Patient Support ApparatusThis invention relates to patient support apparatus and particularly but not exclusively to patient support apparatus usable on a bed.
Conventional bed sides comprising a plurality of spaced bars used to prevent patients falling out of bed can cause pain or injury if accidentally knocked by a patient. Further, patients have in the past trapped limbs or other parts of their body between the bars of such sides.
Additionally, in certain medical conditions a patient can find a part of their body becoming particularly hot and uncomfortable in bed. For example, patients with Parkinsons disease frequently have hot feet and there is a need to provide circulation at that part of the bed. Another problem often encountered by disabled persons in bed is that they experience difficulty in turning over and have to have assistance with this.
Persons who remain in the same position for any length of time can develop decubitis (bed sores) and should thus be moved regularly to avoid this condition developing. A number of systems involving inflatable cushions have been proposed but a disadvantage encountered with these is that a patient can inadvertently fall from the bed.
According to the present invention there is provided patient support apparatus comprising two inflatable elongate side cushions each extendable on top of and alongside a respective side of a bed for a substantial part of the length thereof, such that, when inflated, the cushions prevent a patient from rolling sideways off the bed.
Preferably each cushion comprises a plurality of discrete compartments along the length thereof whereby selective inflation of one or more compartments can lift the bed clothes off a patient at one or more locations.
The apparatus preferably comprises a cover extending between the side cushions and engagable over a mattress.
The apparatus preferably also includes two further inflatable elongate turning cushions extendable between, and substantially parallel to, the side cushions such that selective relative inflation or deflation of one or both of the turning cushions causes a patient lying on the apparatus to turn.
Control means are preferably provided to permit the selective inflation and deflation of the side and turning cushions.
The control means may include a unit which can be hand held such that the apparatus may be controlled by a patient lying on the bed. The control means may provide for automatic operation of the apparatus, i.e. selective inflation and deflation of the cushions. The control means may be programmable such that the apparatus may automatically operate for a required period of time with the sequence, rate and extent of inflation and deflation of the respective cushions being adjustable.
The apparatus may also comprise an inflatable foot lifting cushion locatable adjacent the lower ends of the turning cushions and engagable with the foot or feet of a patient lying on the apparatus to lift and move the foot or feet away from the patients body when the lifting cushion is inflated.
The apparatus may also include means to move a patient to a sitting position and this may comprise a selectively inflatable pillow.
Alternatively the means for moving a patient to a sitting position may include an inflatable wedge shaped cushion engagable beneath a patient's head and back, and arranged, when inflated, to point towards the patient's feet. An inflatable knee cushion may also be provided engagable beneath the patient's knees whereby to raise the knees when inflated, and prevent the patient sliding off the wedge shaped cushion. The knee lifting cushion is desirably connected to the wedge shaped cushion by a portion engagable beneath the patient's buttocks, and which may be inflatable. A cushion, which may be inflatable, may also be provided to support the patient's heels and this cushion desirably extends from the free end of the knee lifting cushion.
The cushions and cover are preferably provided with a smooth outer surface whereby bed clothes may slide thereover.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of apparatus according to the present invention fitted on a bed;Figs. 2 to 4 are diagrammatic end views of further apparatus according to the invention in use;Fig. 5 is a plan view of part of a still further apparatus according to the invention; Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic side views of the apparatus of Fig. 5 in use; andFig. 8 is a diagrammatic side view of part of another apparatus according to the present invention.
Fig. 1 shows patient support apparatus 10 comprising a pair of elongate inflatable cushions 12 fitted on a bed 14. The cushions 12 are mounted on a cover 16 extending over the mattress of the bed 14 in the manner of a sheet, so that each cushion 12 lies adjacent and alongside a respective side of the bed. The cushions 12 extend from the foot end of the bed to a position corresponding substantially to the shoulders of a person lying on the bed thereby permitting the person to see out of the bed.
The cushions 12 are connected to a control box (not shown) which includes blowers and valves to permit selective inflation and deflation of the cushions as required. A control panel is provided to actuate and/or program the control box. The control panel may be constructed such that it can be hand held by a person on the bed to control the apparatus.
The cover 16 and cushions 12 are made of a plastics material with a relatively smooth surface to permit bed clothes to readily slide thereover and also to permit easy cleaning.
In use, the apparatus is fitted on the bed 14 by sliding the cover 16 over the mattress in a conventional manner as with a sheet and connecting together belts with quick release connectors (not shown) fitted to both side edges of the cover, beneath the bed. One or each of the cushions 12 is deflated (if necessary) to permit a patient to get onto the bed. The cushions 12 are then both inflated to provide sides for the bed thereby preventing the patient from falling out of the bed.
