Orthotic device

Abstract

An orthotic device 10 comprising a body 20 having a base 30 , a first support surface 40 . In use, the first support surface 40 supports a selected region of a patient's neck 70 whilst suspending the patient's head 80.

1 . An orthotic device comprising: 
 a body having a base and a first support surface, wherein in use, the first support surface supports a selected region of a patients neck whilst suspending the patient's head.    
   
   
       2 . The orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein at least the first support surface is made from a cushioning material.  
   
   
       3 . The orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein in use, the patient lies on a substrate surface such that the patient is in a supine position when the patient's neck is supported by the support surface and the head is suspended above the substrate.  
   
   
       4 . The orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first support surface is in the form of a bulbous protrusion extending from the body, wherein the bulbous portion is a substantially half cylindrical protrusion extending from the body.  
   
   
       5 . The orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the base is an elongate planar surface.  
   
   
       6 . The orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the orthotic device comprises side faces extending from the base to the first support surface, and wherein at least one side face tangentially meets with the first support surface.  
   
   
       7 . The orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface area of the first support surface in contact with the patient's neck is less than the surface area of the base in contact with the substrate surface.  
   
   
       8 . The orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the orthotic device comprises a second support surface for supporting at least one of the patient's lower neck and a portion of the shoulders to restrict cervical over-extension, wherein the spacing between an apex of the first support surface and the base is greater than spacing between the second support surface and the base.  
   
   
       9 . The orthotic device of  claim 8 , wherein the first support surface is in the form of a first convex surface and the second support surface is in the form of a first concave surface.  
   
   
       10 . Tile orthotic device of  claim 9 , wherein the first convex surface comprises a degree of curvature which is less than the degree of curvature of the first concave surface.  
   
   
       11 . The orthotic device of  claim 9 , wherein the first convex surface tangentially meets the first concave surface.  
   
   
       12 . The orthotic device of  claim 9 , wherein the first concave surface is part of a recess in the body, wherein the recess is substantially a quarter cylindrical recess in the body, the first support surface is in the form of a bulbous protrusion extending from the body, the bulbous portion being a substantially half cylindrical protrusion extending from the body, wherein the half cylindrical protrusion comprises a radius greater than a radius of the quarter cylindrical recess.  
   
   
       13 . The orthotic device of  claim 9 , wherein the orthotic device comprises a third support surface adjacent the first contact surface for supporting the back of the patient's head, and wherein the third contact surface comprises a second convex surface and a second concave surface.  
   
   
       14 . The orthotic device of  claim 13 , wherein the second concave surface is adjacent the first convex surface, and the second concave surface is adjacent the second convex surface.  
   
   
       15 . The orthotic device of  claim 13 , wherein the orthotic device comprises side faces extending from the base to the first, second and third support surfaces, and wherein at least one side face tangentially meets with the second convex surface.  
   
   
       16 . The orthotic device of  claim 13 , wherein the second convex surface tangentially meets the second concave surface.  
   
   
       17 . The orthotic device of  claim 13 , wherein an apex of the second convex surface tangentially meets the second concave surface.  
   
   
       18 . The orthotic device of  claim 13 , wherein the second convex surface has a degree of curvature greater than a degree of curvature of the first convex surface.  
   
   
       19 . The orthotic device of  claim 13 , wherein a degree of curvature of the second concave surface is greater than the degree of curvature of the first and second convex surfaces and the first concave surface.  
   
   
       20 . A method of stretching a patients neck using an orthotic device, the orthotic device comprising a body having a base and a first support which operates as a fulcrum, wherein the method comprises the patient lying in a supine position on a substrate surface such that the support surface of the orthotic device supports a selected region of a patient's neck whilst suspending the patient's head above the substrate surface.