Patent Application
20250134738
The present application describes a system developed to enable the bathing of a user lying in a bed.
Document WO2018126347A1 describes a bathing and nursing bed, comprising a nursing bed (10) and a bathing bed (20) provided on the nursing bed (10). The nursing bed (10) is provided with a discharge opening (13); the bathing bed (20) comprises a thin-layer inflatable space (23) consisting of a bottom layer (22) and a surface layer (21), and a loop layer (24) surrounding the periphery of the thin-layer inflatable space (23); when the bathing bed (20) is not inflated, the bathing bed can be easily laid on the nursing bed (10), and when the bathing bed is inflated, the loop layer (24) swells up to form an enclosing wall body, and is higher than the thin-layer inflatable space (23) so as to form a bath tub; moreover, a headrest body (25), a lumbar pad body (26), and a leg pad body (27) on the surface layer (21) also swell up and raise a patient, thereby facilitating a nursing staff in cleaning the body of the patient; bathwater automatically flows towards an outfall (211), and then is collected and guided into the discharge opening (13) to flow to a water collection trough (14). Whereby, the present invention can directly and quickly help a patient to take a hot bath on the nursing bed (10) and is easy to use and humanized.
Document CN106344304A describes a nursing bed having bathing and urine and feces cleaning functions and used for bedridden patients. A bathing device, a turning over device, an excreting device and a sewage tank are arranged on a bed body, wherein a bed surface adopts a fine-screen-shaped medical silica gel structure; the bathing device comprises a hair washing part and a foot washing part, the hair washing part comprises a head support plate embedded into the bed surface; the foot washing part comprises a foot basin cover plate and a foot basin, and the foot basin cover plate is embedded into the bed surface; the turning over device comprises a left turning over mechanism and a right turning over mechanism which adopt the same structure, and the left turning over mechanism and the right turning over mechanism implement turning over by tilting shoulder support plates, waist support plates and buttock support plates under driving of turning over hand wheels; the excreting device comprises an excreting bed pan cover plate and an excreting bed pan, and the excreting bed pan cover plate is embedded into the bed surface. The nursing bed integrates toilet functions, the problem that the various conventional nursing beds are inconvenient to use and have single function is solved, the happiness index of the patients can be increased to a greater extent, and the patients are full of confidence in living.
The present invention describes a system for bathing bedridden patients comprising a mobile unit; and a cover installed over a bed on which a patient is laying; wherein the mobile unit is configured to deliver a water blend to the laying patient, enabling the bathing of said patient; and wherein the cover is adapted to promote the protection of the bed, retaining the resulting bating water blend of the patient inside a delimiting area defined by said cover.
In a proposed embodiment, the developed system comprises a docking station configured to receive and couple the mobile unit, promoting at least one of a refill of a hot water reservoir or a refill of a cold water reservoir or a refill of a disinfectant reservoir or a refill of a shower gel reservoir or an energy charge of a control unit of said mobile unit.
The present invention also describes the mobile unit for bathing bedridden patients which comprises at least one of a hot water reservoir, a cold water reservoir and a control unit.
In a proposed embodiment, the control unit of the mobile unit is configured to deliver a water blend to a laying patient within a temperature range between 29° C. and 38° C.
In a proposed embodiment, the mobile unit comprises a dirty water reservoir configured to receive bating water blend of the patient through a drainage valve comprised in the cover.
In a proposed embodiment, the mobile unit comprises a shower gel reservoir, a disinfectant reservoir and an ultra-violet disinfection lamp.
The present invention also describes a docking station for receiving and coupling the mobile unit for bathing bedridden patients according to any of the previous claims, comprising at least one of a charging unit, a power unit, an admission microfilter, an ultra-violet disinfection lamp and a heating unit.
In a proposed embodiment, the docking station comprises a disinfectant reservoir, a shower gel reservoir and an output microfilter.
In a proposed embodiment, the docking station comprises a water pressure connector configured to load the hot water reservoir with water provided by the heating unit; a water pressure connector configured to load the cold water reservoir with water provided by a admission microfilter connected to a faucet; a disinfectant connector configured to load the disinfectant reservoir with disinfectant provided by the disinfectant reservoir; a shower gel connector configured to load the shower gel reservoir with shower gel provided by the shower gel reservoir; a control unit electromagnetic lock; and a set of electrical connectors.
