Patent Publication Number: US-6334442-B1

Title: Recumbent therapeutic support

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease and more particularly to a supine torso support. 
     2. Antecedents of the Invention 
     The gastroesophageal junction functions as an antireflux barrier against acid ref lux from the stomach to the esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) results when reflux factors such as volume and acidity of refluxed stomach acid outweigh counteractive factors, such as esophageal clearance and esophageal mucosal resistance. 
     The integrity of the antireflux barrier is dependent on many factors including intrinsic lower esophageal sphincter pressure. Among other factors bearing upon the integrity of the gastroesophageal junction antireflux barrier are the maintenance of an acute angle of entry of the esophagus into the stomach, extrinsic compression of the lower esophageal sphincter by the crural diaphragm and the integrity of the phrenoesophageal ligament. 
     Optimally the antireflux barrier maintains its integrity in a variety of situations. To prevent reflux during swallowing, the intra-abdominal location of the lower esophageal sphincter is of significance; intrinsic lower esophageal sphincter pressure is significant when one is in a recumbent position. 
     While dietary constraints have proven effective, especially in conjunction with stomach acid reducing medications, it has long been acknowledged that providing an appropriate upper torso slope for a patient in the recumbent position is not only beneficial to esophageal clearance when a patient is sleeping, but also reduces the frequency of tangent lower esophageal sphincter relaxations. 
     Unfortunately, a recumbent patient propped on a wedge support, with the head elevated, was not assured a restful sleep due to the intrinsic effects of gravity. The patient&#39;s torso often slid downwardly from the inclined wedge. As the patient slid, not only was sleeping uncomfortable, but additionally, the maintenance of the gastroesophageal barrier and esophageal clearance were compromised. 
     Attempts to alleviate this phenomenon, especially in conjunction with infants, are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,008 issued to BOWMAN and U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,535, issued to ROBERTS. The BOWMAN patent disclosed a wedge shaped support for an infant combined with restraint straps to preclude free movement and assure that the infant would not slide from the support. In ROBERTS, the infant was restrained in a sling secured by a hook and loop type fastener. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,449, issued to SMITH, disclosed a wedge-shaped infant support which includes a U-shaped restraint barrier. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A therapeutic support for alleviation of gastroesophageal reflux disease includes a sloped upper torso section which supports a supine patient at a downwardly inclined angel in the order of 5° through 20° and preferably within the range of 10° to 15°. 
     From the lowermost elevation of the upper torso section, the support extends upwardly in a reverse slope section at an angle in the order of 15° to 25° for cradling the patient&#39;s gluteus maximus and thighs. The reverse slope section assures that the patient will not slip downwardly from the upper torso section. The reverse slope section terminates at approximately the knees. Thereafter, the therapeutic support extends in a generally horizontal plane to support the patient&#39;s legs and feet. 
     The therapeutic support can be fabricated of a suitable resilient foam e.g. polyurethane or may comprise an air or waterbed mattress; it may comprise a complete mattress to be placed on a box spring or bed springs or be placed atop a conventional mattress. 
     From the foregoing compendium, it will be appreciated that it is a consideration of the present invention to provide a recumbent therapeutic support of the general character described which is not subject to the disadvantages of the antecedents of the invention aforementioned. 
     A feature of the present invention is to provide a recumbent therapeutic support of the general character described which effectively promotes restful sleep. 
     An aspect of the present invention is to provide a therapeutic support of the general character described which retards reflux during recumbency. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to provide a recumbent therapeutic support of the general character described which is effective yet relatively low in cost. 
     A further consideration of the present invention is to provide a recumbent therapeutic support of the general character described of fire retardant construction. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a recumbent therapeutic support of the general character described which precludes a supine patient from slipping from an upper torso incline while assuring the patient&#39;s comfort. 
     A still further consideration of the present invention is to provide a recumbent therapeutic support of the general character described which is portable and thus well suited for use when travelling. 
     To provide a recumbent therapeutic support of the general character described which comfortably supports the lower extremities is yet a further aspect of the present invention. 
