EP0913138A1

EP0913138A1 - Patient support apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP0913138A1
Application number: EP98308518A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Richard Edmond Fletcher
Original assignee: Mangar International Ltd
Current assignee: Mangar International Ltd
Priority date: 1997-10-24
Filing date: 1998-10-19
Publication date: 1999-05-06
Also published as: GB9822636D0; GB2330771A; GB9722359D0

Abstract

Patient support apparatus (10) of the kind comprising a pair of pneumatically inflatable pneumatic bags (11,12) or cushions which, when placed on a bed (30) under a patient (34), can be selectively inflated to raise one or other side of the patient so as to assist the patient (34) to alter position or posture on the bed (30). The bags (11,12) overlap and are secured together to provide a central portion (22) which supports the unraised, loaded hip/spine.

Description

This invention concerns patient support apparatus of a kind (hereinafter called of "said kind") comprising a pair of pneumatically inflatable pneumatic bags or cushions, which when placed on a bed under a patient, can be selectively inflated to raise one or other side of the patient to assist the patient to alter position or posture on the bed.
Apparatus of said kind is disclosed in GB 2 231 790A, from FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 of which it can be seen that the patient is supported across his or her whole width by the bags when both bags are deflated (FIGURE 3); whereas when either bag is fully inflated whilst the other is deflated, one shoulder and/or hip is raised and the patient's spinal region becomes unsupported. We have found that this lack of support gives rise to problems of discomfort to the patient, exacerbation of the pain associated with spinal injuries, increase in the risk of injury to the patient when being turned, and other related problems. Similar problems are associated with the apparatus disclosed by Bethlen in British Patent Application No. 89072244.1.
In order to reduce and avoid said problems as far as possible, apparatus of said kind is according to the present invention characterised in that the two bags overlap for most of their length by at least one quarter, and preferably one third to two thirds, of their individual widths, so as to form a composite patient turning structure having a middle portion which supports the patient during turning.
Each bag preferably has an outer lateral margin remote from the other bag, and an inner lateral margin overlying or overlaid by the other bag, which margins extend between the ends of the bags. Each bag is preferably formed from a single sheet of impervious flexible material, folded to produce the outside lateral margin and seamed to produce the inner lateral margin. The two bags are preferably secured, e.g. bonded, together along or close to their inner margins for at least part of the length of the structure.
Inflation inlets are preferably disposed at the ends or in the outer lateral margins of the bags, away from contact with the patient.
The support apparatus preferably also includes one or more of the following inflatable devices:
(a) a backrest support and elevator,
(b) a kneerest support and elevator,
(c) a footrest and elevator,
(d) a leg support, elevator and side guard.
The apparatus preferably serves as a bed overlay which includes the composite structure and one or more of the inflatable devices, which may be located, e.g. selectively and releasably linked together by ties, flaps or by "Velcro" (a Trade Mark) strips, so that the inflatable devices may be employed selectively in a required combination.
The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein:-
FIGURE 1 shows a transverse cross section through a patient turning structure of apparatus of the invention, in a partially inflated or "mattress" condition;
FIGURE 2 shows the patient turning structure in a wholly deflated flat condition;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a patient lying on a bed with the patient turning structure interposed between the patient and a mattress of the bed;
FIGURES 4A, B and C are diagrams showing stages of inflation during use of the patient turning structure;
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of apparatus of the invention on a bed; and
FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of apparatus of the invention on a bed.
The patient turning structure 10 comprises an upper bag 11 and a lower bag 12. Each bag 11,12 is made from a single sheet of flexible, impermeable and substantially inelastic material which is folded to provide an upper panel 13 and a lower panel 14 joined by an outside folded lateral margin 15, and seamed along its edges to form an inner lateral margin 16 which extends between two end seams 17.
An inlet formation 18 to which a hose pipe 19 is attached is bonded to each lateral margin 15, for passage of air into and out of the bags 11,12.
The bags overlap substantially for more than half of their uninflated widths (e.g. about two thirds of their individual width) and are secured together by bonds 20 disposed near to the outside margins, so as to provide a double bag thick central portion 22 in the structure 10.
The structure may be elongate but in this embodiment each bag is rectangular so that the deflated structure is almost square, but may be wider than it is long or vice versa. The width of the structure is commensurate with the width of a standard hospital or single divan bed 30 (FIGURE 3) and its length (extending longitudinally of the bed 30) is sufficient to support an adult's lumbar region as well as the thighs, hips, most of the abdominal region or lower spine, and, if the person is suitably positioned, the person's shoulders.
In use, the device will normally be laid flat across a mid-part of a bed, and being thin and flexible will not detract significantly from the comfort afforded by the mattress 31 of the bed. If a person 34 requires support for the lumbar region whilst lying partially on one side the appropriate bag, e.g. the bag 12 shown in FIGURE 3, can be inflated behind the person to the degree required.
If the person 34 requires extra cushioning for the lumbar region whilst lying flat, both bags can be inflated, partially and equally, to provide an air mattress between the person and the mattress 31.
If the person 34 needs to be rocked gently, the bags 11,12 can be alternatively inflated at a frequency and to an extent which can be selected.
When the patient 34 needs to be turned one bag is substantially inflated so as to progressively lift one side of the person 34 as indicated in FIGURES 4A, B and C until the person is resting substantially on one side. During this process the inflated bag (upper bag 11 in this example) provides a raised abutment to assist the turning movement whilst cushioning the person's loaded (lower) hip 33 is provided by the central portion 22 and residual air in the other bag 12, e.g. as indicated in FIGURE 4C. When the person reaches a stable position resting on one side said one bag (e.g. the bag 11) can be deflated to permit free access to the person's back.
During the reverse movement, said one bag 11 can be partially re-inflated, before being deflated as the other bag (12) is being inflated, so as to cushion the person during the turning movement.
The device 10 minimises translocation of the person 34 across the bed during turning, and, at any time during inflation of one bag, the other bag can be inflated as required to inhibit or limit translocation, so that side rails and side guards, which severely hinder access to the person and cause attendants to bend over unnecessarily, are not needed.
The device 10 preferably forms part of multi-function person support apparatus shown in FIGURE 5, which apparatus further comprises a sitting aid in the form of combined, fully pneumatic, head and back support and lifting device 43 generally as disclosed in our GB 2 301 028A; to allow a person 34 of limited mobility positioned on the bed 31 to change that position without the assistance of a carer by inflation of chambers 11,12 and 43 in combination, thus providing optimum positions for feeding, reading, sleeping or person hygiene.
The apparatus may include, as shown in FIGURE 6, a side wall device 60 and a footrest or footstop device 46, both of similar construction to the pneumatic leg lifting and bed safety wall device shown in FIGURE 7 of our GB 2 267 430A with means to hold them along the side and across the end of the bed 30; together with a duplicate 40 of device 10 containing chambers 41 and 42 is added to allow separate positioning of the lower limbs 54 of a person 34 (not shown) to aid pressure relief of the knees 55 and 56 and ankles 57 and 58 (areas of high risk of forming pressure sores/necrotic tissue). The devices 10 and 40 may be pneumatically and mechanically connected.
The apparatus in this embodiment includes a soft and resilient (e.g. plastics or elastomeric) porous foam overlay pad or a fibre filled pad 49, similar to a known duvet, which may be laid on the devices 10, 40, 43.
All the devices in the apparatus are operable by a low pressure compressed air supply via valves which are either selectively operable via a manually actuable remote control unit or handset, or by a control box 61 to selectively inflate and deflate the devices and the bags thereof via respective hoses or lines 19, 44, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 62. Control box 61 can be configured to vary the control of the air system that operates the devices 43, 10, 40, 46 and 60 between the patient 34, the carer and an automatic control.
The invention is not confined to details of the foregoing examples, and many variations are possible within the scope of the invention. The invention includes and provides patient support apparatus or a turning device which includes any novel part or functional feature, or novel combination of parts and/or functional features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawings. For example, the device 10 may have a bag extension thereon to overlie and partially accommodate the backrest bag 43.
The terms and expressions used herein are by way of example only and shall be deemed to encompass and disclose synonymous terms, equivalent terms and terms generic thereto.

