WO2025057984A1 - Cranial shape correction helmet - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a cranial shape correction helmet which is capable of preventing the cranial shape correction helmet from being unintentionally detached from a cranial part even if a wearer is an infant who has just started helmet treatment. [Solution] A cranial shape correction helmet comprising: an outer shell configured to cover a cranial part; and a thickening member provided on at least a portion of the inner surface side of the outer shell and protruding in a direction toward the cranium of a wearer.

Description

Cranial shape correction helmet

The present invention relates to a cranial shape correction helmet having a hard outer shell and a soft inner liner used to correct cranial deformities in young children.

Human infants, especially those over about three months of age, can show symptoms such as plagiocephaly, dolichocephaly, or brachycephaly, in which the shape of the skull is distorted. For example, in plagiocephaly, when an infant's head is viewed from above, the skull is distorted at an angle and tilted to one side, making it asymmetrical. In dolichocephaly or brachycephaly, the front-to-back dimensions of the skull are longer or shorter. If these conditions are left untreated and the distortion progresses, the position of the ears and the face become fixed in a deformed state.

For this reason, depending on the symptoms, a treatment method (hereinafter referred to as "helmet treatment") may be adopted in which a skull shape correction helmet, such as those exemplified in Patent Documents 1 and 2, is placed on the infant's head and the infant goes about their daily life in that position. This treatment method makes it possible to gradually return the distorted skull to its normal shape.

Cranial correction helmets are made to fit the skull of each individual infant being treated, taking into account the current shape of the skull and the expected shape after correction. In other words, cranial correction helmets are made to order. Before being made, the skull of the infant being treated is scanned using a well-known three-dimensional scanning method, and detailed data on its shape is obtained. Then, based on the obtained data, the cranial correction helmet can be made using a 3D printer.

Patent No. 6833240 Patent No. 6333514

Helmet therapy is sometimes performed with a skull correction helmet fitted to the skull of the infant being treated for most of the day, including while sleeping (e.g., more than 20 hours a day). Helmet therapy using the skull correction helmet disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 has been shown to have a certain degree of therapeutic effect.

　The main patients in helmet therapy are infants and young children aged between about 3 months and 1 year old, who have a small skull volume and a denser distribution of sweat glands compared to adults. In addition, their thermoregulation function is less developed than that of adults, so there is a natural concern that the skin environment will deteriorate due to sweating. Naturally, children who undergo helmet therapy will wear helmets made of synthetic resin for long periods of time, which increases concerns about the skin environment. In particular, helmets that allow for the quick release of sweat are preferred for helmet therapy, but there are no helmets that specifically address this issue.

Furthermore, the inventors have discovered that in helmet therapy, it is important to prevent the cranial shape correction helmet from slipping, and based on their many years of experience developing cranial shape correction helmets, whether or not the cranial shape correction helmet fits properly in the first few months after the start of helmet therapy can have a significant impact on the effectiveness and duration of treatment. Based on this knowledge, the inventors have attempted to employ a high-density soft polyurethane layer, which is believed to be able to minimize slippage of the cranial shape correction helmet, particularly in infants who have just started helmet therapy.

However, when the inventors tried to use a high-density soft polyurethane layer as the inner liner and attach it to the outer shell via a hook-and-loop fastener, they found that the bond to the hook-and-loop fastener was extremely weak, or did not bond to the hook-and-loop fastener at all, so the inner liner easily shifted out of position, and they found a new problem: they could not obtain a satisfactory skull correction helmet.

Furthermore, the inventors of the present invention have found that while cranial shape correction helmets are still lightweight and easy to maintain, they are usually put on by the parents of infants and young children, and therefore need to be easy to operate when they slip off or when putting on. In light of this, they have found that by changing the connecting rib (which conventionally has a rod-shaped member in the diameter direction of a generally circular hole) to a connecting rib with the center of this linear member removed, i.e., by forming a loop at the end of the fixing band and configuring it to hook onto the protrusion, it is possible to provide a cranial correction helmet that can make the fixing band single-layered and make it easy to put on and take off the band.

The present invention aims to provide a cranial correction helmet that solves the above-mentioned problems.

The first aspect of the present invention configured to solve the above-mentioned problems is as follows:
This is a skull shape correction helmet having a hard outer shell configured to cover the skull portion and having a plurality of ventilation through holes formed therein.

Another aspect of the present invention is the above-described helmet for correcting cranial shape, characterized in that, when the hard outer shell is attached, the opening area of at least some of the multiple ventilation through holes varies from the vertical center in the upward and downward directions.

Another aspect of the present invention is the above-described helmet for correcting cranial shape, in which the opening area of at least some of the plurality of ventilation through-holes is largest at the vertical center and gradually decreases away from the center.

In another aspect of the present invention, the hole areas of at least some of the plurality of ventilation through holes are arranged symmetrically in the up-down direction from the vertical center.
A helmet for correcting cranial shape as described above.

Another aspect of the present invention is a helmet for correcting cranial shape described above, in which the spacing between at least some of the multiple ventilation through-holes is symmetrically arranged in the up-down direction from the vertical center.

Another aspect of the present invention is a helmet for correcting a cranial shape, as described above, in which the distance between the ends of at least some of the multiple ventilation through-holes is configured to gradually increase from the vertical center in the upward and downward directions, and the holes are arranged symmetrically.

Another aspect of the present invention is a skull shape correction helmet as described above, in which at least some of the multiple ventilation through holes are arranged at equal intervals in an area corresponding to either the frontal bone, the parietal bone, or the occipital bone, or a combination thereof.

Another aspect of the present invention is a helmet for correcting cranial shape described above, in which at least some of the multiple ventilation through-holes have a hole area sufficient for inserting a diagnostic tool.

Another aspect of the present invention is a helmet for correcting a cranial shape, as described above, which includes an inner liner that is removably disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer shell.

Another aspect of the present invention is a skull shape correction helmet as described above, in which a slit is provided on at least one of the left and right sides of the outer shell.

Another aspect of the present invention is a liner for use in any of the above-described cranial shape correction helmets,
The liner includes at least a first foamed synthetic resin layer and a second foamed synthetic resin layer.
It is a liner for a helmet that corrects the shape of the skull.

In another aspect of the present invention, the foamed resin constituting the foamed synthetic resin layer is any one selected from polyurethane, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, EVA crosslinked foam, PET resin foam, and phenol foam.
A liner for a skull shape correction helmet as described above.

In another aspect of the present invention, the foamed synthetic resin layer constituting the liner is bonded by any one of an adhesive layer, heat fusion and sewing.
A liner for a skull shape correction helmet as described above.

In another aspect of the present invention, the adhesive layer is one selected from the group consisting of EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), thermoplastic polyurethane, thermosetting polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polyolefin, acrylic resin, and rubber, or any combination thereof.
A liner for a skull shape correction helmet as described above.

Another aspect of the present invention is a liner for a skull shape correction helmet as described above, in which the first foamed synthetic resin layer has a different resilience than the second foamed synthetic resin layer.

Another aspect of the present invention is a liner for a skull shape correction helmet, as described above, in which the first foamed synthetic resin layer has a lower resilience than the second foamed synthetic resin layer.

Another aspect of the present invention is a liner for a skull shape correction helmet, as described above, in which the first foamed synthetic resin layer and the second foamed synthetic resin layer have different thicknesses.

In another aspect of the present invention, the first foamed synthetic layer is thicker than the second foamed synthetic layer.
A liner for a skull shape correction helmet as described above.

Another aspect of the present invention is a surgical mask that includes an outer shell configured to cover a skull portion,
a liner including at least a first foamed synthetic resin layer and a second foamed synthetic resin layer;
A helmet for correcting a skull shape comprising:

In another embodiment of the present invention, a slit is formed on at least one side of the left or right side of the head,
In the hard outer shell of a skull shape correction helmet, connecting members are provided on both sides of the slit,
The at least one connecting member is provided with a protrusion.
A helmet for correcting cranial shape as described above.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a slit is formed on at least one side of the left or right side of the head,
In the hard outer shell of a skull shape correction helmet, connecting members are provided on both sides of the slit,
The at least one connecting member includes a protrusion;
A fixing band having a locking portion for the protrusion is included.
A helmet for correcting cranial shape as described above.

In another aspect of the present invention, the protrusion includes at least two protrusions protruding from a target position of the at least one connecting member.
A helmet for correcting cranial shape as described above.

Another aspect of the present invention is a helmet for correcting cranial shape described above, in which the protrusion is tapered toward the tip.

In addition, another aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned, wherein the locking portion is a ring formed by folding back at least one end of the fixing band in the length direction.
It is a skull correction helmet.

In another aspect of the present invention, the fixing band is folded back and fixed by a connecting member located on the opposite side of the connecting member that is engaged by the engaging portion of the fixing band.
A cranial shape correction helmet as described above.

Another aspect of the present invention is a cranial shape correction helmet as described above, in which the width of the fixing band is the same as or slightly shorter than the width of the connecting hole in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the band.

The skull shape correction helmet of the present invention can efficiently secure a large area of ventilation through-holes on the surface of the helmet, and can maintain a good scalp environment. In addition, by making the ventilation through-holes of regular size, distortion of the head can be easily confirmed from the outside by visual inspection or by inserting a ruler or the like into the ventilation through-hole.

The cranial shape correction helmet of the present invention uses an inner liner made of a material suitable for treatment, and with a simple configuration, it is possible to increase the coefficient of friction between the helmet, specifically the inner surface of its outer shell described below, and the skull part having the shape to be treated. This makes it possible to properly maintain the positional relationship between the skull part and the helmet, that is, to suppress the displacement between them due to the body movement of the infant wearing the helmet. As a result, it is possible to prevent the cranial shape correction helmet from being unintentionally removed from the skull part. Since the liner of the present invention uses a low-resilience elastic material, it is possible to reduce the burden on the skull part of the infant. In addition, the cranial shape correction helmet of the present invention makes the liner easily removable by joining the helmet body and the liner with a hook-and-loop fastener member. This makes it possible to change the shape by appropriately removing the member according to the progress of treatment, making it possible to perform effective treatment.

In addition, by using the conventional fixing band and connecting member of the present invention, it is not only easier to remove the fixing band from the hard shell when putting on or taking off the helmet, but the structure of the fixing band can also be simplified, making it possible to provide a cranial shape correction helmet that is convenient not only when worn but also when it comes to maintenance.

