Patent Publication Number: US-7712169-B2

Title: Infant pillow device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an infant pillow device, in particular an infant pillow device for use in prenatal care as a developmental positioning aid. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There exists various pillows for supporting an infant, in particular a newborn. These devices provide some level or degree of use for infants; however, these devices tend to be unsuitable in various ways as a developmental positioning aid for administering prenatal care. 
     There exists a need for an infant pillow device configured to provide a developmental positioning aid for administering prenatal care. Such an infant pillow device would be configured to stabilize and align the infant&#39;s neck, spine and head, and encourage the fetal position. Further, it is desirable that such an infant pillow device is comfortable to the infant. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an improved infant pillow device. 
     A second object of the present invention is to provide an infant pillow device configured to stabilize and align the infant&#39;s neck, spine and head. 
     A third object of the present invention is to provide an infant pillow device having an opening for receiving at least a portion of the infant&#39;s head for stabilizing the infant&#39;s head. 
     A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an infant pillow device including a neck stabilizer for stabilizing and supporting the infant&#39;s neck. 
     A fifth object of the present invention is to provide an infant pillow device including a neck stabilizer provided by at least one simulated breast portion. 
     A sixth object of the present invention is to provide an infant pillow device including a neck stabilizer provided by a pair of simulated breast portions. 
     A seventh object of the present invention is to provide an infant pillow device including an opening for stabilizing an infant&#39;s head in combination with a neck stabilizer for stabilizing the infant&#39;s neck. 
     An eighth object of the present invention is to provide an infant pillow device including an opening for receiving and stabilizing an infant&#39;s head in combination with a neck stabilizer positioned adjacent the opening in the pillow. 
     A ninth object of the present invention is to provide an infant pillow device including the combination of an infant&#39;s head stabilizer, infant neck stabilizer, and infant spine stabilizer for aligning the head, neck, and spine of an infant. 
     A tenth object of the present invention is to provide an infant pillow device including an opening provided by a through hole in the pillow device configured for stabilizing an infant&#39;s head. 
     An eleventh object of the present invention is to provide an infant pillow device including a through hole configured for stabilizing an infant&#39;s head, the pillow device configured to selectively open and close the through hole in the pillow device for accommodating tubes and/or wires for treatment of the infant. 
     A twelfth object of the present invention is to provide an infant pillow device including an infant&#39;s head stabilizer including a through hole in the pillow device in combination with a head cushion portion configured for cradling an upper portion of the infant&#39;s head. 
     The infant pillow device according to the present invention is preferably configured to provide a developmental positioning aid. Preferably, the infant pillow device is configured to provide alignment of the infant&#39;s head, neck and spine. Further, it is preferable that the infant pillow device encourages the fetal position of the infant. 
     The infant pillow device according to the present invention can provide swaddling for the infant, for example, with straps. The infant pillow device according to the present invention eliminates head molding “toaster heads” to increase cognitive development of the infant. Specifically, the alignment of the head, neck and spine provides airway alignment decreasing oxygen needs of the infant and intracranial pressure. Prone position (with face straight down) of infant with head in correct alignment decreases the pressure causing intraventricular hemorrhage. Further, the comfortable configuration of the infant pillow device according to the present invention also leads to decreased oxygen needs of the infant, increased sleep time, increased growing time, increased feedings of the infant, and increased good feelings of the infant. The infant pillow device according to the present invention also decreases skin break down by the infant willing to reposition himself or herself due to comfort provided by the infant pillow device. 
     The infant pillow device according to the present invention assists the infant developmentally from the advantage of “kangaroo care” position. This pillow encourages the infant to be in an “in utero” position by sitting the infant up slightly as it would be in utero with the bottom portion allowing the infant to kick out it&#39;s legs and pull back as it would in utero. The nurse can “swaddle” the infant with one or more straps (e.g. three (3) three straps) included with the infant pillow device, also giving an in utero feel for the infant. Therefore, the infant pillow device according to the present invention aids in the cognitive and the physical development of the infant. 
     For nurses working with infants, the infant pillow device according to the present invention helps nurses treat the infant by decreasing oxygen need, therefore decreasing apneas and bradycondia. This allows the infant to rest more. Further, the infant pillow device according to the present invention provides the nurse with various options for positioning the infant. The infant pillow device according to the present invention also makes it easy for the nurse to get the infant. 
