Headrest for an immobilization system

An immobilization system for positioning or fixing at least a part of a patient, the immobilization system comprising:

• a. a headrest for supporting at least one of at least a part of a head or at least a part of a neck of the patient, the headrest including:
• (i) a supporting structure;
• (ii) a sheet-shaped elastic panel attached to the supporting structure on at least two opposite sides of the elastic panel;
• and
• (iii) at least one shaping support coupled with the supporting structure and configured to resist downward stretching of the elastic panel in the direction of force exerted by the patient, wherein an end of the at least one shaping support extends away from the supporting structure towards a centre portion of the headrest,
• (iv) wherein the supporting structure comprises a first rail arranged on a first side of the elastic panel and a second rail arranged on a second side of the elastic panel opposite to the first side, such that the elastic panel is at least partly arranged between the first rail and the second rail,
• (v) wherein the elastic panel is configured to support at least one of at least a part of the head or at least a part of the neck of the patient,
• (vi) wherein at least a part of the elastic panel is stretchable and configured to stretch when at least one of said at least part of the head and neck of the patient is arranged on the elastic panel, such that the elastic panel elongates and such that at least part of the elastic panel forms a shape corresponding to a shape of at least one of said at least part of the head or neck of the patient,
• (vii) wherein the elastic panel comprises a middle region and at least one reinforced region, the middle region being more stretchable than the at least one reinforced region;
• and
• b. an immobilization mask coupled to the headrest,
• c. wherein the headrest and the immobilization mask together form a compartment configured to receive at least one of at least a part of the head or at least a part of the neck of the patient.

A method of immobilizing at least one of at least a part of a head or at least a part of a neck of a patient, the method comprising:

• a. providing a headrest including a supporting structure, a sheet-shaped elastic panel attached to the supporting structure on at least two opposite sides of the elastic panel, the elastic panel having a middle region and at least one reinforced region, and at least one shaping support coupled with the supporting structure and configured to resist downward stretching of the elastic panel in the direction of force exerted by the patient, wherein an end of the at least one shaping support extends away from the supporting structure in a lateral direction-towards a centre portion of the headrest and towards the middle region of the elastic panel, wherein the supporting structure comprises a first rail arranged on a first side of the elastic panel and a second rail arranged on a second side of the elastic panel opposite to the first side, such that the first and second rails are laterally spaced from one another and the elastic panel is at least partly arranged between the first rail and the second rail;
• and
• b. arranging at least one of a part of the head and/or a part of the neck of the patient on the elastic panel of the headrest, such that at least a part of the elastic panel is stretched, such that the elastic panel elongates and such that at least part of the elastic panel forms a shape corresponding to a shape of at least one of part of the head and/or part of the neck of the patient and encloses at least one of part of the head and/or part of the neck of the patient, thereby at least partly immobilizing at least one of the head and/or the neck of the patient, wherein the middle region is more stretchable than the at least one reinforced region.