The present invention also describes a cover comprising a rectangular-shaped central part comprising a set of upper and lower wings located in each of the narrowest sides of the rectangular-shaped central part; a set of side wings comprised in each of the longest sides of the rectangular-shaped central part; and at least a drainage valve wherein the set of upper and lower wings and the set of side wings are seamlessly connected to the rectangular-shaped central part and further comprise longitudinal connection points that allow the merge of the upper and lower wings to each of the side wings.
In a proposed embodiment, the longitudinal connection points of the cover comprise adjusting elements therein located that promote the adaptation of the cover to the shape and format of various existing bed mattress or to the shape and format of various existing bed types.
In a proposed embodiment, the upper and lower wings of the cover are respectively supported by a headboard and a footboard of a bed and therein adjusted and fitted by means of the adjusting elements, promoting the composition of a tub-shaped receptacle that surrounds the patient all around.
In a proposed embodiment, the cover comprises a hydrophobic textile composition with antibacterial and antiviral properties.
The present invention also describes a coating composition with antimicrobial activity comprising a water-based acrylic resin between 80 and 99.95% (w/w) and at least one antimicrobial agent between 0.05 and 20% (w/w).
In a proposed embodiment, the water-based acrylic resin of the coating composition is a water-based acrylic resin copolymerized with styrene.
In a proposed embodiment, the antimicrobial agent of the coating composition is selected from metallic nanoparticles with a diameter between 20 and 200 nm.
In a proposed embodiment, the metallic nanoparticles of the coating composition are silver, TiO2 or CuO nanoparticles.
In a proposed embodiment, the antimicrobial agent of the coating composition is selected from biguanides, such as chlorhexidine digluconate and Poly(hexamethylenebicyanoguanide-hexamethylenediamine) hydrochloride.
In a proposed embodiment, the composition of the coating further comprises a quaternary ammonium compound in a concentration up to 20% (w/w).
In a proposed embodiment, the quaternary ammonium compound of the coating composition is selected from esterquats.
In a proposed embodiment, the composition of the coating further comprises a rheological modifier in a concentration between 0.1 and 5% (w/w).
In a proposed embodiment, the coating composition is used as a surface coating of the mobile unit previously disclosed.
The present application describes a system comprising a set of devices and accessories adapted and configured to enable bathing of a user lying in a bed.
Among the users of this system, it is possible to consider any healthy individuals, but it is mainly focused on patients whose clinical condition does not allow them to take a bath in a normal environment, i.e., in a standing position. The developed system allows, therefore, the bathing of bedridden patients, for example, in a hospital environment, without having to resort to large movements or transfers of the patient, which would cause great inconvenience to the patient, as well as potentiate the worsening of his clinical condition due to the exposure to hospital environment that may lead to additional infection.
From a global point of view, the system comprises a set of devices and accessories, whose combination and adaptation to the purpose aims to solve the problem related to bathing of bedridden patients in a safe and comfortable way.
Thus, the developed system comprises a mobile unit, a docking station, and a specialized cover.
One of the primary and fundamental components of this system is the bed cover. Its particular design, as well as its composition of elements and fibers specifically studied and adapted for the purpose of this solution, makes it possible to obtain a component with ample advantages when compared to other similar existing products. The proposed cover was designed to play a dual purpose, i.e., allow to fully replace the bed sheets functionality by a waterproof, totally hydrophobic, breathable, elastic, antibacterial and antiviral cover in one of the possible arrangements, and also to be arranged in a bathtub format just by correctly positioning existing anchoring points in the patient's bed. When laid out in the sheet position, its design allows it to fit correctly to the bed's mattress without wrinkling itself underneath it due to excess material, being also completely stretched out on the top surface of the mattress. As referred, in addition to the advantages mentioned with regard of replacing the bed sheets, the cover allows also the protection of the bed where the patient is laid in, nor only allowing to comfortably enjoy a bath in the exact same position where he is positioned, but also acting as a protecting cover in case of physiological carelessness occurs. Thanks to the structural characteristics of the cover, any fluid laying on its surface is easily removed using a cloth or absorbent compound, while ensuring all of its antiviral and antibacterial properties, thus guaranteeing a fully sterile environment. The developed cover model is not exclusively applicable to hospital beds, being perfectly and easily adjustable to any type of bed comprising a headboard and footboard, requiring only the dimensional adjustment of the cover, which is easily provided by its adjustable design. The bathtub layout features that this cover allows to achieve is due to the design and positioning of the anchoring points and seams particularly studied and developed that allow, by using only the upper and lower headboards of a standard articulated hospital bed, without resorting to the use of side rails, to form a waterproof enclosure for this purpose. The non-use of bed side rail protections is related to the fact that it improves the access of health professionals and/or assistants to the patient, thus minimizing the impact on mobility caused by the positioning of these grids, allowing a better approach to the patient during the bath application task. Between the headboard and footboard, a vertical fluid retention wall is provided, which includes an intermediate depression designed and developed to allow easy access to the users of the cover, particularly medical staff, thus enhancing the mobility of operations related to the process of bathing patients. The cover is composed by a two-layer component combination of a high-tech textile mesh and a breathable substrate. The mesh comprises a circular knit and is impregnated with a special formulated finish antibacterial containing with dispersing agents, allowing the formation of a very durable and uniform non migrating coating that has the ability to kill microorganisms on contact.
