Patent ID: 7716763
Filing Date: 2010-05-18
Classification: A47C,A47G,A61G,A61M

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising a pillow, the pillow comprising: a plurality of inflatable sections including a back support section, a head rest section, a head tilt adjustment section, and a base support section, each of said back support, head rest, head tilt adjustment, and base support sections being independently inflatable and deflatable with respect to each other; and an air system adapted for connection to a compressed air source and including an inflate valve, a deflate valve, a plurality of fluid air lines and a corresponding plurality of on/off switches, each of the fluid air lines being fluid communication with both the inflate and deflate valves; wherein a first of the fluid air lines is also in fluid communication with both the head rest section and the base support section, and a first of the on/off switches controls inflation and deflation, via the first fluid air line, of the head rest section and the base support section, together; a second of the fluid air lines is also in fluid communication with the head tilt adjustment section, and a second of the on/off switches controls inflation and deflation, via the second fluid air line, of the head tilt adjustment section; a third of the fluid air lines is also in fluid communication with the back support section and a third of the on/off switches controls inflation and deflation, via the third fluid air line, of the back support section, the back support section including a first portion and a second portion that inflate and deflate together, via the third fluid air line; when said plurality of inflatable sections are grouped together for the purpose of inflation and deflation, in order to align a pinna of an ear of an obese and/or pregnant patient and a sternum of the patient in the same horizontal plane, the first portion of the back support section is located adjacent the base support section, at an elevation that is lower than that of the second portion of the back support section, the base support section is located beneath the second portion of the back support section and beneath the head rest section, and the head tilt adjustment section is located above the base support section and beneath the head rest section; and when said plurality of inflatable sections are grouped together for the purpose of inflation and deflation, inflation and deflation of the head rest section and the base support section, together, being controlled via the first on/off switch, adjusts an elevation of the head rest section and the second portion of the back support section, without adjusting the elevation of the first portion of the back support section, and inflation and deflation of the head tilt adjustment section, being controlled via the second on/off switch, further adjusts the elevation of the head rest section, without adjusting the elevation of either the first portion or the second portion of the back support section.