GB2569528A

GB2569528A - A head support

Info

Publication number: GB2569528A
Application number: GB1720385.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lloyd Leonard
Original assignee: Beagle Orthopaedic Ltd
Current assignee: Beagle Orthopaedic Ltd
Priority date: 2017-12-07
Filing date: 2017-12-07
Publication date: 2019-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2037-12-07
Also published as: GB2569528B; GB201720385D0

Abstract

A head support 1 for a person with motor neurone disease or other degenerative disease. The head support comprises a back brace 2 to which a mast 3 is rigidly secured, the mast projecting upwards behind the neck and head of a wearer. A head band 4 for securement around the forehead of the wearer is secured to the top of the mast. Also, a pair of pelvic supports 5 are pivotally mounted to the back brace on respective sides thereof, each of the supports being connectable together around the waist or hips of the wearer, for example by connection to a belt 17 and/or buckle 18. Preferably, the back brace is connected to a pair of shoulder straps 9. Advantageously, the shoulder straps, the mast and pelvic supports are all releasably connected to the back brace thereby making the head support modular. The back brace may be provided with a plurality of different attachment points for the shoulder strap. The head support provides the advantages of holding the head of the wearer up without restraining the wearer's chin or impairing the wearer's peripheral vision.

Description

A HEAD SUPPORT

The present invention relates to a head support, primarily for use by persons with motor neurone disease or other degenerative conditions affecting the muscles and vertebrae in the neck and back.

Motor neurone disease (MND) is a progressive and terminal disease that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. Muscle weakness is one of the features of MND and can result in head drop as a result of weakness in the neck, shoulder girdle and long back extensor muscles.

There are several different types of head support that are used by persons with MND. A soft or malleable neck collar is often used initially in the early stages of neck weakness. In later stages of MND more rigid collars are used that support the chin and incorporate a chest support. However, such collars make it difficult for the wearer to speak and eat as the chin is immobilized. In addition, they make it difficult for the wearer to move the head relative to the body and often restrict the peripheral vision of the wearer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a head support that overcome or substantially mitigates the aforementioned problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a head support for a person with motor neurone disease or other degenerative disease comprising a back brace;

a mast rigidly secured to the back brace that is adapted to project upwards behind a wearer’s neck and head;

a head band that is secured to the top of the mast and adapted for securement around the forehead of the wearer; and a pair of rigid, flexible pelvic supports, which pelvic supports are pivotally mounted to the back brace on respective sides thereof, each of the pelvic supports being adapted to enable them to be connected together around the waist or hips of the wearer.

Preferably, the back brace is connected to a pair of shoulder straps on each side thereof.

Other preferred but non-essential features of the various aspects of the present invention are described in the dependent claims appended hereto.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a rear view of a head support in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the head support shown in Fig. 1 from the rear and one side and when in use with a wearer shown in dashed lines;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the head support shown in Fig. 1;

Figs 4 and 5 are perspective views to an increased scale2 and from opposite sides of a head band forming part of the head support shown in Figs. 1 to 3; and

Fig. 6 is side view of the head of a wearer of the brace, the wearer’s head being shown in dashed lines.

The head support 1 shown in the drawings comprises a back brace 2 to which is connected a mast 3, a head band 4 that is secured to the top of the mast 3 and a pair of rigid pelvic supports 5 that are adapted to be connected together around the waist or hips of a wearer. The head support 1 therefore holds the head of the wearer up without restraining the wearer’s chin and also enables the wearer to move the head from side to side and to retain peripheral vision. The various parts of the head support 1 and their interaction will now be described in more detail.

The back brace 2 comprises a rigid plate 6 that is shaped to the outline of lumbar spinal region and is preferably comprises of a lightweight, rigid plastics material such as nylon that is also flexible to some extent to allow a wearer to bend forwards to limited degree. The plate 6 is removably secured to a cushioning pad 7 that is intended to be located between the plate 6 and the spine of the wearer, as shown in Fig. 2. Preferably, the plate 6 is secured to the pad 7 by means of complementary pieces of hook and loop fasteners (not shown) that are respectively adhered to adjacent surfaces of the plate 6 and the pad 7. This enables the pad 7 to be removed from the plate 6 for laundering. The mast 3 is also removably secured to the plate 6 by screwfasteners 8 and comprises a rigid bar that runs along the longitudinal axis of the plate 6 and projects outwardly from it so that in use it project upwards behind the neck and head of a wearer. In use, the screw fasteners 8 enable a particular size of rigid plate 6 and a particular size of mast 3 to be selected from a plurality of differently sized plates 6 and masts 3. These can then be connected together to suit a particular person. In addition, the mast 3 is preferably rigid but malleable, typically of stainless steel, which enables the mast 3 to be customized to accommodate a low to medium kyphosis deformity in the wearer.