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall front view of one embodiment of a cranial contouring helmet as described herein. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the construction of the liners described herein. FIG. 3 is an exploded partial perspective view showing the relationship between an inner liner and a hook-and-loop fastener member used in the helmet described herein. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cranial contouring helmet described herein. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the helmet shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the helmet shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a front view of a skull shape correction helmet according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a rear view of a skull shape correction helmet according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a right side view of a skull shape correction helmet according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a left side view of a skull shape correction helmet according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a top view of a skull shape correction helmet according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a bottom view of a skull shape correction helmet according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 13 is a diagram showing a fixing band attached to a skull shape correction helmet according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the connecting members and protrusions of a cranial shape correction helmet constructed according to the present invention. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a fixing band of a cranial shape correction helmet constructed according to the present invention. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a fixing band of a cranial shape correction helmet constructed according to the present invention. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a fixing band of a cranial shape correction helmet constructed according to the present invention. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the use of a fixing band in a conventional cranial shape correcting helmet. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a fixing band in a conventional cranial shape correction helmet. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional cranial shape correcting helmet when the fixing band is attached.

In the present invention, the hard shell constituting the cranial shape correction helmet is herein defined as "made of synthetic resin and can be manufactured by a 3D printer. In view of the purpose of the cranial shape correction helmet of the present invention, in order to manufacture a helmet that is tailored to the head of an individual patient, it is preferable to manufacture the helmet individually using a 3D printer, since head shape information is obtained using an image recognition application or the like and then the helmet is manufactured to match the target shape. The manufacturing method using a 3D printer can be appropriately selected. Such manufacturing methods include, but are not limited to, Material Extrusion, Vat Polymerization, Powder Bed Fusion, particularly selective laser sintering, Material Jetting, Binder Jetting, Direct Energy Deposition, and Sheet Lamination.

The "outer shell" described in this specification is not particularly limited in terms of material, etc., so long as it is capable of being provided with a hook-and-loop fastener member on at least a portion of its inner surface side. The outer shell may be made of, for example, a synthetic resin. Examples of synthetic resins include, but are not limited to, polyamide (nylon), polycarbonate, polyester, polyacetal, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polybutylene, ABS resin, cellulose-based resin, acrylic resin, epoxy resin, and fluororesin. In terms of ease of molding by powder sintering additive manufacturing, strength, and hardness, the outer shell is preferably made of polyamide, especially polyamide 12. In addition, the Shore D hardness of the outer shell 100 after molding is preferably, for example, about 70 to about 85, especially about 75 to about 80.

In one embodiment of the invention, the outer shell is made of a synthetic resin (preferably polyamide, more preferably polyamide 12).

In one embodiment of the present invention, a hook-and-loop fastener member can be provided on at least a portion of the inner surface side of the outer shell. Such a hook-and-loop fastener is not particularly limited in size, shape, material, position, etc., as long as it can be removably attached to the adhesive layer of the inner liner described later. The shape of the hook-and-loop fastener member is not limited to these, but examples include an approximately triangular, approximately rectangular, approximately square, approximately pentagonal, approximately hexagonal, approximately circular, and approximately elliptical shape. The hook-and-loop fastener member may be provided on approximately the entire inner surface of the outer shell, or may be provided on a portion of the inner surface of the outer shell. When the hook-and-loop fastener member is provided on a portion of the inner surface of the outer shell, one or more hook-and-loop fastener members (e.g., 2 to about 10) may be provided, for example, at a position corresponding to the forehead, positions corresponding to both sides of the head, and/or positions corresponding to the back of the head.

The outer shell may have a slit between the front and rear shells. This allows the slit to be opened appropriately in accordance with the growth of the skull, making it easy to adjust the relative positions of the front and rear shells. The slit may extend from the upper edge to the lower edge of both sides of the head. This allows the outer shell to be separated into a front shell and a rear shell.

In one embodiment of the present invention, slits are provided on both sides of the head of the outer shell. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the slits extend from the upper edge to the lower edge of both sides of the head, dividing the outer shell into a front shell and a rear shell.

The surface of the outer shell may have a mesh structure or may have multiple ventilation holes. This allows for good ventilation between the inside and outside of the cranial shape correction helmet, which is expected to have advantageous effects in terms of dissipating sweat from the infant being treated and dissipating heat generated inside the cranial shape correction helmet. If the outer shell has a mesh structure, the mesh in the area where the hook-and-loop fastener member is attached may be finer than in other areas (i.e., areas where the hook-and-loop fastener member is not attached), or the mesh may be filled in. This increases the contact area between the outer shell and the hook-and-loop fastener member, allowing the hook-and-loop fastener member to be attached more firmly.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer shell has a mesh structure. Alternatively, the mesh size of the outer shell can be changed as appropriate. A doctor may check the distance between the inside of the helmet and the head to be corrected by inserting a finger, pen, ruler, etc. through holes in the mesh to check the growth of the skull. For this reason, enlarging the mesh in at least a portion of the left and right back of the head can make the doctor's examination easier.

The outer shell may have its peripheral portion reinforced by a peripheral reinforcement portion. The peripheral reinforcement portion may be configured to be thicker than the remaining portion of the outer shell (portion excluding the peripheral reinforcement portion). The cross-sectional shape of the peripheral reinforcement portion is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a so-called circular border that is approximately circular with a diameter of about 4 to about 8 mm. In this case, the thickness of the portion of the outer shell excluding the peripheral reinforcement portion may be, for example, about 2 to about 4 mm. The peripheral reinforcement portion may be, for example, a portion where the thickness is increased in the peripheral portion of the front shell and the peripheral portion of the rear shell together with the approximately circular upper edge that defines the summit opening.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the peripheral portion of the outer shell is greater than the thickness of the other portions.

