Head fixing device for postoperative braking of head and neck
By designing a head fixation device that includes a bottom pad, a head fixation component, and a neck pillow, the problems of unstable head and neck fixation and insufficient neck support after surgery were solved, achieving stable head fixation and comfortable neck support, thus improving the patient's health.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHANGHAI NINTH PEOPLES HOSPITAL SHANGHAI JIAO TONG UNIV SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing head and neck postoperative fixation devices cannot effectively stabilize the head, leading to conditions such as displacement, traction, compression, and folding of anastomosing vessels, and lack of neck support, which affects the patient's health.
A head-fixing device comprising a base pad, a head-fixing component, and a neck pillow has been designed. The device achieves stable head fixation through the cooperation of the left and right head pillows and the second strap, and provides additional neck support through the neck pillow.
It achieves stable head fixation, reduces the risk of anastomotic vessel displacement, provides comfortable head and neck support, improves cervical spine health, prevents skin swelling and tenderness, and adapts to different body position changes.
Smart Images
Figure CN224235691U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to a head fixation device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck. Background Technology
[0002] Free flap transplantation is one of the most commonly used reconstructive techniques after resection of various benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck. Using microsurgical suturing techniques, the arteries and veins of the free flap are anastomosed to the blood vessels of the head and neck. Because the deep wound of the flap has not yet established a capillary supply system with the surrounding soft tissue in the early stages, the early survival and health of the flap are highly dependent on the patency of the anastomosed vessels. Postoperatively, excessive head and neck movement can easily lead to displacement, traction, compression, or folding of the anastomosed vessels, causing occlusion of the flap's supply vessels and ultimately resulting in local flap necrosis. To effectively avoid this problem, patients need to maintain head immobilization in a supine position without a pillow for two weeks postoperatively.
[0003] Currently, disposable diaper pads or disposable sterile drapes are often used to wrap sandbags, which are then used to clamp the sides of the head to achieve head immobilization. However, the sandbags are located on both sides of the ears, are relatively low, lack friction restraint at the bottom, and have no fixing device, making them extremely easy to move on the bed. Even slight movements of the patient's head will cause the sandbags to shift, failing to provide stable and effective head immobilization. Furthermore, as the patient's condition stabilizes post-surgery, they gradually change from a supine position to a semi-sitting position and then a sitting position. As the upper body position is elevated, the sandbags, due to excessive gravity, will slip off the sides of the patient's head to the shoulders, failing to achieve the head immobilization function.
[0004] In addition, patients need to lie flat without a pillow for two weeks, with their heads resting directly on the bed or a towel. Due to the lack of soft padding, most patients will experience symptoms such as swelling, tenderness, and discomfort in the occipital region. In hot and humid weather, severe cases may even develop eczema and bedsores. Patients with oral malignant tumors are mostly middle-aged and elderly people, and their cervical spine often has abnormalities or discomfort in daily life. Towels do not provide sufficient support and are prone to loosening. After surgery, the lack of effective support for the cervical spine for a long period of time further adversely affects the patient's cervical spine health. At the same time, existing common neck pillows are not only too wide, but also cannot be fixed to the bed surface, which is not conducive to the immobilization, care, and observation of neck wounds.
[0005] The statements herein provide only background information relating to this invention and do not necessarily constitute prior art. Utility Model Content
[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a head fixation device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck, which simultaneously achieves stable and effective head immobilization and neck support, solving the problems that existing sandbags cannot effectively immobilize the head and towels do not provide sufficient support for the neck.
[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides a head fixation device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck, comprising:
[0008] The bottom pad is fixed to the bed surface;
[0009] A headrest, located on the front of the bottom pad, is used to support the patient's head;
[0010] A head fixation assembly includes a fixation base pad, a left fixation headrest, a right fixation headrest, and a second strap. The back of the fixation base pad is fixed to the front of the bottom pad and covers the head pad. The left and right fixation headrests are used to fix the patient's head, and the backs of the left and right fixation headrests are fixed to the front of the fixation base pad. The second strap is used to assist in fixing the patient's head, and the two ends of the second strap are respectively fixed to the left and right fixation headrests.
