Patent Publication Number: US-2009229056-A1

Title: Hip Abduction Pillow

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING 
     Not applicable. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to orthopedic support pillows. More specifically, the invention relates to a hip abduction pillow to assist in the recovery of an individual following hip replacement and/or surgery. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Over the years, joint replacement has become more and more prevalent in the United States and around the world. In fact, one of the leading causes for joint replacement is arthritis. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) arthritis is the leading cause of disability leading to a decreased quality of life and high health care costs worldwide. Arthritis affects approximately 46 million adults in the United States alone and this figure is expected to rise to an estimated 67 million adults in the United States by the year 2030. This is especially true as the average life expectancy worldwide continues to increase. As hip and knee arthritis progresses, total joint replacements are often the end result so as to alleviate the pain, improve functionality and to provide a better quality of life. In fact, recent orthopedic statistics have shown that there are in excess of 165,000 hip replacements and 365,000 knee replacements in the United States every year. 
     In the case of a hip replacement surgery, an individual must undergo the arduous task of recovery and rehabilitation often lasting several months. More importantly, for approximately six (6) to eight (8) weeks post surgery, an individual will have mobility restrictions so as to the allow for adequate healing and to avoid compromising the surgery itself. 
     For example, a typical hip replacement is comprised of two components, a socket type insert which is attached to the pelvis and a ball type anchor designed to fit into the socket to complete the artificial joint. This form of artificial hip will often lead to decreased pain and an improved range of motion as compared to the prior arthritic joint. Following a hip replacement surgery, it is important that the muscles surrounding the new joint be strengthened as they are responsible for keeping the new joint in place so as to avoid post surgery complications such as a dislocation of the new joint. Following a hip replacement, individuals must be conscientious so as to limit mobility not only during the course of the day, but during sleeping hours as well. An individual is at a greater risk, particularly if the new joint is stressed with too much mobility, particularly if the operated leg it is allowed to come too close to the midline of the body or if the new hip is flexed or rotated beyond its capabilities. This would include such common actions as crossing one&#39;s legs. 
     To prevent a new hip from dislocating, a customary practice is to place a pillow between an individual&#39;s legs so as to keep the legs in an abducted position to assist in limiting mobility while at the same time providing support and comfort. For example, an individual post hip replacement may not be comfortable sleeping in the supine position and may wish to sleep in the side position, preferably on the non-surgical side. A hip abduction pillow will allow an individual to easily move from the supine position to the side position as needed so as to allow weight relief and to allow more comfort in the side sleeping position while at the same time not compromising the post-surgical healing process. In addition, pain which is often incurred during the post-operative recovery stages following a hip replacement can be easily managed as the hip abduction pillow can allow easy access for non-pharmacological treatment methods. 
     While there are a variety of orthopedic and therapeutic devices that have been utilized over the years, there has been a long standing necessity for a hip abductor pillow which, in addition to providing comfort and support to a user, will provide for added flexibility as well. 
     Relevant attempts to address this problem can be found in several U.S. patents, including but not limited to U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,828, U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,218 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,669. While these patents all reference and disclose essentially orthopedic and therapeutic pillows designed to restrict mobility and/or provide support in some fashion, there are shortcomings, namely comfort, ease of use, size and flexibility. 
     The within invention is designed to fit between the legs of an individual so as to space and support an individual&#39;s legs, as well as, to provide flexibility so that an individual may bend his/her knees for comfort purposes, while at the same time maintaining stability so as to not compromise the post operative recovery from hip replacement/surgery and to aid in the healing process. 
     For the foregoing reasons there is a need for an easy to use hip abduction pillow. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In light of the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art, the present invention provides a hip abduction pillow that can be effectively utilized following hip replacement surgery. The hip abduction pillow having features of the present invention comprises three layers of a resilient material, more specifically, a top and bottom layer of equally resilient material adhered to a middle layer of a less resilient material wherein the top, middle and bottom layers, when adhered together, form a wedge with the width of the top layer widening outward to the bottom layer. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the resilient material comprises a polyurethane foam, although other materials such as memory foams, plastic foams and other natural and man made fibers can be used. 
