Patent US4637377A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4637377A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pillow or support member for surgical use
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-09-20
•
Granted: 1987-01-20
•
Expires: 2005-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A surgical pillow for supporting the heart or other body organs of a patient during surgical operations thereon is formed of an inner body member or filling which is readily deformable by external forces applied to the pillow, as by the patient's organ pressed thereagainst, so as to accommodate itself to the shape of such organ, and which is completely encased within an outer envelope of a thin, flaccid sheet of a synthetic plastic material impervious to air and liquid and non-absorbent of human blood and the outer surface of which is preferably of a character preventing slippage of the body organ thereon without causing irritation or contraction of the supported organ. The inner body member or filling may comprise an aggregate of particulate synthetic plastic foam material such as expanded plastic kernels or beads such as so-called micro-balloons, or it may be formed of soft, spongy, finely cellular material such as sponge rubber or a foamed spongy synthetic plastic such as polyurethane foam. The outer envelope may have a small vent opening in its side wall to permit release of entrapped air or gas from the envelope on compression of the pillow.
Inventors
- 👤 Floyd D. Loop
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/0063; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B90/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
The method of performing open heart surgery on a patient including the step of lifting the heart from the pericardial cavity of the patient and then resting the heart against a surgical pillow of generally flat shape inserted between the heart and the diaphragm of the patient and comprised of an inner cushion filler formed of a material comprising one from the group consisting of an aggregate of foamed plastic particles or a foamed spongy body of aeriferous cellular plastic or rubber material completely enclosed and sealed within an envelope comprised of a thin flaccid synthetic plastic sheet material impervious to air and liquid and nonabsorbent of blood and provided with vent means in the side edge wall of the envelope for releasing entrapped air or gas from the pillow on compression thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
The method of performing open heart surgery on a patient including the step of lifting the heart from the pericardial cavity of the patient and then resting the heart against a surgical pillow of generally flat shape inserted between the heart and the diaphragm of the patient and comprised of an inner cushion filler formed of a material comprising one from the group consisting of an aggregate of foamed plastic particles or a foamed spongy body of aeriferous cellular plastic or rubber material completely enclosed and sealed within an envelope comprised of a thin flaccid synthetic plastic sheet material impervious to air and liquid and nonabsorbent of blood and provided with vent means in the side edge wall of the envelope for releasing entrapped air or gas from the pillow on compression thereof.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
124 words
The method of performing open heart surgery on a patient including the step of lifting the heart from the pericardial cavity of the patient and then resting the heart against a surgical pillow of generally flat shape inserted between the heart and the diaphragm of the patient and readily accommodating itself to the shape of the portion of the heart resting thereagainst, said pillow comprised of an inner cushion filler formed of a material comprising one from the group consisting of an aggregate of foamed plastic particles or a foamed spongy body of aeriferous cellular plastic or rubber material completely enclosed and sealed within an envelope comprised of a thin flaccid synthetic plastic sheet material impervious to air and liquid and nonabsorbent of blood.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
124 words
The method of performing open heart surgery on a patient including the step of lifting the heart from the pericardial cavity of the patient and then resting the heart against a surgical pillow of generally flat shape inserted between the heart and the diaphragm of the patient and readily accommodating itself to the shape of the portion of the heart resting thereagainst, said pillow comprised of an inner cushion filler formed of a material comprising one from the group consisting of an aggregate of foamed plastic particles or a foamed spongy body of aeriferous cellular plastic or rubber material completely enclosed and sealed within an envelope comprised of a thin flaccid synthetic plastic sheet material impervious to air and liquid and nonabsorbent of blood.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
129 words
The method of performing organ surgery on a patient including the step of shifting the organ from its normal location in the patient and then holding the organ in its shifted position by a surgical pillow of generally flat shape inserted between the organ and an adjoining tissue portion of the patient and readily accommodating itself to the shape of the portion of the organ resting thereagainst, said pillow comprised of an inner cushion filler formed of a material comprising one from the group consisting of an aggregate of foamed plastic particles or a foamed spongy body of aeriferous cellular plastic or rubber material completely enclosed and sealed with an envelope comprised of a thin flaccid synthetic plastic sheet material impervious to air and liquid and nonabsorbent of blood.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
129 words
The method of performing organ surgery on a patient including the step of shifting the organ from its normal location in the patient and then holding the organ in its shifted position by a surgical pillow of generally flat shape inserted between the organ and an adjoining tissue portion of the patient and readily accommodating itself to the shape of the portion of the organ resting thereagainst, said pillow comprised of an inner cushion filler formed of a material comprising one from the group consisting of an aggregate of foamed plastic particles or a foamed spongy body of aeriferous cellular plastic or rubber material completely enclosed and sealed with an envelope comprised of a thin flaccid synthetic plastic sheet material impervious to air and liquid and nonabsorbent of blood.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1382531A
Cited
US1491146A
Cited
US2139803A
Cited
US2522120A
Cited
US3308491A
Cited
US3378864A
Cited
US3421163A
Cited
US3426372A
Cited
US3968530A
Cited
US3983863A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-01-19 | 1990-07-21 | 1991-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-19 | 1994-07-21 | 1995-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-19 | 1998-07-21 | 1999-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |