Tortle Neurodevelopment System For the Hospital
The Tortle Midliner Repositioning System for the hospital helps support normal development of even the most critical NICU and PICU patients. This medical product provides neuro-development care, safe transport care, and easily integrates into existing protocols and procedures.
The Tortle Lucky Elephant Head Positioning product is designed to treat flat head syndrome in infants (0- 6 months) at home in a safe and easy way.
TORTLE MIDLINER
How Tortle Successfully Supports Neuro-Protective & Developmental Programs in the NICU:
- The Tortle Midliner is an important part of your IVH protocol, as it allows you to easily transport, position and hold small babies (<1500 g) in a variety of neutral, midline positions.
- It provides a simple way to consistently support a premature baby’s head with safe boundaries, so the baby feels secure throughout their stay in the NICU.
- The Tortle Midliner is compatible with the respiratory and feeding devices and the procedures that go on within a NICU. This versatile medical device allows hospital staff members to easily perform head ultrasounds and x-rays, use continuously monitoring EEG and NIRS, and to perform scalp IV’s when needed.
- The CPAP specific Midliners offer a cost savings alternative to CPAP manufacturer’s head gear (i.e F&P, CareFusion, Drager, Medin, etc).
- The Tortle Midliner provides a simple method for keeping the baby’s head shape healthy through easy to follow positioning plans, which complement existing protocol and procedures.
BENEFITS
- The Tortle Midliner is an important part of your IVH bundle, as it allows you to position and hold small babies (<1500 g) in a variety of neutral, midline positions.
- The Tortle Midliner is revolutionizing the way sick infants are cared for, as it requires less manipulation than most devices on the market and eliminates the need for adjustments that are disruptive to a healing baby. As a versatile medical device, the Tortle Midliner is compatible with the gear and procedures that go on within a NICU and allows hospital staff members to easily perform head ultrasounds and x-rays, to continuously monitor EEG and NIRS, and to perform scalp IV’s when needed, with maximum accessibility and minimal interruption to the patient.
- It helps provide a simple way to consistently support a premature baby’s head within the necessary, appropriate developmental boundaries throughout the baby’s stay in the NICU. With the Tortle Midliner, micro-preemies are managed in the neutral position during the first three or more days after their birth. Thanks to the design of this device, it’s possible to hold these tiny infants’ heads in a neutral position, even when they require respiratory support, central lines, or are undergoing a medical transport.
DETAILS
- The Tortle Midliner is an adjustable, soft beanie, designed with two support rolls made of polyurethane foam
- Single layer construction is highly breathable and fits securely
- Manufactured from a blend of 95% cotton/ 5% Lycra and PU foam and a high-grade medical fabric designed to be breathable and Velcro-receptive
- Lined with soft foam for comfort
- Designed with versatile materials that are highly compatible with attachments, including: CPAP, nasal cannulas, feeding tubes, and more
- The materials are all tested to ensure that they are nontoxic to the infant
- Has a Velcro front opening to minimize infant handling and help reduce stress
- Hand wash cool water (can use the baby bath and baby soap)
- Air dry
- Tortle Midliner is a Class 1 medical device.
SIZING AND POSITIONING PLAN
The Tortle Midliner is designed for premature babies, and is available in three sizes, based on head circumference.
This medical device is designed to be used from birth until an infant is mature enough to graduate from their warmers to an open bassinet, and they are in “Back to Sleep.”
The Tortle Midliner is used for the smallest premature babies to infants up to 2.5 Kg.
Size ELBW:
- 17 to 22 cm head circumference
- Case # 65911
Size MP:
- 22 to 30 cm head circumference
- Case # 65901
Size P:
- 30 to 38 cm head circumference
- Case #65903
LUCKY ELEPHANT
At Home Tortle Positioning System
Since the AAP recommends that an infant’s head be turned while lying on their backs to avoid flat spots, the Lucky Elephant provide a means and plan to reposition your baby’s head every 2-3 hours. The Tortle Air not only prevents/treats flat head syndrome but treats head preference and strengthens neck muscles.
The Lucky Elephant is a unique, patented improvement to the original Tortle Air product. The Lucky Elephant has a new larger roll and 2 separate adjustments for proper “snug” head sizing. Silicone dots were added to the headband for secure positioning on the infant’s head. These new features are important for proper positioning of the roll on the infant’s head to treat or prevent plagiocephaly
Downloads
Documentation and Studies
Tortle and Physical Therapy VS Physical Therapy alone in Infants with Plagiocephaly. http://tortlebenelux.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Neumann-study-on-Tortle.pdf by Atkins, Tiffeny D.; Selby-Silverstein, Lisa; Leibrand, AbbyMarie; Russen, Carrie – Neumann University, in collaboration with Weisman Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital has lead a study regarding Tortle effectiveness on infants with plagiocephaly.
