GB2552810A

GB2552810A - Headrest assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2552810A
Application number: GB1613762.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rowe Laurie
Original assignee: Magstim Co Ltd
Current assignee: Magstim Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-08-10
Filing date: 2016-08-10
Publication date: 2018-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-10
Also published as: GB2552810B

Abstract

A headrest assembly 2 arranged to support and restrain a patients head during transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment comprises a headrest 4 has a cradle portion 6 configured to cradle the upper neck and lower skull of a patient, to resist lateral movement of their head. A temple pad 24 holds the patents head in the cradle 6. The pad 24 and cradle 6 co-operate to restrict rotation of the head. The support 6 may be concave between first and second ends 8, 10 which contact either side of the head, preferably adjacent the ears, in use. The assembly 2 may include an arm arrangement 14 for carrying the temple support 24, allowing it to move relative to the headrest 4. The arrangement 14 may comprise arm portions 18, 20 with a first articulated joint 22 therebetween, and a second articulated joint 26 between the pad 24 and second arm 20.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Headrest assembly

Abstract Title: Headrest assembly for use in transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment (57) A headrest assembly 2 arranged to support and restrain a patient’s head during transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment comprises a headrest 4 has a cradle portion 6 configured to cradle the upper neck and lower skull of a patient, to resist lateral movement of their head. A temple pad 24 holds the patent’s head in the cradle 6. The pad 24 and cradle 6 co-operate to restrict rotation of the head. The support 6 may be concave between first and second ends 8, 10 which contact either side of the head, preferably adjacent the ears, in use. The assembly 2 may include an arm arrangement 14 for carrying the temple support 24, allowing it to move relative to the headrest 4. The arrangement 14 may comprise arm portions 18, 20 with a first articulated joint 22 therebetween, and a second articulated joint 26 between the pad 24 and second arm 20.

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

1/3

1708 17

32 30 22 14 z

Figure 1

2/3

1708 17

Fiqure 2

3/3

1708 17

Figure 3

-1Headrest Assembly

The present invention relates to a headrest assembly. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a headrest assembly for use during Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a form of treatment that may be used to treat depression and is particularly useful in situations where a patient has not responded to pharmaceutical-based therapies. During Transcranial Magnetic stimulation an electromagnetic coil is placed over a targeted region of a patients scalp. It is important that a particular region of a patients scalp is identified and that subsequent treatment is applied to that area in order to ensure efficacy of the treatment. For this reason, it is important that once the coil arrangement is appropriately positioned a patient does not move their head relative to the electromagnetic coil.

Aspects and embodiments were conceived with the forgoing in mind.

According to the present invention there is a headrest assembly for supporting and restraining a patient’s head for transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment, the headrest assembly comprising a headrest having a cradle portion configured to cradle the upper neck and lower skull of a patient in order to resist side to side movement of a patient’s head and a temple pad for retaining a patient’s head in the cradle portion, wherein the temple pad and cradle portion cooperate to restrict rotational movement of the head of a patient.

The provision of the headrest having a cradle portion and the temple pad provide a supportive and restrictive headrest assembly whilst minimising the claustrophobic feeling experienced by a patient. The cradle portion cups the back of the patient’s head, around the intersection between the neck and the head.

It will be appreciated that the cradle portion is generally U shaped and the upper neck and lower skull of a patient seats into the cradle portion.

-2The cradle portion extends between a first end and a second end, and is beneficially concave between the first and second ends. The concave profile is preferably provided such that the first end contacts a patient’s head at a first side and the second end contacts a patient’s head at the second side. The first end preferably contacts a patient’s head adjacent a first ear and the second end beneficially contacts a patient’s head adjacent a patient’s second ear.

The headrest assembly may further comprise an arm arrangement for carrying the temple support, the arm arrangement configured to allow movement of the temple pad relative to the headrest. This enables a patient to be seated with their head in the cradle portion and the temple pad to be subsequently adjusted to contact the patient’s temple.

The arm arrangement is beneficially configurable between a locked configuration whereby movement of the temple relative to the headrest is prevented and an unlocked configuration whereby movement of the temple pad relative to the headrest is allowed. Accordingly, during operation of the TMS equipment the arm arrangement is locked by a locking arrangement limiting the possibility of movement of the patient.