The cover also includes the installation of a drainage system for the bathing water, characterized by at least one drain valve positioned in a location that allows the effective drainage of dirty water resulting from the process, which may also be aided by a mechanism to regulate the inclination of the bed, thus making it more efficient and faster. The effectiveness of the performance of this drainage system can be enhanced while operating in beds with common state-of-the-art tilting mechanisms. The cover further includes a unique digital identifier that is later associated with the laying patient, which will allow its identification by the mobile unit, making it possible to determine the bath application's history of said patient and automatically adjust bath parameters to the condition of the patient. These unique digital identifiers may comprise one of an QR Code, barcode, RFID, NFC, among others.
In addition to the bed cover, and in order to enable bathing, the existence of the mobile unit is a fundamental part of this system. This mobile unit comprises a set of equipment and solutions for bathing, providing all of the necessary infrastructure to develop an in-bed bath, operationally controlled by an internal control system, which, through a locomotor system, promotes the movement between the points for bathing patients. In terms of functionality, the mobile unit is adapted to allow the remote application of a set of baths through a shower-type water dispenser, and the respective collection of the waters coming from said baths through the drainage system on the bed cover. Structurally, this unit holds inside it the transport of hot and cold clean water, an UV light water disinfection system, dirty water, shower gel, and disinfectant, and allows the configuration of the bath parameters to be applied to the patient, including the setting of the water temperature. These bathing parameters can be automatically associated with the unique digital identifier so that, when they are scanned, the mobile unit configures itself automatically without the need for operator and/or caregiver intervention. The purpose of using the disinfectant is to ensure the permanent and continuous disinfection of the mobile unit's dirty water tank, minimizing the appearance of bacterial ad/or viral outbreaks inside the machine. The internal design of the unit guarantees safety in case of system failure, guaranteeing that by the usage of valves and gravity that clean water is kept sterile at all moments. The water dispensing to the patient through the shower is done with a temperature between 36° C. and 42° C. and may incorporate in its composition a percentage of dissolved gel bath. In addition, all the water dispensed through the mobile unit, whether hot or cold, is not only filtered and sterilized using UV light at the time of its admission to the tanks of the mobile unit but is also subjected to the application of UV light by means of a lamp before its final application to the user to ensure its sterilization. The mobile unit also comprises a digital reader configured to guarantee the reading of the unique digital identifiers present on the cover.
Additionally, the mobile unit comprises a set of sensors that allow, through the direct application of wireless probes on the patient, to determine several vital parameters, analyzing the impact of the bath in its body and vital stability, that are communicated to the mobile unit. Among the various parameters internally analyzed in the mobile unit are data such as the time of application of the shower, the temperature of the water applied, and the identification of the patient to whom the shower is applied. Through the application of the wireless probes at least a collection of cardiac parameters, respiratory and body temperature data are acquired. The acquisition of vital parameters during the shower will make it possible to perform statistical analysis of the clinical condition of the patient and shower parameters, deriving which clinical outcomes are correlated with the shower temperature for the determination of optimal application conditions.