Cosmetic and cognitive outcomes of positional Plagiocephaly. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23043707, by MF Shamji – 2012 – Cited by 1 – Related articles Oct 6, 2012 – Cosmetic and cognitive·outcomes of positional Plagiocephaly treatment. Shamji MF, Fric-Shamji EC, Merchant P, Vassilyadi M. Division of…
Evidence-based care of the child with deformational Plagiocephaly. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22920774 by AB Flannery – 2012 – Cited by 1 – Related articles Evidence-based care of the child with deformational plagiocephaly, part II: management. Flannery AB, Looman WS, Kemper K. School of Nursing, University of Kansas…
Development at age 36 months in children with deformational Plagiocephaly. Collett BR, Gray KE, Starr JR, Heike CL, Cunningham ML, Speltz ML. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/131/1/e109.full.pdf . Kemper K.Evidence-based care of the child with deformational plagiocephaly, part II.
Plagiocephaly and brachycephaly in the first two years of life. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15466093 by BL Hutchison – 2004 – Cited by 164 – Related articles Plagiocephaly and brachycephaly in the first two years of life: a prospective cohort study. Hutchison BL, Hutchison LA, Thompson JM, Mitchell EA. Department of…
Motor development of infants with positional Plagiocephaly. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19842852 by E Kennedy – 2009 – Cited by 13 – Related articles Motor development of infants with positional plagiocephaly. Kennedy E, Majnemer A, Farmer JP, Barr RG, Platt RW. Department of Physical Therapy, Montreal…
Neurodevelopmental delays in children with deformational. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16404269 by RK Kordestani – 2006 – Cited by 58 – Related articles Neurodevelopmental delays in children with deformational plagiocephaly. Kordestani RK, Patel S, Bard DE, Gurwitch R, Panchal J. Division of Plastic…
Case-control study of neurodevelopment in deformational plagiocephaly. Speltz ML, Collett BR, Stott-Miller M, Starr JR, Heike http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2010/02/15/peds.2009-0052.
The incidence of positional plagiocephaly: a cohort study. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2013/07/02/peds.2012-3438.abstract by A Mawji – 2013 Jul 8, 2013 – The incidence of positional plagiocephaly: a cohort study. Mawji A, Vollman AR, Hatfield J, McNeil DA, Sauve R. School of Nursing, Faculty of…
Untreated Plagiocephaly. Cranial Technologies http://www.cranialtech.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=94&Itemid=81 . Treating your child’s plagiocephaly can be done at an early age before they’ll even remember it. However, we know that your family’s decision is often more…
Positional Plagiocephaly Treatment at Children’s Hospital Colorado. http://www.childrenscolorado.org/conditions-symptoms/conditions/positional-plagiocephaly Information about positional plagiocephaly, also known as deformational plagiocephaly, a condition in which one side of the back of a baby’s head is flattened.
The ‘Epidemic’ of Deformational Plagiocephaly and the American. http://www.oandp.org/jpo/library/2004_04S_005.asp > Publications > JPO > 2004 Vol. 16, Num. 4S The ‘Epidemic’ of Deformational Plagiocephaly and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Response. Wendy S. Biggs, MD. Historically, cradleboards and other [PDF].
Long-term developmental outcomes in patients with deformational. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/105/2/e26.full by RI Miller – 2000 – Cited by 128 – Related Articles Miller Rl, Clarren SK., Center for Human Development and Disability…
Neutral head positioning in premature infants for intraventricular. …http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22052118 , National Center for Biotec…by S Malusky – 2011 – Cited by 2 – Related articles Neonatal Netw. 2011 Nov-Dec;30(6):381-96. doi: 10.1891/0730-0832.30.6.381. Neutral head positioning in premature infants for intraventricular hemorrhage…
Decrease in the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH). http://integrisok.com/upload/docs/QuestforQuality/IVH%20bundle.pdf afar the introduction of an IVH prevention bundle in the NICU. SusanM Bedwell et Al, Neonatal Services,OU Medical Center, The Children’s Hospital, Oklahoma City, OK.
The Vermont Oxford Network: A Community of Practice. http://www.vtoxford.org/about/voncommunityofpractice.pdf by JD Horbar – 2010 – Cited by 37 – Related articles Abbreviations: CLD, chronic lung disease; IVH, intraventricular hemorrhage; NEC , necrotizing enterocolitis; PVL, periventricular leukomalacia; ROP, retinopathy…