Patent ID: 7096869

Claim:
A device for preventing an airway obstruction in a patient lying on a surface, such as the top surface of an operating table or a hospital cart, by lifting said patient's chin and rotating his head rearwardly and downwardly on an operating table or hospital cart during a surgical or postoperative procedure, said device comprising in combination: a neck engaging support having a concave portion for engaging a rear portion of said patient's neck and elevating said patient's head in a face-up position on a surface, such as the top surface of an operating table or a hospital cart, said neck support acting as a fulcrum to tilt said patient's head rearwardly and downwardly relative to said table or cart; a swing-arm, said swing-arm having an inner end portion attached to an end portion of said neck support for rotation about a horizontal axis; a cross-arm having a first end portion attached to an outer end portion of said swing-arm; and a chin support attached to a second end portion of said cross-arm, said chin support being in lateral aligned relationship with said concave portion of said neck support and selectively adjustable about a second horizontal axis for engaging said patient's chin.