US20080040860A1 - Turn-assist with access areas - Google Patents
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- US20080040860A1 US20080040860A1 US11/891,451 US89145107A US2008040860A1 US 20080040860 A1 US20080040860 A1 US 20080040860A1 US 89145107 A US89145107 A US 89145107A US 2008040860 A1 US2008040860 A1 US 2008040860A1
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G7/00—Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons
- A61G7/05—Parts, details or accessories of beds
- A61G7/057—Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor
- A61G7/05769—Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor with inflatable chambers
- A61G7/05776—Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor with inflatable chambers with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers
Definitions
- the present invention is directed to a mattress configuration that allows a patient to be turned.
- Inflatable therapeutic supports for patients have been well known for many years.
- Such therapeutic supports include inflatable mattresses and cushions.
- Interface pressures are the pressures encountered between the therapeutic support and the skin of a patient positioned on the therapeutic support. It is well known that interface pressures can significantly affect the well-being of immobile patients in that higher interface pressures can (a) reduce local blood circulation, (b) cause bed sores and (c) cause other medical complications. With inflatable mattresses, such interface pressures depend (in part) on the air pressure within the inflatable bladders.
- Every inflatable therapeutic support has at least one bladder. That bladder has a top surface capable of receiving an object, a bottom surface that is opposite the top surface, and at least one side surface positioned between the top and bottom surfaces. These various surfaces define a bladder cavity that receives a fluid.
- the bladder material can be a fluid impermeable material, fluid permeable material or combinations thereof depending on the desired application.
- the bladder material can be a polymeric material, for example, vinyl, polyethylene, polyurethane or combinations thereof.
- the bladder can be made from a single piece of material or a plurality of materials to obtain the desired results.
- the bladder cavity receives the fluid, normally air or an aqueous solution, through an inlet from a fluid source.
- the fluid travels from the fluid source through a conduit(s) and a control unit.
- the control unit for example, has a plurality of input keys interconnected to at least a microprocessor.
- the patient or patient's caregiver controls the therapeutic support through the input keys.
- the term input keys means a keyboard system, switches, software chips, levers, dials or any other conventional device that is used as an input device by the patient or patient's caregiver to control the operation of the therapeutic support.
- the microprocessor receives the desired instructions from the input keys. From those instructions, the microprocessor processes those instructions to transmit the desired signals to operate a pump, an air compressor, a fan, valves and/or switches that push, pull and/or allows (by potential energy contained in the bladder(s)) a fluid into, through or to pass into a first conduit(s) to the respective bladder(s). Prior to entering the conduits, the fluid is contained within a reservoir and/or ambient environment; a.k.a., fluid source.
- bladders have the inlet removed after the fluid is inserted into the bladder cavity so the bladder is a self-contained, static bladder and (2) retain the inlet so the bladder is a dynamic bladder that can receive and/or release fluid from the bladder cavity.
- the present invention is directed to controlling a dynamic bladder. Accordingly we will discuss these bladders in greater detail.
- the fluid exits the bladder through at least one outlet.
- the fluid exits the outlet (a.k.a., the inlet) through the first conduit to return to the fluid source.
- the fluid exits the outlet (not the inlet) through a second conduit to a receiving unit, distinct from the fluid source, or the fluid source.
- Another version has the surface of the bladder having a plurality of apertures designed to release a portion of the fluid toward the object positioned above the inflatable bladder (a.k.a., low-loss bladder).
- Other outlet versions have combinations of the above-identified outlet versions.
- the bladders may have alterations to (1) generate desired fluid flow patterns within the bladder, (2) obtain desired bladder firmness and (3) allow the bladder adaptability for the therapeutic support system. To obtain such results and others like it, the bladders could have predetermined button welds, welds, and slits along welds. Welds are locations where the bladder's top surface is connected to the bladder's bottom surface.
- Hand et al. disclose “a . . . patient support system [having] a rigid support frame [and] a plurality of inflatable [bladders] supported upon the support frame with each [bladder] having an upper surface so that the plurality of [bladders form] a patient support surface.
