Abstract:
A process for the therapeutic posturing of infants resides in providing one or more shape retaining cushioning devices having a first surface for receiving at least a part of an infant&#39;s body in a given position and one or more second surfaces for inhibiting movement of the given part of the infant&#39;s body from the given position, and placing an infant relative to the cushioning device or devices such that the given part of the infant&#39;s body is retained in the given position by said surfaces without unduly constraining other parts of the body. Representative therapeutic posturing devices are disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a process and devices for the therapeutic posturing of infants.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Some infants are born with mental and/or physical deficiencies due, for example, to brain damage, oxygen deprivation and/or diminished motor skills. Many of these deficiencies are therapeutically treatable by appropriate posturing or positioning of the infant&#39;s body. Skilled physical therapists, using rolled towels and other props, are able to position an infant&#39;s head, legs, arms and torso to compensate for and therapeutically treat the birth deficiency.  
         [0003]     Other children require medical treatments, such as intravenous infusions, gastrointestinal feeding and oral ventilation, that call for the infant or child to be supine and/or quiescent. Again, a skilled physical therapist, using towels and props, can appropriately position the infant or child to facilitate administration of the treatment.  
         [0004]     In these cases, a professional therapist is required to improvise a posturing system for the infant or child.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The object of the invention is to provide devices, and a process of using such devices, for therapeutic posturing of infants without requiring improvisation by a therapist, or for that matter, without requiring a professional therapist at all.  
         [0006]     In accordance with the invention, such devices are comprised of a semi-resilient cushion having a first surface, usually an upwardly facing surface, for receiving at least part of an infant&#39;s body in a given position, and one or more second surfaces for inhibiting movement of the infant&#39;s body from the given position. The process of the invention resides in providing the cushioning device and placing an infant&#39;s body relative to the cushioning device such that the given part of the infant&#39;s body is retained in said given position.  
         [0007]     In a specific embodiment, an infant posturing device particularly, though not solely, designed for therapeutic treatment of infants having hyperextension and/or head control problems comprises a shape retaining cushion having a first surface for receiving the torso of an infant in a given position and spaced second surfaces generally normal to the first surface for inhibiting the infant from rolling out of the given position. In accordance with the process of the invention, an infant is placed face down on the cushion with its stomach and chest in engagement with the first surface and positioned between the second surfaces and with its head, shoulders and arms extending beyond said surfaces.  
         [0008]     An infant positioned on the cushion as above described is not able to roll out of or retract from the posture thus established for it, and in particular is not able to retract its arms, thereby to aid in treatment of hyperextension problems. Additionally, the infant&#39;s head is not supported and the infant&#39;s inherent curiosity will induce the infant to raise his or her head to see what is going around him or her thereby to aid in treatment of head control problems.  
         [0009]     The therapeutic cushion of the invention thereby enables unskilled parents and caregivers to establish a therapeutically beneficial posture for an infant without requiring skilled therapists to posture the child each time the child is to be moved.  
         [0010]     These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those of reasonable skill in the art from the following detailed description as considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a therapeutic posturing cushion provided in accordance with the invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view, from a different perspective, of the body of the cushion illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the cushion illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a vertical cross-section of the cushion illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of therapeutic cushion for posturing the head of an infant, particularly following surgery and/or during administration of a supplementary treatment.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     The following is a detailed description of certain embodiments of the invention presently deemed by the inventor to be the best mode of carrying out his invention.  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a posturing cushion  10  for therapeutic treatment of an infant having hyperextension problems and/or head control problems is comprised of a shape retaining body  12  ( FIG. 2 ) and a conformable, removable and washable cover  14  ( FIG. 1 ).  
         [0018]     The body  12  is suitably molded or otherwise formed from a fire resistant and non-toxic semi-rigid/semi-resilient shape retaining foam and the cover  14  is preferably made of a fire resistant and non-toxic soft, pliant, absorbent and washable fabric, such as cotton toweling. The cover is suitable fabricated in accordance with standard slipcover manufacturing procedures so as to be easily removable from and easily re-assembled on the body  12 , so the cover may from time-to-time be removed for washing and/or cleaning to maintain a sanitary condition.  
         [0019]     The cushion  10  comprises a base portion  16  defining an upwardly facing surface  18  for receiving the torso of an infant and a pair of laterally spaced upstanding sidewalls  20  which define side surfaces  22  engageable with the infant&#39;s body to prevent or at least deter the infant from rolling off of or changing its position relative to the first surface  18 .  