The mobile unit comprises an antibacterial and antiviral protection, provided through the application of a coating composition on its surface, which ensures compliance with these characteristics, preventing the spread of these agents in hospital environments, allowing the movement of the mobile unit between non-contiguous spaces and/or treatment units. This unit also incorporates a localization system using a three-dimensional Bluetooth technology that makes it possible to determine its exact location within a given space, making it possible later, and if necessary, to determine possible contagion patterns. This tracking technology can additionally be applied to patients and healthcare personnel as well, making it possible to determine who has been exposed to potential bacterial and/or viral contagion scenarios.
Additionally, and also incorporating the developed system, it is possible to find a docking station that is adapted for the coupling of the mobile unit, allowing the automatic performing of a number of appropriate tasks with no user intervention. This equipment is ideally located outside the patient's room and is mainly intended to load the mobile unit with hot clean water and cold clean water, reload the unit with shower gel, disinfectant, charge batteries, discharge the dirty water collected during the bathing process and provide an internal cleaning cycle of the machine. The clean water inlet, which includes a connection to the supply network, is composed of a filter to promote the filtration of the admitted clean water, which will then pass through a UV filter before being transferred to the mobile unit. The hot clean water circuit includes a heating unit to ensure the heating of this water to a temperature above 60° C. to reduce potential microbial proliferation, which will be filtered again using a microfilter before being transmitted to the mobile unit.
The coupling of the mobile unit to the docking station, incorporates a set of automatic steps which comprise emptying the dirty water tank, applying a disinfection cycle with disinfectant material in said tank, emptying potentially present quantities to refill the hot and cold-water tanks.
For better understanding of the present application, figures representing preferred embodiments are herein attached which, however, are not intended to limit the technique disclosed herein.
With reference to the figures, some embodiments are now described in more detail, which are however not intended to limit the scope of the present application.
A particular embodiment of the system (100) disclosed herein is intended for the enable the bathing of a lying user or patient (700) in a bed (200). This task is achievable thanks to the use of a mobile unit (300) specially developed for this purpose, which incorporates a set of equipment that allows the patient (700) to bathe safely and comfortably laying on the bed (200). Combined with the use of the mobile unit (300), this task is only achievable thanks to the use of a hydrophobic bed cover (201), duly and simultaneously adaptable to both the bed mattress structure and the surrounding bed (200) structure.
In one of the proposed embodiments of the invention, the overall system (100) is composed of a mobile unit (300), a bed cover (201), and a docking station (400); all of which are able to work independently from each other.
As illustrated in
The water outlet (202) will provide an adequate water blend to the patient (700) lying on the bed (200) comprising the bed cover (201). This water blend, in terms of temperature, it is controlled by mixing cold water from the reservoir (302) with hot water from reservoir (301). Both water sources are combined through a 3-way valve electromagnetic mixer (3024), whose inlet is controlled by a hot water reservoir outlet electromagnetic valve (3013) and a cold water reservoir outlet electromagnetic valve (3023). The water temperature is controlled through a temperature sensor (3072) located in the providing water circuit after an ultra-violet disinfection lamp (307) which is fed by a water pressure pump (3071) directly connected to the 3-way valve electromagnetic mixer (3024) outlet. Before being dispensed to the patient, the water blend will further comprise, if required, the addition of shower gel supplied from the reservoir (305). The shower gel supply circuit comprises a one-way valve (3053) connected to an outlet pump (3052) which is directly fed by said reservoir (305). The final water blend provided by the water outlet (202) is insured by both operating one-way valve (3053) and a shower water electromagnetic valve (3073).
Both the mobile unit (300), as well as the docking station (400), may comprise an arrangement of electronic state of the art components that allow the user of these devices to configure and operate all the functionalities inherent to its operations. Within these devices, it will be possible to consider controllers, actuators, electro-hydraulic elements, pumps, valves, keypads, push buttons, tactile screens, communication systems, energy storage systems, data processing systems, data storage systems, among others.