     The infant pillow device according to the present invention allows the infant to be positioned on either side, supine (back down), or prone (chest down). For the side positions, a lower portion of the infant pillow device uses one or more straps to swaddle the infant. A little round pillow, stored in an accessory pocket of the infant pillow device, can be provided for the infant to “hug.” For the supine (back down) position, the infant pillow device can provide a sniffing position for the infant&#39;s head therebetween. The infant&#39;s legs may be retained in a lower pouch provided in the infant pillow device, or can be positioned on top of the pouch if a UA line is present in the infant. Again, the straps may be used to swaddle the infant. For the prone (chest down) position, a lower portion of the head positioner allows the head to be turned to either side. Again, the one or more straps may be used to swaddle the infant. An optional crescent-shaped insert may be used for the sternum or chest support if needed. For face straight down in the prone position, the infant&#39;s head is located on an upper part of the head positioner using an insert to adjust the infant&#39;s head for support. Again, one or more straps may be used to swaddle the infant. Also, the cresant-shaped insert may be used in between breast and upper surface of the infant pillow device to “build up” support for the chest while face down on the abdomen. 
     The infant pillow device according to the present invention can be made from a single piece of material (e.g. molded foam), or a combination of parts or components assembled together, for example, by sewing panels of fabric together. In a preferred embodiment, the pillow device includes an inner pillow support covered by an outer pillow cover. The pillow support, for example, can be made of foam, fiber, down, or other suitable filling material. The pillow cover is preferably a soft cloth material such as flannel or terry cloth. 
     A preferred infant pillow device according to the present invention includes a head postioner. For example, the infant pillow device is provided with an opening for receiving at least a portion of the infant&#39;s head. The opening in the infant pillow device is preferably a through hole configured (e.g. sized and shaped) to accommodate at least a portion of the infant&#39;s head. For example, when the infant is laid supine face up on his on her back, a back portion of the head is received within the through hole. Alternatively, the infant can be laid prone face down on his or her abdomen with the infant&#39;s eyes, nose, and mouth located to either side, or downwardly in the through hole. The through hole stabilizes the infant&#39;s head and prevents both lateral and upwardly/downwardly movement of the infant&#39;s head. The through hole also restricts rotational or turning movement of the infant&#39;s head. In a preferred embodiment, the through hole is located along a central longitudinal axis of the infant pillow device, and located towards an upper end thereof to accommodate the infant laying on the infant pillow device. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the infant pillow device according to the present invention, the through hole is configured to be opened and closed to allow tubes and other lines for treating the infant to be placed and removed into and out of the through hole. For example, a slot can be made to extend through the thickness of the infant pillow device, and extend from the through hole to an outer edge (e.g. side edge) of the infant pillow device. A closure device such as a flap with a hook and loop fastener (e.g. Velcro) can be provided to open and close the slot leading into the through hole from an edge of the infant pillow device. The flap is preferably a netting type material to allow viewing of the infant head/face when located in the through hole. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the infant pillow device is provided with a headrest, preferably located adjacent, centered, and above the through hole. The headrest further cushions and restrains the infant&#39;s head from lateral movement, upwardly movement, and/or rotational or turning movement of the infant&#39;s head. The headrest is preferably cresant-shaped to partially wrap around an upper back portion of the infant&#39;s head when laying on its back or an upper front portion of the infant&#39;s head when the infant is laying face down on the infant pillow device. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the infant pillow device is provided with a neck positioner for stabilizing and restraining the infant&#39;s neck from lateral movement. The combination of the through hole, headrest, and neck positioner aligns the infant&#39;s head, neck and spine. A preferred neck positioner is at least one simulated breast portion, and more preferably a pair of simulated breasts portions located adjacent, centered, and below the through hole. The simulated breast portions cushion the infant&#39;s neck, and comfort the infant due to the shape and size of the simulated breast portions. The simulated breast portions, for example, can be made of fabric or cloth material the same or different from the cloth material used to make the main pillow of the infant pillow device. The simulated breasts can be filled with suitable foam and/or fiber to facilitate simulating a pair of breast portions. 