- the inflatable [bladders] are pressurized and maintained at a predetermined pressure.
- This predetermined pressure may be a patient height and weight specific pressure profile.” It is known that the bladders can be positioned horizontally (a.k.a., perpendicular to a patient properly positioned on the therapeutic support) and/or vertically (a.k.a., parallel to a patient properly positioned on the therapeutic support) in relation to the support frame.
- This therapeutic support embodiment is known as a standard bladder therapeutic support.
- the bladders on a standard bladder therapeutic support When the bladders on a standard bladder therapeutic support are positioned horizontally, the bladders can be divided into two sets and each set alternates with the other set (1-2-1-2) to provide wave therapy. Wave therapy is accomplished when (a) the first set of bladders receives fluid and, at the same time, the second set of bladders releases fluid; and then (b) the second set of bladders receives fluid and, at the same time, the first set of bladders releases fluid. That process causes a wave sensation under the patient.
- the wave therapy can occur with additional sets of bladders, for example “1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4”, “1-3-2-1-3-2” and variations thereof.
- the wave therapy in one embodiment, is accomplished by having (a) the first set of bladders interconnect to the control unit through a primary first conduit system; and (b) the second set of bladders interconnect to the control unit through a secondary first conduit system.
- the control unit positions a valve that transmits fluid to either the primary first conduit system or the secondary first conduit system in predetermined time frames to obtain the wave motion.
- the control unit can also alter the valve so the primary first conduit system and the secondary first conduit system receive fluid simultaneously if no wave therapy is desired.
- Another therapeutic support embodiment is a turn-assist bladder therapeutic support or, in other words, an obvious variation of a rotating bladder therapeutic support.
- the rotating embodiment is a known therapeutic support used to decrease sores on immobile patients.
- An example of a rotating (turn-assist) therapeutic support is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,289 which is commonly assigned and is hereby incorporated by reference.
- Gaymar describes a rotating therapeutic support 10 having upper and lower right side rotating bladder(s) 12 a,b and upper and lower left side rotating bladder(s) 14 a,b positioned below a bladder 180 .
- the rotating bladders rotate a patient by controlling the air pressure in the right set of rotating bladders and the left set of rotating bladders.
- the each set of rotating bladders are inflated and deflated simultaneously. This is accomplished by having the bladders 12 a,b interconnected to the control unit 20 through a first conduit 16 and the bladders 14 a.b interconnected to the control unit 20 through a second conduit 18 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 , 2 , and 3 .
- the air pressure required to rotate the patient depends on the patient's weight, body type and various other parameters.
- the quantity of air pressure that rotates one patient e.g., 30 degrees, may rotate another patient, e.g., 5 degrees.
- two female patients weigh 130 pounds, one patient is pear-shaped and the other is apple-shaped.
- the pear-shaped patient rotates 15 degrees with 10 mm Hg while an apple-shaped patient rotates 7 degrees with 10 mm Hg.
- each patient is unique and different and the control unit has to be controlled to provide the desired rotation for each patient.
- turn-assist bladders and rotational bladders are essentially synonymous—“a turn-assist cushion or turning bladder or rotational bladder 74 . . . ” If there is a difference between a turn-assist bladder and a rotation bladder, the difference is in the software used in the control unit.
- the control unit (1) has the bladders in a set position—planar which can be completely deflated or just partially inflated, (2) rotates the patient, through the bladders, in a first direction by inflating one set of rotating bladders (for example the right set), (3) reverts the bladders to the set position, (4) rotates the patient, through the bladders, in a second direction by inflating the other set of rotating bladders (for example the left set) and (5) reverts to the set position.
- the turn-assist bladder embodiment in contrast, eliminates the third step.
- the technology for the turn-assist embodiment is an obvious variation of the rotation bladder embodiment by merely altering, the software used in the control unit so the bladders are rotated from a first direction to a second direction without the intermediate step of reverting to a set position.
- the upper section and the lower section for each set of rotational (or turn-assist) bladders are inflated at the same time to obtain the desired rotation.
