Vertigo Pillow for Side Sleeper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pillows fail to support side sleepers with vertigo by maintaining head elevation and neck support, leading to potential vertigo episodes due to neutral head positioning and slipping pillows.
Innovation Solution
A pillow design with a central cut and elevated band to accommodate the shoulder, allowing side sleepers to maintain head elevation and neck support, preventing inner ear crystals from displacing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard pillow is used for side sleeping, then the shoulder can rest on the mattress, but the head falls into neutral position causing vertigo episodes
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is divided into distinct functional zones: an elevated band portion for head support and a lower body portion for shoulder accommodation. This segmentation allows the head to maintain elevated position while the shoulder rests comfortably, preventing the head from sliding into neutral position during side sleeping
Solution Approach 2:
The pillow introduces vertical elevation through the elevated band portion, creating a height difference between the head support area and the body support area. This dimensional change enables simultaneous shoulder contact with the mattress and head elevation, resolving the position instability issue
2Reliability
If two pillows are stacked to elevate the head, then head elevation is achieved, but the pillows slip apart during sleep
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the head elevation function and body support function into a single integrated pillow structure. The elevated band is permanently attached to the lower body portion, eliminating the slipping problem that occurs with stacked pillows while maintaining head elevation
3Reliability
If the head is elevated at an angle for vertigo relief, then inner ear crystals are retained, but neck and shoulder support is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow applies different support characteristics to different body parts: the elevated band provides firm angular support for the head to retain inner ear crystals, while the lower body portion provides softer, conforming support for the neck and shoulders, ensuring both vertigo relief and comfort
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a pillow for BPPV (vertigo) sufferers who require a pillow that supports the head at an elevated angle up to 45 degrees to prevent the crystals of the inner ear from falling into the ear canal while also supporting the neck and upper back comfortably while sleeping on their side. Side sleepers generally need their shoulder and body on the mattress to get a restful night's sleep. Poor sleep can make vertigo episodes more frequent and pronounced. The pillow comprises a standard size pillow with a top, bottom and wide band creating height for an elevated and angled head position while also providing a cut halfway in the pillow body spanning the entire thickness of the pillow to allow the side sleeper to place his shoulder and body into the cut satisfying the need of sleeping on the side while allowing the head to remain in an elevated angled position and the neck and shoulders supported.