Patent ID: 7908691

Claim:
A medical support pillow for supporting a patient on a patient support surface in the lateral position while maintaining an open and adequate airway, comprising: a chest support for providing elevation and support of the chest of the patient above the level of the patient support surface; an arcuately shaped recess for the accommodation of a dependent shoulder of the patient while lying in the lateral position on the pillow; a head support for supporting the head of the patient when the patient is in the lateral position, the head support having a substantially planar anterior support surface and being configured to support the head of the patient in such a manner that the spine and the airway are allowed to be in a straight position; a posterior recess including a substantially planar posterior recess support surface for accommodating the head of the patient, the posterior recess being coupled to the head support and having a first substantially vertical surface disposed between the anterior support surface and the posterior recess support surface; a neck support for supporting the neck of the patient when the neck is extended thereover, the neck support being coupled to the head support; and a posterior bolster for supporting the patient when the patient's superior shoulder is rotated posteriorly against the bolster, the posterior bolster extending continuously along the entire length of the pillow and being coupled to the head support and coupled to said chest support, wherein the posterior recess is disposed between the first substantially vertical surface and a second substantially vertical surface of the posterior bolster, wherein the first and second substantially vertical surfaces are substantially parallel to one another and separated by the posterior recess support surface, the posterior recess support surface being substantially parallel to and located adjacent to and in a lower position than the anterior support surface, wherein the neck support includes a substantially planar top surface and first and second ends, the first end terminating into the arcuately shaped shoulder recess and the second end terminating into the second substantially vertical surface of the posterior bolster, the second substantially vertical surface extending vertically upward from the top surface of the neck support and being configured to support the head of the patient when it is in the posterior recess and to support the back of the patient when the patient is rotated posteriorly.