     The top layer of the hip abduction pillow is designed to be positioned in the groin region of an individual with the middle layer positioned between the knees of said individual with the bottom layer being positioned at or near the feet of said individual. In addition, the hip abduction pillow further comprises two concave sides to accommodate the legs of said individual to provide additional stability and support. 
     Advantageously, the middle layer of the hip abduction pillow is compromised of a lower density resilient material compared to the top and bottom layers so that when the hip abduction pillow is positioned properly, the middle layer is oriented between the knees of an individual. The middle layer of the hip abduction pillow having less density than the top and bottom layers provides a flexibility point to allow an individual&#39;s knees to bend and/or flex whether in the supine or side position for additional comfort. The hip abduction pillow is designed to return to its original shape following use. 
     The hip abduction pillow further comprises a removable, washable cover for hygienic and comfort purposes. 
     It is understood that the invention is not limited in its application as set forth in the following description and drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and to be utilized in different ways. The phraseology and terminology employed is for the purposes of a description and should not be interpreted as limited. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the hip abduction pillow. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the hip abduction pillow shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the hip abduction pillow placed between the legs of an individual lying in the supine position. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the embodiments shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of the hip abduction pillow placed between the legs of an individual lying in the side position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to the drawings, a new improved hip abduction pillow will be described in the following drawings,  FIGS. 1-5 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2  is a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the hip abductor pillow  10  comprises a top layer  12 , a middle layer  14  and a bottom layer  16  which are adhered together to form a wedge. The top layer  12 , middle layer  14  and bottom layer  16  are each comprised of a resilient material wherein the top layer  12  and the bottom layer  16  comprise an equally resilient material adhered to a middle layer  14  of a less resilient material. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the resilient material comprises a polyurethane foam with the top layer  12  and the bottom layer  16  comprising a higher density polyurethane foam than the middle layer  14  so as to allow for the middle layer  14  to act as a flex point as will be shown and described in  FIGS. 3-5 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the hip abduction pillow  10  further comprises two concave sides  18  to provide additional stability and support as will be shown and described in  FIGS. 3 -5 . In addition, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a removable, washable cover  20  to promote hygiene and added comfort. The removable, washable cover  20  is placed over the hip abduction pillow  10  and secured by a zipper  22  or other securing means such as Velcro© or the like. In other embodiments of the invention, the hip abductor pillow  10  may be used without the removable, washable cover  20 . In yet another embodiment of the invention, the top layer  12 , middle layer  14  and the bottom layer  16  can be comprised of varying resilient materials such as other memory foams, plastic foams and other natural and man made fibers. 
       FIG. 3 , shows an individual  30  lying in the supine position with the top layer  12  of the hip abductor pillow  10  positioned between the thighs  32  of said individual, the middle layer  14  of the hip abductor pillow  10  between the knees  34  of said individual  30  and the bottom layer  16  between the ankles  36  of said individual  30  so that the individual&#39;s  30  thighs  32 , knees  34  and ankles  36  are accommodated by the two concave sides  18 , which provide additional support and comfort.  FIG. 3  further illustrates the flexibility of the hip abductor pillow  10  illustrating an individual  30  in the supine position with knees  34  that are in the bent position with the middle layer  14  of the hip abductor pillow  10  being flexible so as to bend in accordance with the individual&#39;s  30  knee  34  angle.  FIG. 3  also illustrates the hip abductor pillow  10  with the removable, washable cover  20  and with its zippered bottom  22 . The removable, washable cover  20  provides additional comfort and support as well as, additional hygienic properties. 
       FIG. 4  further illustrates the flexibility of the hip abduction pillow  10  by depicting an individual  30  lying in the supine position with hip abduction pillow  10  positioned between the thighs  32 , bent knees  34  and feet  36  of said individual in accordance with  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the middle layer  14  bends in accordance with the knee  34  of the individual  30 . 
       FIG. 5  shows and individual  30  lying in the side position, utilizing the hip abductor pillow  10  in accordance with  FIGS. 3-4 . 
     While the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been described in considerable detail as noted above, it will be well recognized and understood that various modifications may be made with the appended claims intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the intended scope of the invention. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.