The headrest may comprise a mounting bracket for mounting the arm arrangement to the headset. The mounting bracket is beneficially arranged to allow movement of the arm arrangement relative thereto.

The arm arrangement is beneficially reconfigurable between a plurality of positions and is also reconfigurable between a locked and an unlocked configuration. The arm arrangement is beneficially movable away from the mounting bracket. The movement may be substantially linear.

The arm arrangement preferably comprises a first arm portion and a second arm portion and a first articulated joint therebetween, the arm arrangement further comprising a second articulated joint provided intermediate the second arm portion and the temple pad.

-3Thus, the second arm portion is moveable relative to the first arm portion and the temple pad is moveable relative to the second arm portion.

The first arm portion is preferably mounted by the mounting bracket relative to the headrest.

The first and second articulated joints are preferably lockable.

The first articulated joint is preferably arranged to articulate relative to the first arm portion and to the second arm portion independently of one another. Furthermore, the second articulated joint is preferably arranged to articulate relative to the second arm and the temple pad independently of one another.

Such articulation improves the ability to ensure optimised positioning of the temple pad to the patient.

Each of the first and second articulated joint preferably comprises a user operable actuator for locking and unlocking the joints. Independent user operable actuators are preferably provided for each of the first and second articulated joints.

The first and preferably second articulated joints are beneficially facilitated by first and second ball and socket configurations.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a headrest assembly according to an exemplary embodiment;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a headrest assembly according to an exemplary embodiment;

-4Figure 3 a schematic perspective view of a patient in a chair including a headrest assembly according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to figures 1 and 2 the headrest assembly (2) comprises a headrest (4) having a cradle portion (6) extending between first and second ends (8, 10). The cradle portion (6) extending between the first and second ends (8, 10) defines a receiving zone (4) for receipt of a patient’s upper neck and lower skull. It will be appreciated that the depth of the cradle portion (6) is sufficient in order that once a patient is comfortably seated side to side movement of the patient’s head is prevented by the projections of the cradle portion (6) extending to the first and second ends (8, 10).

The headrest comprises a frame which is covered in a compressible material such as a foam having an outer sheath thereon such that the headrest is deformable to accommodate the anatomy of each individual patient.

The headrest further comprises a mounting bracket (12) for the mounting arm arrangement (14) thereto. The mounting bracket (12) is further arranged to be mounted to a chair (16).

The arm arrangement (14) may comprise a first arm (18) and second arm (20).

Intermediate the first and second arms (18, 20) is a first articulated joint (22). Intermediate the temple pad (24) and second arm (20) is a second articulated joint (26). The arm arrangement (14) is configured to enable fine adjustment to enable the temple pad (24) to seat comfortably against a patient’s temple. The first arm (18) is retained by the mounting bracket (12) and may slideably engage with the mounting bracket (12) in order to adjust the distance at which the first articulated joint (22) is positioned relative to the mounting bracket and thus the headrest (4). The first arm portion (18) may slide through a channel provided in the mounting bracket (12) and may project from both sides of the channel. Movement in a first direction (upwardly as shown in figure 1) extends the first articulated joint (22) away from the headrest (4) and reduces the amount of projection of the first arm portion (18) from the opposing side of the mounting bracket (12). The first arm portion is retained in the channel provided in the mounting bracket (12) by a locking element (28). The first arm portion (18) is configured not to rotate in the channel provided in the

-5mounting bracket (12) through a profile such as a square profile to match the profile of the channel provided in the mounting bracket (12).