- the rotational (or turn-assist) bladders are positioned below other bladders or other cushion materials. See FIG. 11 (rotational bladders 184 , 188 are under cushion 180 ) in U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,289; FIGS. 17 to 19 (rotational bladders 145 , 146 , 147 , 148 are under cushion 182 ) in U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,628; FIG. 3 (rotational bladders 80 are below cushion 60 ) in U.S. patent application publication number 2006/0168736; and FIG. 4 (rotational bladders 110 are positioned below cushions 33 ) in U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,167.
- the rotating (turn-assist) bladders are positioned below another cushion which the patient is designed to be positioned upon.
- the rotating therapeutic support embodiment can also provide wave therapy.
- the wave therapy on a rotating therapeutic support embodiment occurs when (1) the rotating bladders are in the set position—generally planar—and (2) the wave therapy bladders are positioned above the rotating bladders.
- the wave therapy bladders are not the same as the rotating (turn-assist) bladders.
- Rotating (turn-assist) bladders do not perform wave therapy.
- wave therapy is not performed by the rotating bladders is because the rotating bladders are positioned below another bladder, which may be undesirable.
- a problem with the prior art therapeutic supports is that it is difficult to access the portion of the patient's body that contacts the inflated bladder(s).
- the present invention solves that problem.
- the present invention is directed to controlling the inflation and deflation of individual rotational (turn-assist) bladders to allow a patient caregiver to obtain easy access to the patient's body that is positioned toward the rotational (turn-assist) bladders.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a patient positioned over rotating bladders of a therapeutic support from a head end of the rotating bladders—Prior Art.
- FIG. 2 illustrates FIG. 1 from arrow 2 —Prior Art.
- FIG. 3 illustrates FIG. 1 from arrow 3 —Prior Art.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of rotational (turn-assist) bladders (a) on a support surface and (b) interconnected to a control unit.
- FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of rotational (turn-assist) bladders on a support surface.
- FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of FIG. 5 .
- FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of FIG. 4 with additional cushions positioned over opposing left-right rotational (turn-assist) bladders.
- FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic of the control unit.
- FIG. 9 a illustrates a side view of FIG. 4 taken from arrow 4 when the right rotational (turn-assist) bladders are being inflated simultaneously.
- FIG. 9 b illustrates an embodiment of FIG. 9 a when the second right rotational (turn-assist) bladder remains inflated and the first right rotational (turn-assist) bladder deflates to expose a first portion of the patient that normally contacts the right rotational (turn-assist) bladder so a patient's assistant can care and treat the patient at the first portion without excessively disturbing the patient.
- FIG. 9 c illustrates an embodiment of FIG. 9 a when the first right rotational (turn-assist) bladder is inflated and the second right rotational (turn-assist) bladder deflates to expose a second portion of the patient that normally contacts the right rotational (turn-assist) bladder so a patient's assistant can care and treat the patient at the second portion without excessively disturbing the patient.
- FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment to accomplish FIGS. 9 a and 9 b.
- FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative embodiment of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative embodiment of FIG. 7 .
- the present invention is directed to a variation of present rotational (turn-assist) support.
- the rotational (turn-assist) support 100 is similar to the prior art rotational (turn-assist) support surface 100 .
- One of the similarities is that the rotational (turn-assist) bladder system 110 is positioned on a support surface 102 .
- the support surface 102 can be a part of a mattress, a gelastic surface, a foam surface, a bladder surface, a solid surface or any other location that provides support to a patient.
- the variations are in the rotational (turn-assist) bladder system 110 and the control unit 210 .
- the rotational (turn-assist) bladder system 110 can extend the entire length of the support surface 100 as illustrated in FIG. 5 or just partially as illustrated in FIG. 6 .
- the rotational (turn-assist) bladder system 110 has a right side bladder unit 120 and a left side bladder unit 130 .
- the right side bladder unit 120 is subdivided into at least a first right section 122 and a second right section 124 .
- the left side bladder unit 130 is subdivided into at least a first left section 132 and a second left section 134 .
- the rotational (turn-assist) bladder system 110 can be positioned immediately below a patient 200 , as illustrated at FIGS. 5 and 6 , without any intervening cushion that interferes with the operation of the bladder system 110 .
