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Thigh support with free space for popliteal fossa

a technology of thigh support and popliteal fossa, which is applied in the direction of sofas, couches, beds, etc., can solve the problem that other limitations of related art will become apparen

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-07-31
DUDONIS MATT
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]Embodiments include a therapeutic cushion for a supine or side lying patient comprising support means for the patient's upper leg, and support means for the patient's lower le...

Problems solved by technology

Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

Method used

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  • Thigh support with free space for popliteal fossa
  • Thigh support with free space for popliteal fossa
  • Thigh support with free space for popliteal fossa

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0046]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment heel elevator cushion 100 in use by a patient. FIG. 1 shows a patient lying in a supine position on his or her back, in particular the torso 14, left leg comprising thigh or upper leg 15, knee 16, lower leg or calf 18, and foot 19. The popliteal fossa 17 is on the bottom side of or behind or underneath the knee. Also visible is the right leg comprising thigh or upper leg 20, knee 21, lower leg or calf 18, and foot 19. The popliteal fossa 22 is on the bottom side of or behind or underneath the knee.

[0047]The first embodiment heel elevator cushion 100 is comprised of a heel elevator support 25 connected to a connector 75, which is in turn connected to a supplemental support 50.

[0048]In use, the thighs 15 and 20 rest on the upper surface 56 of the supplemental support 50. The popliteal fossas 17 and 22 are suspended above the hemispheric bore, groove or contoured free space comprising the upper surface 81 of the connector 75. The...

second embodiment

[0060]The right connector arm 279 is a portion of the second embodiment connector 275. The connector arm is connected at one end to the heel elevator support 275 and at the other end to the supplemental support 250.

[0061]The second embodiment supplemental support 250 is shown in FIG. 4. The foundation foam 254, the upper surface 256, the viscoelastic foam layer 252, and the cover 292 which covers all surfaces of the second embodiment supplemental support are shown.

[0062]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment heel elevator support 25 as taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1. Visible in FIG. 5 is a foundation foam 29, viscoelastic foam layer 27 which covers the areas of the support which may contact the patient user, in particular the upper surface 35 of the support, the internal surface 32 and top 34 of left bolster 39, and internal surface 36 and top 38 of right bolster 37. A cover 90 encloses the support.

[0063]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a flat embodiment heel elev...

third embodiment

[0071]One use for the third embodiment heel elevator cushion is to elevate the lower and upper legs above the level of the patient's heart and thereby improve the patient's blood circulation while simultaneously protecting the patient's heels against heel pressure ulcers.

[0072]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment heel elevator cushion taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10. In this embodiment the heel elevator support 425, connector 475, and supplemental support 450 are combined in a single piece of foundation foam material 429, with the border between heel elevator support and connector indicated by dashed line 431 and the border between connector and supplemental support indicated by dashed line 433. A layer 452 of viscoelastic foam covers the upper surface 456 of the supplemental support 450; and a similar layer 427 covers the entire upper surface 435 of the heel elevator support 425. The approximately hemispheric upper surface 477 of the groove or bore or contoured...

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Abstract

An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes cushions which support a patient's thighs and lower legs and which have cut out areas in the areas of the patient's popliteal fossa at the back of the patient's knees. By avoiding contact with the popliteal fossa complications such as compression of the patient's nerves and blood vessels are avoided. This prevents the harmful effects of pressure on the popliteal fossa in loss of sensation in the lower legs and feet, and occlusion of blood and lymph vessels in the lower legs. A number of embodiment cushions are disclosed, some embodiments comprised of a relatively firm core foam material with a relatively softer viscoelastic foam in areas which are in contact with the patient's skin.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 897,780 filed Jan. 26, 2007.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not Applicable.THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT[0003]Not Applicable.REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX[0004]Not Applicable.BACKGROUNDDescription of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98[0005]Therapeutic cushions are cushions used for the prevention or treatment of a disease or condition in a supine patient confined to a bed. Examples of therapeutic cushions include heel elevators and log roll cushions.[0006]Embodiments of the present application are cushions which achieve the desirable redistribution of pressure of a patient's body on the cushion while eliminating the risk of injury to the popliteal fossa.[0007]U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,960 discloses a pneumatic cushion...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A47C20/00A47C17/86A47C16/00
CPCA47C20/021
Inventor DUDONIS, MATT
Owner DUDONIS MATT
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