A pair of reinforcing parts may be provided vertically on both front side surfaces of the outer shell. By providing the reinforcing parts, the baby's ears can be inserted into the resulting curved parts, making it possible to generally fix the positional relationship between the cranial shape correction helmet and the skull part. This configuration can make the positional relationship between the helmet and the skull part more stable. In addition, to further increase the pressing force between the cranial shape correction helmet and the skull part and make the positional relationship between the two more stable, a thickened member (attachment, etc.) that protrudes from the inner surface of the outer shell toward the skull part may be partially provided on the inner surface of the outer shell.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer shell further has a pair of reinforcing parts in the vertical direction on both front side surfaces.

The skull shape correction helmet of the present invention is composed of a front shell and a rear shell, and these shells can be joined and fixed using the slits described above and a fixing band made of a hook-and-loop fastener or the like on the connecting member. By configuring this connecting member to be thicker than the average thickness of the shell, a part that is firmly fixed within the mesh structure is secured, and shape distortion of the entire shell can be suppressed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the connecting member has at least two protruding parts from both ends of the long side diameter of the ellipse. The shape of the connecting member is not particularly important as long as it is possible to form a protruding member from both ends in question. Therefore, it is preferable that the connecting member has a connecting member hole. In the present invention, the attachment of the fixing band can be made easier by adjusting the width of the engaging part of the fixing band described below and the width of the connecting hole.

The liner used in the lid shape correction helmet of the present invention is formed by bonding a first foamed synthetic resin layer and a second foamed synthetic resin layer with an adhesive layer. Examples of such foamed synthetic resins are preferably any one selected from polyurethane, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, EVA cross-linked foam, PET resin foam, and phenol foam. Polyurethane resin is particularly preferred from the viewpoints of processability and cost.

Next, as one embodiment of the present invention, an embodiment in which the foamed synthetic resin layer is polyurethane will be described. The first polyurethane layer is the layer that faces the head when the helmet is worn. The first polyurethane layer is a soft polyurethane layer having a high density, and is not particularly limited as long as it can be adhered to the second polyurethane layer via an adhesive layer. The liner may be only the first polyurethane layer and the second polyurethane layer, or may include other layers between them. The liner can be of a desired thickness taking into consideration the size of the outer shell and the infant's skull, etc. The liner may be one member or multiple members. From the viewpoint of ease of replacement (e.g., so that only the parts soiled with sweat etc. can be replaced), it is preferable that the liner be multiple members (e.g., 2 to about 10 members, preferably 2 to about 6 members).

The first polyurethane layer described in this specification may be a "soft polyurethane layer". The term "soft polyurethane layer" is not particularly limited as long as it is a layer whose main material is soft polyurethane. Examples of soft polyurethane include, but are not limited to, polyester foam and polyether foam, and preferably polyester foam. The soft polyurethane layer may be a single layer or multiple layers (for example, a combination of two or more types of soft polyurethane layers with different resilience and density). The thickness of the soft polyurethane layer is not particularly limited as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved, but may be, for example, about 1 to about 50 mm, preferably about 2 to about 40 mm, more preferably about 3 to about 30 mm, and even more preferably about 4 to about 20 mm.

The first polyurethane layer described in this specification is preferably low-resilience (resilience of, for example, about 0 to about 50% (about 50 or less), preferably about 0 to about 40% (about 40% or less), and more preferably about 0 to about 30% (about 30% or less)). By using a low-resilience soft polyurethane layer, it is possible to properly maintain the positional relationship between the skull and the skull shape correction helmet, and a high therapeutic effect can be expected, especially in infants and young children immediately after starting helmet treatment. Here, resilience is a numerical value that represents the ratio of the applied force to the rebound force, expressed as a percentage. For example, a resilience of 100% means that when a weight is dropped on the material, the weight will rebound to its original position (original height), and conversely, a resilience of 0% means that it does not rebound at all and remains stationary in place.

The first polyurethane layer described in this specification can also be expressed as a "soft polyurethane layer having a high density." A "soft polyurethane layer having a high density" refers to a soft polyurethane layer having a density of 0.05-0.5 g/cm3 and a rebound resilience of 20% to 60%. By using a soft polyurethane layer having a high density, a higher therapeutic effect can be expected.

The first and second foamed synthetic resin layers can be attached together by any suitable means, such as an adhesive layer, heat fusion or stitching.

The second foamed synthetic resin layer described in this specification also functions as an "adhesive layer" of the hook-and-loop fastener member provided on the inside of the shell. The "adhesive layer" is not particularly limited as long as at least a portion of at least one surface can be detachably joined to the hook-and-loop fastener member provided on the inner surface of the outer shell. The adhesive layer may be a single layer or multiple layers. The adhesive layer is not limited to these, but examples include nylon and hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g., if the hook-and-loop fastener member provided on the inner surface of the outer shell includes a hook shape, then a loop shape, and if the hook-and-loop fastener member provided on the inner surface of the outer shell includes a loop shape, then a hook shape). The thickness of the second polyurethane layer is not particularly limited as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved, but can be appropriately selected, for example, between about 2 and about 20 mm.

