Method and device for pressure offloading

A pressure offloading device for elevating at least one portion of a patient above a surface, the pressure offloading device comprising:

• (a) an elongated, flexible hollow member having first and second opposite ends, a longitudinal axis being defined there between;
• (b) filling material contained within and substantially filling the hollow member;
• and
• (c) a flexible, removable cover adapted to snuggly fit over the hollow member, the removable cover having first and second opposite ends, a longitudinal axis being defined therebetween, and fastening means disposed along an outer side thereof,
• whereby with the removable cover encompassing the hollow member, the hollow member formed into a desired shape, and fastening means selected and fastened together to maintain the hollow member in the desired shape, the hollow member may be placed between the patient and the surface such that at least a portion of the patient is elevated above the surface, the hollow member and cover supporting the patient adjacent to but not in direct contact with said portion of the patient.

A pressure offloading device for elevating a ball and a heel of a patient's foot above a surface, the pressure offloading device comprising:

• (a) an elongated, flexible hollow member having an outer side that includes at least a top surface and a bottom surface, a first hollow region and a second hollow region each traversing the hollow member from the top surface to the bottom surface, the hollow member forming substantially a figure-8 shape;
• (b) filling material contained within and substantially filling the hollow member;
• and
• (c) fastening means disposed along the outer side of the hollow member;
• whereby with the patient's foot fastened to the top surface with the fastening means, the ball of the foot being over the first hollow region and the heel of the foot being over the second hollow region, the ball and heel of the patient's foot are elevated above the surface, the hollow member supporting the foot adjacent to but not in direct contact with the ball and the heel of the foot.

A method of elevating at least one portion of a patient above a surface, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a pressure offloading device comprising an elongated, flexible hollow member having first and second opposite ends, a longitudinal axis being defined there between;
• filling material contained within and substantially filling the hollow member;
• and fastening means disposed along an outer side of the hollow member;
• (b) forming the hollow member into a desired shape
• (c) selecting fastening means and fastening same together to maintain the hollow member in the desired shape;
• and
• (d) placing the hollow member between the patient and the surface such that at least a portion of the patient is elevated above the surface, the hollow member supporting the patient adjacent to but not in direct contact with said portion of the patient.

A method of elevating a ball and a heel of a patient's foot above a surface, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an elongated, flexible hollow member having an outer side that includes at least a top surface and a bottom surface, a first hollow region and a second hollow region each traversing the hollow member from the top surface to the bottom surface, the hollow member forming substantially a figure-8 shape;
• filling material contained within and substantially filling the hollow member;
• and fastening means disposed along the outer side of the hollow member
• (b) placing the ball of the patient's foot over the first hollow region on the top surface of the hollow member, and the heel of the patient's foot over the second hollow region on the top surface of the hollow member;
• and
• (c) fastening the foot to the hollow member with the fastening means.