NZ510421A - Infant mattress - Google Patents

Abstract

An infant mattress adapted to prevent and/or reduce the development of occipital plagiocephaly in an infant, wherein the mattress includes a depression in a head zone of the mattress which is substantially the shape and/or size of the back of an infant's skull and which is adapted to support the back of an infant's skull, a body zone adopted to support the body of the infant in substantially the supine position, and a securing member adopted to restrain and maintain the infant in the supine position on the mattress.

Description

51 0 4 21 Patents Form No. 5 Our Ref: TJ503331 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 Complete After Provisional No. 510421 Filed: 8 March 2001 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INFANT MATTRESS I, SHIRLEY YVONNE SMITH, a citizen of New Zealand of 1 8C Rossmore Terrace, Murrays Bay, AUCKLAND 1311, New Zealand hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: PT0527234 2 INFANT MATTRESS Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in infants. More specifically the invention relates to an apparatus for retaining an infant in the supine position, whilst reducing and/or preventing the development of occipital plagiocephaly.

Background to the Invention The reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement for any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in New Zealand.

In recent years, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or "cot death", has been recognised as posing a significant risk to infants. The apparent randomness of the fatalities has led to an international research campaign in the hope of identifying factors that contribute to cot death.

Research conducted during the early 1990s, by the American Academy of Paediatricians, suggested that an infant was more likely to die from unknown causes when put to sleep on the stomach (the "prone position"). The publication of the results from this research led to a general 25 recommendation, to parents of infants and to nursing staff, that infants should be put to sleep on their backs ("supine position").

As a result, significant attention has focused on methods of supporting and retaining an infant in the supine position.

United States patent no. 5,561,879, for example, discloses a mattress for supporting an infant in the supine position. The sleeping surface defines a pair of lateral guides which extend along opposed longitudinal sides of the central portion for engaging lateral portions of 3 the infant. The mattress is directed at preventing turning of the infant into the prone position.

A further example is International publication no. WO 93/17606 which 5 discloses an infant sleep wrap for maintaining the desired position of an infant in a bed, or a cot. The wrap includes a base member and a securing member which is attached to the base member and is sufficiently long to encircle an infant's chest. The securing member encircles an infant placed on the base member to retain the infant on 10 the base member in the supine position.

An observed consequence of the practice of putting infants to sleep in the supine position has been a steady increase in a condition known as occipital plagiocephaly, or asymmetric head. The condition arises 15 through prolonged periods of pressure and/or weight being exerted on the occiput and parietal bones which form part of the back of the infant's skull. During infancy, the occiput and parietal bones are growing as the skull enlarges and pressure to the occiput and parietal bones, during skull growth and development, may result in a flattening 20 of the head, or occipital plagiocephaly. As a consequence of this observation, research has been conducted into ways of overcoming this problem.

Pillows have also been developed in an attempt to retain an infant in 25 the supine position, while preventing occipital plagiocephaly. United States patent no. 6,052,850 discloses a doughnut-shaped pillow having a gel-filled centre. The pillow is intended to provide a support for a newborn infant's head, whilst limiting head movement from the supine position. However, an infant may dislodge the pillow from 30 under the head and in this way the pillow can pose a risk of suffocation.

US 6,321,403, for example, discloses a support pillow for supporting 4 the head of a person when in the supine position. The pillow disclosed is intended to redistribute pressure on the head surface. However, the pillow does not securely retain an infant in the supine position. Movement of the infant's arms or legs may dislodge the pillow from 5 under the infant's head, allowing the infant to roll out of the supine position. In fact, movement by the infant in this way may actually facilitate the infant moving into the prone position, face down on the pillow, or into a position in which the infant may be smothered by the pillow.

In this specification the term "mattress" should be understood to refer to bedding used to put an infant to sleep on. The "supine position" is understood to mean placing the infant to sleep on substantially the infant's back, such that the back of the infant makes contact with a 15 top surface of the mattress.

Object of the Invention With the above background in mind, it is an object of the present 20 invention to provide an apparatus that will assist in retaining an infant in the supine position while reducing the development of occipital plagiocephaly, or at least to provide the public with a useful alternative to currently available options.

Other objects of the invention may become apparent from the following description and with reference to the accompanying Figures.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of this invention there is provided an infant mattress adapted to hold the infant in a supine position, wherein the mattress includes a depression in a surface of the mattress, substantially the shape and/or size of the back of an infant's skull and wherein the mattress includes raised sides adapted to restrict or prevent the infant from moving from the supine position.

