Therapeutic cushion

• US 7,444,698 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery M. Jackson III
• Original Assignee: Avery M. Jackson III
• Inventors: Jackson, Avery M. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Engle; Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIU, JONATHAN
• Application Number:
  US11/716,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20070157391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 563/6, 563/8, 565/53, 564/4, 565/4, 571/3
• US Class Current: 5/644
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/1027 Details of inflatable pillows
• 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 13/1245 Knees, upper or lower legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/325 prone
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/34 sitting
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1043 Cushions specially adapted for wheelchairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1045 for the seat portion

Abstract

A facial support cushion for supporting the face of a person lying in a prone position, wherein the cushion is an annular, generally torus shaped body having a hollow interior with a plurality of generally radially extending partitions extending across the interior of the body, dividing it into a plurality of individual chambers spaced sequentially around the body. Apparatus is connected with the chambers to sequentially expand and contract them in an alternating pattern so that some of the chambers are expanded to contact and support the face while other chambers are contracted to relieve the pressure exerted against the face by the other chambers, whereby the formation of pressure sores and other deleterious effects are avoided by periodically and temporarily relieving pressure exerted by the chambers against different areas of the face.

Claims

1. A facial support cushion for supporting the face of a person remaining in a prone position for a prolonged period of time, comprising:

flexible sheets of material secured together to define a generally rectangularly shaped inflatable body having a top edge, a bottom edge, opposite side edges, an open central portion, and a hollow interior, said body being shaped and sized to contact and support the forehead, cheeks, and chin of a person lying face down on the cushion, with the eyes, nose and mouth of the person received in the open central portion, said body being incapable of supporting the face of a person when the body is not inflated;

a plurality of partitions extending across the interior of the body in a direction from said central portion thereof to an adjacent edge, dividing the body into a plurality of individual chambers spaced sequentially around the body, with two chambers at each of the top, bottom and side edges, and each chamber extending across the body from an outer edge to the open central portion thereof; and

means connected with the chambers to sequentially inflate and deflate them in an alternating cyclic pattern so that some of the chambers are inflated to contact and support the face of the person while other chambers are deflated to relieve the pressure exerted against the face by said other chambers, each of said chambers being alternately inflated and deflated, whereby the formation of pressure sores and other deleterious effects are avoided by periodically and temporarily relieving pressure exerted by each of the chambers against respective different areas of the face, and at least one chamber at each of the top edge, bottom edge, and opposite side edges is inflated at all times to support to the head of a person using the cushion in a stable, immobile position.

2. A facial support cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the means connected with the chambers to sequentially inflate and deflate them comprise a source of pressurized fluid and valve means to connect the chambers alternately with said source and with exhaust.

3. A facial support cushion as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

the pressurized fluid comprises a gas.

4. A facial support cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said cushion is toroidally shaped, with said central portion comprising a generally T-shaped opening to provide clearance in the area of the mouth, nose and eyes of the person.

5. A facial support cushion as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

there are eight chambers arranged sequentially in a clockwise direction around the toroidally shaped cushion, at least two of said chambers that are in generally opposed relationship on opposite sides of the cushion being deflated and at least one chamber adjacent 5 each of said two chambers being inflated at the same time, whereby pressure relief is afforded by the deflated chambers while support is provided by the inflated chambers.

6. A facial support cushion as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the means connected with the chambers to sequentially inflate and deflate them comprise a source of pressurized fluid and valve means to connect the chambers alternately with said source and with exhaust.

7. A facial support cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

there are eight chambers spaced sequentially around the cushion, and said chambers are sequentially and cyclically deflated and then reinflated in pairs, with each cycle of deflation spanning a predetermined time interval.

8. A facial support cushion as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the predetermined time interval comprises from about one to about two minutes.