- covers blankets (conventional, conductive and/or convective) and/or pads (incontinence, heating, cooling, and/or positioning), not shown, positioned between the patient 200 and the rotational (turn-assist) bladder system 110 .
- the first right side bladder unit 122 interconnects to the control unit 210 through a first right conduit 123 and the second right side bladder unit 124 interconnects to the control unit 210 through a second right conduit 125 .
- the control unit 210 distributes the desired amount of fluid to each right bladder unit 122 , 124 .
- the first left side bladder unit 132 interconnects to the control unit 210 through a first left conduit 133 and the second left side bladder unit 134 interconnects to the control unit 210 through a second right conduit 135 .
- the control unit 210 distributes the desired amount of fluid to each left bladder unit 132 , 134 through the respective conduit.
- This embodiment is also not described, suggested or taught in the prior art because the prior art discloses that the bladder units 122 , 124 or 132 , 134 are to inflate simultaneously through the same conduits, not different conduits.
- control unit 210 distributes fluid to different conduits and not to other conduits, or all of them is similar to the prior art. Instead, there are just more valves 212 a,b,c,d interconnected to a microprocessor 214 that correspond to the respective conduits 123 , 125 , 133 , 135 to obtain the desired operation of the present invention.
- control unit 210 has a plurality of input keys 216 interconnected to at least the microprocessor 214 . That microprocessor 214 interconnects to pumps, fans, valves and/or switches (collectively box 216 ) that push, pull and/or allows (by potential energy contained in the bladder(s)) a fluid into, through or pass into the conduit(s) 123 , 125 , 133 , 135 to the respective bladder(s) 122 , 124 , 132 , 134 . Prior to entering the conduits, the fluid is contained within a reservoir and/or ambient environment; a.k.a., fluid source. The fluid source can be within the control unit 210 or exterior to the control unit 210 . Likewise the input keys 216 can be a part of the control unit 210 , tethered to the control unit 210 or remotely interconnected to the control unit 210 .
- the control unit 210 can be positioned within the support system 100 or exterior to it. It depends on how the product is to be designed.
- the patient will be initially turned to the left side. Obviously, the patient can be turned to the right side first, as well. It merely depends on (1) which side the patient wants to be positioned on first and/or (2) how the patient's assistant (including and not limited to a nurse, a nurse practitioner, a nurse's aide, an aide, a friend, and/or a family member), who can control the support surface, wants the patient to be positioned first.
- the patient's assistant including and not limited to a nurse, a nurse practitioner, a nurse's aide, an aide, a friend, and/or a family member
- the first right section 122 and the second right section 124 are inflated at the same time (same as the prior art) as illustrated in FIG. 9 a or at different rates or times, as illustrated in FIG. 10 , to obtain the desired angle.
- the sections 122 and 124 can be inflated at different times and/or rates because (1) each section 122 , 124 is interconnected to the control unit 210 through different conduits and (2) the patient's assistant (or the manufacturer) can program the control unit through the microprocessor and/or input keys to open the valves to conduits 213 , 215 at different times or with different apertures to control the inflation rate.
- the patient's assistant can begin to deflate one of the inflated and rotated (turned) sections 122 , 124 .
- the section 122 is initially deflated. Why begin to deflate just one of the inflated and rotated sections?
- the patient's assistant exposes a predetermined area (examples include and are not limited to the right side of the sacral region, the thoracic region, the lumbar region, the cervical region, the abdominal area, and/or the chest area) of the patient that normally contacts the section 122 .
- Deflating the section 124 greatly enhances the patient's assistant ability to wash, treat, inspect the initial predetermined area of the patient, without the using props (pillows typically) or additional patient's assistants to hold the patient in position. This invention comforts the patient.
- the section 122 is inflated to the desired level and the section 124 can be deflated to expose a second predetermined area of the patient as illustrated in FIG. 9 c .
- Deflating the section 124 greatly enhances the patient's assistant ability to wash, treat, inspect the second predetermined area of the patient, without the using props (pillows typically) or additional patient's assistants to hold the patient in position.
