Jaw support apparatus

A jaw support apparatus, comprising:

• a frame, the frame having an anterior face;
• a left extension member and a right extension member, the left extension member and the right extension member each having a near end and a far end, the near ends of the left extension member and the right extension member each connected to the frame, the left extension member extending leftwardly from the anterior face of the frame, the right extension member extending rightwardly from the anterior face of the frame;
• first and second swinging members, both swinging members also having a near end and a far end, the far end of the first swinging member pivotally attached to the far end of the left extension member, the far end of the second swinging member pivotally attached to the far end of the right extension member, said pivotal attachments allowing the near ends of the first and second swinging members to approach the anterior face of the frame, the first swinging member and the second swinging member each including a substantially dihedral front plate and a substantially dihedral back plate fixed rigidly together and separated by spacer means, the front plates and the back plates each having a front side and a back side, the front side of the back plates facing the back side of the front plates, the spacer means providing gaps between the front plates and the back plates, each gap containing first and second bosses, the first boss located on the front side of the back plate and protruding partially into the gap, the second boss located on the back side of the front plate and also protruding partially into the gap, each gap also providing pawl means, the pawl means fixed within the gap and available to be engaged upon from within the gap;
• first and second stop means, the first stop means defining a predetermined pivotal rest position for the first swinging member with respect to the left extension member as the first swinging member approaches the anterior face of the frame, the second stop means defining a predetermined pivotal rest position for the second swinging member with respect to the right extension member as the second swinging member approaches the anterior face of the frame;
• first and second elastic means, the first elastic means provided between the first swinging member and the left extension member, the second elastic means provided between the second swinging member and the right extension member, each elastic means operating to encourage the swinging members to approach the anterior face of the frame;
• a left jaw support member and a right jaw support member, both jaw support members having an anterior end opposite a posterior end, the left and right jaw support members also each providing two grooves, each boss in the gap in the first swinging member paired with a groove in the left jaw support member, each boss in the gap in the second swinging member paired with a groove in the right swinging member, the left and right jaw support members also each further providing straight ratchet means;
• the left and right jaw support members received into the gaps in the first and second swinging members respectively, each boss in each gap also simultaneously received slidably into its paired groove so as to permit the jaw support members to slide towards and away from the anterior face of the frame, the left and fight jaw support members as received into the gaps also offering their straight ratchet means to the pawl means in each gap, said straight ratchet means and said pawl means oriented so as to restrict the jaw support members to sliding displacement away from the anterior face of the frame only, the bosses as received into their grooves also permitting a predetermined amount of pivotal rotation of the jaw support members about the bosses, said pivotal rotation being permitted between a first travel limit and a second travel limit, the first travel limit being reached when the straight ratchet means and the pawl means fully engage, the second travel limit being reached when the straight ratchet means and the pawl means fully disengage;
• first and second jaw cradles, the first jaw cradle removably attached to the anterior end of the left jaw support member, the second jaw cradle removably attached to the anterior end of the right jaw support member, the first and second jaw cradles also each having jaw contact surfaces, the jaw contact surfaces being sculpted to fit snugly when the jaw cradles are brought into contact with the angles of a jaw, the jaw contact surfaces being made from a polyurethane material;
• detachable pillow means, the detachable pillow means removably attached to the anterior face of the frame, the detachable pillow means having a predetermined three-dimensional profile, said profile being sculpted to fit the back of a supine head and neck snugly, the detachable pillow means also being made from a sponge material;
• and
• means for restraining a head to the anterior face of the frame, said restraining means including two ties and a contact friction grip fastener means;
• whereby the anterior face of the frame may be placed under a supine patient's head so that, when the anterior ends of the jaw support members are brought into contact with the angles of the patient's jaw and the patient's jaw is then pushed forward anteriorly, the straight ratchet means as engaged on the pawl means allow the jaw support members to slidably follow said anterior movement of the jaw and prevent retraction thereof, thereby maintaining or improving the patient's airway in a hands-free environment.