     A still further feature of the present invention is to provide a recumbent therapeutic support of the general character described which is well suited for mass production fabrication. 
     To provide a recumbent therapeutic support of the general character described with hypoallergenic characteristics is a further consideration of the present invention. 
     A still further aspect of the present invention is to provide a recumbent therapeutic support of the general character described which is efficacious in a gastroesophageal reflux disease therapy regimen. 
     Yet another consideration of the present invention is to provide a recumbent therapeutic support of the general character described which is effective in reducing lower back stiffness. 
     Other aspects, features and considerations of the present invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter. 
     With these ends in view, the invention finds embodiment in certain combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and series of steps by which the said aspects, features and considerations and certain other aspects, features and considerations are attained, all with reference to the accompanying drawings and the scope of which is more particularly pointed out and indicated in the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown some of the various possible exemplary embodiments of the invention, 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a recumbent therapeutic support constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention and comprising three sections, with a first torso support section inclined downwardly, a reverse slope section inclined upwardly and a generally horizontal leg support section, 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the recumbent therapeutic support and illustrating, in schematized format, a supine patient resting on the support, 
     FIG. 3 is a schematized front elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the upper surface of the support is generally smooth and planar, 
     FIG. 4 is a schematized front elevational view of a further embodiment of the invention wherein the upper surface of the support is generally planar as in the FIG. 3 embodiment, however being covered by a pad, and 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the invention, similar to that of the first embodiment, however, with the upper surface of the torso support section including a lumbar support. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings, a recumbent therapeutic support  10  is configured to support a supine patient in a posture which assists in maintenance of the gastroesophageal barrier and esophageal clearance as well as restful comfort and relief of lower back pain. 
     The support  10  may be fabricated as a unitary slab of a suitable material which is both resilient and somewhat compressible, such as fire retardant polyurethane foam. Alternately, the recumbent therapeutic support  10  may be fabricated of a film envelope as an air mattress or waterbed. 
     The support  10  is generally rectangular in plan configuration, having lengths and widths approximating that of a bed mattress e.g. twin, queen, king, etc. An upper surface  12  of the support has an egg carton contour with a plurality of evenly spaced alternating conical projections  14  and depressions  16  which facilitates air circulation beneath the patient. 
     In accordance with the invention, the support  10  includes a torso support section  18 , wherein the upper surface  12 , is generally planar and sloped downwardly from a head end of the support toward the mid-length of the support. A typical efficacious downward slope angle ∝ is approximately 14°, however, it is believed that beneficial results can be attained with slope angles ranging from as low as 5° to as high as 20°. The height of the support  10  at the head end may be approximately twelve inches. 
     From the lowermost point of the torso support section, the upper surface  12  extends upwardly in a reverse slope section  20 . The upper surface  12  of the reverse slope section  20  is also generally planar and intersects the upper surface of the torso support section at a juncture line  22 , with the height of the support being approximately three inches at the juncture line  22  and with the distance between the maximum height head end and the juncture line  22 , being approximately thirty six inches. 
     From the reverse slope section  20 , a leg support section  24  extends. The upper surface of the leg support section is horizontal. 
     The junction between the upper surface planes of the reverse slope section  20  and the leg support section  24  comprises a line  26  with the distance between the line  26  and the line  22  is approximately fifteen inches. 
     It should be noted that in the reverse slope section  20 , the upper surf ace  12  extends at an angle β which is significantly greater than the angle ∝, for example, in the order of 15° to 25° with an angle β of 20° having been found efficacious. 
     It should be appreciated that the recumbent therapeutic support  10  may be placed over a conventional mattress or may be employed in lieu of a convention mattress and placed over bed springs or a box spring. The support  10  is also well-suited to be placed directly on a hard floor. If constructed as an air mattress, it may be easily transported from place to place in fully collapsed position to be inflated when needed, including, for example, at a beach, park, pool or other recreational area as well as in the bedroom. 
