Thigh support with free space for popliteal fossa

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes cushions which support a patient's thighs and lower legs and which have cut out areas in the areas of the patient's popliteal fossa at the back of the patient's knees. By avoiding contact with the popliteal fossa complications such as compression of the patient's nerves and blood vessels are avoided. This prevents the harmful effects of pressure on the popliteal fossa in loss of sensation in the lower legs and feet, and occlusion of blood and lymph vessels in the lower legs. A number of embodiment cushions are disclosed, some embodiments comprised of a relatively firm core foam material with a relatively softer viscoelastic foam in areas which are in contact with the patient's skin.

1 . A therapeutic cushion for a supine or side lying patient comprising:
 support means for the patient's upper leg, and   support means for the patient's lower leg,   wherein the cushion has a contoured free space between the upper leg support means and the lower leg support means which prevents contact between the cushion and the patient's popliteal fossa.   
   
   
       2 . A therapeutic cushion for a supine or side lying patient comprising:
 a rectangular heel elevator support for supporting the patient's lower legs with the patient's feet extending over the end of the heel elevator support,   a rectangular wedge-shaped supplemental support for supporting the patient's upper legs,   a connector which connects the heel elevator support with the supplemental support,   the connector having a cut out or contoured free space below the patient's popliteal fossa area whereby the patient's upper legs are supported by the supplemental support, the patient's lower legs are supported by the heel elevator support, the patient's feet and heels are extended from the end of the heel elevator support, and no surface is in contact with the patient's popliteal fossa.   
   
   
       3 . The therapeutic cushion of  claim 2  wherein the cushion is constructed of fill comprised of foam, polyester fiber, gel materials, water or other fluids including air, and covered by a fill impervious cover. 
   
   
       4 . The therapeutic cushion of  claim 2  wherein the cushion is constructed of one or more layers of foam. 
   
   
       5 . The therapeutic cushion of  claim 2  wherein the heel elevator support, supplemental support, and connector is comprised of foundation foam and the heel elevator support and supplemental support has a layer of viscoelastic foam covering the foundation foam in areas of patient contact. 
   
   
       6 . The therapeutic cushion of  claim 2  wherein the connector is a connector arm connecting the heel elevator support and supplemental support, the connector arm stiff enough and long enough to maintain a separation between the heel elevator support and supplemental support which approximates the length of a patient's popliteal fossa. 
   
   
       7 . The therapeutic cushion of  claim 2  wherein the heel elevator support, connector, and supplemental support are comprised of a single piece of foundation foam. 
   
   
       8 . The therapeutic cushion of  claim 2  wherein the rear end of the heel elevator support is the highest portion of the therapeutic cushion and the height of the upper surfaces of the heel elevator support and supplemental support taper from the rear end of the heel elevator support to the bottom of the therapeutic cushion at the front end of the supplemental support. 
   
   
       9 . The therapeutic cushion of  claim 2  further comprising bolsters on the edges of the upper surface of the heel elevator support. 
   
   
       10 . The therapeutic cushion of  claim 2  further comprising cavities for the patient's legs on the surface of the upper surface of the heel elevator support. 
   
   
       11 . The therapeutic cushion of  claim 2  wherein the cushion has a width which approximates the width of a patient's bed. 
   
   
       12 . The therapeutic cushion of  claim 2  wherein the cushion has a width which approximates one half of the width of a patient's bed. 
   
   
       13 . The therapeutic cushion of  claim 2  wherein the connector is integral with and in combination with the supplemental support, and the heel elevator support and combination connector and supplemental support are connected by a flexible strap hinge attached to the bottom of the heel elevator support and the combination connector and supplemental support. 
   
   
       14 . The therapeutic cushion of  claim 2  wherein the connector is integral with and in combination with the supplemental support, and the heel elevator support has a cover and the combination connector and supplemental support has a cover, and the covers are connected by a flexible hinge. 
   
   
       15 . The therapeutic cushion of  claim 14  wherein the cushion is constructed of fill comprised of foam, polyester fiber, gel materials, water or other fluids including air, and covered by a fill impervious cover. 
   
   
       16 . The therapeutic cushion of  claim 2  wherein the heel elevator support, connector, and supplemental support are covered by a water-resistant cover. 
   
   
       17 . The cover of  claim 16  comprised of thermoplastic polyurethane film or water-resistant coated fabric material. 
   
   
       18 . The cover of  claim 16  wherein the cover is comprised of nylon taffeta. 
   
   
       19 . The cover of  claim 16  wherein the bottom of the cover has a non-slip coating. 
   
   
       20 . The process of preventing and treating heel pressure ulcers, improvement of blood circulation in the legs or relief of back pain in a supine patient in a bed without injury to the patient's popliteal fossa comprising the step:
 a. placing the leg or legs of a patient in need of such preventing or treating of heel pressure ulcers or improvement of blood circulation in the legs or relief of back pain on a therapeutic cushion comprising:
 rectangular heel elevator support for supporting the patient's lower legs with the patient's feet extending over the end of the heel elevator support, a rectangular wedge-shaped supplemental support for supporting the patient's upper legs, and 
 a connector which connects the heel elevator support with the supplemental support, 
 the connector having a cut out or contoured free space located below the patient's popliteal fossa whereby no surface is in contact with the patient's popliteal fossa. 
   
   
   
       21 . The process of  claim 20  wherein the therapeutic cushion of step a. is constructed of fill comprised of foam, polyester fiber, gel materials, water or other fluids including air, and covered by a fill impervious cover. 
   
   
       22 . A hemispheric-shaped log roll cushion for a supine patient comprising:
 an arc-shaped rear end,   a connector having a cut out or contoured free space on the top surface, and   an arc-shaped rear end,   the front end, connector and rear end comprised of a single piece of foam.   
   
   
       23 . The log roll cushion of  claim 22  wherein a layer of viscoelastic foam is attached to the top surfaces of the rear end and the front end. 
   
   
       24 . The log roll cushion of  claim 22  wherein the cushion further comprises a water-resistant cover. 
   
   
       25 . The log roll cushion of  claim 24  wherein the cover is comprised of thermoplastic polyurethane film or coated fabric material. 
   
   
       26 . The log roll cushion of  claim 24  wherein the cover is comprised of nylon taffeta. 
   
   
       27 . The log roll cushion of  claim 24  wherein the cover has a bottom which has a non-slip coating. 
   
   
       28 . The process of preventing and treating heel pressure ulcers, improvement of blood circulation in the legs or relief of back pain in a supine patient in a bed without injury to the patient's popliteal fossa comprising the step:
 a. placing the leg or legs of a patient in need of such preventing or treating of heel pressure ulcers or improvement of blood circulation in the legs or relief of back pain on a log roll cushion comprising:
 an arc-shaped rear end, 
 a connector having a cut out on the top surface, 
 an arc-shaped rear end, 
 the front end, connector and rear end comprised of a single piece of foam. 
   
   
   
       29 . The process of  claim 28  wherein the therapeutic cushion of step a. is constructed of fill comprised of foam, polyester fiber, gel materials, water or other fluids including air, and covered by a fill impervious cover.