Decubitus Positioning Cushion - Lightweight Micro-Bead Lateral Support for Pressure Relief and Postural Care.
- Lateral Positioning Support for Pressure Care Turning Regimes - the Decubitus Positioning Cushion provides a large-format (1800 x 540mm) micro-bead support surface for residents in the lateral (side-lying) position, which is one of the two primary positions used in a standard pressure care turning regime alongside the supine or 30-degree tilted positions; in lateral lying, the body must be supported at the torso, pelvis, and between the knees to maintain the 30-degree tilt recommended in NICE CG179 without the resident rolling back to supine or forward to prone; the micro-bead fill conforms to the body's lateral contour to provide this support without generating the high interface pressure that would arise from a firm foam wedge at the same zones.
- Integrated Pillow for Head Support Within the Positioning System - the integrated pillow at the head end of the cushion supports the resident's head in alignment with the lateral position of the torso, preventing the head from dropping toward the mattress or being unsupported at the neck during the lateral positioning period; this maintains cervical spine alignment and prevents the neck strain that can occur when the head is not adequately supported in the lateral position; the integrated design means the head and body support are a single product that maintains their spatial relationship during positioning manoeuvres.
- Reduces Friction and Shear at Knees, Pelvis, and Torso - the micro-bead surface at the lateral contact zones - between the knees, at the pelvis, and at the torso - reduces friction and shear forces at the skin surfaces of each of these bony prominence contact zones; in lateral lying, the upper limb and lower limb are directly stacked above the lower limb and lower body, creating contact load at each skin surface where limbs or body sections touch; the cushion interposes a low-friction micro-bead surface at these contact zones, reducing the shear and pressure that contribute to pressure ulcer development.
- Multi-Stretch VP Waterproof Cover - 1800x540mm - MDR Class I - the multi-stretch vapour-permeable waterproof cover maintains skin microclimate management at the body contact surfaces during extended lateral positioning periods; dimensions 1800 x 540mm; MDR 2017/745 Class I positioning device; selected following occupational therapist assessment per NICE CG179; the positioning schedule must be documented in the care plan with the cushion specification; product code NCL-P9707B1HW.
Decubitus Positioning Cushion - Micro-Bead Lateral Support - Integrated Pillow - VP Cover - 1800x540mm
The Decubitus Positioning Cushion provides large-format (1800 x 540mm) micro-bead lateral positioning support for residents in the side-lying pressure care position, maintaining 30-degree tilt alignment across torso, pelvis, and knees with the body's natural lateral contour. The integrated pillow supports head and neck alignment within the positioning system. The multi-stretch vapour-permeable waterproof cover manages skin microclimate at the body contact surfaces. Reduces friction and shear at all lateral contact zones. MDR 2017/745 Class I positioning device. Selected per NICE CG179. NCL-P9707B1HW.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fill Material | Ultra-lightweight polystyrene micro-beads |
| Dimensions | 1800 x 540mm |
| Integrated Feature | Integrated pillow for head and neck alignment |
| Cover | Multi-stretch VP waterproof |
| Clinical Position | Lateral (side-lying) - 30-degree tilt per NICE CG179 |
| Offloading Zones | Knees; pelvis; torso - friction and shear reduction |
| Reference | NCL-P9707B1HW |
| Regulatory Status | MDR 2017/745 Class I medical device |
Regulatory Compliance
The Decubitus Positioning Cushion is a Class I medical device under MDR 2017/745. Clinical selection requires occupational therapist assessment per NICE CG179, with the lateral positioning indication, tilt angle, turning schedule, and cushion placement documented in the care plan. Where the cushion is used as part of a turning regime, the complete turning schedule must be documented including the frequency, position sequence, and skin inspection protocol at each turn. Equipment register records and MDR conformity documentation must be maintained for CQC Regulation 12 compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 30-degree tilt lateral position recommended by NICE CG179, and why is it preferred over a full lateral position?
