BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The instant disclosure is related to a mechanism to insure an unobstructed airway during sleep on the back position and specifically a cervical assist pillow.

Background

The majority of the adult population snores at various intensities during sleep, those who snore louder may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to blockage of airflow from the collapsing of the upper airway. Based on the diagnostic criteria of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)≥5 times/hour per the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) in 2012, an estimated 936 million people worldwide between the ages of 30 and 69 have OSA; among them an estimated 425 million people worldwide meet the requirement for moderate OSA with AHI≥15 times/hour that are usually recommended for treatment as it increases risk of cardiovascular comorbidities if left untreated.

At present, there is no easy treatment option for OSA. The most widely relied upon treatment method is to use continuous positive airway pressure treatment (CPAP) during sleep. Alternative treatment options include oral appliances, surgery and/or weight loss. CPAP and oral appliance treatment are uncomfortable, inconvenient, and have only a 50-60% compliance rate; especially when the CPAP pressure is high. When the CPAP pressure is high the mask is prone to air leaks and discomfort. There are multiple limitations related to a surgical treatment option, which include high cost, surgical risks and a relatively low effective cure rate of about 60%.

What is sought is another method of providing an unobstructed airway during sleep that does not rely upon a CPAP or surgery.

SUMMARY

An example cervical assist pillow, comprising at least one of, a lower back support portion having a wedge therein to accept a user's upper back and shoulders, an upper neck support portion adjacent the lower back support portion, the upper neck support portion having an extended height to support the users neck proximate a user's head and having a height to elevate the user's neck at a cervicomental angle between approximately 100 and 120 degree, a head support portion adjacent the upper neck support portion and having a concavity to accept the back of the user's head and a waist belt coupled to the lower back support portion at a first end and detachably couple-able to a user's midsection to prevent slippage from under the user's head and neck.

Another example cervical assist pillow insert, comprising at least one of, a lower rail portion connectable to a pillow at a lower end and a bulbous portion connected to the lower rail portion and having a combined height to elevate a user's neck at a cervicomental angle between approximately 100 and 120 degree.