Preferably, the depression is of a shape and size such that the weight 5 of the infant's head is supported with substantially equal distribution in the depression when the infant is placed on the mattress in the supine position.

Preferably, the depression is adjustable to the dimension of an infant's 10 head.

In one preferred form the depression is adapted by the secure engagement of inserts in the depression.

In another preferred form the depression adjusts simultaneously to the infant's head size and shape on placement of the infant on the mattress.

Preferably, the mattress includes a head zone and a body zone wherein 20 the head zone includes the depression.

Preferably the mattress includes a neck zone between the head and body zones, the neck zone including a recess adapted to relieve pressure on the neck of an infant.

Preferably the head zone, neck zone and body zone are positioned centrally along the longitudinal axis of the mattress and wherein the sides of the mattress are raised with respect to said zones whereby the outer regions of the mattress slope towards the head, neck and 30 body zones, such that when an infant is placed on the mattress, the outer regions substantially reduce and/or prevent movement of the infant. 6 Preferably, the surface of the mattress including the depression is planar and the head zone is raised in relation to the body zone.

Preferably, the slope angle between the head and body zones is 5 substantially of the range 5° to 1 5°.

In one preferred form, the slope angle is 1 2°.

Preferably, the mattress is formed from a resilient material with limited 10 compressibility.

In one preferred form the mattress is formed from polyurethane foam.

Preferably, the mattress further includes a retention band, to further 15 prevent and/or substantially reduce movement of an infant on the mattress.

In one preferred form, the retention band is a three-way retention band.

Preferably, the mattress further includes attachment means for releasably attaching the mattress to a surface.

According to a further aspect of this invention there is provided a 25 mattress adapted to prevent and/or reduce the development of occipital plagiocephaly in an infant whilst retaining the infant in the supine position, wherein the mattress includes a depression in a surface adjacent one end of the mattress substantially the shape and/or size of the back of the infant's skull, the mattress further 30 including sides adapted to prevent or restrict movement of the infant from the supine position.

Preferably the dimensions of the depression are adjustable. 7 Preferably the mattress includes at least two sloping surfaces adapted to retain the infant in the supine position.

According to a further aspect of this invention there is provided a mattress substantially as herein described and with particular reference to any one of Figures 1 to 13.

Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the 10 description given hereinbelow, which is given by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Figures A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: Figure 1: shows a perspective view of a mattress according to a preferred embodiment, of the invention viewed from the top; Figure 2: shows an alternative embodiment of a mattress according to the present invention; Figure 3: shows a longitudinal cross-section through the mattress of Figure 2; Figure 4: shows the mattress of Figure 1, in plan view; Figure 5: shows vertical cross-sections through the mattress of Figure 1; Figure 6: shows a longitudinal cross-section through the mattress of Figure 1 with an infant resting in the supine position on the top surface; Figure 7: shows a plan view of the mattress of Figure 1 with a retention band and attachment means; 8 Figure 8: shows a plan view of the mattress in Figure 2 which illustrates attachment means and a retention band; Figure 9: shows an infant secured in the supine position on a mattress of Figure 1 ; Figure 10: shows an infant secured in the supine position on the mattress of Figure 2; Figure 11: shows a plan view of the mattress of Figure 1 with a cover fabric; Figure 1 2: shows an insert for use with the mattress of Figures 1 10 and 2; and Figure 13: shows a photograph of the mattress of Figure 10 with an infant secured in the supine position.

Detailed Description of the invention The invention relates to a mattress directed at reducing the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome "SIDS" (or cot death), whilst reducing and/or preventing the development of occipital plagiocephaly in an infant.

The occurrence of SIDS is thought to be increased by infants sleeping in the prone position. Therefore devices to keep infants in the supine position while sleeping are thought to reduce the incidence of SIDS. A result of this is that occipital plagiocephaly to the back of the head can 25 occur as a result of the infant's head being retained in the one position. The present invention provides a device that is directed to meeting these conflicting problems.

With reference to the preferred embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 30 13, a mattress 1 is shown of substantially rectangular shape. As is apparent, the shape of the mattress may be of any general overall shape as desired. The "look" of the mattress is not essential to the working of the invention. 9 Figure 1 shows the mattress 1 having a top face 2 and a bottom face 3. The bottom face 3 is substantially flat, to aid the stability of the mattress 1. However, it will be appreciated that the bottom face 3 5 is not restricted solely to a flat surface but may be tailored and/or modified according to the specific surface on which a mattress is to be used. For example, the bottom face 3 could be sloped for use in car seats or contoured to be fixed to a specific surface.