In the above embodiment, the first polyurethane layer and the second polyurethane layer are bonded together via an adhesive layer to form the liner of the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first polyurethane layer and the second polyurethane layer are made of expanded polyester foam.

In the present invention, the first polyurethane layer and the second polyurethane layer are bonded together via an adhesive layer to form a liner. The adhesive layer is made of an adhesive, and examples of the adhesive may be one selected from the group consisting of EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), thermoplastic polyurethane, thermosetting polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polyolefin, acrylic resin, and rubber, or any combination of these. Those skilled in the art can appropriately select a suitable adhesive layer taking into account the materials of the first polyurethane layer and the second polyurethane layer.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the first polyurethane layer is softer than the second polyurethane layer. By configuring it in this way, the polyurethane layer that is in contact with the shell maintains its role of protecting the head, while the polyurethane layer that is in direct contact with the head can create a comfortable wearing environment.

It is preferable that the second polyurethane layer engages with a hook-and-loop fastener provided on the inside of the shell and is firmly attached. If only the attachment to the hook-and-loop fastener is considered, the second polyurethane layer may be made of the same hook-and-loop fastener, or may be substituted with a nylon cloth with a suitably brushed surface. However, since the liner of the present invention is worn by infants for long periods of time and it is preferable to keep it clean, it is preferable to use a polyurethane layer that is easy to wash with water and dries quickly.

The following describes in more detail the embodiments of the skull correction helmet described in this specification with reference to the drawings, but is not intended to limit the invention in any way.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the skull correction helmet described in this specification. The skull correction helmet 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a liner 20 on the inner surface side of the outer shell 10 so as to cover the wearer's skull. The liner 20 includes a first polyurethane layer and a second polyurethane layer. The elasticity and thickness of this inner liner 20 gradually corrects the shape of the skull of the infant or child being treated. Note that while the inner liner 20 is provided on the entire inner surface in FIG. 1, it may be provided only in areas deemed necessary, taking into consideration the treatment method, the shape of the skull, etc.

　If the liner used in a helmet for correcting skull shape has too much resilience, the repulsive force from the liner will always be acting on the skull, placing a large burden on the skull of infants and young children. Taking this into consideration, it is preferable to use polyester foam with low resilience (for example, resilience of 30% or less) so that the effects of treatment can be obtained while reducing the burden on the infant being treated.

Furthermore, compared to high-resilience polyester foam, low-resilience polyester foam has a larger coefficient of friction when it comes into surface contact with the skull, and therefore is less likely to slip on each other. For this reason, when used as a cushion for the inner surface of a helmet, problems such as misalignment of the skull shape correction helmet and the skull part, or even the unintentional removal of the skull shape correction helmet from the skull part, are less likely to occur. For this reason, low-resilience polyester foam may be used as the first polyurethane layer 22 of the inner liner 20 that is affixed to the inner surface of the outer shell 10 of the skull shape correction helmet 1 shown in Figure 1.

For continuous treatment, it is desirable that the inner liner 20 be attached to the inner surface of the outer shell 10 of the cranial shape correction helmet 1 and not move from the inner surface, and in this respect, it is considered to firmly attach it using double-sided tape or the like. However, in treatment for correcting cranial shape, the shape of the cranial shape correction helmet itself is often adjusted depending on the progress of treatment and the growth of the skull, and it is desirable that the cranial shape correction helmet body and the inner liner are configured to be detachable. For this reason, in the cranial shape correction helmet 1 shown in Figure 1, the inner liner 20 and the inner surface of the outer shell 10 are pressed together with a hook-and-loop fastener member 40 to fix their positional relationship. The entire surface of the hook-and-loop fastener member 40 is configured in the shape of tiny hooks made of the material itself, and by engaging with the material of the opposing surface, the surfaces are pressed together.

In FIG. 1, four circular hook-and-loop fastener members 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d are used, and are placed on the forehead, both sides of the head, and the back of the head, respectively. One side of each of these hook-and-loop fastener members 40 is a so-called pressure-bonded surface, which is made up of tiny hooks of the material itself. The surface of the inner liner 20 is provided with an adhesive layer (nylon sheet) 22, which will be described later. Therefore, the hook-and-loop fastener member 40 is pressure-bonded to the inner liner 20 via this nylon sheet 22. The other side of the hook-and-loop fastener member 40 is firmly fixed to the inner surface of the outer shell 10 with an adhesive or the like. Here, the hook-and-loop fastener member is not limited to such a form in which one side is a pressure-bonded surface, and a hook-and-loop fastener member consisting of hook-and-loop fastener pieces having a pair of opposing pressure-bonded surfaces, as will be described later, may be used, and each of the hook-and-loop fastener pieces may be provided on the inner surface of the inner liner 20 and the outer shell 10.

A pair of reinforcing parts 30 are provided in the vertical direction on both front side surfaces of the outer shell 10. The provision of the reinforcing parts 30 allows the baby's ears to be inserted into the resulting curved parts, so that the positional relationship between the skull shape correction helmet 1 and the skull part is generally fixed. This configuration makes the positional relationship between the helmet and the skull part more stable. In addition, in order to further increase the pressing force between the skull shape correction helmet 1 and the skull part and make the positional relationship between the two more stable, an attachment (not shown) that protrudes from the inner surface of the outer shell 10 toward the skull part may be partially provided on the inner surface of the outer shell 10.