As is visually perceptible through the analysis of
In
The cut shape of the bed cover (201) comprises on the central part (205), on which the patient (700) lies, a seamless, rectangular-shaped fabric arrangement. This shape ensures in dimensional terms, not only its applicability around a bed mattress, but also its applicability on the headboards and footboards of said bed (200), through the use of the existing upper/lower wings (207). On each side of the cover (201), in particular the longest side and in a central positioning (211), two pieces of hydrophobic fabric (210), of the same type of material as the rectangular/bed shaped fabric (205), cut in a right scalene triangle shape, are used. They are arranged in a mirrored manner, overlapping the hypotenuses of the aforementioned triangular-shaped pieces (210). These two merged triangular-shaped pieces (210) constitute side wing (206) of the bed cover (201). In addition to this overlap, the bottom of said triangular-shaped pieces, i.e., the bottom of the side wing (206) will be merged with the central part of fabric (205). In fact, all portions of the cover (201) are made of hydrophobic fabric, i.e., the central part of the bed cover (205), the side wings of the bed cover (206) and the upper/lower wings (207).
This double union of triangles on each side of the cover (201) that form the two side wings (206) enables the retention of liquids inside of the overall mounted structure of the cover (201), which is achieved through the clear and studied positioning of the connection points (212) illustrated in
As also observed in
In another aspect of the invention, it is described a coating composition with antimicrobial activity suitable to be applied in the mobile unit. This coating composition has antibacterial and antiviral properties and is suitable to provide protection against these pathogenic agents, preventing their spread in hospital environments, allowing the movement of the mobile unit between non-contiguous spaces and/or treatment units.
The coating composition comprises a water-based acrylic resin and at least one antimicrobial agent.
In one embodiment the water-based acrylic resin is copolymerized with styrene.
The choice of an aqueous-based resin does not compromise the fast-drying time and was shown to have an advantage when applied to a plastic substrate, compared to a solvent-based acrylic resin.
These antimicrobial agents are present in the coating composition in concentrations between 0.05 and 20% (w/w).
In one embodiment the antimicrobial agent is selected from metallic nanoparticles (NPs). In one embodiment the metallic nanoparticles are silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with a diameter between 20 and 200 nm. In another embodiment the metallic nanoparticles are TiO2 or CuO.
In one embodiment the coating composition comprises between 0.05 and 20% (w/w) of AgNPs or TiO2 or CuO nanoparticles.
In another embodiment, the antimicrobial agent can also be selected from biguanides, such as chlorhexidine digluconate and Poly(hexamethylenebicyanoguanide-hexamethylenediamine) hydrochloride.
In one embodiment, the coating composition comprises between 80 and 99.95% (w/w) of the water-based acrylic resin and between 0.05 and 20% (w/w) of at least one antimicrobial agent.
The pH of the water-based acrylic resin is not altered with the addition of the metallic nanoparticles, particularly with the addition of AgNPs. Thus, AgNPs and other NPs are an additive compatible with the water-based acrylic resin and can confer antimicrobial activity.
In one embodiment the coating composition has a pH between 7 and 9.
Microbiological data suggests that AgNPs have proven efficacy against Gram+, Gram− and fungi. To reinforce this activity and increase the range of microorganisms affected, a quaternary ammonium compound can be added to the coating composition.
Quaternary ammonium compounds are one of the most used compounds for disinfection and sterilization due to their broad spectrum of action. However, these compounds have the great disadvantage of being poorly biodegradable and very toxic to the aquatic environment. To overcome this drawback, more biodegradable quaternary ammonium compounds such as esterquats, have been developed. These are widely used in the cosmetics and detergent industries and are potential antimicrobial agents.
In one embodiment, optionally, the quaternary ammonium compound is further present in the coating composition in a concentration up to 20% (w/w).
In one embodiment, the esterquat compound can be further added to the coating composition between 1 and 1000 mg/L.
The coating composition was shown to adhere well to the surfaces of the mobile unit.
A coating composition comprising a water-based acrylic resin, metallic nanoparticles and an ammonium quaternary compound, due to its physico-chemical characteristics, is suitable for application in the system of the present invention, since it adheres well to the surface, is fast drying, and forms a water-resistant film.
Depending on the mode of application, it may be necessary to further add a rheological modifier to increase the viscosity of the coating composition. Rheological modifiers can be selected from water-soluble derivatives of cellulose such as hydroxyethyl cellulose or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. Also, other water-soluble polymers as polyethylene glycol, polyacrylic acid and polyvinyl alcohol.
In one embodiment, the rheological modifiers are present in the coating composition between 0.1 and 5% (w/w).
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 117836 | Mar 2022 | PT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2023/050638 | 1/25/2023 | WO |
