Noninvasive system and method for mitigating sleep-position related eye loads
AssigneeAlison B. Flatau
InventorAlison Flatau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
When sleeping or resting in non-supine positions, reaction forces are distributed over areas of the face and head in contact with a surface, such as a mattress or arm, following a load path through at least one eye. Aspects of the disclosed system and method provide rigid to semi-rigid load bearing facial support configured to absorb and or distribute the reaction force exerted by a surface during non-supine rest or sleep to areas of padding best suited to absorb and or distribute said force such that the load path bypasses the eye, eye orbit, and or its surrounding anatomy to prevent or mitigate deformation, stress, strain, and or damage to the eye.
Claims15
A non-invasive system comprising:
- a device having a front portion constructed to allow an alternative load path to absorb and distribute reaction forces away from a wearer's eyes, eye orbits, and surrounding soft tissues when said wearer is in a sleep position
- said front portion further comprising:
- a first front padding, a first and second side padding, a forehead padding, and a nose bridge padding, said first front padding, said first and second side padding, said forehead padding, and said nose bridge padding constructed so as to absorb and distribute reaction forces to bony facial structures suitable to bear loads,
- wherein said device is constructed so as to provide a clearance between said front portion and said wearer's eyes, eye orbits, and surrounding soft tissues located below said eyes, relevant to said wearer's face.
A non-invasive system comprising:
- a force distribution support comprising a first raised portion, a first concave portion, a second raised portion, and a second concave portion;
- said first raised portion constructed so as to support a user's forehead;
- said first concave portion constructed so as to create a clearance along said user's eye plane;
- said second raised portion constructed so as to support said user's cheek and chin;
- said second concave portion constructed so as support said user's neck;
- and
- said force distribution support constructed so as to provide variable clearance and optimal load bearing support so as to bypass the user's eyes, eye orbits, and surrounding soft tissues when said wearer is in a sleep position.
A non-invasive system comprising:
- a device having a front portion constructed so as to allow an alternative load path to absorb and distribute reaction forces away from a wearer's eyes, eye orbits, and surrounding soft tissues when said wearer is in a sleep position;
- and
- a force distribution support having a first raised portion, a first concave portion, a second raised portion, and a second concave portion, said force distribution support constructed so as to provide variable clearance and optimal load bearing support so as to bypass the user's eyes, eye orbits, and surrounding soft tissues when said wearer is in a sleep position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.