         [0020]     The upper surface  18  of the base  16  is preferably inclined upwardly from one end (lower end  24 ) to the other end (upper end  26 ). More specifically, the surface  18  is preferably curved or contoured to conform more or less to an infant&#39;s tummy (stomach) adjacent its lower end  24  and the infant&#39;s chest adjacent its upper end  26 . The upper end portion of the surface  18  is preferably curved or rounded, as indicated at  28 , to conformably and comfortably receive the upper portion of an infant&#39;s torso.  
         [0021]     Pursuant to the invention, particularly though not solely for therapeutic treatment of infants having hyperextension problems and/or head control problems, the infant is placed faced down on the cushion between the side surfaces  22  with the infant&#39;s tummy engaging the lower portion  24  of the surface  18  and the infants chest engaging the upper portion  26  of the surface  18 , and with the infant&#39;s head, shoulders and arms extending over and beyond the rounded upper end  28  of the cushion.  
         [0022]     When so positioned, the infant is not able to retract her/his arms from their extended positions over the upper end of the cushion, thereby to aid in treatment of hyperextension problems, such as those resulting from brain damage, oxygen deprivation and/or diminished motor skills.  
         [0023]     Additionally, the infant&#39;s head is not directly supported and will hang down over the rounded upper end  28  of the cushion so that the child will normally be looking at the floor or other cushion supporting surface. The naturally inquisitive nature of an infant will inherently cause the infant to raise its head from time to time and/or for prolonged periods of time, in order to see what is going on around him or her. This will exercise the head control motor function of the body and aid in the treatment of head control problems.  
         [0024]     The cushion  10  thus provides for effective therapeutic treatment of serious disabilities of physically and/or mentally challenged infants.  
         [0025]     Many of these infants suffer additional disabilities which may, for example, require gastrointestinal feeding via a feed tube and port communicating between the exterior and the interior of the stomach. To accommodate the gastrointestinal feeding port on such infants, the cushion  10  of the invention preferably includes a cutout, aperture or opening  30  in the base  16  and supporting surface  18 , suitably in the lower left region of the lower end portion  24  of the surface  18 , adapted to receive the port without obstruction. For infants who do not have or require a gastrointestinal port, the aperture  30  may be filled and closed by a removable plug or insert  30  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0026]     There are also a number of infants who, during recovery from surgery or during therapeutic treatments, such as oral ventilation, or during administration of an intravenous infusion, and for various other reasons, need to be postured on their backs. Due to the softness of skull tissues during infancy, posturing of an infant on her/his back can result in flattening of the back of the child&#39;s head, which could become a lifelong deformity. Additionally, under at least some circumstances, a child&#39;s head should be held steady in a given position for administration of a particular treatment. The cushion illustrated in  FIG. 5  addresses these concerns.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a cushion  40  for maintaining an infant&#39;s head quiescent and in a selected position during administration of a treatment requiring the infant to be in a supine posture, and for mitigating flattening or other deformity of an infant&#39;s head while in supine posture, is comprised of an annulus  42  of shape retaining material, suitably a semi-rigid/semi-resilient foam. The annulus may, if desired, be provided with a removable and washable cover (not shown) similar to that of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0028]     The annulus  42  has interior and exterior dimensions or boundaries such as to define radially extending annular surfaces  44  that will engage and support marginal portions of an infant&#39;s skull. The skull of the infant extends partially into the interior of the annulus and movement of the skull relative to the annulus is inhibited by the radially inner interior surfaces  52  of the annulus. The annulus has a thickness sufficient to hold the skull spaced from the supporting surface on which the annulus is rested. Thus, the head does not contact a hard surface and will not become flattened or suffer other deformities during therapeutic treatment.  
         [0029]     The annulus has at least one and preferably a plurality of recesses  46  in one or both of its surfaces for receiving a portion of an infant&#39;s head and neck. The recesses are preferably of different sizes to accommodate infant&#39;s heads and necks of different shapes and sizes. Each recess has an upwardly facing head/neck supporting surface  48  and a pair of laterally spaced side surfaces  50  that will prevent or at least mitigate side to side movement and rolling motion of the head. The surfaces  48 ,  50  and  52  hold the head steady and parallel to the sides of the infant&#39;s body with the head spaced from hard surfaces during therapy.  
         [0030]     The invention thus provides a process and devices whereby unskilled caregivers, with minimal tutoring or coaching, can conveniently and accurately posture an infant&#39;s body for therapeutic treatment without requiring the continual attention of a skilled therapist.  
         [0031]     The objects and advantages of the invention have therefore been shown to be attained in a convenient, economical, practical and facile manner.  
         [0032]     While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it is to be appreciated that various changes, rearrangements and modifications may be made therein, and that other and additional therapeutic posturing devices may be devised, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.