Patient chin support and method
OwnerEdward Cardeninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A chin support holds an anesthetized patient's head in the proper position during surgery so that the unconscious patient's airway is held open. A pylon attaches to and extends up from the side of an operating table. A tether attaches to the top of the pylon and extends around the patient's chin to keep the patient's head tilted during surgery. The pylon is held in place against the operating table by the tension on the tether when the chin support is in use.
Claims14
A chin support apparatus for unattended positioning of the head of an anesthetized patient on an operating table, the apparatus comprising:
- a substantially rigid pylon member structured for releasable and positionally adjustable connection directly to an operating table and to extend substantially fixedly and vertically from the table adjacent a patient's head;
- and
- a flexible tether assembly structured for connection in tension directly between the pylon member and a connection point essentially at the point of the patient's chin and for applying to the chin point a force directed toward the pylon, the tether assembly including adjustable fastener means for defining the connection point.
A method for positioning the head and neck of an anesthetized patient while the patient is on an operating table comprising the steps of:
- extending a neck strap having two ends around the patient's neck;
- fastening one end of the neck strap upon the other end substantially at the point of the patient's chin;
- fastening a chin strap to the neck strap at the point of the patient's chin;
- and
- applying tension to the chin strap in a direction toward a point above the head of the operating table.
A method for positioning the head and neck of an anesthetized patient while the patient is on an operating table comprising the steps of:
- extending a strap having two ends around the patient's neck;
- fastening the strap upon itself at the point of the patient's chin,
- extending separate portions of the strap along the sides of the patient's head;
- and
- applying tension to said strap portions in a direction toward a point above a head end of the operating table.
A method for positioning the head and neck of an anesthetized patient on an operating table to maintain an open mouth and tracheal airway, comprising the steps of engaging a strap with substantially the point of the patient's chin, holding the strap against disengagement from the patient's chin, and applying tension to the strap in a direction which causes the patient's chin to be elevated relative to the neck and to the body of the patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.