Hands-free chin lift and airway support device

Abstract

A support device ( 10 ) having a chin rest ( 12 ), malleable shaft ( 14 ), and base ( 16 ) and a method of using device to maintain patency to the airway of a person with a decreased level of consciousness. The head of the person is positioned such that airway patency is confirmed. The device is then positioned such that airway patency of the person is maintained as needed.

1 . A system for assisting in the maintenance of patency to a patient's airway, comprising: 
 a malleable shaft support portion comprising a flexible material that will maintain its shape when bent;    a malleable chinrest support portion comprising a flexible material that includes an upper portion including a concave inner area shaped to substantially surround a portion of the patient's chin received therein, and a lower portion coupled to, and extending towards, a first end of the shaft support portion; and    a base portion comprising a malleable material including an upper portion coupled to a second end of the shaft support portion and a lower portion configured for stable positioning on a patient's manubrium; and    an adhesive coupled to the lower portion of the base portion having adherence to the skin at least sufficient to prevent the base portion from sliding on the patient's manubrium.    
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper base portion is attached to an end of the shaft support portion through extrusion of liquid plastic.  
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a lower portion of the chinrest support portion is attached to a first end of said shaft support portion through extrusion of liquid plastic.  
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the chinrest support portion is wider than the shaft support portion.  
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the shaft support portion, the chinrest support portion and base portion comprise a flexible thermoplastic elastomer planar.  
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the flexible thermoplastic elastomer is polyethyleneterephthalate.  
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the shape of the shaft support portion is one of: a cylinder, a circle, a rectangle, and a square.  
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein-the shape of the base portion is one of: a cylinder, a circle, a rectangle, and a square.  
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the base support portion is wider than the shaft support portion.  
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft support portion, the chinrest support portion and base portion are made of one of: polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, nylon, rubber, leather, an impregnated material, a laminated fibrous material, a plasticized materials, cardboard and paper.  
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a first end of the shaft support portion and a second end of the shaft support portion are outwardly flared.  
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion is molded to conform to the patient's chin.  
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a point of contiguity where the lower portion of the chin support portion and a first end of the shaft support portion are coupled.  
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the chin support portion and shaft support portion are adjustable at the point of contiguity.  
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft support portion is bendable.  
   
   
       16 . A method of assisting in the maintenance of patency to a patient's airway, comprising: 
 providing a malleable shaft support portion comprising a flexible material that will maintain its shape when bent;    providing a malleable chinrest support portion comprising a flexible material that includes an upper portion including a concave inner area shaped to substantially surround a portion of the patient's chin received therein, and a lower portion coupled to, and extending towards, a first end of the shaft support portion; and    providing a base portion comprising a malleable material including an upper portion coupled to a second end of the shaft support portion and a lower portion configured for stable positioning on a patient's manubrium;    placing the base portion at the level of the patient's manubrium;    positioning the patient's head in the sniffing position; and    inserting the patient's chin in the chinrest support portion.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising adjusting the shaft support portion and the chin rest support portion to maintain patency to the patient.