Cpap pillow apparatus and method

Abstract

A CPAP pillow relies on a shell shaped to provide large reservoirs of fill particles near or against the shoulders of a user and around and under the neck. The system and method uncouple the spring forces supporting a user from the forces used to configure the shape of the pillow in use. Thus, a user can fit the pillow to the body profile in three dimensions with substantially no residual pre-loading to cause discomfort, pressure points, or unsupported regions. The pillow supports, contacts, and cradles the head and neck. It accommodates shoulder intrusion without moving the pillow away from supporting the neck.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 206,912, filed on Feb. 6, 2009 for PRESSURE ALLEVIATING PILLOW.BACKGROUND[0002]1. The Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates to sleeping apparatus and, more particularly, to novel systems and methods for making and using specialty pillows and adjustable pillow for supporting the body during sleep.[0004]2. The Background Art[0005]Pillows are used during sleep both for comfort and for positioning the head or other bodily member in desired orientations. In the womb and for a period of time after birth, a baby's spine is shaped like a letter C. As the baby develops, secondary curves known as Lordotic develop in the cervical and lumbar regions. These curves continue to develop until growing ceases. In normal spines four types of spinal curvatures which important to balance, flexibility, and stress absorption and distribution. The position of the cervical...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028]This system benefits from uncoupling mechanical vibration of fill from the outermost layer proximate a user to deaden sound and reduce initiation thereof. Granules of buckwheat hulls, having projections acting as springs and engaging one another between adjacent granules provide stability. A quilted, cellularized cover bridges the projections to provide a smooth, comfortable surface without abrasion from the fill.

Problems solved by technology

Obstruction of the airway during sleep results in snoring and sleep apnea.

Whenever that seal is broken, such as through movement during sleep and contact with the patient's pillow, pressurized air from the breathing circuit is lost.

Conventional sleeping pillows made with resilient and pre-loaded materials present problems because the weight of the patient's head causes the pillow in the area of the head to be depressed, leaving the surrounding surface of the pillow to push, unweighted, to a level relatively higher than the head.

This results in increased contact between the pillow areas around the patient's therapeutic mask, particularly in side and stomach sleeping positions.

Thus, the pillow will tend to fluff-up and fill-out the pillow case or the cover around the pillow filling material.

However, a pillow is actually “pre-loaded” such that a certain amount of force is required before the pillow begins to make any appreciable displacement or deflection.

A fully resilient pillow is problematic in certain circumstances.

Thus opening the seal that should exist between the CPAP mask and the face of the user renders the CPAP machine ineffective.

It cannot respond to a user's comfort by being adjustable in profile, thickness, supporting force, and the like about the head, neck and shoulders of a user.

Likewise, a pillow applied to another member body, such as to support a leg, lumbar region of the back, or the like may also present discomfort at “pressure points.” These result due to the wide range in support pressure at various locations and the lack of a “profile match” between the shape of the body and the shape of the pillow.

Thus, reliable shapes, fill amounts, and support where needed are simply not available in conventional pillows.

Even the best developed granular-fill materials have proven inadequate.

These have still proven un-satisfactory.

They are initially too hard, do not profile the body, and result in loss of support due to fill migration.

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