The first articulated joint (22) is arranged to enable the second arm portion (20) to move relative to the first arm portion (18). Furthermore, the articulated joint (22) is arranged to link the first and second arm portions (18, 20). It is further arranged to lock movement between the first and second arm portions (18, 20). In the embodiment presented the first articulated joint (22) comprises a first and second socket for receipt of balls provided at the ends of the first and second arm portions (18, 20). A ball and socket type configuration provides ease of fine adjustment for positioning of the temple pad (24). A locking element (30) causes compression of the housing (32) of the first articulated joint upon rotation and thus clamps the balls provided at the ends of the first and second arm portions (18, 20) within the housing (32) thus preventing relative movement between the first and second arm portions (18, 20). The second articulated joint (26) is beneficially of the same configuration as the first articulated joint (22). However, instead of linking the first and second arm portions (18, 20) the second articulated joint (26) links the second arm portion (20) with the temple pad (24). The temple pad (24) comprises a ball (34) received in a corresponding socket provided by the housing (32). The second arm portion (20) also comprises a ball received within the housing (32) and a locking element (30) and prevents relative movement between the second arm portion (20) and the temple pad (24).

It will be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment one or more of the first and second arm portions (18, 20) and temple pad (24) forms a housing which receives a ball provided by the first and optionally second articulated joints.

It will be appreciated that in the embodiment presented the locking element (30) is manually actuated and the locking element (30) for the respective first and second articulated joints (22, 26) are independently lockable.

In operation a patient is seated with the rearward portion of their head (adjacent the join between the neck and the skull) cradled in the cradle portion (6). The arm arrangement is adjusted through the mounting bracket (12) and the first and second articulated joint (22,

-626) to enable the temple pad (24) to be positioned in contact with a patient’s head. An opposing force is provided by the temple pad (24) and between temple pad (24) and the cradle portion (6) movement of a patient’s head is restricted ensuring that efficacy of treatment is maximised.

Figure 3 is a perspective representation of a patient seated in a chair (36) to which a headrest assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is attached. The temple pad (24) can be seen to be positioned against the patient’s temple and due to the positioning and shape of the headrest the possibility of the patient moving their head is minimised.

The present invention has been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated to the skilled addressee that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims

1. A headrest assembly for supporting and restraining a patient’s head for transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment, the headrest assembly comprising a headrest having

5 a cradle portion configured to cradle the upper neck and lower skull of a patient in order to resist side to side movement of a patient’s head and a temple pad for retaining a patient’s head in the cradle portion, wherein the temple pad and cradle portion cooperate to restrict rotational movement of the head of a patient.

10
2. A headrest assembly according to claim 1 wherein the cradle portion extends between a first end and a second end, and is concave between the first and second ends such that the first end contacts a patient’s head at a first side and the second end contacts a patient’s head at the second side.

15
3. A headrest assembly according to claim 2 wherein the first end preferably contacts a patient’s head adjacent a first ear and the second end beneficially contacts a patient’s head adjacent a patient’s second ear.
4. A headrest assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the headrest

20 assembly further comprises an arm arrangement for carrying the temple support, the arm arrangement configured to allow movement of the temple pad relative to the headrest.
5. A headrest assembly according to claim 4 wherein the arm arrangement is

25 configurable between a locked configuration whereby movement of the temple relative to the headrest is prevented and an unlocked configuration whereby movement of the temple pad relative to the headrest is allowed.
6. A headrest assembly according to any of claims 4-5 wherein the headrest comprises a

30 mounting bracket for mounting the arm arrangement to the headset.

-87. A headrest assembly according to any of claims 4-6 wherein the arm arrangement is reconfigurable between a plurality of positions and is also reconfigurable between a locked and an unlocked configuration.
8. A headrest assembly according to any of claims 4-7 wherein the arm arrangement comprises a first arm portion and a second arm portion and a first articulated joint therebetween, the arm arrangement further comprising a second articulated joint provided intermediate the second arm portion and the temple pad.
9. A headrest assembly according to claim 8 wherein the first and second articulated joints are lockable.
10. A headrest assembly according to any of claims 8-9 wherein the first articulated joint is arranged to articulate relative to the first arm portion and to the second arm portion independently of one another.
11. A headrest assembly according to claim 10 wherein the second articulated joint is arranged to articulate relative to the second arm and the temple pad independently of one another.
12. A headrest assembly according to any of claims 9-10 wherein each of the first and second articulated joint comprises a user operable actuator for locking and unlocking the joints.
13. A headrest assembly according to any of claims 8-12 wherein the first and second articulated joints are facilitated by first and second ball and socket configurations.
14. A headrest assembly as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: Claims searched: