Heel elevator support

Details Heel elevator support Heel elevator support

2002-04-01

2003-10-21

Trettel, Michael F. (Department: 3673)

Beds

Support means for discrete portion of user, useable with bed...

For lower body portions

C005S650000, C005S632000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06634045

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable.
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to supports which elevate the lower legs of patients with circulatory insufficiency in the lower limbs in order to prevent or relieve pressure ulcers on the heels or feet.
2. Description of Related Art
The incidence of pressure ulcers is sufficiently high as to warrant concern among health care providers. High-risk groups include elderly patients admitted to a hospital for femoral fracture and critical care patients. The prevalence of pressure ulcers in skilled care facilities and nursing homes is reported to be as high as 23 percent.
Successful management of pressure ulcers involves three components; nutritional assessment and support; management of tissue loads; and managing bacterial colonization and infection.
Management of tissue loads, i.e. pressure, friction, and shear, through use of positioning techniques and support surfaces is critical to the treatment of pressure ulcers. It is important that individuals with pressure ulcers who are in bed not be positioned on the pressure ulcers. Positioning devices should be used to raise a heel ulcer off the support service and prevent direct contact between bony prominences. Care should be taken to assure that the patient has not “bottomed out” under a pressure ulcer or part of the body at risk for ulcer formation, that is, that there should be at least one inch of support material below that portion of the body.
Because of the small surface area it is difficult to redistribute pressure under the heels and new pressure ulcers often develop on the heels of patients cared for on pressure-reducing devices. Suspension of the heel has been suggested as the best remedy, especially in individuals unable to reposition their lower extremities. Ring cushions have been found to be more likely to cause pressure ulcers than to prevent them. Treatment of Pressure Ulcers, Clinical Guideline Number 15, AHCPR Publication No. 95-0625, December 1994.
The present invention deals with the prevention and management of heel pressure ulcers primarily in two ways. 1. It raises the lower legs with respect to the torso and thereby promotes the circulation of blood through the legs and feet. 2. It suspends the heels and feet above and out of contact with any support surface, thereby preventing the development of pressure ulcers and encouraging the healing of existing pressure ulcers. The present invention also finds additional application in treating post-operative orthopedic patients, and in pre- or post-operative patients with venous insufficiency.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,709,435 discloses a leg rest which supports a leg for the purpose of treating the leg with medical fluids and for collecting the fluids which drain from the leg.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,286 discloses an adjustable sick-bed bolster which is wedge shaped and capable of multiple configurations. The bolster can be made of foam rubber or any similar material.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,927 discloses a mattress for invalids in which two wedge pieces support the shanks down to the region of the ankles. The heels and feet do not contact the mattress.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,977 discloses a pillow-enclosing casing in which a pillow, particularly a foam pillow, is rolled and reduced in volume and then inserted into a tubular casing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,204 discloses a compressed foam article which is compressed and packaged by enclosure in a substantially air-tight sack and a vacuum is drawn in the sack.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,067 discloses a method of packaging a mattress to a small size, in which the mattress is squeezed by compression means which drive the air from mattress and is then placed in a closed container or case.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,739 discloses a protective device which gives a set position to lower limbs. This involves a central block with side supports for the legs which have a concave shape.
The heels and feet do not touch the device. This device does include provisions for preventing the legs from falling off the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,979 discloses an inflatable leg and foot supporting cushion. The heels are supported by the cushion. The cushion is covered by a fluid-impermeable material. The cushion may include a lip or be covered with a diaper-like material to contend with fluids from ulcers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,828 discloses a pillow for orthopedic support, especially for support after hip surgery.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,303 discloses a therapeutic leg elevator which supports the leg from the ankle to at least the calf which can be configured so that the heel does not contact the foot portion of the support.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,682 discloses a foam mattress pad of adjustable width which has a tear strip of foam material to reduce the width of the mattress.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,939 discloses a leg rest for supporting a patient on a bed during turning or otherwise managing the patient. There are a pair of trough portions for receiving the patient's legs and which prevent movement of the patient's legs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,551 discloses method of packaging a foam pet industry product which involves placing the foam product inside a plastic bag, reducing the pressure to remove fir from the bag, and sealing the bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,683 discloses a resilient cushion to be positioned on the skin adjacent a bony prominence having a recess for the bony prominence.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,166 discloses an inflatable surgical support cushion which includes a concavity formed by side bolster structures.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,371 discloses a leg support apparatus which supports a single leg and is made from cardboard, plastics, or wire frames, and are stack able or foldable.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,560 discloses a travel headrest pillow shaped to conform to the shape formed by the back of the user's neck, head and shoulder.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,739 discloses a sleep support surface including a mattress with inflatable bladders near the foot end which lift the calves of the patient and reduce pressure on the patient's heels.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,979 discloses an inflatable orthopedic pillow with an area for isolating a patient's foot as well as provisions for maintaining the foot in a particular position or orientation.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,967 discloses a elevation support for a limb which surrounds a limb and has a longitudinal aperture for insertion at least a portion of the limb.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,804 discloses a pillow like protector and support device with a central surface having cut-away air gaps forming grooves for supporting various body parts.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,221 discloses a heel supporting apparatus which substantially immobilizes the legs and includes a heel pad which supports the heel and an inflatable bladder which contacts the bottom of the feet.
U.S. Pat. No. D311,470 discloses a support cushion with contours which supports a person's legs and feet.
None of the prior art devices have the characteristics of the present invention, that of elevating and supporting a patients heels and feet to prevent and manage pressure ulcers using an inexpensive cushion which is inexpensive, easy to manufacture and clean, and provides support for the legs while allowing reasonable movement associated with patient treatment.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This application discloses a heel elevator support for stimulating circulation in the lower and upper extremities and for preventing and managing heel pressure ulcers. The invention comprises a rectangular cushion having a front end and a back end, a left and a right side, and a top and bottom surface, the cushion having a width from the left side to the right side approximating the width of a bed, approximately 26 to 36 inches. The cushion having a length from the front end to the back end approximating the length of a patient's leg from knee to Achilles tendon, approximately 12 to 25 inches. The cushion having from

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