The 30-degree tilted lateral position places the resident at 30 degrees from supine (rather than 90 degrees fully lateral), so the resident is on their side but with the back slightly tilted toward the mattress. This position is preferred in NICE CG179 over the full 90-degree lateral position because in full lateral lying, the resident's weight is concentrated over the greater trochanter (the hip bone) - a bony prominence with relatively poor tissue coverage that is a high-risk pressure site; at 30 degrees, the load is distributed over the larger, better-padded gluteal muscle mass that is more resilient to interface pressure. The 30-degree position also allows the resident's sacrum and ischial tuberosities to be fully offloaded, since they are not in contact with the mattress at this angle. The Decubitus Positioning Cushion helps maintain the resident at 30 degrees rather than rolling forward to full lateral or back to supine; the micro-bead body at the torso and pelvis provides the support resistance that holds the 30-degree angle against the resident's natural tendency to settle into either the fully lateral or supine position during the turn interval.
How is the Decubitus Positioning Cushion applied, and what training is required for care staff to use it correctly?
The cushion is applied during a turning manoeuvre by the care team: the resident is log-rolled to the lateral position and the cushion is positioned along the resident's back from the shoulders to the hips, with the integrated pillow supporting the head; the cushion is then placed between the resident's knees if inter-knee support is required; the resident's back settles against the micro-bead body and the bead rearrangement conforms to the specific contour of that resident's torso. The care plan must document the exact placement instructions for the specific resident, including the orientation of the cushion relative to the body, whether the cushion is placed at the back or front of the body depending on which way the resident is turned, and the knee placement protocol. Training for care staff must include the turning technique (manual handling training including log-roll and assisted lateral turning), the cushion placement sequence, the visual and skin inspection protocol at each turn, and the documentation requirements. The turning procedure is a manual handling task that must be risk-assessed per MHOR 1992 for each resident, with appropriate staffing levels and equipment confirmed before the turning regime begins.
NCL-P9707B1HW
- Lateral Positioning Support for Pressure Care Turning Regimes - the Decubitus Positioning Cushion provides a large-format (1800 x 540mm) micro-bead support surface for residents in the lateral (side-lying) position, which is one of the two primary positions used in a standard pressure care turning regime alongside the supine or 30-degree tilted positions; in lateral lying, the body must be supported at the torso, pelvis, and between the knees to maintain the 30-degree tilt recommended in NICE CG179 without the resident rolling back to supine or forward to prone; the micro-bead fill conforms to the body's lateral contour to provide this support without generating the high interface pressure that would arise from a firm foam wedge at the same zones.
- Integrated Pillow for Head Support Within the Positioning System - the integrated pillow at the head end of the cushion supports the resident's head in alignment with the lateral position of the torso, preventing the head from dropping toward the mattress or being unsupported at the neck during the lateral positioning period; this maintains cervical spine alignment and prevents the neck strain that can occur when the head is not adequately supported in the lateral position; the integrated design means the head and body support are a single product that maintains their spatial relationship during positioning manoeuvres.
- Reduces Friction and Shear at Knees, Pelvis, and Torso - the micro-bead surface at the lateral contact zones - between the knees, at the pelvis, and at the torso - reduces friction and shear forces at the skin surfaces of each of these bony prominence contact zones; in lateral lying, the upper limb and lower limb are directly stacked above the lower limb and lower body, creating contact load at each skin surface where limbs or body sections touch; the cushion interposes a low-friction micro-bead surface at these contact zones, reducing the shear and pressure that contribute to pressure ulcer development.
- Multi-Stretch VP Waterproof Cover - 1800x540mm - MDR Class I - the multi-stretch vapour-permeable waterproof cover maintains skin microclimate management at the body contact surfaces during extended lateral positioning periods; dimensions 1800 x 540mm; MDR 2017/745 Class I positioning device; selected following occupational therapist assessment per NICE CG179; the positioning schedule must be documented in the care plan with the cushion specification; product code NCL-P9707B1HW.