METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING POSITIONING A PERSON IN SUPINE SNIFF POSITION AND PROVIDING SCAPULAR RELIEF
An apparatus for supporting the neck and head of a user for airway management includes a base support section with a sloping ramp for supporting the user's shoulders and back, where the base support section can rest on a resting surface (i.e., a surface on which the apparatus is positioned), a front side, two opposing sides and a back side with the sloping ramp extending from a front edge of the apparatus to a top head-receiving portion. In general, the apparatus can be made in different sizes for accommodating different individuals. In some embodiments, the base support section can have a width in a range of about 20 inches to about 30 inches, a depth in a range of about 16 to about 17 inches and a height in a range of about 12 to about 15 inches, though other sizes can also be employed.
1 . A support apparatus for supporting and maintaining the head and neck of a user in the supine sniff position in which the Occipito-Atlanto-Axial joint is extended upwards and the head is angled downward to achieve alignment of the airway axes, comprising:
a pillow having opposing left and right sides, a back side, a front side, and a bottom surface;
a sloped ramp surface sloping up and away from the front side at an angle in a range of about 15° to 45° from the front side; and
a head/neck support section comprising a neck supporting surface for supporting the user's neck,
said head/neck support section further comprising a head support surface for supporting the head, said head supporting surface including a central surface that slopes downwardly and away from the neck supporting surface and downwardly and away from an outer edge of the head supporting surface;
said head/neck support section being dimensioned to align the user's oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and tracheal axes and maintain said alignment as the user's head is supported by said head supporting surface.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a base that is substantially rectilinear in shape.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sloped ramp surface has at least one receptacle for receiving at least one of the user's scapulas.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said at least one receptacle has a width in a range of about 2 inches to about 7 inches.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said at least one receptacle has a length in a range of about 3 inches to about 14 inches.
6 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said at least one receptacle has a depth in a range of about 0.5 inches to about 4 inches.
7 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein an edge of said at least one receptacle is within about 2 inches to about 6 inches from a top edge of the apparatus.
8 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said receptacle has a polygonal shape.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sloped ramp support surface comprises a plurality of ridges.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said ridges have a depth in a range of about 0.2 inches to about 1 inch.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said ridges cover an area of said sloped surface equal to greater than about 9 square inches.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said area of the sloped surface covered by said ridges is in a range of about 9 square inches to about 100 square inches.
13 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said ridges are uniformly separated from one another.
14 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said ridges are non-uniformly separated from one another.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the neck supporting surface in the neck/head support section has a substantially oval shape.
16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said neck supporting surface has a maximum diameter of at least 8 inches.
17 . The apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein a middle portion of the neck supporting surface in the neck/head support section is lower than a top edge of the neck supporting section by at least 0.125 inches.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said middle portion of the neck supporting surface is lower than said top edges by a distance in a range of about 0.125 inches and 0.5 inches.
19 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is formed of a polymeric material.
20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein said polymeric material comprises urethane.
21 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein said polymeric material is foamed.
22 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein said foamed polymeric material comprises foamed polyurethane.
23 . The apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein a highest edge of the neck supporting surface is between about 0.5 and about 4 inches higher than a lowest point on the head supporting surface.
24 . A support apparatus for supporting and maintaining the head and neck of a user in the sniff position in which the Occipito-Atlanto-Axial joint is extended upwards and the head is angled downward to achieve alignment of the airway axes, comprising:
a pillow having opposing left and right sides, a back side, a front side, and a bottom surface and a top surface, said top surface comprising a sloping ramp surface with one or more receptacles for receiving at least one of the user's scapula and lower shoulder, wherein the sloped ramp surface has one or more polygonal receptacles having a width in a range of about 2 inches to about 14 inches and a length in a range of about 3 inches to about 14 inches, with edges of the receptacles being within 2 inches and up to 8 inches from a top edge of theapparatus, with the eceptacles having a depth in a range from about 0.5 inches to about 4 inches;
at least one head/neck supporting section for supporting the user's head and neck, the head/neck supporting section comprising a neck support surface positioned at aneck end of the head/neck section;
said head/neck supporting section further comprising a head support surface for supporting the user's head, wherein said head support surface comprises a central surface that slopes down and away from the neck support surface and down and away from an outer the edge of the head support surface; and
wherein said head support surface and said neck support surface are dimensioned to provide a substantial alignment of the oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and tracheal axes when the user's head is received in said head support surface.
25 . The support apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said substantial alignment of the oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and tracheal axes is characterized by the user's cervical spine experiencing an extension in a range of about 5 to about 20 degrees and the user's lower cervical spine experiencing a flexion in a range of about 5 degrees to about 15 degrees.
26 . A support apparatus for supporting and maintaining the head and neck of a user in the sniff position in which the Occipito-Atlanto-Axial joint is extended upwards and the head is angled downward to achieve alignment of the airway axes, comprising:
a pillow having opposing left and right sides, a back side, a front side, and a bottom surface;
a head support surface and a neck support surface for supporting the head and the neck of the user, said head support surface including a central surface that slopes down and away from the neck support surface and down and away from an outer edge of the head support surface;
said head and neck support surfaces being dimensioned to provide substantial alignment of the oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and tracheal axes of the user;
a ramp surface sloping away from the front side towards the neck support surface and the head support surface, wherein the ramp exhibits a slope in a range of about 15° to about 45° relative to a front edge of the pillow and wherein a length of the ramp measured from the front edge of the pillow to the front of the neck support surface is between about 10 inches and about 18 inches,
wherein the sloped ramp surface has one or more polygonal receptacles having a width in a range of about 2 inches and to about 7 inches and a length in a range of about 3 inches to about 14 inches, with edges of the receptacles being within 2 inches and up to 8 inches from a top edge of the pillow and within 2 inches and up to 6 inches from a side edge of the sloped ramp surface, said receptacles having a depth in a range from about 0.5 inches up to about 4 inches; and
wherein said head support surface includes a central surface that slopes downwardly and away from the neck support surface and downwardly and away from an outer edge of the head support surface; and
wherein the head support and neck support surfaces are dimensioned to provide substantial alignment of the oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and tracheal axes.
27 . The support separator of claim 26 , wherein said substantial alignment of the axes is characterized by the user's cervical spine experiencing an extension in a range of about 5 to about 20 degrees and the user's lower cervical spine experiencing a flexion in a range of about 5 degrees to about 15 degrees.