     The support  10  may be fabricated of a flame retardant polyurethane which is hypoallergenic and which may be folded or rolled for transport. For added comfort, the support  10  may be covered with a form fitted bed sheet or other covering. The foam may be supplied in a variety of compression densities so that a user may select a support  10  with a degree of firmness most suited for therapeutic advantage as well as comfort. Additionally, variable density foam construction may be employed for selective degrees of firmness only in a portion of the support, e.g. back, thighs, etc. 
     With reference now to FIG. 2 wherein the recumbent therapeutic support  10  is depicted in a side elevational view with a schematized representation of a patient resting in a supine position, it should be noted that the depiction of the patient is merely for the purpose of illustration and the schematized drawing omits certain aspects, such as compression of the support as a result of the patient&#39;s weight, a depiction of the patient&#39;s head resting upon a pillow, etc. 
     An examination of FIG. 2 will reveal that the patient&#39;s upper torso lies upon the upper surface  12  of the torso support section  18  with the patient&#39;s spine generally at the sloped angle ∝ of the upper surface  12 , e.g. 14°. The patient&#39;s pelvic area at the base of the patient&#39;s spine lies transverse to the juncture line  22  and the upper surface of the reverse slope section  20  supports the patient&#39;s thighs at the upward incline angle β. 
     From the juncture line  22  at the beginning of the reverse support section  20  to the juncture line  26 , at the end of the reverse slope section, the patient&#39;s gluteus maximus and thighs are cradled and supported so that the patient cannot slip downwardly from the torso support section  18 . 
     It is also significant that the juncture line  26  coincides approximately with the patient&#39;s knee joint and the upper surface  12  of the support  10  extends in a horizontal plane in the leg support section  24 . It should be noted that the patient&#39;s legs are maintained at an elevation, e.g. nine inches, which is approximately that of or slightly lower than the patient&#39;s head. Such position has been found to promote restful sleep and reduce the occurrence of morning lower back ache. 
     Turning now to FIG. 3 wherein an alternate embodiment of the invention is shown, like numerals will be employed to denote like components of the previous embodiment, however bearing the suffix “a”. In the FIG. 3 embodiment, a recumbent therapeutic support  10   a  is configured substantially the same as that of the prior embodiment with a torso support section  18   a , a reverse slope section  20   a  and a leg support section  24   a.  The upper surface  12   a  of the support  10   a  is generally smooth and planar throughout each section and the egg carton shaped conical projections and depressions are not employed. 
     In FIG. 4 a further embodiment of the invention is illustrated, with like numerals being employed for like components of the prior embodiments, however bearing the suffix “b”. It should be noted that the FIG. 4 embodiment is substantially similar to the FIG. 3 embodiment, with a generally smooth planar upper surface  12   b.  The upper surface  12   b  is covered, however, with a sheetlike padding  30   b  of a suitable foam material, such as fire retardant polyurethane foam. 
     An upper surface of the padding  30   b  is contoured with the pattern of conical projections and depressions  14   b,    16   b,  respectively in an egg carton configuration. The FIG. 4 embodiment is particularly suited for use in conjunction with multiple patients whereby the padding  30   b  may be discarded after each patient&#39;s use. Employment of the padding  30   b  also facilitates the placement of a moisture or other sheet barrier between the upper surface  12   b  and the padding  30   b.    
     Additionally, the utilization of the padding  30   b  facilitates the employment of different densities of support materials. For example, the padding  30  may comprise a low density easily compressible polyurethane foam while the support may comprise a high density foam throughout or within specified areas. 
     A still further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein like numerals have been employed to denote like components of the prior embodiments, however bearing the suffix “c”. The FIG. 5 embodiment of a recumbent therapeutic support  10   c  is constructed substantially identical to the FIG.  1  and FIG. 2 embodiment, however, a planar upper surface  12   c  of a torso support section  18   c  is interrupted by a transverse lumbar support roll  32   c  which extends across the entire width of the upper surface  12   c.    
     Thus it will be seen that there is provided a recumbent therapeutic support which achieves the various aspects, features and considerations of the present invention and which is well suited to meet the conditions of practical usage. 
     As various possible embodiments might be made of the present invention and various changes might be made in the embodiments of the recumbent therapeutic support as above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense.