The present invention relates to a hospital bed. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hospital bed having siderails, an articulating deck, and a mattress.
Hospital bed and other patient supports are known. Typically, such patient supports are used to provide a support surface for patients or other individuals for treatment, recuperation, or rest. Many such patient supports include a frame, a deck supported by the frame, a mattress, siderails configured to block egress of a patient from the mattress, and a controller configured to control one or more features of the bed.
Additional features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of an illustrated embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
A detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
A patient support 10 according to the present disclosure is shown in
Base frame 12 is supported on the floor by a plurality of caster wheels 28 and a centered or fifth wheel assembly 30. Intermediate frame 14 is coupled on each end to extendable columns 31 which can be extended or retracted to position intermediate frame 14 and deck 16 in the Trendelenburg or Reverse Trendelenburg positions. Additional details of suitable extendable columns is provided in French Patent Publication No. FR2780638, titled “Hospital bed with telescoping columns,” filed Jul. 1, 1998, to Robic Dominique, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Deck 16 is configured to articulate between a plurality of positions. Deck 16 includes a head section 32, a seat section 34, a thigh section 36, and a foot section 38 which are pivotably coupled together.
Head end siderails 24 are coupled to head section 32 and may be moved between raised and lowered positions by siderail linkages 40. Additional details of suitable siderail linkages are provided in PCT Publication No. WO 02/32271 A 1, titled “Bed with Articulated Barrier Elements,” filed Oct. 18, 2000, to Hensley et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,163,903, titled “Chair Bed,” filed Feb. 4, 1998, to Weismiller et al, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. Foot end siderails 26 are coupled to intermediate frame 14 by siderail linkages 40 between thigh section 36 and foot section 38 and can also be moved between raised and lowered positions.
A control system is provided to control various functions of patient support 10. The control system and the remainder of patient support 10 are powered by a building's power supply through an AC plug connector 44 coupled to a building outlet 46. If AC plug connector 44 is unplugged from building outlet 46 or the building's power is lost, patient support 10 is powered by a battery (not shown) supported by base frame 12.
As shown in
Lower portion 56 of head section siderail 24 and lower portion 66 of foot section siderail 26 are also shaped to correspond with one another so that a gap 72 defined between lower portions 56, 66 remains substantially constant during articulation of deck 16. During articulation of deck 16, a gap 74 defined between upper portions 66, 52 narrows significantly while gap 72 between lower portions 60, 58 remains substantially constant. In the articulated orientation with both siderails 24, 26 in the raised position, as shown in
As shown in
Head section 32 is pivotably and slidably coupled to a channel or rail 78 at pivot axis 76 (shown in phantom). Rail 78 is coupled to intermediate frame 14. Rail 78 includes a slot (not shown) that allows pivot axis 76 of head section 32 to slide horizontally as head section 32 is moved between the substantially coplanar position as shown in
Referring now to
Head section siderail 24 also includes angle indicator 88 which, in the preferred embodiment, includes a slot formed in siderail 24 and a ball bearing movable in the slot to indicate the angle of inclination of head section 32 relative to intermediate frame 14. Head section siderail 24 also includes recessed portions 90, 92 along lower edge 94 of head section siderail 24. Recessed portions 90, 92 allow a caregiver to comfortably stand beside patient support 10 when head section siderail 24 is in the lowered position without interfering with the care givers' feet.
Foot section siderail 26 also includes an angle indicator 96 which, in the preferred embodiment, includes a slot formed in siderail 26 and a ball bearing movable in the slot to indicate the angle of inclination of intermediate frame 14 relative to the floor. Position indicator 96 can be used to determine the position of deck 16 relative to the floor during movement by columns 31. Additional description of angle indicators 88, 96 is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,310, titled “Bed Side Rails,” filed Jan. 12, 1998, to Weismiller et al., the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Foot section siderail 26 also includes recessed portions 98 on a lower edge 110. Recessed portions 98 are shaped to allow a caregiver to stand adjacent patient support 10 when siderail 26 is in the lowered position. Recessed portions 98 are shaped to eliminate or minimize contact with the caregivers' feet when he or she is positioned next to patient support 10.
As shown in
Siderail controls 112 are configured to actuate a shock feature of patient support 10. Referring now to
Referring now to
As shown in
Curved portions 128, 130 and corner portion 122 of head deck panel 114 converge together to narrow gaps 124, 126, 132. In the preferred embodiment, hand holes 134 are provided in corner portions 122 of head deck panel 114 to permit a caregiver to grab head section deck panel 114 to move patent support 10. In the preferred embodiment, curved portions 128, 130, and corner portion 122 are provided at each corner of the longitudinal end of the head end of patient support 10. According to alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, the converging portions are also provided on the foot end of the patient support.
Referring now to
Deck panels 116, 118, 120 also include gap fillers 142 positioned adjacent the ends of head and foot end siderails 24, 26. In the preferred embodiment, gap fillers 142 are semicircular-shaped or half moon-shaped and are integral with deck panels 116, 118, 120. Gap fillers 142 are positioned under mattress 18 when mattress 18 is positioned on deck panels 116, 118, 120. As shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
As shown in
Battery enable switch 154 is a momentary switch such as a push button in the preferred embodiment, although any other suitable switch could be used. In the preferred embodiment, switch 154 includes a light emitting diode (LED) enclosed in a translucent or transparent plastic housing. The LED is “on” (i.e., illuminated) when either AC or battery power is being supplied to patient support 10. When patient support 10 is disconnected from AC power, such as when a plug 44 is disconnected from wall socket 46, switch 154 ceases being illuminated.
When AC power to patient support 10 is cutoff, a timing circuit (not shown) is initiated. In the preferred embodiment, after patient support 10 is disconnected from AC power for twenty minutes and any of the electrically controlled features of patient support 10 have not been actuated for a time period of twenty minutes, patient support 10 is placed in sleep mode. In sleep mode, minimal power is provided to patient support 10 by the battery backup system. During sleep mode, the electrical operable functions of patient support 10 are disabled.
In the preferred embodiment, when the patient support 10 is running on battery power provided by the battery, activation of one of the battery enable switches 154 causes patient support 10 to switch out of sleep mode and receive sufficient power from the battery so that at least certain electrically operational functions of patient support 10, such as movement of patient support 10 into emergency Trendelenburg position, can be performed. In the illustrated embodiment, battery enable switch 154 is activated by the application of pressure on one of switches 154 with ones' finger. According to an alternative embodiment, the battery enable switches are not provided and activating any one of the bed function control buttons while patient support 10 is in sleep mode will switch it out of sleep mode.
In the preferred embodiment, the timing circuit waits for a predetermined time period of twenty minutes so that if no operational activity occurs within the twenty minute period after the battery enable switch 154 has been activated or since the previous operational activity, patient support 10 enters sleep mode. If one of the bed function control buttons is activated within the twenty minute time period, the timing circuit is reset to zero. In this manner, battery power is conserved and a smaller battery can be used to support the battery system.
Battery enable switches 154 permit patient support 10 to meet regulatory requirements by enabling at least certain of the bed's operational features to be operable on battery backup power only when needed. According to alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, the timing circuit can be set to enter sleep mode after any predetermined time period, such as five minutes, one hour, etc. Details of another suitable battery enable system is provided in U.S. Patent Application Ser. 60/408,698, titled “Hospital Bed,” filed Sep. 6, 2002, to Menkedick et al., the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Referring now to
Brake 156 includes a brake pedal 160 that rotates an octagonal brake shaft 158 to move brake 156 between the braked and unbraked positions. A lever 161 is coupled to brake shaft 158 so that as brake shaft 158 rotates, lever 161 also rotates. Additional details of a suitable brake is provided in French Patent Application FR02 02510, titled “Cadre de Dispositif a Usage Medical Ou Paramedical de Support Roulant d'une Personne, a Roulettes Facilement Demontables, et Dispositif Ainse Equuipe”, filed Feb. 28, 2002, to Gippert et al., and corresponding PCT Application No. unknown claiming priority, to Gippert et al., which claims priority to French Patent Application FR 02 02510, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by disclosure herein.
