Patent Application
20220117810
The disclosed technology relates generally to health and hygiene and, more specifically, to a device for moving and cleaning medical patients who are bedridden, comatose, or otherwise unable to move independently.
Bedsores are a problem for many bedridden patients, who cannot move around independently. Such patients often also suffer from poor hygiene, because they must be washed by a caregiver, who must physically move around the bedridden patient, without the patient being actively involved in the process.
One known method of avoiding bedsores is by regularly moving the patient around in the bed, or shifting the patient's position, so that pressure is applied to different portions of the patient's body at different times. However, this may be difficult to do when the patient cannot move their own muscles to assist, actively, in the repositioning of their body. Thoroughly washing the body of such patients is equally difficult, for the same reason—washing the whole body requires moving the patient around to access all parts of their body, which is difficult to do when the patient cannot actively cooperate.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a device and method to assist medical staff and caregivers in moving and/or washing patients who cannot independently move their muscles, such as a bedridden patients, paralyzed patients, or comatose patients.
The disclosed technology relates generally to health and hygiene and, more specifically, to a device for moving and cleaning medical patients who are bedridden, comatose, or otherwise unable to move independently. The technology is related to a bathtub used in houses which is water and energy efficient. The device can be used for a healthy person to clean especially parts of the body which are inaccessible with one's hands.
According to a first aspect of some embodiments of the teachings herein, there is provided a device for caring for a human subject. The device includes a frame including a base surfaces and side surfaces, and defining a hollow, and a liquid receptacle disposed beneath the frame. A conduit fluidly connects the hollow to the liquid receptacle. A cover is connected to the frame above the hollow. The cover includes a liquid receiving chamber and a plurality of nozzles. When liquid is disposed in the liquid receiving chamber and the cover is in a closed operative orientation thereof, the liquid is emitted from the liquid receiving chamber, via the plurality of nozzles, into the hollow, and flows from the hollow via the conduit to the liquid receptacle.
In some embodiments, the device further includes a patient base, removably disposed within the hollow of the frame. The patient base includes a plurality of cylindrical rollers connected to each other, and independently rotatable relative to each other. The rollers are adapted to enable rolling and moving of the human subject when the human subject is lying on the patient base.
In some embodiments, the device further includes a plurality of channels, extending between the rollers, in fluid communication with the conduit.
In some embodiments, the patient base further includes a pillow portion disposed at a head end of the patient base, the pillow portion being raised relative to the cylindrical rollers.
In some embodiments, the cover is shorter than the frame, such that when the cover is in the closed operative orientation, a head end of the patient base is disposed outside of the cover. In some such embodiments, the cover has a side wall including a portal, such that when the human subject lies on the patient base with his head disposed at the head end, the portal is disposed about a neck of the human subject.
In some embodiments, a head portion of the patient base is rotatable relative to a leg portion of the patient base, so as to raise the head portion of the patient base.
In some embodiments, the liquid receiving chamber includes an inlet, connectable to a liquid source, for supplying liquid to the liquid receiving chamber.
In some embodiments, the liquid receptacle further includes a selectively closable drain.
In some embodiments, the device further includes a plurality of legs attached to the liquid receptacle, each of the legs terminating in a wheel, the legs and the wheels adapted to facilitate moving of the device.
According to the first aspect of some embodiments of the teachings herein, there is also provided a method of preventing bedsores in a bedridden human subject. The method includes placing the bedridden human subject in the device of the first aspect as described herein, such that the bedridden human subject is lying on the patient base. Subsequently, rolling at least one of the plurality of rollers relative to at least one other of the plurality of rollers, thereby to move at least a portion of the body of the bedridden human subject.
According to the aspect of some embodiments of the teachings herein, there is further provided a method of washing a bedridden human subject. The method includes placing the bedridden human subject in the device of the first aspect as described herein, and moving the cover into the closed operative orientation. Subsequently, a pressurized aqueous solution is provided into the liquid receiving chamber, such that the aqueous solution flows through the nozzles onto the bedridden human subject, and is collected into the liquid receptacle via the conduit.