As shown in Figure 1, the top face 2 of the mattress 1 is divided into two main zones, a head zone 4 and a body zone 5. Sloping surfaces 6, 7, 8 of the top face 2 of the mattress 1 slope towards, and define, the head zone 4 and body zone 5. The sloping surfaces 6 and 8 act to provide support to retain the infant in the supine position. The 15 preferred angle for surfaces 6 and 8 is in the range of about 20° to about 30° but it will be appreciated that the angle of sloping surfaces 6 and 8 are simply required to be such that they reduce and/or prevent the infant from moving from the supine position.

Sloping surface 7 is adapted to discourage movement of the infant in the direction of the head zone 4 of the mattress 1. Movement of an infant's legs and arms may move the infant along the top face 2 of the mattress 1 toward the head zone 4. Sloping surface 7, while optional, provides a stop with which the infant's head will make contact if the 25 infant moves up the surface of the top face 2.

Figure 2 shows the mattress 1 in which the head zone 4 only includes sloping surfaces 6 and 8. As mentioned above, sloping surface 7 discourages movement of the infant up the top face 2 of the 30 mattress 1. However, sloping surface 7 may not be necessary if the mattress is otherwise adapted to prevent movement of the infant up the top face 2 of the mattress 1, or if such an option is not considered necessary by the user. Such an adapted mattress will be described below with reference to retention bands.

As best seen in Figure 1, the head zone 4 includes a depression 9. The depression 9 is of substantially the same diameter as an infant's 5 skull (not shown in Figure 1), allowing the weight and/or pressure of the infant's head to be evenly distributed over the back of the skull, when the head sits in the depression 9. Preferably the depression 9 shape is hemispherical. The depth of the depression should be in the range of about 30 mm to about 40 mm, but preferably about 35 mm. 10 It will be understood that the depression is adapted to substantially reduce and/or prevent the likelihood of occipital plagiocephaly. Thus, any depression shape may be used which substantially reduces or prevents the likelihood of occipital plagiocephaly without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

When developing mattresses and/or bedding for infants, thought should be given not only to providing support for an infant, but also to the infant's comfort. Gastric reflux occurs in infants when fluid from the stomach of the infant moves into the oesophagus, causing 20 irritation. It is therefore desirable when developing infant mattresses that the risk of gastric reflux be minimised or avoided.

In the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mattress 1 has a sloping top face 2 with the head zone 4 being higher than the 25 body zone 5. This produces a mattress which reduces the likelihood of the infant developing gastric reflux. It will, however, be understood that it is not essential to the invention and/or retention of the infant in the supine position that the mattress has a sloping top face 2 with the head zone 4 substantially higher than the body zone 5. This produces 30 a mattress that reduces the likelihood of the infant developing gastric reflux problems.

As shown in Figure 3, the head zone 4 may include a removable 11 segment 4a. This segment 4a may be replaceable with other segments with various size depressions 9, to provide for an infant's head size requirements. As the infant's head grows, a head zone with a larger depression may replace an outgrown head zone.

During the first five months, the size of an infant's head changes rapidly. An infant's skull circumference may increase from 34 cm to 40 cm, during the first three months. The depression 9 is designed to substantially contain and/or support the back of an infant's skull, when placed in the supine position.

In still another alternative form, the head zone 4 may be made of an appropriately soft foam which can accommodate the increase in head size. It will be appreciated that in this form the foam will be 15 sufficiently soft but resilient to accommodate the increase in head size without substantially increasing significant pressure on the, or parts of the, occipital and/or parietal bones.

As best seen in Figure 3, the neck zone 14, which lies at the boundary 20 between the head zone 4 and the body zone 5, can be adapted to provide a neck support 16 which supports the infant's neck when placed in the supine position on the mattress 1.

In Figure 3 the neck zone 14 forms part of the removable segment 4a. 25 It will be appreciated that the head zone 4 may be designed so that the neck zone 14 may also form part of the body zone without departing from the scope of the invention.

Figures 4 and 5 show cross-sections through a variety of parts of the 30 mattress 1. A cross section through the head zone 4 (C-C) of the mattress 1 shows a relatively low depression between edges 12, 13, of the mattress 1, to the horizontal surface of the head zone 4. A cross-section through a neck zone 14 (B-B'), which is between the 12 head zone 4 and the body zone 5, shows a relatively moderate depression between the edges 12, 13 of the mattress 1, to the surface of the neck zone 14. A cross-section through body zone 5 (A-A') shows a relatively large depression from the edges 12, 13 of the 5 mattress 1, to the surface of the foot zone 15. This illustrates the sloping nature of the preferred form of the mattress 1 adapted to assist in reduction of gastric reflux.