Figure 2 shows one embodiment of the inner liner 20 of the present invention. The liner 20 is made up of a first polyurethane layer 22 and a second polyurethane layer bonded together via an adhesive layer 23. In Figure 2, the first polyurethane layer 22 is configured to be thicker than the second polyurethane layer 21.

3 is a perspective view showing in an even easier-to-understand manner the state when the inner liner 20 and the inner surface of the outer shell 10 of the skull correction helmet 1 are pressed together via the hook-and-loop fastener member 40. The surface of the hook-and-loop fastener member 40 has a pressing surface 41, the entire surface of which is formed in a minute hook shape so that it can be engaged with the surface of another material, which is pressed together with the surface of the inner liner 20 via the nylon sheet 21 in the direction of the arrow A. The other surface 42 is fixed to the inner surface of the outer shell 10 of the skull correction helmet 1 with an adhesive or the like in the direction of the arrow B. With this configuration, when the skull correction helmet 1 is fitted to the infant to be treated, the friction coefficient between the inner surface of the outer shell 10 and the inner liner 20 is maintained high, making it difficult for them to slip. As a result, the positional relationship between the skull correction helmet 1 and the skull is suppressed, and therefore the problem of the skull correction helmet coming off unintentionally is less likely to occur.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the surface of the outer shell 10 is configured to have a stylish mesh structure 400. This allows for good ventilation between the inside and outside of the skull correction helmet, and is excellent in terms of dissipating sweat from the infant being treated and dissipating heat generated inside the skull correction helmet. Furthermore, the use of a mesh structure allows for a reduction in the amount of material used, making it possible to reduce the weight of the main body and lower the price. Furthermore, by molding the resin material into the mesh structure, the orientation of the resin is dispersed, resulting in excellent mechanical strength.

The design of the shell exterior can be modified as needed. In this embodiment, a relatively large eye is provided at the back of the head, allowing the doctor to insert a stick or pen into the eye to check the growth of the skull (Figure 5).

Next, referring to Figure 6, there is shown yet another embodiment of the skull shape correction helmet according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a slit 6 is provided in the vertical direction in either the left or right direction of the outer shell 10. This configuration contributes to the breathability of the shell 10 and also contributes to the deflection of the shell body, making it easier to attach the connecting band (not shown). Next, referring to Figure 6, the skull shape correction helmet is viewed from below to explain the attached state of the liner of the present invention. In the figure, the liner is depicted as one continuous piece, but it is also within the scope of the present invention to use liners that are divided at suitable positions in the front, back, left, and right directions.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the skull shape correction helmet according to the present invention. The skull shape correction helmet 100 shown in Fig. 1 has ventilation through holes 3 on the surface of the outer shell 10. Diamond-shaped holes are arranged regularly in Fig. 1, but the shape of the ventilation through holes in the present invention is not limited to this. The skull shape correction helmet according to the present invention can also have a cushioning part for the head on the inside, and is usually equipped with a liner of about 2 mm to 20 mm made of foamed synthetic resin. The liner can be attached directly or indirectly to the skull shape correction helmet 1, and the attachment means is not important to the present invention. Fig. 7 shows an attachment part 3 for providing a hook-and-loop fastener on the inside of the skull shape correction helmet 1 as one embodiment.

Next, referring to Figure 8, the ventilation through holes 4 provided in the cranial shape correction helmet 1 of the present invention will be described. In Figure 8, the ventilation through holes 3a-3g are regularly arranged on the cranial shape correction helmet 1. In Figure 8, the area is gradually reduced vertically from the center. With this configuration, it is possible to efficiently ensure the ventilation area on the helmet surface, while also reinforcing the nape and top of the head by increasing the resin density.

In addition, in Figure 8, the ventilation holes 3a〜3g are arranged in the same horizontal row, and the ventilation holes 3a〜3g can be arranged symmetrically on the left and right sides of the helmet as a whole. With this configuration, it is possible to check the distance from the patient's head by inserting a diagnostic ruler or the like through holes that are the same distance from the center. In typical cases of plagiocephaly, the right and left occipital heights are often different, and by arranging the ventilation holes 3a〜3g as in Figure 8, such left-right differences can be easily checked.

Next, referring to Figures 9-12, other configurations of the skull shape correction helmet 100 of the present invention will be described. In addition to the configurations described in Figures 7 and 8, the skull shape correction helmet 100 of the present invention has a substantially spherical helmet shape, a top opening 8 and a lower opening 9 through which the face and other parts come out, a slit 6 is formed on the side of the head, and a connecting member 5 is arranged in a horizontal position in front of and behind the slit 6. The slit on the side of the head may be on only one side as shown in Figure 10, or on both sides. The slit 6 may simply be a groove, or may be configured so that the rear end fits into the front end (or vice versa). By opening the slit appropriately according to the development of the wearer's head, the growth of the skull is not hindered, and the deformation can be corrected by adjusting the speed of the connecting member without putting a strain on the wearer's skull.

In Figure 9, the connecting member 5 has protrusions on both ends of the long side diameter of an ellipse. The shape of the connecting member is not particularly important, as long as it has a shape and size that allows it to be fixed with the fixing band A (Figure 13).

