Method and device for pressure offloading

Abstract

The present invention is a method and device for pressure offloading in order to alleviate or diminish pressure on an area of bony prominence, a blemish, wound, decubitus ulcer (also known as pressure ulcer or pressure sore) or surgical site by elevating the affected area above a surface without directly contacting the affected area. An interior filling of the present invention is composed of a Visco/Memory foam, natural buckwheat hulls, whole buckwheat seeds, millet hulls, water, gel, silicone, Styrofoam beads, a combination thereof, or other suitable material known in the art. The interior filling is enclosed in a hollow member, and an additional removable and/or reusable cover composed of anti-bacterial/anti-microbial fabric, encloses the hollow member for additional protection. Fastening means are attached to the cover to allow the user to reconfigure the shape of the device to provide the required support as needed for each use.

1 . A pressure offloading device for elevating at least one portion of a patient above a surface, the pressure offloading device comprising: 
 (a) an elongated, flexible hollow member having first and second opposite ends, a longitudinal axis being defined there between;    (b) filling material contained within and substantially filling the hollow member; and    (c) fastening means disposed along an outer side of the hollow member;    whereby with the hollow member formed into a desired shape and fastening means selected and fastened together to maintain the hollow member in the desired shape, the hollow member may be placed between the patient and the surface such that at least a portion of the patient is elevated above the surface, the hollow member supporting the patient adjacent to but not in direct contact with said portion of the patient.    
   
   
       2 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 1  wherein the hollow member is comprised of a fabric material.  
   
   
       3 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 1  wherein the hollow member is comprised of a water impervious elastomeric material.  
   
   
       4 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 1  wherein the hollow member further includes closure means disposed along one side thereof for providing access inside the hollow member.  
   
   
       5 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 1  wherein the hollow member has a generally rectangular cross-section across the longitudinal axis thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 1  wherein the hollow member has a generally circular cross-section across the longitudinal axis thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 1  wherein the filling material comprises a viscoelastic polyurethane foam.  
   
   
       8 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 1  wherein the filling material comprises buckwheat hulls.  
   
   
       9 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 1  wherein the filling material comprises silicone.  
   
   
       10 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 1  wherein the filling material comprises a gelatinous material.  
   
   
       11 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 1  wherein the filling material comprises water.  
   
   
       12 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 1  wherein the filling material comprises an upper layer of viscoelastic polyurethane foam, a lower layer of viscoelastic polyurethane foam, and at least one flexible inner support positioned between said upper and lower layers.  
   
   
       13 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 12  wherein said flexible inner support comprises a polyurethane material.  
   
   
       14 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 12  wherein said flexible inner support comprises a polyethylene material.  
   
   
       15 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 1  wherein a flexible rod is enclosed within said filling material.  
   
   
       16 . A pressure offloading device for elevating at least one portion of a patient above a surface, the pressure offloading device comprising: 
 (a) an elongated, flexible hollow member having first and second opposite ends, a longitudinal axis being defined there between;    (b) filling material contained within and substantially filling the hollow member; and    (c) a flexible, removable cover adapted to snuggly fit over the hollow member, the removable cover having first and second opposite ends, a longitudinal axis being defined therebetween, and fastening means disposed along an outer side thereof,    whereby with the removable cover encompassing the hollow member, the hollow member formed into a desired shape, and fastening means selected and fastened together to maintain the hollow member in the desired shape, the hollow member may be placed between the patient and the surface such that at least a portion of the patient is elevated above the surface, the hollow member and cover supporting the patient adjacent to but not in direct contact with said portion of the patient.    
   
   
       17 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 16  wherein the removable cover is made of an anti-bacterial and anti-microbial fabric.  
   
   
       18 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 16  wherein the removable cover further includes closure means disposed along a side thereof for providing access inside the removable cover.  
   
   
       19 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 16  wherein the hollow member is comprised of a water impervious elastomeric material.  
   
   
       20 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 16  wherein the hollow member and the removable cover each have a generally rectangular cross-section across the longitudinal axis thereof.  
   
   
       21 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 16  wherein the hollow member and the removable cover each have a generally circular cross-section across the longitudinal axis thereof.  
   
   
       22 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 16  wherein the filling material comprises a viscoelastic polyurethane foam.  
   
   
       23 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 16  wherein the filling material comprises buckwheat hulls.  
   
   
       24 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 16  wherein the filling material comprises silicone.  
   
   
       25 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 16  wherein the filling material comprises a gelatinous material.  
   
   
       26 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 16  wherein the filling material comprises water.  
   
   
       27 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 16  wherein the filling material comprises an upper layer of viscoelastic polyurethane foam, a lower layer of viscoelastic polyurethane foam, and at least one flexible inner support positioned between said upper and lower layers.  
   
   
       28 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 27  wherein said flexible inner support comprises a polyurethane material.  
   
   
       29 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 27  wherein said flexible inner support comprises a polyethylene material.  
   
   
       30 . The pressure offloading device of  claim 16  wherein a flexible rod is enclosed with said filling material.  
   
   
       31 . A pressure offloading device for elevating a ball and a heel of a patient's foot above a surface, the pressure offloading device comprising: 
 (a) an elongated, flexible hollow member having an outer side that includes at least a top surface and a bottom surface, a first hollow region and a second hollow region each traversing the hollow member from the top surface to the bottom surface, the hollow member forming substantially a figure-8 shape;    (b) filling material contained within and substantially filling the hollow member; and    (c) fastening means disposed along the outer side of the hollow member;    whereby with the patient's foot fastened to the top surface with the fastening means, the ball of the foot being over the first hollow region and the heel of the foot being over the second hollow region, the ball and heel of the patient's foot are elevated above the surface, the hollow member supporting the foot adjacent to but not in direct contact with the ball and the heel of the foot.    
   
   
       32 . A method of elevating at least one portion of a patient above a surface, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a pressure offloading device comprising an elongated, flexible hollow member having first and second opposite ends, a longitudinal axis being defined there between; filling material contained within and substantially filling the hollow member; and fastening means disposed along an outer side of the hollow member;    (b) forming the hollow member into a desired shape    (c) selecting fastening means and fastening same together to maintain the hollow member in the desired shape; and    (d) placing the hollow member between the patient and the surface such that at least a portion of the patient is elevated above the surface, the hollow member supporting the patient adjacent to but not in direct contact with said portion of the patient.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the portion of the patient that is elevated is the patient's coccyx.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the portion of the patient that is elevated is at least one of the patient's heels.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the portion of the patient that is elevated is at least one of the patient's ankles.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the portion of the patient that is elevated is at least one of the patient's hips.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the portion of the patient that is elevated is at least one of the patient's ears.  
   
   
       38 . A method of elevating a ball and a heel of a patient's foot above a surface, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing an elongated, flexible hollow member having an outer side that includes at least a top surface and a bottom surface, a first hollow region and a second hollow region each traversing the hollow member from the top surface to the bottom surface, the hollow member forming substantially a figure- 8  shape; filling material contained within and substantially filling the hollow member; and fastening means disposed along the outer side of the hollow member    (b) placing the ball of the patient's foot over the first hollow region on the top surface of the hollow member, and the heel of the patient's foot over the second hollow region on the top surface of the hollow member; and    (c) fastening the foot to the hollow member with the fastening means.