[0011] Optionally, the left and right fixed head pillows are used to laterally fix the patient's head from above the ear to the top of the head, exposing the patient's face and ears; the left and right fixed head pillows form a semi-circular gap at one end near the side of the patient's head to accommodate the patient's head, and are in contact with each other at the end near the top of the patient's head.
[0012] Optionally, the left and right fixed headrests have a set thickness; the semi-circular gap is located between the inner surfaces of the left and right fixed headrests, and the two ends of the second strap are respectively fixed to the outer surfaces of the left and right fixed headrests.
[0013] Optionally, it also includes a neck pillow for supporting the patient's neck.
[0014] Optionally, the end of the neck pillow closest to the patient's head is higher than the end furthest from the patient's head, forming a slope on the surface of the neck pillow that supports the patient's neck; the end of the neck pillow closest to the patient's head is an enlarged arc shape to support the patient's head.
[0015] Optionally, it further includes: a first strap for securing the base pad to the bed surface, the first strap being a snap-on type.
[0016] Optionally, the second strap is provided with an anti-pressure sleeve and a length adjustment buckle.
[0017] Optionally, it also includes at least one of the following:
[0018] A first hook and loop fastener is disposed on the front side of the bottom pad, and the first hook and loop fastener is arranged in an inverted U-shape around the periphery of the head pad.
[0019] The second Velcro fastener is disposed on the back of the left and right fixed headrests;
[0020] The third hook and loop fastener is disposed at both ends of the second strap;
[0021] A fourth Velcro fastener is provided on the back of the neck pillow.
[0022] Optionally, it also meets at least one of the following criteria:
[0023] The thickness of the head pad is 1cm-3cm;
[0024] The thickness of both the left and right fixed headrests is 10cm-20cm;
[0025] The neck pillow has a length of 20cm-24cm, a width of 8cm-12cm, and a thickness of 5cm-9cm;
[0026] The inner and / or outer sides of the left fixed headrest form an angle with the back of the left fixed headrest, and the angle is 70°-80°.
[0027] The inner and / or outer sides of the right fixed headrest form an angle with the back of the right fixed headrest, and the angle is 70°-80°.
[0028] Optionally, it also meets at least one of the following criteria:
[0029] The material of the bottom pad is silicone gel;
[0030] The headrest is made of silicone gel;
[0031] The materials of the left and right fixed headrests include either sponge or latex.
[0032] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of this utility model has at least the following beneficial effects:
[0033] 1) This head immobilization device comprises a base pad, a head immobilization assembly, and a neck pillow. The head immobilization assembly includes a base pad, a left head pillow, a right head pillow, and a second strap. Both the head immobilization assembly and the neck pillow are attached to the front of the base pad, with the head immobilization assembly near the top of the base pad and the neck pillow near the bottom. On one hand, the left and right head pillows form a semi-circular gap at the end near the patient's head to accommodate the head portion, and contact each other at the end near the top of the patient's head. The head pillows have a large lateral contact area with the patient's head. The split design allows the gaps between the left and right head pillows to be adjusted according to the patient's head shape and size, ensuring both immobilization effectiveness and comfort. Furthermore, the second straps, connecting the left and right head pillows at both ends, further secure them above the patient's forehead, enabling the head pillows and second straps to work together to achieve stable and effective head immobilization. On the other hand, because the left and right head pillows are lightweight, they will not slip due to excessive gravity when the patient changes from a supine position to a semi-sitting or sitting position, thus preventing any impact on head immobilization.
[0034] 2) Headrests made of silicone gel can increase the thickness of the soft padding in the occipital area, providing more comfortable head support and protecting the skin and soft tissues of the occipital area from damage during long-term supine positions.
[0035] 3) The neck pillow effectively increases the support force at the cervical spine, improves the patient's cervical spine health, and after the neck pillow supports the patient's neck, it can keep the patient's neck and head basically on the same horizontal plane, and the head will not shake due to neck displacement, thereby supplementing the fixation effect on the head and achieving synchronous braking and fixation of the head and neck.
[0036] 4) The bottom pad, head fixing component, and neck pillow are designed separately for easy replacement, disinfection, and cleaning. Attached Figure Description
[0037] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the head fixing device of this utility model.
