Ventilated body positioner

Claim 1

A ventilated body positioner for providing lateral support for the body of a patient lying in a side position while providing ventilation and reduced pressure at strategic areas of support, said ventilated body positioner comprising: an elongated positioner block of resilient deformable material having spaced longitudinal end portions and a plurality of planar surfaces on which said block may be rotated and selectively positioned as either a base or body supporting surface extending generally between said ends; said planar surfaces being relatively inclined such that said elongated positioner block based on one of said planar surfaces presents another of said planar surfaces as a longitudinal body support surface having a widened sloping contour for properly positioning the patient in a side-rotated position; said positioner block and hence each said planar surface having a length substantially greater than its lateral width for supporting a substantial portion of the patient's lateral body length; a cavity adjacent end portions of said elongated positioner block formed by cutting out a portion of said block in a plane transverse to the plane of said planar surfaces; and said cavity terminating to define a longitudinally extending edge support surface extending laterally from a main support surface which contact and support an area of said patient's body while said cavity provides ventilation to a non-contacted, supported area of said patient's body adjacent said contacted area reducing the buildup of heat and moisture and pressure at said areas to prevent the formation of decubitus ulcers.