A switch 162 is provided that is coupled to a brake alarm controller (not shown) of the control system via wires 164. Switch 162 includes a spring 166 positioned adjacent to lever 161. Switch 162 is coupled to frame 24 by another spring 167. In the preferred embodiment, spring 167 is made of a resilient metallic material to permit some movement of switch 162.
When brake 156 is in the braked position, as shown in
When the brake alarm controller determines that brake 156 is no longer in the braked position, it determines if patient support 10 is still plugged into an AC power source such as wall socket 46. If plug 44 of patient support 10 is plugged in to wall socket 46 and receiving AC power while brake 156 is in the unbraked position, an alarm such as an audible alarm and/or a flashing indicator light on control panel 112 will signal to warn the caregiver not to move patient support 10 until plug 44 is removed from wall socket 46.
Referring now to
Fifth wheel assembly 30 includes a caster wheel 168 that rolls along the floor and is configured to pivot or swivel about a vertical axis 170. Fifth wheel assembly 30 further includes a wheel position holder 172 configured to permit such swiveling. However, position holder 172 also encourages or urges caster wheel 168 to remain in predetermined orientation relative to vertical axis 170.
As shown in
Positioning fifth wheel 168 parallel to or perpendicular to longitudinal axis 174 of patient support 10 allows a caregiver to easily steer patient support 10 during movement of patient support 10 in a hallway or in a patient's room. Another suitable fifth wheel assembly is described in French Patent No. 2783463, titled “Rolling support for medical usage, has wheel held by bracket mounted on support shaft, carried in spring loaded sliding housing, which has lower edge profiled to fit on to roller cam fitted to support shaft,” filed Sep. 9, 1998, to Pascal Guguin, the disclosure of which is herein expressly incorporated by reference.
Position holder 172 is configured to permit movement of wheel 168 to either the first parallel position or the second perpendicular position. However, if wheel 168 is positioned between these two positions, position holder 172 urges wheel 168 back toward either the first parallel position or the second perpendicular position. Thus, if wheel 168 is in an intermediate position as shown in
Fifth wheel assembly 30 further includes a base 180 coupled to frame 24 as shown in
Base 180 is saddle-shaped and includes a pair of side plates 182 and a middle plate 184 extending between side plates 182. Side plates 182 include openings 185, 186, 188. Position holder 172 includes a saddle-shaped base 190 coupled between side plates 182. Base 190 includes opening 192 (one not shown) corresponding to openings 185 of side plates 182 and a bearing-receiving opening 192 as shown in
Wheel assembly 30 further includes a post or stem 194 positioned to extend through an opening 196 formed in middle plate 184 of base 180. A first upper link 198 is rigidly coupled to stem 194 and a second lower link 210 is pivotably coupled to first upper link 198 by a rod 212. Wheel 168 is rotatably coupled to second lower link 210 by an axle 214.
Wheel assembly 30 includes a pair of gas springs or biasers 216 pivotably coupled to upper link 198 by a first coupler 218 and pivotably coupled to lower link 210 by a second coupler 220. Gas springs 216 urges wheel 168 into contact with the floor surface. Thus, if wheel 168 encounters a pump or depression on the floor, wheel 168 travels up or down and remains in contact with the floor.
As shown in
As shown in
First cam member 236 includes three spacers 240, two ball bearings 242, and a pin 244. Pin 244 is inserted through opening 186 in side plates 182, spacers 240, and ball bearings 242 to support bearings 242 above second cam member 238 as shown in
Second cam member 238 includes an upper collar 246 having a sinusoidal cam surface 248, a shoulder 248, a shaft 250, and a square keyed portion 252. When fifth wheel assembly 30 is fully assembled, second cam member 238 is positioned in opening 222 of stem 194 and spring 237 as shown in
In the preferred embodiment, cam surface 248 on the upper end of second cam member 238 has a smooth sinusoidal profile that includes a pair of first peaks 258, a pair of second peaks 260, a pair of first valleys 262, and a pair of second valleys 264. Each respective first peak 258, second peak, 260, first valley 262, and second valley 264 is positioned opposite one another about vertical axis 170 of stem 194. Peaks 258, 260 separate valleys 262, 264 so that valleys 262, 264 are spaced approximately 90° apart on cam surface 248 about axis 266.
Valleys 264 are slightly deeper than valleys 262 in the preferred embodiment. According to alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, the cam surface has fewer or more valleys and peaks, peaks with sharp contours or other contours to provide other suitable profiles.
When fifth wheel assembly 30 is assembled, cam surface 248 is pushed upward into contact with ball bearings 242 so that ball bearings 242 “roll over” cam surface 248. Referring now to
When wheel 168 is in one of the four positions, ball bears 242 are positioned in either first valleys 262 or second valleys 264 as shown in
Because valleys 264 are deeper than valleys 262, the radial components of the normal forces are greater. Thus, it is easier to move from the second perpendicular position to the first parallel position and vice versa. Because cam surface 238 is smooth, the transition of wheel 168 from one position to position is also smooth.
To move wheel 168 from the first parallel position to the second perpendicular position, a caregiver pushes on patient support 10 in a transverse direction. This force creates torque on wheel 168 and urges ball bearings 242 to ride up one of peaks 258, 260. Once wheel 168 has rotated approximately 45°, ball bearings 242 are positioned on top of peaks 258, 260. With further movement of wheel 168 about axis 166, ball bearings 242 and wheels 168 are urged toward the second perpendicular position.
To move wheel 168 from the second perpendicular position to the first parallel position, a caregiver pushes on patient support 10 in a longitudinal direction. This force creates torque on wheel 168 and urges ball bearings 242 to ride up one of peaks 258, 260. Once wheel 168 has rotated approximately 45°, ball bearings 242 are positioned on top of peaks 258, 260. With further movement of wheel 168 about axis 166, ball bearings 242 and wheels 168 are urged toward the first parallel position.
Fifth wheel 168 is rotated between being parallel to the longitudinal axis of patient support 10 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of patient support 10 and vice versa by a caregiver gently pushing patient support 10 from either one of the head or foot end or along one of the longitudinal sides of patient support 10.
Preferably, instructions for the assembly, installation, and/or use of patient support 10 are provided with patient support 10 or otherwise communicated to permit a person or machine to assemble, install and/or use patient support 10. Such instructions may include a description of any or all portions of patient support 10 and/or any or all of the above-described assembly, installation, and use of patient support 10 or components of patient support 10. The instructions may be provided on separate papers and/or on the packaging in which patient support 10 is sold or shipped. These instructions may also be provided over the Internet or other communication system. Furthermore, the instructions may be embodied as text, pictures, audio, video, or any other medium or method of communicating instructions known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
The features of the present disclosure have been described with respect to beds, but they can also be used on examination tables, stretchers, gurneys, wheel chairs, chair beds, or any other patient support devices for supporting a person during rest, treatment, or recuperation.
Unless otherwise stated herein, the figures are proportional. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the present invention as described and defined in the following claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/557,524, filed Nov. 8, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, which is the U.S. national phase under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/US2004/016260, which has an international filing date of May 20, 2004, designating the United States of America, and which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/472,260, filed May 21, 2003, the disclosures of each of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60472260 | May 2003 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10557524 | Nov 2006 | US |
Child | 12630153 | US |