- the section 124 can be simultaneously deflated to expedite the transition process.
- section 122 , 124 is deflated first or second in this first embodiment, so long as the patient's assistant has the opportunity to expose a predetermined area to care and treat the patient while the patient remains in the rotated position.
- a second embodiment occurs when the sections 122 , 124 are being inflated at different times or different rates as illustrated in FIG. 10 .
- the section that is being inflated at the slower rate or at a later time (hereinafter “slow section”) inherently exposes a first predetermined area to the patient's assistant as shown in FIGS. 9 b and 9 c . That way the patient's assistant can wash, treat, inspect the predetermined area of the patient, without the using props (pillows typically) or additional patient's assistants to hold the patient in position.
- the fast section can be deflated so the patient's assistant can care and treat a different predetermined area of the patient.
- the fast section when the slow section is being inflated the fast section can be simultaneously deflated to expedite the transition process.
- a third embodiment occurs when the patient is rotated to the patient is rotated to the right side so sections 132 and 134 are inflated for rotation purposes.
- This third embodiment is the same as the first and second embodiments except the sections are on the opposite side of the support surface.
- the right bladder unit 120 can have an additional bladder section 126 and the left bladder unit 130 can have an additional bladder section 136 .
- the additional bladder section 126 can be inflated/deflated by an extension 128 a,b from conduit 123 or conduit 125 as illustrated in FIG. 11 ; or a new conduit 127 as illustrated in FIG. 12 that is interconnected to the control unit 210 with its own valve 212 e . That valve 212 e is controlled by the microprocessor like any other valve 212 in the control unit 210 .
- the additional bladder section 136 can be inflated/deflated by an extension 138 a,b from conduit 133 or conduit 135 as illustrated in FIG. 11 ; or a new conduit 137 as illustrated in FIG. 12 that is interconnected to the control unit 210 with its own valve 212 f . That valve 212 f is controlled by the microprocessor like any other valve 212 in the control unit 210 .
- the additional bladders 126 , 136 are interconnected to the control unit 210 as illustrated in FIG. 12 that means that the additional bladders 126 , 136 are independently controlled in the same manner in which the other bladders 122 , 124 , 132 , 134 are controlled and described above.
- the additional bladders 126 , 136 are interconnected to the control unit 210 as illustrated in FIG. 11 that means the additional bladders 126 , 136 operate in the same way as the bladder that the additional bladders 126 , 136 are interconnected with through the conduit system.
- the additional bladder section 126 , 136 can be positioned adjacent to at least one of the other rotational (turn) bladders as illustrated in FIG. 11 or a predetermined distance from the other rotational (turn) bladders as illustrated in FIG. 12 .
- the bladder sections 122 , 124 , 126 , 132 , 134 , 136 can be positioned horizontally and/or vertically as defined above.
- Previous self-monitoring air pressure mattresses have utilized electrical signal transmission devices and electrical signal receiving devices that sandwich the top and bottom of each bladder to monitor the bladder size.
- the bladder size corresponds to the desired rotation and air pressure.
- Such signal devices are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,794,289 and 5,926,883; which are hereby incorporated by reference. Those signal devices generate signals, like rf or light signals, that determine the proper level of inflation in the rotating (turning) bladders.
- the conduits can be conventional tubing used in the therapeutic industry.
- the conduits can have additional valves like a one-way passage valve.
Abstract
Description
- This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/838,453, filed on Aug. 17, 2006.
- The present invention is directed to a mattress configuration that allows a patient to be turned.
- Inflatable therapeutic supports for patients have been well known for many years. Such therapeutic supports include inflatable mattresses and cushions.
- Most therapeutic supports are designed to reduce “interface pressures.” Interface pressures are the pressures encountered between the therapeutic support and the skin of a patient positioned on the therapeutic support. It is well known that interface pressures can significantly affect the well-being of immobile patients in that higher interface pressures can (a) reduce local blood circulation, (b) cause bed sores and (c) cause other medical complications. With inflatable mattresses, such interface pressures depend (in part) on the air pressure within the inflatable bladders.