In a preferred form an angle of slope between the head zone 4 and 10 body zone 5 should be in the range of about 5° to about 15° with an angle of about 12° being preferred (Figure 6).

Figure 7 shows the mattress 1 of the preferred embodiment where two single straps 17, 18 are secured to the mattress 1 at the head zone 4 15 and the body zone 5 respectively. The strap 17 is attached to each side of the head zone 4, whilst strap 18 is attached to each side of the body zone 5. Preferably both straps 17, 18 will be adjustable in length such that the mattress 1 may be secured to a wide range of surfaces including standard mattresses and/or cots. The straps 17, 18 are 20 secured by securing means 31, 32 which can be of any suitable type known to the skilled person such as clips, buckles, Velcro™ or the like.

Figure 7 also shows a securing member which includes straps 20, 21 and 22 positioned centrally of body zone 5. Straps 20, 21 and 22 are 25 adapted to connect via Velcro™ connectors and straps 20, 22 are intended to cross the body of an infant while strap 21 will lie between the infant's legs to hold the infant in place on the mattress. The straps can be formed of any suitable material and the Velcro™ connectors can be replaced by a variety of other connector devices (buckles, clips, 30 etc).

As shown in Figure 8, the mattress 1 includes a securing member which includes two straps 40, 41* 13 connected at each corner of the mattress. The two straps 40, 41 may be tied together around a frame of a standard cot, for example. Alternatively, interconnectable securing means (not shown) may be fitted to each end of the two straps, such that the strap may lock 5 together around the frame of a standard cot. The interconnectable securing means could include Velcro™, clasps, domes and the like. Figure 8 also shows an alternative "Y" shaped set of straps 42, 43, 44 intended to retain the infant in position on the mattress 1. Straps 42, 43 cross the infant's shoulders and strap 44 extends between the 10 infant's legs. The straps 42, 43, 44 connect via buckle 45 but this can be replaced by a variety of other options as described earlier herein. An optional cover 23b to protect the body zone 5 of the mattress is removably attached to the mattress by any known means (domes, Velcro™, buttons, etc).

The straps 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 may be made from any material of sufficient strength to firmly secure the infant to the mattress 1 and the mattress 1 to a surface. In one preferred form, webbing may be used. Alternatively, in another preferred form the 20 straps may be tapes made from cotton fabric. The straps 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 are attachable to the mattress 1 by interlocking means, or by glue, and/or by sewing to the mattress 1.

Figures 9 and 10 show a schematic representation of the mattress 1 25 with an infant in position. Figure 9 shows the infant secured by straps 19 (similar to that shown in Figure 7). Figure 10 shows the infant secured by straps 50 (similar to that shown in Figure 8). Both Figures 9 and 10 show the infant between sloping walls 2.

It will be appreciated that other possible retention bands, and more generally infant securing methods, may be used to further restrain the infant in the supine position without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. 14 Figure 11 shows a mattress 1, as for Figure 1, including a removable cover 23a including a fabric piece 24. The fabric piece 24 is positioned over the depression (obscured) to hold the infant's head.

The fabric piece 24 can be formed of any suitable, preferably elasticised, material as will be known to the skilled person. An interlocking and/or cotton "soft stretch" fabric to prevent and/or reduce sweating by the infant is preferred. The cover pieces 23b (as shown in Figure 8) and 23a (Figure 11) may be formed from a 10 waterproof, cotton or any other fabric. Preferably the fabric used will be treated with a bacteria, algae and dust inhibitor.

Figure 1 2 shows an insert 10 including a lobe 11. The insert is adapted for inclusion in depression 9 (as best seen in Figures 1 and 2) 15 to reduce the size of the depression dimensions. Thus this may be an alternative method of modifying the depression dimensions. The lobe 11 allows the insert 10 to be releasably attached to the mattress 1 by known means. The ability to alter the dimensions of depression 9 is important as infants' heads are not uniform in size and thus allows the 20 mattress to be used over time as the infant grows. The insert 10 can be made of any suitable material, such as foam rubber, as would be known to the skilled person.

Figure 13 shows an infant in position on a mattress according to a 25 preferred embodiment of the invention. The mattress is sloped from the infant's head to its feet, includes raised sides and a "Y" shaped retaining strap (similar to that shown in Figures 8 and 10).