According to a second aspect of some embodiments of the teachings herein, there is provided a device for caring for a human subject. The device includes a frame including a base surfaces and side surfaces, and defining a hollow, and a liquid receptacle disposed beneath the frame. A first conduit fluidly connects the hollow to the liquid receptacle. A cover is connected to the frame above the hollow. The cover includes a second conduit having a plurality of nozzles extending therefrom. When the cover is in a closed operative orientation thereof, liquid flows through the second conduit and is emitted therefrom, via the plurality of nozzles, into the hollow, and flows from the hollow via the first conduit to the liquid receptacle.
In some embodiments, the device further includes a patient base, removably disposed within the hollow of the frame. The patient base includes a plurality of cylindrical rollers connected to each other, and independently rotatable relative to each other. The rollers are adapted to enable rolling and moving of the human subject when the human subject is lying on the patient base.
In some embodiments, the device further includes a plurality of channels, extending between the rollers, and in fluid communication with the first conduit.
In some embodiments, the cover is shorter than the frame, such that when the cover is in the closed operative orientation, a head end of the patient base is disposed outside of the cover. In some such embodiments, the cover has a side wall including a portal, such that when the human subject lies on the patient base with his head disposed on at the head end, the portal is disposed about a neck of the human subject.
In some embodiments, a portion of the second conduit extends out of the cover, via a bore in the side wall including the portal, such that at least one of the plurality of nozzles is disposed over the head end outside the cover.
In some embodiments, a head portion of the patient base is rotatable relative to a leg portion of the patient base, so as to raise the head portion of the patient base.
According to the second aspect of some embodiments of the teachings herein, there is further provided a method of preventing bedsores in a bedridden human subject. The method includes placing the bedridden human subject in the device according to the second aspect, such that the bedridden human subject is lying on the patient base. Subsequently, rolling at least one of the plurality of rollers relative to at least one other of the plurality of rollers, thereby to move at least a portion of the body of the bedridden human subject.
According to the second aspect of some embodiments of the teachings herein, there is also provided a method of washing a bedridden human subject. The method includes placing the bedridden human subject in the device according to the second aspect, and moving the cover into the closed operative orientation. Subsequently, a pressurized aqueous solution is provided into the second conduit, such that the aqueous solution flows through the nozzles onto the bedridden human subject, and is collected into the liquid receptacle via the first conduit.
According to a third aspect of some embodiments of the teachings herein, there is provided a device for caring for a human subject. The device includes a frame including a base surfaces and side surfaces, and defining a hollow, and a liquid receptacle disposed beneath the frame. A first conduit fluidly connects the hollow to the liquid receptacle. A cover is connected to the frame above the hollow. The cover includes a plurality of nozzles extending toward the hollow. When liquid is provided to the plurality of nozzles and the cover is in a closed operative orientation thereof, the liquid is emitted, via the plurality of nozzles, into the hollow, and flows from the hollow via the first conduit to the liquid receptacle.
In some embodiments, the cover includes a liquid receiving chamber, in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzles. When the fluid is disposed in the liquid receiving chamber and the cover is in the closed operative orientation, the liquid is emitted from the liquid receiving chamber, via the plurality of nozzles, into the hollow. In some such embodiments, the liquid receiving chamber includes an inlet, connectable to a liquid source, for supplying liquid to the liquid receiving chamber.
In some embodiments, the cover includes a second conduit in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzles. When the fluid flows through the second conduit and the cover is in the closed operative orientation, the liquid is emitted from the second conduit, via the plurality of nozzles, into the hollow.
In some embodiments, the second conduit extends through a bore in a wall of the cover outside of the cover, and includes at least one nozzle disposed outside of the cover. In some other embodiments, a bore is formed in a side wall of the cover, and a portion of the second conduit, including at least one of the plurality of nozzles, is adapted to be taken out of the cover, via the bore.
In some embodiments, the device further includes a patient base, removably disposed within the hollow of the frame. The patient base includes a plurality of cylindrical rollers connected to each other, and independently rotatable relative to each other. The rollers are adapted to enable rolling and moving of the human subject when the human subject is lying on the patient base.
In some embodiments, the device further includes a plurality of channels, extending between the rollers, and in fluid communication with the conduit.