- Every inflatable therapeutic support has at least one bladder. That bladder has a top surface capable of receiving an object, a bottom surface that is opposite the top surface, and at least one side surface positioned between the top and bottom surfaces. These various surfaces define a bladder cavity that receives a fluid. The bladder material can be a fluid impermeable material, fluid permeable material or combinations thereof depending on the desired application. For example, the bladder material can be a polymeric material, for example, vinyl, polyethylene, polyurethane or combinations thereof. The bladder can be made from a single piece of material or a plurality of materials to obtain the desired results.
- In addition, the bladder cavity receives the fluid, normally air or an aqueous solution, through an inlet from a fluid source. The fluid travels from the fluid source through a conduit(s) and a control unit.
- The control unit, for example, has a plurality of input keys interconnected to at least a microprocessor. The patient or patient's caregiver controls the therapeutic support through the input keys. The term input keys means a keyboard system, switches, software chips, levers, dials or any other conventional device that is used as an input device by the patient or patient's caregiver to control the operation of the therapeutic support.
- In the microprocessor embodiment, the microprocessor receives the desired instructions from the input keys. From those instructions, the microprocessor processes those instructions to transmit the desired signals to operate a pump, an air compressor, a fan, valves and/or switches that push, pull and/or allows (by potential energy contained in the bladder(s)) a fluid into, through or to pass into a first conduit(s) to the respective bladder(s). Prior to entering the conduits, the fluid is contained within a reservoir and/or ambient environment; a.k.a., fluid source.
- From this fundamental understanding of inflatable bladders, the variations of bladders are evident. For example, some bladders (1) have the inlet removed after the fluid is inserted into the bladder cavity so the bladder is a self-contained, static bladder and (2) retain the inlet so the bladder is a dynamic bladder that can receive and/or release fluid from the bladder cavity. The present invention is directed to controlling a dynamic bladder. Accordingly we will discuss these bladders in greater detail.
- In the dynamic bladder embodiment, the fluid exits the bladder through at least one outlet. In one version, the fluid exits the outlet (a.k.a., the inlet) through the first conduit to return to the fluid source. In other versions the fluid exits the outlet (not the inlet) through a second conduit to a receiving unit, distinct from the fluid source, or the fluid source. Another version has the surface of the bladder having a plurality of apertures designed to release a portion of the fluid toward the object positioned above the inflatable bladder (a.k.a., low-loss bladder). Other outlet versions have combinations of the above-identified outlet versions.
- There may be alternative embodiments to these generic descriptions of dynamic bladders and control units. The bladders may have alterations to (1) generate desired fluid flow patterns within the bladder, (2) obtain desired bladder firmness and (3) allow the bladder adaptability for the therapeutic support system. To obtain such results and others like it, the bladders could have predetermined button welds, welds, and slits along welds. Welds are locations where the bladder's top surface is connected to the bladder's bottom surface.
- One such embodiment of a therapeutic support having multiple bladders is disclosed by Hand et al. in expired U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,754. Hand et al. disclose “a . . . patient support system [having] a rigid support frame [and] a plurality of inflatable [bladders] supported upon the support frame with each [bladder] having an upper surface so that the plurality of [bladders form] a patient support surface. The inflatable [bladders] are pressurized and maintained at a predetermined pressure. This predetermined pressure may be a patient height and weight specific pressure profile.” It is known that the bladders can be positioned horizontally (a.k.a., perpendicular to a patient properly positioned on the therapeutic support) and/or vertically (a.k.a., parallel to a patient properly positioned on the therapeutic support) in relation to the support frame. This therapeutic support embodiment is known as a standard bladder therapeutic support.
- Wave Therapy
- When the bladders on a standard bladder therapeutic support are positioned horizontally, the bladders can be divided into two sets and each set alternates with the other set (1-2-1-2) to provide wave therapy. Wave therapy is accomplished when (a) the first set of bladders receives fluid and, at the same time, the second set of bladders releases fluid; and then (b) the second set of bladders receives fluid and, at the same time, the first set of bladders releases fluid. That process causes a wave sensation under the patient. The wave therapy can occur with additional sets of bladders, for example “1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4”, “1-3-2-1-3-2” and variations thereof.
