OXFORD HELP®
Head Elevating Laryngoscopy Pillow
Instructions For Use and Product Range

A safer anaesthetic, every anaesthetic
Oxford HELP® Medical Device information
Oxford HELP® Introduction
Oxford HELP® Moving and Handling
Oxford HELP® Positioning the Patient
Oxford HELP® Supporting the Patient’s Arms
Oxford HELP® Sets A, A Plus, B, C and D
Oxford HELP® Oxford Prone Pillow Range, Obstetric Lateral Wedge and NR2
Oxford HELP® Components
Oxford HELP® Accessories
Oxford HELP® Medical Device Information


Please read the instructions and cleaning protocols before use.

The Oxford HELP® and all Alma Medical patient support devices are X-RAY translucent.

The Oxford HELP® and all Alma Medical patient support devices are free of natural Latex.

The Oxford HELP® and all Alma Medical patient support devices are safe for use in magnetic resonance imaging procedures.

Do not allow sharp objects near the Oxford HELP® or any Alma Medical patient support device.

The Oxford HELP® is registered as a class I non-sterile medical device with the MHRA in the United Kingdom.

The Oxford HELP® and all Alma Medical patient support devices are manufactured by Alma Medical Products Ltd in the UK.

Alma Medical is a trading name of Alma Medical Products Ltd, Alma Foam Converters Ltd and AMP Radiology Ltd.
Declarations of conformity and absence are published in the Compliance Documentation provided.
Cleaning and decontamination protocol is provided with each component and includes the component LOT number. These should be filed in the folder provided and kept with the device.
Oxford HELP® Introduction
The patient has a BMI of 49.2 and is conventionally positioned on a hospital pillow.
The airway is misaligned because:
- There is a steep gradient between the tragus and the sternal notch.
- The thyromental distance is reduced.
- The cricoid space is reduced and access is difficult.

The patient is now positioned on the Oxford HELP® and the airway is now optimised and aligned.
- The gradient between the tragus and the sternal notch is close to 0º.
- The thyromental distance has increased.
- The cricoid space has increased and access is easier.


Clinical Uses:
- Obese patients
- Difficult airways
- Rapid sequence inductions
- Regional anaesthesia
- Spontaneous respiration
- Intensive care, emergency care, recovery and radiology
- Obstetric patients*
Clinical Locations:
- Operating department
- Recovery
- Day surgery
- Obstetric units
- Cardiology
- Intensive care
- Accident & Emergency Medicine
- Radiology
Clinical Benefits:
- Improved laryngoscopy
- Easier manual ventilation
- Normal ventilation pressures
- Higher FRC and Vt
- Little or no O2 drop during apnoeic events
- Reduced respiratory effort
- Increased patient comfort
- Lower risk of aspiration
- Easy cricoid access
- Ergonomic working area
*Caesarean section patients, emergency and elective, may be placed on the Oxford HELP®. In the event of sudden conversion
from a regional to general anaesthetic, the patient is already optimally positioned on the Oxford HELP®. The table may require temporary adjustment to achieve a satisfactory level of block.
Oxford HELP® Moving and Handling
- The Oxford HELP® may stay in place during surgery. Abdominal surgical access is not impeded.
- The Oxford HELP® must not be used as a transfer aid. Lateral tension must not be applied to the seams. This will damage the device and invalidate the guarantee.
- Patient supports, attachments and straps must be used to stabilise the patient

4. Maximum lateral tilt 15°.

4. Maximum Trendelenburg 22°.
6. If the stability of the patient is in doubt, stop and check.
The Oxford HELP® is designed to stay in place from pre-induction through PACU/ Recovery.
How long the patient should stay on the pillow is a clinical decision informed by the needs of each individual patient. If the Oxford HELP® Base Pillow has to be removed from an unconscious patient, extreme care must be taken with adequate numbers of staff attending.
Oxford HELP® Positioning the Patient

Place the Oxford HELP® Base Pillow on the operating table. Draw/slide sheet should not be placed over the pillow.

Support the back of the Oxford HELP® Base Pillow during patient positioning.

Place the Oxford Headrest as shown, positioning to base of neck.

Align shoulder with Oxford HELP® Base Pillow arrow.

If the airway position is not optimised, consider using the Oxford HELP® Plus Pillow for further elevation.
Oxford HELP® Supporting the Patient’s Arms
These supports are added to your existing operating table arm boards. They are designed to keep the arms level with the elevated torso to avoid brachial plexus strain on abduction.

The OXH400 Oxford HELP® Set B is the entry level system supplied with Oxford Arm Supports and Oxford Sinus knee support.


Remove the pad from your existing arm board.

Place the Oxford Arm Support on the board.

Place the Arm Straps provided around the arm board, support and patient’s arm.