A pair of reinforcing parts 7 are provided in the vertical direction on both front sides of the skull shape correction helmet 100. By providing the reinforcing parts 7, the baby's ears can be inserted into the resulting curved part, and the positional relationship between the skull shape correction helmet 1 and the skull part can be roughly fixed.

Next, referring to FIG. 13, a further mode of use of the cranial shape correction helmet 100 of the present invention will be described. In FIG. 7, the interior of the cranial shape correction helmet 100 is provided with an inner liner 20. Inner liner adhesive part 4 for engaging the inner liner 20 is shown in FIG. 7. In one embodiment of the inner liner adhesive part 4, it can be attached to the inner liner with a hook-and-loop fastener. This configuration makes it easy to put on and take off the inner liner for the purpose of protecting the head. The inner liner adhesive part 4 can be attached in multiple places on the inside of the cranial shape correction helmet 1. It is not intended in the present invention to limit the adhesive means for the inner liner to the above.

The material of the inner liner is not particularly limited, but examples include foamed synthetic resin, preferably foamed polyurethane, foamed nylon, and more preferably open-cell foamed polyurethane (for example, product name "Memory Foam CF-45").

The thickness of the inner liner is, but is not limited to, for example, about 1 to about 50 mm, preferably about 3 to about 40 mm, and more preferably about 5 to about 16 mm. The inner liner 200 may also be configured to have a ball resilience of about 15% or less.

Furthermore, by providing thickening members (not shown) in desired positions on the forehead and/or back of the neck and/or left and right sides of the head in addition to the inner liner, it is possible to further reduce deviations between the shape of the cranial shape correction helmet and the shape of the patient's skull, and to further reduce unnecessary vibrations of the cranial shape correction helmet.

The fixing band A used in the skull shape correction helmet 100 of the present invention may be made of any material and any fastening means as long as it can engage with the fixing member 5 and fasten the bands together. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, it is preferable that the fixing band A has a loop on one side that engages with the protruding part of the connecting member 5 in FIG. 1, and that the opposing surface in the folded state has a hook-and-loop fastener configuration that can be fastened with a loop shape and a hook portion.

Next, the configuration of the connecting member 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 14. In this embodiment, the connecting member 5 is configured in an elliptical shape, and protrusions are configured from the opposing ends in the long side diameter direction toward the center of the connecting member 5 (4U and 4D). In FIG. 14, the protrusion at the top in the vertical direction is 4U, and the protrusion configured on the lower side is 4D. In the present invention, the cylindrical portion of the fixing band A having the engagement portion e at the cylindrical end is engaged with the protrusions 4U and 4D, and the fixing band can be attached to the hard outer shell 10. It is preferable that the width of the engagement portion e is shorter by about 0.5 to 1 mm than the height direction H of the connecting member hole 55 shown in FIG. 14, and the diameter of the tube of the engagement portion e is preferably shorter by about 0.5 to 1 mm than the width W of the connecting member hole 55. However, since the operability during attachment and detachment changes depending on the material of the fixing band, the size of the engagement portion e can be appropriately changed according to such conditions. Furthermore, to ensure that the engagement portion e engages properly, the surfaces of the protrusions 4U and 4D may be made of a material or have irregularities that tend to generate frictional forces.

Next, referring to Figures 15, 16 and 17, one embodiment of the fixing band of the present invention will be described. Figure 15 describes the configuration of the fixing band. In the present invention, the end f of the fixing band is folded to a suitable length according to the size of the connecting member 5, the connecting member hole 55 and the protruding parts 4U and 4D as described above, so as to match the dotted line a, and fixed by sewing or the like. When configured in this way, the engaging part e is configured in a cylindrical shape as shown in Figure 17, and the fixing band A can be attached to the hard shell by appropriately folding it and engaging it with the protruding parts 4U and 4D. At this time, the width h of the fixing band is manufactured after adjusting the size to the height H of the connecting member hole 55 as described above. Figure 17 is a view of the fixing band A seen from the thickness direction. As shown in Figure 15, by folding and sewing f to match a, a ring is formed and the engaging part e becomes cylindrical.

Figures 15, 16 and 17 show an example of a fixing band with a locking portion e on one side. In Figure 3A, by attaching a hook-and-loop fastener to area c and locking portion e, the fixing band can be passed through the connecting member and then fixed with the hook-and-loop fastener. Specifically, one of the opposing faces of the fixing band has a fine loop structure and the other has a fine hook structure, so that the locking portion e of the individual band is hung on the protruding portion of the connecting member and the band can be fixed by engaging the loop structure and hook structure with each other by simply moving it back and forth once. With this configuration, the fixing band A can fix the cranial shape correction helmet by simply moving it back and forth once between the three connecting members.

In Figure 18, the fixing band A is engaged with the connecting member 5. In this embodiment, the width of the fixing band A is slightly shorter than the height of the connecting hole 55 of the connecting member 5, so that the fixing band 40 is engaged with the connecting hole by being caught on the protrusions 4U and 4D.

Next, a conventional fixing band will be described with reference to Figures 19 and 20. Figure 19 shows a conventional fixing band. The conventional fixing band is a hook-and-loop fastener band with male loops on one side and female loops on the other side, with a tube passed through it. As shown in Figure 20, the band is passed through a connecting member, folded back and passed through the tube, and then passed through the connecting member on the other side, and finally the band is passed between the connecting members in one and a half round trips, and the band is secured in three layers. By adopting a conventional fixing band with such a configuration as the present invention, not only can it be easily removed from the hard shell when putting on or taking off the helmet, but the configuration of the fixing band can also be simplified, making it possible to provide a skull shape correction helmet that is convenient not only when putting on the helmet but also when managing it.