The cushions 12 have a number of advantages over conventional bed sides in that they are comfortable if knocked by a patient on the bed. Further they are easy to clean and do not trap parts of the body.
If required the cushions 12 can be transversely divided into discrete sections with each section selectively inflatable or deflatable. This feature permits bed clothes to be raised off a particular part of a patient's body. If required, the control box can be programmed to inflate or deflate certain sections for required periods of time. For instance, sufferers fromParkinson's disease frequently suffer from hot feet. In this situation if the sections of the cushions 12 nearest the foot end of the bed are inflated the covers will be kept off the feet of a patient on the bed permitting free circulation of air therearound.
Figs. 2 to 4 illustrate apparatus similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that two further elongate cushions 20 are provided. The cushions 20 each extend parallel to and between the cushions 12. The cushions 20 are each mounted on the cover 16 substantially along the centre line thereof and each extends on a respective side of the centre line. Selective relative inflation or deflation of one or both of the cushions 20 permits a patient on the bed 14 to be turned as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.
Inflation and deflation of the cushions 20 is again accomplished by the control box via the control panel and may be controlled as and when required by the patient on the bed or another person. Alternatively the control box may be programmed to provide for a regular sequence of turning of a patient thereby preventing the development of decubitis (bed sores). The cushions 12 prevent a patient falling out of bed during the turning provided by the cushions 20.
If required, both cushions 20 can be partially inflated to support a patient particularly at the heels, buttocks and shoulders, thereby making small adjustments of movement for the patient much easier than on a conventional bed. The cushions 20 can be made of a similar material to the cushions 12 and cover 16 thereby providing for the advantages as outlined above.
For patients with curvature of the spine and consequent breathing difficulties the lengths of the cushions 20 can be made so as to extend just beneath the trunk of the patient whereby inflation of the cushions will raise the patient into a required position to raise their chest to assist with breathing.
Figs. 5 to 7 show similar apparatus to Figs. 2 to 4 except a further inflatable foot raising cushion 30 is provided. The cushion 30 is mounted on the cover 16 to underlie a patient's feet at the end of the cushions 20.
The cushion 30 is generally wedge shaped when inflated to point towards the patient. The cushion is mounted on the cover 16 at the pointed end of the cushion and contains an elastic band 32 such that when inflated the upper surface of the cushion 30 both rises and moves away from the patient thereby extending the patient's leg as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.
Alternatively the areas 46 and 50 can comprise small inflatable cushions which when inflated take the weight off a person's buttocks and heels. Selective inflation and deflation of these cushions 46,50 would provide movement of these parts of the patient's body thereby preventing the formation of decubitis.
Some patients, such as sufferers from muscular dystrophy, suffer from severe flexion of the knees causing their legs to adopt a position similar to that shown inFig. 6. Inflation of the cushion 30 causes the leg to straighten to the position shown in Fig. 7. Normally a physiotherapist is required to periodically straighten the person's legs in this manner so with this embodiment this requirement can be dispensed with. Again the cushion 30 is controlled by a control box and may be programmed to regularly straighten a patient's leg.
Fig. 8 shows an attachment 40 usable with the apparatus of Fig. 1 to raise a patient to a sitting position. The attachment 40 may be mounted on the cover 16 either permanently or removably, or may simply be placed beneath the patient. The attachment 40 comprises a first cushion 42 which presents an inclined face 44, when inflated, engagable with the back of a patient.
Extending from the cushion 42 is a padded area 46 engagable beneath a patient's buttocks. Extending from the end of the area 46 remote from the first cushion 42 is a second cushion 48 which, when inflated, substantially adopts the shape of an inverted rounded 'V' to engage beneath a patient's knees. A further padded area 50 extends from the far side of the cushion 48 to support the patient's heel.
There is thus described a patient support apparatus permitting a patient to be restrained on a bed, the further embodiments providing for turning of the patient, straightening of the legs, and raising the patient to a sitting position. All the embodiments of the apparatus are of relatively simple construction and can thus be inexpensively and robustly manufactured. The feature of the hand holdable control panel permits the apparatus to be operated by the patient himself. Programming of the control box provides for automatic operation of the apparatus thereby relieving the requirement for constant assistance of a patient or for a person to, for example, have to turn a patient during the night. The apparatus when fully deflated is relatively light and compact thus making the apparatus easy to store and transport.
Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example further cushions may be provided including if necessary an inflatable pillow. The elongate cushions may extend for shorter or greater distances than described.