[0038] Figure 2 This is a top view of the bottom pad of this utility model.
[0039] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the headrest of this utility model; wherein, a is a front view and b is a side view.
[0040] Figure 4 This is a top view of the head fixing component of this utility model.
[0041] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of some components of the head fixing assembly of this utility model, wherein a is the back of the right fixing headrest, b is the side view of the second strap, and c is the front view of the left and right fixing headrests and the second strap.
[0042] Figure 6This is a schematic diagram of the neck pillow of this utility model; wherein, a is a top view of the neck pillow, b is the back of the neck pillow, c is a front view of the neck pillow, and d is a side view of the neck pillow.
[0043] Attached image labels:
[0044] Bottom pad 1
[0045] First binding strap 11
[0046] First Velcro 12
[0047] Headrest 13
[0048] Head fixation component 2
[0049] Fixed base pad 21
[0050] Left fixed headrest 22
[0051] Right fixed headrest 23
[0052] Second Velcro 24
[0053] Second strap 25
[0054] Third Velcro 251
[0055] Length adjustment buckle 252
[0056] Anti-pressure sleeve 253
[0057] Semi-circular gap 26
[0058] Neck Pillow 3
[0059] Fourth Velcro strap 31. Detailed Implementation
[0060] The head fixing device proposed in this utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The advantages and features of this utility model will become clearer from the following description. It should be noted that the drawings are in a very simplified form and use non-precise proportions, only for the purpose of conveniently and clearly illustrating the embodiments of this utility model. Please refer to the drawings to make the purpose, features, and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable. It should be understood that the structures, proportions, sizes, etc., depicted in the accompanying drawings are only for the purpose of assisting those skilled in the art in understanding and reading the content disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to limit the implementation conditions of this utility model. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in proportions, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and purposes achieved by this utility model, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in this utility model.
[0061] As described in the background section, patients who have undergone free flap transplantation often use sandbags for head immobilization post-surgery. However, these sandbags, located on either side of the ears, are low, lack friction at the bottom, and have no fixing device, making them prone to movement on the bed. Even slight head movement causes the sandbags to shift, failing to provide stable and effective head immobilization. Furthermore, as patients gradually transition from a supine to a semi-sitting or sitting position, the sandbags, due to excessive weight, tend to slip off the sides of the head and onto the shoulders, failing to provide adequate head immobilization. Additionally, when lying supine without a pillow, the head rests directly on the bed or a towel, leading to swelling, tenderness, and discomfort in the occipital region. In hot and humid weather, this can even result in severe cases of eczema and bedsores. Moreover, many middle-aged and elderly patients already experience cervical spine abnormalities or discomfort; towels offer insufficient support and are prone to loosening, resulting in prolonged lack of effective cervical spine support post-surgery, further negatively impacting cervical health.
[0062] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention presents a head fixation device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck, which is described in detail below. Figures 2-6 The dimensions marked in the figure are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limitations on this invention.
[0063] like Figure 1 As shown, the head fixation device includes a bottom pad 1, a head fixation component 2, and a neck pillow 3. Both the head fixation component 2 and the neck pillow 3 are located on the front of the bottom pad 1. The head fixation component 2 is close to the top of the bottom pad 1, and the neck pillow 3 is close to the bottom of the bottom pad 1. The head fixation component 2 is used to fix the head, and the neck pillow 3 is used to support the neck.
[0064] The specific structure of the bottom pad 1 is as follows Figure 2 As shown, the bottom pad 1 has first straps 11 at both ends, which are snap-on type, used to fasten the bottom pad 1 to the bed surface. The front of the bottom pad 1 has a first Velcro closure 12, which is inverted U-shaped and has a headrest 13 (as shown) in the middle area. Figure 3 As shown in a and b in the figure, the first Velcro 12 is located at the top and sides of the head pad 13, arranged in a way that semi-encloses the head pad 13.
[0065] In some embodiments, the head pad 13 is 1cm-3cm thick, which protects the skin and soft tissue of the occipital region from damage by increasing the thickness of the soft padding in the occipital region.
[0066] In some embodiments, the bottom pad 1 and the head pad 13 are made of silicone gel to increase patient comfort.
