Shoulder support for lateral decubitus positioning

A shoulder support structure for stabilizing and supporting a shoulder of an individual in a lateral decubitus position, the shoulder support structure comprising:

• a proximal pillow wherein the proximal pillow has an upper portion, a lower portion, and a reception area for receiving the shoulder and upper torso of the individual;
• a distal pillow wherein the distal pillow has an upper portion, a lower portion, and a reception area for receiving the arm and shoulder of the individual;
• a connector operative to join the proximal pillow to the distal pillow;
• and
• a retaining strap selectively operative to retain the proximal pillow and the distal pillow relative to the shoulder of the individual;
• whereby the proximal pillow can be disposed to receive the shoulder and upper torso of the individual, the distal pillow can be disposed to receive the arm or shoulder of the individual, and the shoulder support structure with the proximal and distal pillows can be retained relative to the shoulder of the individual;
• wherein the retaining strap has a first end coupled to the proximal pillow, a body portion for encircling the individual, and a second end coupled to the proximal pillow;
• wherein the first end of the retaining strap is coupled to a frontal portion of the upper portion of the proximal pillow and wherein the second end of the retaining strap is coupled to a rear portion of the upper portion of the proximal pillow whereby the retaining strap comprises an upper retaining strap and further comprising a lower retaining strap with a first end coupled to a frontal portion of the lower portion of the proximal pillow and a second end coupled to a rear portion of the lower portion of the proximal pillow;
• and
• wherein the proximal pillow has a central portion, a frontal leg portion, and a rear leg portion, wherein the frontal and rear leg portions have proximal ends coupled to the central portion and distal ends spaced from the central portion, wherein the first end of the lower retaining strap is coupled to the frontal leg portion of the proximal pillow, and wherein the second end of the lower retaining strap is coupled to the rear leg portion of the proximal pillow.

A shoulder support structure for stabilizing and supporting a shoulder of an individual in a lateral decubitus position, the shoulder support structure comprising:

• a proximal pillow wherein the proximal pillow has a central portion, a frontal leg portion, and a rear leg portion wherein the frontal and rear leg portions have proximal ends coupled to the central portion and distal ends spaced from the central portion and wherein the frontal and rear leg portions and the central portion together define a reception area for receiving the shoulder and upper torso of the individual;
• a distal pillow wherein the distal pillow has a central portion, a frontal leg portion, and a rear leg portion wherein the frontal and rear leg portions have proximal ends coupled to the central portion and distal ends spaced from the central portion and wherein the frontal and rear leg portions and the central portion together define a reception area for receiving the arm and shoulder of the individual;
• an upper connector operative to couple the central portions of the proximal and distal pillows;
• a first lower connecting strap with a first end connected to the frontal leg portion of the proximal pillow and a second end retained relative to the frontal leg portion of the distal pillow;
• a second lower connecting strap with a first end connected to the rear leg portion of the proximal pillow and a second end retained relative to the rear leg portion of the distal pillow;
• a retaining strap selectively operative to retain the proximal pillow and the distal pillow relative to the shoulder of the individual;
• wherein the proximal and distal pillows cooperate to form a left shoulder support and further comprising a right shoulder support comprising a proximal pillow wherein the proximal pillow has a central portion, a frontal leg portion, and a rear leg portion wherein the frontal and rear leg portions have proximal ends coupled to the central portion and distal ends spaced from the central portion and wherein the frontal and rear leg portions and the central portion together define a reception area for receiving the shoulder and upper torso of the individual, a distal pillow wherein the distal pillow has a central portion, a frontal leg portion, and a rear leg portion wherein the frontal and rear leg portions have proximal ends coupled to the central portion and distal ends spaced from the central portion and wherein the frontal and rear leg portions and the central portion together define a reception area for receiving the arm and shoulder of the individual, an upper connector operative to couple the central portions of the proximal and distal pillows, a first lower connecting strap with a first end connected to the frontal leg portion of the proximal pillow and a second end retained relative to the frontal leg portion of the distal pillow, a second lower connecting strap with a first end connected to the rear leg portion of the proximal pillow and a second end retained relative to the rear leg portion of the distal pillow, and wherein the retaining strap has a first end coupled to the left shoulder support and a second end coupled to the right shoulder support;
• whereby the proximal pillow can be disposed to receive the shoulder and upper torso of the individual, the distal pillow can be disposed to receive the arm or shoulder of the individual, and the shoulder support structure with the proximal and distal pillows can be retained relative to the shoulder of the individual.