portion 74 of the strap 34, to a fastener portion 76 on the handle 38. FIG. 13 illustrates the removal of the strap 34 from the fastener portion 76 on the handle 38 to enable further adjustment of the adjustable sling member 20.

[0083] FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate the attachment of the straps 32, 34 to thereby support the head 22 of the patient 24. The reader should appreciate that the fine adjustment of the adjustable sling member 20 is undertaken when the head 22 of the patient 24 is being supported thereon.

[0084] In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 16 to 19, the resilient deformable pad 42, may be partially moulded or shaped to generally conform to the face of the patient 24. The resilient deformable pad 42 may also include different layers of foam material to provide varying degrees of comfort and support or may be constructed from a single density foam material.

[0085] The skilled addressee will appreciate that one advantages with the apparatus is that the adjustable sling member 20 can be attached to the head of the patient 24 while they are positioned in the supine orientation. The patient 24 can then be rolled into a prone orientation on the hospital bed or operating table 26 and the adjustable sling member 20 can then be attached to the frame 12 using coupling 70, to thereby support the head 22 of the patient 24. Fine adjustment of the adjustable sling member 20 can then be undertaken as previously discussed with respect to FIGS. 11 to 15 to ensure appropriate head height and angle relative to the patient's body, while providing adequate support and comfort for the patient 24, to minimise postoperative pain and/or neural damage.

[0086] The abutment portion 30 of the adjustable sling member 20 abuts the face of the patient and the void 46 extending through the abutment portion 30, permit visual observation of, or access to, the patient's eye region, and/or mouth/nose regions during a medical procedure. Because the patient's head is spaced apart from and above the table surface, a mirror (not shown) may also be positioned on top of the base 18 to assist in observing the patient's face during the procedure.

[0087] The skilled addressee will also appreciate that the handles 38, 40 can be used to support the head 22 of the patient 24 whilst they are being rolled or moved into position.

[0088] Although not illustrated the practitioner may use the handles 38, 40 to hold the head 22 of the patient 24, above the table surface 26 and the frame 12 can then be slid into position below the face of the patient 24. The handles 38, 40 can then be clipped onto the top of the frame 12.

[0089] When the surgical or medical procedure is completed the handles 38, 40 can be grasped by a practitioner and manipulated to unclip the adjustable sling member from the frame 12. The frame 12 can then be removed and the patient 24 transferred onto a gurney or other surface. In the situation that the patient 24 has been orientated in the prone orientation, they can be rolled back into the supine orientation, whereafter the adjustable sling member 20 can be removed from around the head 22 of the patient 24.

[0090] The skilled addressee will now appreciate the advantages of the illustrated invention over the prior art. In one form, the apparatus is configured to include at least two parts, wherein a first part, being the adjustable sling member 20, can be attached to the head of a patient prior to being positioned on an operation table 26 or when they are positioned on their back. Once the patient is positioned on the operation table 26 or when they are rolled into their front or side, the first part is couplable to a second part, being the frame 12. In this way the head is held in the adjustable sling or cradle during the operation or medical procedure.

[0091] The sling or cradle is able to conform to the patients face or head and can therefore accommodate a greater range of different sized and shaped faces compared to the prior art devices without physically or visually obstruction the eye or nose/mouth regions of the patient's face. The use of handles on the sling or cradle also means that a practitioner has greater control of the patient's head while they are being rolled and/or moved between a gurney and an operating table.

[0092] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word comprise or variations such as comprises or comprising is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

[0093] Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the exemplified embodiments of the invention, however it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate the invention and it is not limited thereto. Accordingly, the invention can include various modifications, which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.