[0067] The specific structure of head fixation component 2 is as follows: Figure 4As shown, it includes a fixing base pad 21, a left fixing headrest 22, a right fixing headrest 23, and a second strap 25. The fixing base pad 21 is attached to the front of the bottom pad 1 using a first Velcro 12, covering the headrest 13. The headrest 13 supports the patient's head through the fixing base pad 21. Second Velcro 24 (such as...) is provided on the back of the left fixing headrest 22 and the right fixing headrest 23. Figure 5 As shown in Figure a), the left and right fixed headrests 22 and 23 are used to fix the patient's head and are attached to the front of the fixed base pad 21 by the second Velcro 24; the second strap 25 is provided with third Velcro 251 at both ends (as shown in Figure a). Figure 5 As shown in b), the left fixed headrest 22 and the right fixed headrest 23 have a certain thickness, and the two ends of the second strap 25 can be respectively attached to the outer surfaces of the left fixed headrest 22 and the right fixed headrest 23 (as shown in b). Figure 5 (as shown in c).
[0068] In actual use, the patient's head (such as the area from above the ears to the top of the head) is sandwiched between the left and right fixed headrests 22 and 23. The left and right fixed headrests 22 and 23 form a semi-circular gap 26 at their ends near the patient's head to accommodate the head, and contact each other at their ends near the top of the head. Thus, the left and right fixed headrests 22 and 23 work together to surround the top of the patient's head and the sides of the head above the ears. The patient's ears are not within the area held and fixed by the left and right fixed headrests 22 and 23; therefore, the head fixation component 2 in this example exposes the patient's face and ears for easier medical care and examination.
[0069] The left and right fixed head pillows 22 and 23 have a large contact area with the patient's head from the side; the second straps 25, which are connected to the left and right fixed head pillows 22 and 23 respectively, are further fixed above the patient's forehead. The left and right fixed head pillows 22 and 23 and the second straps 25 can work together to achieve stable and effective head immobilization.
[0070] In some embodiments, the second strap 25 is provided with a length adjustment buckle 252 for freely adjusting the length of the second strap 25 to accommodate different head sizes of patients. The second strap 25 is also provided with a pressure-resistant sleeve 253, which is located above the patient's forehead and can prevent the patient's scalp from being injured by pressure when the patient's head is immobilized for a long time.
[0071] In some embodiments, the thickness of the left fixed head pillow 22 and the right fixed head pillow 23 is 10cm-20cm. The material of the left fixed head pillow 22 and the right fixed head pillow 23 is either sponge or latex. Because they are lightweight, when the patient changes from a supine position to a semi-sitting position or a sitting position, they will not slip due to excessive gravity, thus affecting head immobilization.
[0072] In some embodiments, the longitudinal sections of the left fixed headrest 22 and the right fixed headrest 23 are each trapezoidal (each longitudinal section from the end furthest from the patient's head to the end closest to the patient's head), and the outer surface of each trapezoid is used to connect the third Velcro 251 on the second strap 25; the semi-circular gap 26 for accommodating the patient's head is located between the inner surfaces of the two trapezoids; the inner and outer surfaces of the left fixed headrest 22 and the right fixed headrest 23 form a set angle with the back of the headrest; for example, in this case, the angle between the side and the base of each trapezoid is 75° (e.g. Figure 5 (as shown in c).
[0073] The specific structure of neck pillow 3 is as follows Figure 6 As shown, the neck pillow 3 has different shapes at the ends near and away from the patient's head to accommodate the patient's neck. The end near the patient's head is higher than the end away, creating a slope on the surface of the neck pillow 3 that supports the patient's neck. The end near the patient's head has an enlarged arc shape to support the patient's head. A fourth Velcro 31 is provided on the back of the neck pillow 3, allowing it to be attached to the front of the bottom pad 1. The neck pillow 3 effectively increases support for the cervical spine, improving the patient's cervical health. After supporting the patient's neck, the neck pillow 3 keeps the neck and head essentially at the same level, preventing the head from wobbling due to neck displacement, thus supplementing the head's fixation effect and achieving synchronous braking and fixation of the head and neck.
[0074] In some embodiments, the neck pillow 3 has a length of 20cm-24cm, a width of 8cm-12cm, and a thickness of 5cm-9cm, which can basically adapt to the neck width of different patients to facilitate neck support.