The back brace 2 is retained in position by a pair of shoulder straps 9 and the pelvic supports 5. These components are also secured to the plate 6 by removable screw fasteners 10 and 11 respectively, making the head support 1 fully modular so that each component part 2, 3, 5 and 10 are interchangeable with others of a different size. Preferably, the plate 6 is provided with a plurality of different attachment points 12 for each fastener 10, 11 to allow for additional customization of the head support 1 for a particular wearer. As shown in the drawings, the two ends of the shoulder straps 9 are pivotally mounted to the plate 6 via mounting loops 13 and are provided with removable sleeves 14, which may be padded, where they bear against the collar bones and under the armpits of the wearer. The pelvic supports 5 each comprise a rigid plate 15 that is removably secured to a cushioning pad 16 in the same way as the plate 6 to the pad 7 and in some embodiments the pads 7 and 16 may be manufactured as an integral item. The rigid plates 15 are also preferably made of a lightweight, rigid plastics material that is also flexible so that they can be flexed around the hips of the wearer. As with the plate 6, nylon is a suitable material for this purpose. The pelvic supports 5 are preferably also respectively pivotally secured to a belt 17 and/or a buckle 18 so that they can be connected together around the waist or hips of the wearer. Other forms of connection could, however, be used. The pivotal connection of the pelvic supports 5 to the back brace 2 increases the mobility of the wearer, who is thereby free to move the upper body above the waist from side to side and forwards and backwards without moving the back brace 2 relative to the wearer’s spinal column. This ensures that a wearer’s movement does not displace the head support 1 when in use.

The head band 4 is secured to the top of the mast 3 and preferably comprises a first strap 19 that is free-running through a pair of loops 20 provided at the top of the mast 3. The loops 20 incorporate rollers 21 to ensure free-running of the first strap 19 therethrough. The ends of the first strap 19 are pivotally secured to the respective ends of a second strap 22 by means of pivoting buckles 23. In use the second strap 22 passes over the forehead of the wearer and is connected to a flexible but rigid brow band 24 that is preferably comprised of silicone. The second strap 22 is free-running through loops 25 defined by the brow band 24 and thereby clamps the brow band 24 against the forehead of the wearer. This arrangement allows the wearer to rotate the head from side to side relative to the body and also ensures that the peripheral vision of the wearer is not impaired. Also, the buckles 23 reduce sheer forces on the brow band 24 and ensure that it remains in position during use. If the brow band 24 is made of silicone, this assists in its retention against the forehead of the wearer during use as it tends to adhere to the forehead in contrast to a band made of foam that would tend to move when the wearer moves his or her head, especially after it has become moist with perspiration.

To make the head support 1 more comfortable for a wearer, preferably the pads 6, 16 and the sleeves 14 comprise a breathable fabric permitting moisture wicking away from the wearer. Such breathable fabric is preferably incorporated in at least in the lining of the pads 6,16 and the sleeves 15.

Hence, a head support 1 of the invention provides a much greater degree of movement than most conventional supports while being comfortable and lightweight to wear. The modular construction of the support 1 also means that the support 1 can be professionally fitted and 15 customized for each wearer.

Claims

1. A head support for a person with motor neurone disease or other degenerative disease comprising a back brace;

2. A head support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the back brace is connected to a pair of shoulder straps on each side thereof.

3. A head support as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the back brace is provided with a plurality of different attachment points for the shoulder straps in order that the latter can be releasably connected to the back brace to suit a particular wearer.

4. A head support as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the mast and pair of pelvic supports are releasably connected to the back brace.

5. A head support as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the head band comprises a first strap that is free-running through loops at the top of the mast.

6. A head support as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the head band comprises a second strap that is adapted to pass over the forehead of the wearer and that is pivotally secured at each end to respective ends of the first strap.

7- A head support as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the head band comprises a rigid brow band that is connected to the second strap and is adapted to be clamped by the second strap across the forehead of the wearer.

8. A head support as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the second strap is free-running through loops defined by the brow band.

9. A head support as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the brow band is comprised of silicone.

10. A head support as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the back brace and pelvic supports are covered by cushioning pads.

11., A head support as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the cushioning pads incorporate a breathable fabric permitting moisture wicking away from the body of the wearer.

12. A head support as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the mast is rigid yet malleable.