     The main pillow of the infant pillow device can be provided with one or more transverse pleats extending across the width of the main pillow at one or more locations along the length thereof. The pleats enhance the flexibility and comfort of the main pillow. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the infant pillow device is provided with a feet positioner. A preferred feet position is a pouch, for example, a cloth pouch provided at a lower end of the main pillow to comfortably restrain the feet of the infant to restrict movement thereof. The pouch allows the infant&#39;s feet to move around to a certain degree to provide comfort. For example, the pouch can include an elastic upper band to facilitate retaining the feet of the infant. 
     The bottom end edge of the main pillow can be provided with a pocket, for example, a zippered pocket to provide storage for accessories such as one or more cloth straps for swaddling the infant, and the optionally crescent-shaped insert for use in the through hole to decrease size thereof, or used between through hole and neck positioner to further support portion of infant&#39;s head. The zippered pocket can be accessible from the bottom edge of the main pillow of the infant pillow device. In addition, a cloth strap can be sewn at one edge to a side edge of the main pillow portion to swaddle infant&#39;s feet, legs, and body. The cloth strap can be provided with a hook and loop fastener (e.g. Velcro) for attaching to a portion of the main pillow and adjusting the length of the cloth strap. The cloth strap extends across the width of the main pillow with one end sewn to a side edge of the main pillow and the hook and loop faster located on the opposite end of the cloth strap and opposite side edge of the main pillow. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the main pillow is made of a soft cloth (e.g. flannel, terry cloth), which is cut into cloth panels, and then sewn together. The outer cloth covering after assembly, is then filled with foam and/or fiber filling to make the main pillow. The simulated breast portions are preferably made from separate cloth panels that are sewn to the main pillow portion and then stuffed with filling material. The cresant-shaped headrest is also made from a separate panel of cloth material, stuffed and sewn to the main pillow at a position adjacent, above, and centered relative to the through hole. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the infant pillow device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the infant pillow device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top planar view of the infant pillow device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top elevational side view of the infant pillow device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom and elevational side view of the infant pillow device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed view of the slot closure of the infant pillow device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the infant pillow device shown in  FIG. 1  with an infant in a supine face up position. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the infant pillow device shown in  FIG. 1  with an infant shown in a prone face down position. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view as indicated in  FIG. 1  showing an infant resting on the infant pillow device with the head, neck and feet restrained from movement. 
         FIG. 10  is a top planar view of an optional cresant-shaped insert for use in or adjacent the through hole of the infant pillow device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A preferred embodiment of the infant pillow device  10  according to the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
     The infant pillow device  10  includes a main pillow  12  having an upper head supporting pillow portion  14 , a middle body supporting pillow portion  16 , and a lower feet supporting pillow portion  18 . The main pillow  12  is divided into the three pillow portions  14 ,  16 ,  18  by upper lateral pleat  20  and lower lateral pleat  22 . 
     The main pillow  12  is constructed of an outer fabric cover  24  and filled with a filler such as foam, foam particles, down, and/or fiber fill  26  (See  FIG. 9 ). 
     The main pillow  12  is provided with an opening provided by a through hole  28  extending through the thickness of the main pillow  12 . The through hole  28  is sized and shaped so as to accommodate a back portion, side portion, or front portion of an infant&#39;s head to retain same, and restrain the infant&#39;s head from lateral movement, upwardly/downwardly movement, and/or rotational or turning movement of the infant&#39;s head. For example, when an infant is laying supine face up on the infant pillow device  10 , a back portion or side portion of the infant&#39;s head fits into the through hole  28 . When the infant is laying prone face down on the infant pillow device  10 , the front portion of the infant&#39;s head including the eyes, nose and mouth or a side portion of the infant&#39;s head is located in an upper portion of the through hole  28  to allow the infant to properly breath through his or her nose and/or mouth. 
     A slot  30  extends through the thickness of the main pillow  12 , and extends from the through hole  28  to a side edge  32  of the main pillow  12 . The slot  30  allows tubes and/or lines for treating the infant (e.g. feeding tube, electrical wires for monitoring device) to fit through the slot  30  into the through hole  28  when the infant is located on the infant pillow device  10  face down. 
     The main pillow  12  is provided with a closure  34  for opening and closing the through hole  28 . For example, the closure  34  is a flap  36  sewn to the upper edge of the middle pillow  16  of the main pillow  12 , and extending across the slot  30  to a lower edge of the head pillow  14 . The flap  36  and upper head supporting pillow portion  14  are provided with a hook and loop fastener  38  sewn in part to the flap  36  and sewn in part to the head pillow portion  14  to allow the flap  36  to be opened and closed to open and close the slot  30 . Thus, once tubes and/or wires are passed through the slot  30  into the through hole  28 , the closure  34  can be closed to retain same within the through hole  28 . To remove the tubes and/or wires, the closure  34  is again opened. 
