Headrest for an immobilization system

Abstract

A headrest for an immobilization system for immobilizing at least a part of a patient is provided. The headrest includes a supporting structure and a sheet-like formed elastic panel attached to the supporting structure on at least two opposite sides of the elastic panel. The elastic panel is configured to support at least a part of a head and/or at least a part of a neck of a patient, wherein at least a part of the elastic panel is stretchable and configured to stretch when said at least part of the head and/or neck of the patient is arranged on the elastic panel, such that a shape of said at least part of the elastic panel is formed corresponding to a shape of said at least part of the head and/or neck of the patient.

1 . A headrest for an immobilization system for immobilizing at least a part of a patient, the headrest comprising:
 a supporting structure; and   a sheet-like formed elastic panel attached to the supporting structure on at least two opposite sides of the elastic panel,   wherein the supporting structure comprises a first rail arranged on a first side of the elastic panel and a second rail arranged on a second side of the elastic panel opposite to the first side, such that the elastic panel is at least partly arranged between the first rail and the second rail,   wherein the elastic panel is configured to support at least a part of a head and/or at least a part of a neck of a patient, and   wherein at least a part of the elastic panel is stretchable and configured to stretch when said at least part of the head and/or neck of the patient is arranged on the elastic panel, such that the elastic panel elongates and such that a shape of said at least part of the elastic panel is formed corresponding to a shape of said at least part of the head and/or neck of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The headrest according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least part of the elastic panel is reversibly deformable and/or reversibly stretchable at room temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The headrest according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic panel comprises one or more elastic sheets for supporting said at least part of the head and/or neck of the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The headrest according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic panel comprises a middle region and at least one reinforced region, and wherein the middle region is more stretchable than the at least one reinforced region. 
     
     
         5 . The headrest according to  claim 4 , wherein a material thickness of the elastic panel in the middle region is smaller than a material thickness of the elastic panel in the at least one reinforced region, and/or wherein the elastic panel comprises a first material in the middle region and a second material in the at least one reinforced region, the first material being different than the second material, such that the middle region is more stretchable than the at least one reinforced region. 
     
     
         6 . The headrest according to  claim 4 , wherein the elastic panel comprises an elastic sheet arranged in the middle region and in the at least one reinforced region of the elastic panel, and wherein the elastic panel comprises at least one further elastic sheet arranged only in the at least one reinforced region of the elastic panel. 
     
     
         7 . The headrest according to  claim 4 , wherein the elastic panel comprises at least one stiffening rib arranged in the at least one reinforced region. 
     
     
         8 . The headrest according to  claim 4 , wherein the elastic panel comprises a first reinforced region on a first end of the elastic panel and a second reinforced region arranged on a second end of the elastic panel opposite to the first end of the elastic panel, and wherein the middle region is arranged between the first reinforced region and the second reinforced region along a longitudinal axis of the headrest. 
     
     
         9 . The headrest according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 at least one shaping support coupled with a first end to the supporting structure,   wherein a second end of the at least one shaping support protrudes from the supporting structure towards a centre portion of the headrest.   
     
     
         10 . The headrest according to  claim 9 , wherein a contour of at least a part of the second end of the at least one shaping support is curvedly formed, and/or wherein a contour of at least a part of the second end of the at least one shaping support is formed corresponding to a contour of at least a part of the head and/or neck of the patient. 
     
     
         11 . The headrest according to  claim 9 , wherein at least a part of the elastic panel is attached to the at least one shaping support, and/or wherein at least a part of the elastic panel is arranged on top of the at least one shaping support. 
     
     
         12 . The headrest according to  claim 9 , wherein the headrest comprises a first shaping support arranged on a first side of the elastic panel, and wherein the headrest comprises a second shaping support arranged on a second side of the elastic panel opposite to the first side of the elastic panel. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An immobilization system for positioning and/or fixing at least a part of a patient, the immobilization system comprising:
 a headrest for supporting at least a part of a head and/or at least a part of a neck of the patient, the headrest including a supporting structure and a sheet-like formed elastic panel attached to the supporting structure on at least two opposite sides of the elastic panel, wherein the supporting structure comprises a first rail arranged on a first side of the elastic panel and a second rail arranged on a second side of the elastic panel opposite to the first side, such that the elastic panel is at least partly arranged between the first rail and the second rail, wherein the elastic panel is configured to support at least a part of the head and/or at least a part of the neck of the patient, and wherein at least a part of the elastic panel is stretchable and configured to stretch when said at least part of the head and/or neck of the patient is arranged on the elastic panel, such that the elastic panel elongates and such that a shape of said at least part of the elastic panel is formed corresponding to a shape of said at least part of the head and/or neck of the patient; and   an immobilization mask coupled to the headrest,   wherein the headrest and the immobilization mask together form a compartment configured to receive and/or enclose at least a part of the head and/or at least a part of the neck of the patient.   
     
     
         15 . A method of immobilizing at least a part of a head and/or at least a part of a neck of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a headrest including a supporting structure and a sheet-like formed elastic panel attached to the supporting structure on at least two opposite sides of the elastic panel, wherein the supporting structure comprises a first rail arranged on a first side of the elastic panel and a second rail arranged on a second side of the elastic panel opposite to the first side, such that the elastic panel is at least partly arranged between the first rail and the second rail ( 18 ); and   arranging at least a part of the head and/or at least a part of the neck of the patient on the elastic panel of the headrest, such that at least a part of the elastic panel is stretched, such that the elastic panel elongates and such that a shape of said at least part of the elastic panel is formed corresponding to a shape of said at least part of the head and/or neck of the patient and encloses said at least part of the head and/or neck of the patient, thereby at least partly immobilizing the head and/or the neck of the patient.