THERAPEUTIC PILLOW

摘要

The present invention provides devices for neck support and correction, for example, pillows, headrests, or cushions, designed to be placed under the head and neck of a person lying in a supine or side-lying position. Such devices are useful for maintaining or improving cervical and/or thoracic spinal curvature and/or alignment and for reducing pain associated with ailments of the neck or cervical vertebrae. Also provided are methods of improving cervical spinal alignment and for treating or ameliorating ailments of the neck or cervical vertebrae.

主权项

1. A method of maintaining or improving the curvature and/or alignment of the cervical and/or thoracic vertebrae of a human, the method comprising sleeping with the head and neck supported by a pillow comprising:
a foam body having a top surface, an opposing bottom surface, a rear edge and an opposing front edge and lateral sides, wherein the foam body is defined by a first region that includes the front edge, a second region adjacent the first region and a third region adjacent the second region and defining the rear edge, wherein the first region has a convex shape, the second region has a concave shape and the third region has a convex shape, the pillow having a maximum thickness in the first region and a minimum thickness in the second region, the first region having a first section that extends to the front edge and has a positive slope and an adjacent second section that has a negative slope and extends to the second region, wherein the front edge has a height greater than the rear edge; and a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally between the lateral side and being located exclusively within the first section of the first region which has positive slope, the second section of the first region which has negative slope being free of ribs; and optionally a means of altering the height of thickness of the pillow (e.g. a pocket disposed along the bottom surface and open along one or more edges and sized to enable insertion of foam inserts to raise the height of the pillow).