     The main pillow  12  is provided with a pair of simulated breast portions  40 ,  40  configured and constructed to simulate a mother&#39;s breast to the infant. The infant&#39;s head is supported in the center of the breast portions  40 ,  40  along the longitudinal centerline of the main pillow  12  so that the infant&#39;s neck is restrained from lateral movement and/or rotational movement. The breast portions  40 ,  40  are located adjacent, centered, and below the through hole  28 . The combination of the through hole  28 , and breast portions  40 ,  40  significantly retains and restrains the infant&#39;s head, neck and spine from lateral movement, upwardly/downwardly, and/or rotational movement. 
     The head supporting pillow portion  14  is provided with a cresant-shaped headrest  42 , and positioned adjacent and above the through hole  28 . The headrest  42  grips an upper front portion, upper side portion, or upper back portion of the infant&#39;s head, depending on the infant&#39;s orientation, to further retain and restrain the infant&#39;s head from lateral movement, upwardly movement, and rotational movement. The breast portions  40 ,  40  restrict the infant&#39;s head from downward movement. Thus, the combination of the breast portions  40 ,  40  and head rest  42  effectively prevent upwardly or downwardly movement of the infant during use while providing a substantial restraint from lateral and rotational head movement. 
     The lower pillow portion  18  is provided with a pouch  44  for retaining the infant&#39;s feet. The pouch  44  is a layer of material sewn around the lower edges of the lower pillow portion  18 . The pouch  44  is provided with an elastic edge  46  to further maintain the infant&#39;s feet within the pouch  44 . 
     The lower edge of the lower pillow portion  18  is provided with a storage pouch  47  having a zipper  48  ( FIG. 5 ) having a zipper pull  50 . Accessories, for example, one or more optional straps for swaddling the infant can be stored in the storage pouch  47 . In addition, one or more inserts for use in or around the through hole  28  can be stored in the storage pouch  47 . For example, a cresant-shaped insert  52  ( FIG. 10 ) can be stored in the storage pouch  47 . The insert  52 , for example, can be made of cloth and stuffed with filling. An optional bendable rod or strip (e.g. copper or aluminum strip or rod) can be sewn inside the insert  52  to allow the shape of the insert to be changed (e.g. straight, more bent, less bent). The insert  52  is fitted into or adjacent the through hole  28  to reduce the size of the through hole  28 , and/or further support the infants head and/or neck). For example, the insert  52  can be fitted between the upper portion of the infant&#39; neck adjacent the through hole  28  to lift the infant&#39;s head slightly out of the through hole  28  for adjusting the support of the infant&#39;s head within the through hole  28 . 
     The infant pillow device is provided with an adjustable length strap  54 . The strap  54 , for example, can be made of a cloth panel folded over and sewn along the edges. One end of the strap  54  is sewn to the main pillow  12  (e.g. lower pillow portion  18 ), and the opposite end is provided with a hoop and loop fastener  56  (e.g. Velcro) for securing and adjusting the length of the strap  54 . Specifically, one portion of the hook and loop fastener  56  is sewn to the strap  54 , and the other portion of the hook and loop fastener  56  is sewn to an edge of the main pillow  12  opposite to the edge that the strap  54  is sewn. The length of the hook and loop fastener  56  is sufficient that the length of the strap  54  can be adjusted by the respective positioning of the portions of the hook and loop fastener  56  when the strap  54  is secured to the main pillow  12 . 
     In use, the infant pillow device  10  is placed on a table or other suitable support. The infant is laid on the infant pillow device  10  supine, prone, or on the infant&#39;s side. The infant&#39;s head is positioned over the through hole  28 , and the infant&#39;s neck is placed between the pair of breast portions  40 ,  40 . Optionally, the infant&#39;s feet can be place on top of or inside the pouch  44 . The cloth strap is fitted over the infant&#39;s body to swaddle the infant. 
     In the event treatment tubes, lines and/or wires are required when the infant is laying prone, the closure  34  is opened and the treatment tube, lines and/or wires are inserted through the slot  30  into the through hole  28 .