1, 100: Helmet for correcting skull shape 10: Outer shell 20: Inner liner 21: Second polyurethane layer 22: First polyurethane layer 23: Adhesive layer 40, 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d: Hook-and-loop fastener member 41, 42: Hook-and-loop fastener member surface 400: Mesh structure 30: Reinforcement portion 3: Ventilation through hole 4: Inner liner adhesive portion (inner liner attachment portion)
5: Connecting member 55: Connecting member hole 6: Slit 7: Reinforcement portion 8: Top opening 9: Lower opening A: Fixing band 11: Peripheral reinforcement portion 4U, 4D: Protrusion e: Locking portion

Claims (26)

A helmet for correcting skull shape, with multiple ventilation holes formed in the hard outer shell designed to cover the skull. The helmet for correcting the shape of the skull according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the hard outer shell is attached, the opening area of at least some of the plurality of ventilation through holes varies from the vertical center in the upward and downward directions. The helmet for correcting cranial shape according to claim 2, wherein the hole area of at least some of the plurality of ventilation through holes is largest at the vertical center and gradually decreases with distance from the center. At least some of the opening areas of the plurality of ventilation through holes are arranged symmetrically in the up-down direction from the vertical center,
A helmet for correcting cranial shape according to claim 2 or 3. The helmet for correcting the shape of the skull according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the spacing between at least some of the multiple ventilation through holes is symmetrically arranged in the up-down direction from the vertical center. The helmet for correcting the shape of the skull according to claim 2 or 3, in which the distance between the ends of at least some of the multiple ventilation through holes is configured to gradually increase from the vertical center in the upward and downward directions, and the holes are arranged symmetrically. The helmet for correcting the shape of the skull according to claim 2 or 3, wherein at least some of the plurality of ventilation through holes are arranged at equal intervals in an area corresponding to either the frontal bone, the parietal bone, or the occipital bone, or a combination thereof. The helmet for correcting cranial shape according to claim 2 or 3, wherein at least some of the multiple ventilation through holes have a hole area sufficient for inserting a diagnostic tool. The helmet for correcting cranial shape according to claim 2 or 3, comprising an inner liner removably disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer shell. The helmet for correcting cranial shape according to claim 2 or 3, in which a slit is provided on at least one of the left and right sides of the outer shell. A liner for use in the skull shape correction helmet according to claim 1,
The liner includes at least a first foamed synthetic resin layer and a second foamed synthetic resin layer.
Helmet liner for corrective skull shape. The foamed resin constituting the foamed synthetic resin layer is any one selected from polyurethane, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, EVA crosslinked foam, PET resin foam, and phenol foam;
A liner for a cranial shape correction helmet as claimed in claim 11. The foamed synthetic resin layer constituting the liner is bonded by any one of an adhesive layer, heat fusion and sewing.
A liner for a cranial shape correction helmet as claimed in claim 11. The adhesive layer is one selected from the group consisting of EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), thermoplastic polyurethane, thermosetting polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polyolefin, acrylic resin, and rubber, or any combination thereof.
A liner for a cranial shape correction helmet as claimed in claim 13. The liner for a skull shape correction helmet according to claim 11, wherein the first foamed synthetic resin layer has a different resilience than the second foamed synthetic resin layer. The liner for a skull shape correction helmet according to claim 11, wherein the first foamed synthetic resin layer has a lower resilience than the second foamed synthetic resin layer. The liner for a skull shape correction helmet according to claim 11, wherein the first foamed synthetic resin layer and the second foamed synthetic resin layer have different thicknesses. The first foamed synthetic layer is thicker than the second foamed synthetic layer;
A liner for a cranial shape correction helmet as claimed in claim 11. an outer shell configured to cover a skull portion;
a liner including at least a first foamed synthetic resin layer and a second foamed synthetic resin layer;
A helmet for correcting a skull shape. A slit is formed on at least one side of the left or right side of the head,
In the hard outer shell of a skull shape correction helmet, connecting members are provided on both sides of the slit,
The at least one connecting member is provided with a protrusion.
A helmet for correcting a cranial shape according to claim 1. A slit is formed on at least one side of the left or right side of the head,
In the hard outer shell of a skull shape correction helmet, connecting members are provided on both sides of the slit,
The at least one connecting member includes a protrusion;
A fixing band having a locking portion for the protrusion is included.
A helmet for correcting a cranial shape according to claim 1. The protrusion includes at least two protrusions protruding from a target location of the at least one connecting member.
A helmet for correcting a cranial shape according to claim 20 or 21. The protrusion has a shape that becomes thinner toward the tip end.
A helmet for correcting a cranial shape according to claim 20 or 21. 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the locking portion is a loop formed by folding back at least one end of the fixing band in the length direction.
Cranial shape correction helmet. The fixing band is folded back and fixed with a connecting member located on the opposite side of the connecting member that is engaged with the engaging portion of the fixing band.
25. The cranial shape correction helmet of claim 24. The cranial shape correction helmet according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the width of the fixing band is the same as or slightly shorter than the width direction of the connecting hole perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the band.

Images