In some embodiments, the cover is shorter than the frame, such that when the cover is in the closed operative orientation, a head end of the patient base is disposed outside of the cover. In some such embodiments, the cover has a side wall including a portal, such that when the human subject lies on the patient base with his head disposed on at the head end, the portal is disposed about a neck of the human subject.
In some embodiments, a head portion of the patient base is rotatable relative to a leg portion of the patient base, so as to raise the head portion of the patient base.
According to the third aspect of some embodiments of the teachings herein, there is also provided a method of preventing bedsores in a bedridden human subject. The method includes placing the bedridden human subject in the device according to the third aspect, such that the bedridden human subject is lying on the patient base. Subsequently, rolling at least one of the plurality of rollers relative to at least one other of the plurality of rollers, thereby to move at least a portion of the body of the bedridden human subject.
According to the third aspect of some embodiments of the teachings herein, there is further provided a method of washing a bedridden human subject. The method includes placing the bedridden human subject in the device according to the third aspect and moving the cover into the closed operative orientation. Subsequently, a pressurized aqueous solution is provided to the plurality of nozzles, via the liquid receiving chamber or via the second conduit, such that the aqueous solution flows through the nozzles onto the bedridden human subject, and is collected into the liquid receptacle via the first conduit.
In an embodiment of the disclosed technology, a device for moving and cleaning a bedridden patient includes a frame, in which is disposed a base formed of a plurality of cylindrical rollers, movable relative to each other. A cover is hingedly attached to the frame, the cover including a plurality of nozzles through which water, soap, or any other liquid substances may be emitted onto the base. A liquid receptacle is disposed below the frame to receive liquid emitted onto the base, and includes a drain for removal of liquid from the device.
Embodiments of the disclosed technology will become clearer in view of the following description of the drawings.
Reference is now made to
As seen, device 10 includes a rectangular frame 12 including a base surface 14 (seen clearly in
Disposed within hollow 20 of frame 12 is a patient base 30, formed of a plurality of cylindrical rollers 32, each independently rotatable relative to each other. A pillow portion 34 is disposed at one end of patient base 30, and is raised relative to the rollers.
A cover 40 is hingedly connected to frame 12 along a longitudinal side 16 thereof. An outer surface 42 of cover 40 has a generally hemispherical cross section. However, the inner surface 44 of cover 40 has a planar segment 46, truncating the hemispherical shape, and forming a liquid receiving chamber between the inner surface 44 and the outer surface 42. A plurality of nozzles 50 are disposed along planar segment 46, the nozzles adapted to emit, into hollow 20 or onto patient base 30, fluid from the liquid receiving chamber, as seen clearly in
Cover 40 includes a first, substantially hemispherical, side wall 52, and a second, substantially hemispherical, side wall 54 including a portal 56. The length between side walls 52 and 54 is shorter than the length of frame 12. Cover 40 is hingedly connected to frame 12, such that in the closed operative orientation shown in
Reference is now made to
It is appreciated that the head-raised operative orientation may only be used when the cover 40 is open. It is further appreciated that, though the head-raised operative orientation is illustrated as raising a certain fraction of the patient base 30 by a certain degree, the raised portion of patient base 30 may include more, or fewer, cylindrical rollers than those shown. Additionally, in some embodiments, the leg portion of patient base 30 may by raised relative to the head portion, in a manner similar to that shown.
Still referring to
In still further embodiments, the nozzles 50 function as an one of a water outlet (liquid water), a steam outlet (water vapor), or a combination thereof. In this manner, steam can be pumped into the chamber from above and below if desired, or, a combination of water and steam can be used simultaneously or at different times using the same device hardware.
Turning now to
In some embodiments, a bore 153 is formed in side wall 154 of the cover 140, above portal 156. Second conduit 148, and at least one nozzle 150a, are adapted to extend out of cover 140, via bore 153, such that nozzle 150a is disposed above a head end of patient base 130. In some embodiment, second conduit 148, or at least the portion thereof disposed outside cover 140, is flexible, such that a height of nozzle 150a is adjustable relative to pillow portion 134. In some embodiments, the portion of second conduit 148 disposed outside cover 140 may be pushed into cover 140, via bore 153, for example for storage of device 110.
While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods and apparatuses described hereinabove are also contemplated and within the scope of the invention.