Claims

Patient support apparatus (10) comprising two pneumatically inflatable pneumatic bags (11 and 12) which, when placed on a bed under a patient (30), can be selectively inflated to raise one or other side of the patient to assist the patient to alter position or posture on the bed (30), characterised in that the two bags (11,12) overlap for most of their length by at least one quarter of their individual widths so as to form a composite patient turning structure having a middle portion (22) which supports the patient during turning.
Patient support apparatus (10) according to Claim 1 in which the said bags overlap for most of their length by one third to two thirds of their individual widths.
Patient support apparatus (10) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which each bag (11,12) has an outer lateral margin (15) remote from the other bag, and an inner lateral margin (16) overlying or overlaid by the other bag, which margins (15,16) extend between the ends of the bags.
Patient support apparatus (10) according to Claim 3 in which each bag (11,12) is formed from a single sheet of impervious flexible material, folded to produce the outside lateral margin (15) and seamed to produce the inner lateral margin (16).
Patient support apparatus (10) according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 in which the two bags (11,12) are secured together along or close to their inner margins (16) for at least part of the length of the structure (10).
Patient support apparatus (10) according to any of Claims 3 to 5 in which inflation inlets (18) are disposed at the ends or in the outer lateral margins (15) of the bags (11,12), away from contact with the patient.
Patient support apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims in which the apparatus also includes one or more of the following inflatable devices:

(a) a backrest support (43) and elevator,

(b) a kneerest support (40) and elevator,

(c) a footrest (46) and elevator,

(d) a leg support (40), elevator and side guard (60).
Patient support apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims in which the apparatus (10) serves as a bed overlay which includes the composite structure and one or more of the inflatable devices (10,40,43,46,60), which are located so that the inflatable devices may be employed selectively in a required combination.
Patient support apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.