[0075] The following describes in detail the method of using the head fixation device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck provided by this utility model, with reference to the embodiments.
[0076] Example
[0077] The bottom pad is secured to the bed surface using the first snap-on strap. The back of the securing bottom pad is then attached to the first Velcro strap on the front of the bottom pad. The patient's head rests on the 2cm thick headrest in the middle area of the bottom pad. Next, the patient's head is secured with a 15cm thick left and right sponge headrest, which is then attached to the front of the securing bottom pad using the second Velcro strap on its back. Then, the two ends of the second strap are attached to the outer sides of the left and right headrests using the third Velcro strap. The length adjustment buckle is adjusted to make the length of the second strap fit the size of the patient's head, and the anti-pressure cover is positioned above the patient's forehead. Finally, a 22cm long, 10cm wide, and 7cm thick neck pillow is used to support the patient's neck and is attached to the front of the bottom pad using the fourth Velcro strap on its back.
[0078] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.
[0079] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center," "height," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.
[0080] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.
[0081] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.
[0082] Although the present invention has been described in detail through the above preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the above description should not be considered as a limitation of the present invention. Various modifications and substitutions to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the above content. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A head immobilization device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck, characterized in that, Include: The bottom pad is fixed to the bed surface; A headrest, located on the front of the bottom pad, is used to support the patient's head; A head fixation assembly includes a fixation base pad, a left fixation headrest, a right fixation headrest, and a second strap. The back of the fixation base pad is fixed to the front of the bottom pad and covers the head pad. The left and right fixation headrests are used to fix the patient's head, and the backs of the left and right fixation headrests are fixed to the front of the fixation base pad. The second strap is used to assist in fixing the patient's head, and the two ends of the second strap are respectively fixed to the left and right fixation headrests.
2. The head immobilization device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The left and right fixed head pillows are used to fix the patient's head from above the ear to the top of the head from the side, and to expose the patient's face and ears; the left and right fixed head pillows form a semi-circular gap at the end near the side of the patient's head to accommodate the patient's head, and are in contact with each other at the end near the top of the patient's head.
3. The head immobilization device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The left and right fixed headrests have a set thickness; the semi-circular gap is located between the inner surfaces of the left and right fixed headrests, and the two ends of the second strap are respectively fixed to the outer surfaces of the left and right fixed headrests.
4. The head immobilization device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a neck pillow for supporting the patient's neck.
5. The head immobilization device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The end of the neck pillow closest to the patient's head is higher than the end furthest from the patient's head, forming a slope on the surface of the neck pillow that supports the patient's neck; the end of the neck pillow closest to the patient's head is an enlarged arc shape to support the patient's head.
6. The head immobilization device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes: a first strap for securing the bottom pad to the bed surface, the first strap being a snap-on type.
7. The head immobilization device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second strap is equipped with a pressure-resistant sleeve and a length adjustment buckle.
8. The head immobilization device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck as described in claim 4, characterized in that, It also includes at least one of the following: A first hook and loop fastener is disposed on the front side of the bottom pad, and the first hook and loop fastener is arranged in an inverted U-shape around the periphery of the head pad. The second Velcro fastener is disposed on the back of the left and right fixed headrests; The third hook and loop fastener is disposed at both ends of the second strap; A fourth Velcro fastener is provided on the back of the neck pillow.
9. The head immobilization device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck as described in claim 4, characterized in that, It also meets at least one of the following criteria: The thickness of the head pad is 1cm-3cm; The thickness of both the left and right fixed headrests is 10cm-20cm; The neck pillow has a length of 20cm-24cm, a width of 8cm-12cm, and a thickness of 5cm-9cm; The inner and / or outer sides of the left fixed headrest form an angle with the back of the left fixed headrest, and the angle is 70°-80°. The inner and / or outer sides of the right fixed headrest form an angle with the back of the right fixed headrest, and the angle is 70°-80°.
10. The head immobilization device for postoperative immobilization of the head and neck as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also meets at least one of the following criteria: The material of the bottom pad is silicone gel; The headrest is made of silicone gel; The left and right fixed headrests are made of sponge or latex.