US 11,890,243 B2
Apparatus and method for positioning a patient
Daniel R. Ulreich, Cary, IL (US); and Michael J. Rigoni, Cary, IL (US)
Assigned to Sage Products, LLC, Cary, IL (US)
Filed by Sage Products, LLC, Cary, IL (US)
Filed on Jun. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/850,166.
Application 17/850,166 is a continuation of application No. 16/135,860, filed on Sep. 19, 2018, granted, now 11,369,535.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/560,562, filed on Sep. 19, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0323280 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61G 7/10 (2006.01); A61G 7/05 (2006.01); A61G 7/00 (2006.01); A61G 7/057 (2006.01)
CPC A61G 7/1021 (2013.01) [A61G 7/001 (2013.01); A61G 7/057 (2013.01); A61G 7/0525 (2013.01); A61G 7/109 (2013.01); A61G 7/1086 (2013.01); A61G 7/1001 (2013.01); A61G 2200/16 (2013.01); A61G 2200/32 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for positioning a patient, comprising:
positioning the patient on a patient support device;
placing a positioning apparatus between the patient support device and a support surface on which the patient support device rests, the positioning apparatus including:
a body comprising a front end, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, and a ramped surface between the first lateral side and the second lateral side;
a tail extending from the front end of the body, the tail comprising an elongated piece of material; and
a directional guide material coupled to or integrated with the ramped surface and configured to interface with the patient support device, wherein the directional guide material inhibits relative movement in a first direction between the patient support device and the positioning apparatus more than relative movement in a second direction between the patient support device and the positioning apparatus;
moving the tail longitudinally relative to the patient until the tail and the body are aligned with a desired location; and
moving the tail laterally relative to the patient, thereby moving the body underneath the patient to support the patient in a desired position.