Inflatable positioning aids for operating room

• US 6,510,574 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEXT Medical Products LLC
• Original Assignee: O. R. Comfort, LLC
• Inventors: Urmey, William F., Marguet, L. Henri, Sharrock, Nigel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Santos, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US10/011,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20020040501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 563/0, 563/2, 565/2, 565/21, 565/22, 565/4, 565/53, 548/4, 563/6, 563/7, 563/8, 564/0, 564/4, 564/5, 570/6, 571/0, 571/3
• US Class Current: 5/644
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/0054 specially adapted for back or spinal surgeries
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/12 Rests specially adapted therefor; Arrangements of patient-supporting surfaces rests for the surgeon A61B90/60; restraining devices A61F5/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/121 Head or neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/122 Upper body, e.g. chest
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/1225 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/123 Lower body, e.g. pelvis, hip, buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/1265 having inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/32 lying
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/325 prone
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/07 for the head or torso, e.g. special back-rests pillows in general A47G9/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1021 Inflatable cushions

Abstract

An inflatable positioning device is provided. The device includes a pump, a tube extending from the pump, a valve intermediate the length of the tube and non-rectangular inflatable pillow connected to the end of the tube remote from the pump. The non-rectangular inflatable pillow is dimensioned for positioning portions of a patient'"'"'s body during surgery.

Claims

1. An inflatable positioning assembly comprising an inflatable pillow comprising a top panel and a bottom panel, said top and bottom panels having peripheral regions secured in face-to-face engagement with one another, said top and bottom panels further being connected to one another along a section extending continuously between spaced apart peripheral regions, wherein the inflatable pillow comprises an inflatable toroidal portion configured to support the head of a patient and an inflatable bar-shaped portion aligned substantially tangentially to the toroidal portion, the toroidal portion configured to support the neck of said patient and the bar-shaped portion being separated from one another by a non-inflatable portion extending between the spaced apart peripheral locations, the inflatable pillow further comprising means for selectively directing air into and out of at least a selected one of said toroidal portion and said bar shaped portion.

2. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 1, wherein portions of the top and bottom panel defining the toroidal portion of the inflatable pillow comprise inner edges registered with one another and secured in face-to-face engagement with one another.

3. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 2, wherein the non-inflatable portion extends substantially linearly between the toroidal portion and the bar shaped portion.

4. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom panels each comprise a sheet of nylon fabric having a thickness in the range of 70-400 denier.

5. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the top and bottom panels has an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface, the inwardly facing surface having a coating of a liquid and air impervious material thereon.

6. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 5, wherein the coating on the inner surface of the top and bottom panels comprises a urethane.

7. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 6, wherein the urethane coating on the inner surface of the top and bottom panels is approximately 3.5 mils thick.

8. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 6, wherein the top and bottom panels each further have an outer surface, the outer surface of the top and bottom panels each having a kiss coating of urethane thereon for resisting moisture.

9. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for directing air into the inflatable portions comprises a tube extending from each inflatable portion, a valve connected to said tubes, the valve having an outlet and a valving member for selectively opening and closing the outlet, an adaptor having a first end releasably connected to the outlet of the valve and a second end releasably connected to a supply of compressed air.