The infant mattress may be formed from a plurality of presently available 30 furnishing and/or bedding materials. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the mattress may be formed from polyurethane foam for example. Foam provides a resilient material, with an appropriate degree of compressibility to support an infant. In an alternative embodiment, the mattress could be composed from a moulded plastics material and foam. The moulded plastics material could provide the shape of the mattress to which foam is attached. In this form the mattress could be supplied as a kit of parts for assembly after purchase.

If the infant mattress is composed of a polyurethane foam it is also preferable to treat the foam with bacteria, algae and dust inhibitors. The treatment may take place either during the foam production or during the mattress moulding process.

This invention is designed specifically, but not exclusively, for infants of up to six months of age. It will be appreciated that the mattress as herein described may be adapted for use for any person of any age. Mattresses could be developed for geriatric use, or for use with the 15 intellectually or physically handicapped, simply by scaling up the size of the mattress appropriately.

The mattress 1 may thus come in various sizes depending on the specific use for a mattress. For example, a mattress 1 adapted for an 20 infant should in general be of a size substantially smaller than conventional infant mattresses. However, a mattress adapted for an intellectually or physically handicapped person may be tailored according to the size of the person concerned.

The invention also includes a method of retaining an infant in the supine position whilst avoiding occipital plagiocephaly, by using a mattress as herein described.

It will be appreciated that the mattress 1 may have a variety of 30 applications. The mattress 1 could provide support for an infant in a cot. Alternatively, the mattress 1 could form part of a carrier unit, used for transporting an infant. A carrier unit could take the form of a car seat, or a pram interior. It will be understood, therefore, that 16 attachments and/or embellishments may be added to the mattress 1, for the purposes of securing the mattress 1 to a surface, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

While in the foregoing description there has been made reference to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example only and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the attached claims. 17 j ! ^

Claims (18)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS

1. An infant mattress adapted to prevent and/or reduce the development of occipital plagiocephaly in an infant, wherein the 5 mattress includes a depression in a head zone of the mattress which is substantially the shape and/or size of the back of an infant's skull and which is adapted to support the back of an infant's skull, a body zone adopted to support the body of the infant in substantially the supine position, and a securing member adopted to restrain and 10 maintain the infant in the supine position on the mattress.

2. An infant mattress according to claim 1 wherein the depression is of a shape and size such that the weight of the infant's head is supported with substantially equal distribution in the depression. 15

3. An infant mattress according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the dimensions of the depression are adjustable.

4. An infant mattress according to claim 3 wherein the dimensions of 20 the mattress are adjustable by the use of inserts in the depression.

5. An infant mattress according to claim 3 wherein the dimensions of the depression adjust simultaneously to the infant's head size and shape on placement of the infant's head in the depression. 25

6. An infant mattress according to claim 1 wherein the head zone is raised in relation to the body zone.

7. An infant mattress according to claim 6 wherein a neck zone, formed 30 between the head and body zones, includes a recess adapted to relieve any pressure on the neck of an infant resting in the supine position, on the mattress.

8. An infant mattress according to any one of claims 6 to 7 wherein 35 outer regions of the mattress slope inwards towards the head and body zones, such that when an infant is placed on the mattress, the 300167435 503331 10 18 outer regions substantially reduce and/or prevent movement of the infant from the supine position.

9. An infant mattress according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein an upper surface of the mattress slopes from the head zone, which is higher, to the opposite end.

10. An infant mattress according to claim 9 wherein the slope angle is substantially of the range 5° to 15°.

11. An infant mattress according to claim 10 wherein the slope angle is 12°.

12. An infant mattress according to any one of the preceding claims 15 wherein the mattress is formed from a substantially resilient material.

13. An infant mattress according to claim 12 wherein the mattress is formed from polyurethane foam. 20

14. An infant mattress according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the securing member includes a retention band, to prevent and/or substantially reduce movement of an infant from the supine position. 25

15. An infant mattress according to claim 14 wherein the retention band is a three-way retention band.

16. An infant mattress according to any one of the previous claims wherein the mattress includes attachment means for securing the 30 mattress to a surface or structure. 35 I i

17. An infant mattress according to any one of the previous claims, ? wherein the mattress can be used to ameliorate preventative \ J r ' i - , treatments for sudden infant death syndrome. i ~ - L

18. A mattress substantially as herein described and with reference to \ ; 6 1 * : i 300167435 ..... ! 503331 19 any one of Figures 1 to 13. SHIRLEY YVONNE SMITH By her Attorneys BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS END OF CLAIMS 300167435 503331 i | Cn I ^ kj