Adjust the straps until they are comfortably securing the arms.
*Do not over tighten the straps.
The Elevating Arm Table provides a complete arm support solution for any procedure requiring abduction of the arms, especially one utilising the Oxford HELP®.
The longer bar of the Elevating Arm Table means it can be securely raised to the top of the Oxford HELP® Base Pillow or the Oxford HELP® Plus Pillow, safely supporting the patient’s arms. The bars on these supports will fit any existing operating table and clamps.

OXH1071 Elevating Arm Table

Clamp the Elevating Arm Table level with the top of the Oxford HELP® Base Pillow.

Place the OXH191 Arm Straps provided, around the arm support and patient’s arm.

Adjust the straps until they are comfortably securing the arms.
*Do not over tighten the straps.

The Oxford HELP® Sets B and C can be customised by exchanging OXH762 Oxford Arm Supports for OXH1071 Elevating Arm Tables or the OXH1580 Extra Large Arm Retainers, 4 times larger than standard arm supports.
Oxford HELP® Sets A, A Plus, B, C and D

Oxford HELP® Set A OXH300
For all high BMI, obstetric, difficult or compromised airways in operating rooms, ICU, A&E and other clinical locations.

Oxford HELP® Set A Plus OXH350
For higher BMI patients (typically 50+). The set includes the Oxford HELP® Plus Pillow, an additional pillow if further elevation is required to achieve an optimised airway.

Oxford HELP® Set B OXH400
Optimal set for obstetric and general anaesthesia where arm abduction is required. The Oxford Sinus knee support improves
patient comfort and prevents risk of neural injury from hyperextension of the knee.

Oxford HELP® Set C OXH500
Oxford HELP® Set C OXH500 For higher BMI patients (typically 50+) who require arm abduction and knee support, Set C is the most versatile set.

Oxford HELP® Set D OXH600
For hyper obese patients. This system includes all supports to facilitate optimum airway management and protection of vulnerable areas. Oxford Cuneo scapula supports are also provided to help prevent risk of neural injury to the brachial plexus (fig 2).

Oxford HELP® Sets A, A Plus and B are supplied in a waterproof soft deployment bag, OXH3000.

Oxford HELP® Sets C and D are supplied in a hard-shelled wheeled deployment case, OXH6000.

*Photographs are not to scale, dimensions supplied on request.
Oxford Prone Pillow Range
OXH297 Standard,OXH397 Large and OXH497 Large Extra Wide

For patients requiring prone positioning in general surgery, ICU and radiology. Wipe-clean and lightweight.

Obstetric Lateral Wedge
OXH197

Provides accurate 15º lateral tilt for obstetric patients. This versatile patient positioner also provides perfect positioning for transvaginal ultrasound scans, especially when using a non-tilting examination couch.

Twin pack OXH2197
Oxford NR2 Neuroradiology Pillow
OXH303
The NR2 provides interventional radiologists with perfect positioning during dynamic CT myelography and digital subtraction myelography.


Supplied in a waterproof soft deployment bag, OXH3030

*Photographs are not to scale, dimensions supplied on request.
Oxford HELP® Components

Oxford Headrest OXH189
Hygienic, dedicated intubation pillow, the optimal alternative to ward pillows.

Oxford Headrest OXH3189
Value pack for equipping multiple clinical areas.

Oxford HELP® Base Pillow OXH193

Oxford HELP® Plus Pillow OXH186

Oxford Arm Supports OXH762

Arm Straps OXH191

Oxford Sinus OXH195

Oxford Arm Supports Plus OXH200
These versatile pads can be placed on the Arm Supports for extra elevation, or used to protect any anatomical area vulnerable to pressure-related trauma.

Oxford Cuneos OXH392
These scapula supports can be used to protect any anatomical area vulnerable to pressure-related trauma.
*Photographs are not to scale, dimensions supplied on request.
Oxford HELP® Accessories

Elevating Arm Table OXH1071

Extra Large Arm Retainers OXH1580

Standard Arm Retainers OXH1380

Tube Holder OXH1600
22mm and 15mm

Wheeled Deployment Case OXH6000

Soft Deployment Bag OXH3000

The Oxford HELP® and selected components now come with QR codes

*Photographs are not to scale, dimensions supplied on request.
Alma Medical can manufacture any type of patient support device made to your specifications.
Call us on +44 (0)1865 760424 or email info@almamedical.com and tell us your requirements.
The Oxford HELP® is referenced in numerous textbooks,
UK obstetric GA algorithms and NAP4.

Alma Medical provide educational posters and booklets with all our products.
Please call our educational helpline on +44 (0)1865 594300 for more information.

A safer anaesthetic, every anaesthetic
For more information call +44 (0)1865 760424, email info@almamedical.com