- The wave therapy, in one embodiment, is accomplished by having (a) the first set of bladders interconnect to the control unit through a primary first conduit system; and (b) the second set of bladders interconnect to the control unit through a secondary first conduit system. To obtain the desired wave therapy, the control unit positions a valve that transmits fluid to either the primary first conduit system or the secondary first conduit system in predetermined time frames to obtain the wave motion. The control unit can also alter the valve so the primary first conduit system and the secondary first conduit system receive fluid simultaneously if no wave therapy is desired.
- Another therapeutic support embodiment is a turn-assist bladder therapeutic support or, in other words, an obvious variation of a rotating bladder therapeutic support. The rotating embodiment is a known therapeutic support used to decrease sores on immobile patients. An example of a rotating (turn-assist) therapeutic support is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,289 which is commonly assigned and is hereby incorporated by reference.
- In U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,289, Gaymar describes a rotating
therapeutic support 10 having upper and lower right side rotating bladder(s) 12 a,b and upper and lower left side rotating bladder(s) 14 a,b positioned below abladder 180. The rotating bladders rotate a patient by controlling the air pressure in the right set of rotating bladders and the left set of rotating bladders. The each set of rotating bladders are inflated and deflated simultaneously. This is accomplished by having thebladders 12 a,b interconnected to thecontrol unit 20 through afirst conduit 16 and the bladders 14 a.b interconnected to thecontrol unit 20 through asecond conduit 18 as illustrated inFIGS. 1 , 2, and 3. - To rotate a patient 11 to its right side requires decreasing the air pressure in the right set of rotating bladder(s) 12 a,b while increasing the air pressure in the left
side rotating bladder 14 a,b so the left side is higher than the right side as illustrated inFIGS. 1 , 2 and 3. - To rotate the patient to the patient's left side requires decreasing the air pressure in the left side rotating bladder(s) 14 a,b and increasing the air pressure in the right
side rotating bladder 12 a,b, so it is opposite of what is illustrated inFIGS. 1 , 2 and 3. - The air pressure required to rotate the patient depends on the patient's weight, body type and various other parameters. The quantity of air pressure that rotates one patient, e.g., 30 degrees, may rotate another patient, e.g., 5 degrees. For example, two female patients weigh 130 pounds, one patient is pear-shaped and the other is apple-shaped. The pear-shaped patient rotates 15 degrees with 10 mm Hg while an apple-shaped patient rotates 7 degrees with 10 mm Hg. Obviously each patient is unique and different and the control unit has to be controlled to provide the desired rotation for each patient.
- As clearly set forth in Hill-Rom's U.S. patent application publication number 2006/0168736, turn-assist bladders and rotational bladders are essentially synonymous—“a turn-assist cushion or turning bladder or rotational bladder 74 . . . ” If there is a difference between a turn-assist bladder and a rotation bladder, the difference is in the software used in the control unit. In the rotation bladder embodiment, the control unit (1) has the bladders in a set position—planar which can be completely deflated or just partially inflated, (2) rotates the patient, through the bladders, in a first direction by inflating one set of rotating bladders (for example the right set), (3) reverts the bladders to the set position, (4) rotates the patient, through the bladders, in a second direction by inflating the other set of rotating bladders (for example the left set) and (5) reverts to the set position. The turn-assist bladder embodiment, in contrast, eliminates the third step. Accordingly, it seems relatively obvious that the technology for the turn-assist embodiment is an obvious variation of the rotation bladder embodiment by merely altering, the software used in the control unit so the bladders are rotated from a first direction to a second direction without the intermediate step of reverting to a set position.
- In the prior art, the upper section and the lower section for each set of rotational (or turn-assist) bladders are inflated at the same time to obtain the desired rotation. Moreover, the rotational (or turn-assist) bladders are positioned below other bladders or other cushion materials. See
FIG. 11 (rotational bladders 184, 188 are under cushion 180) in U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,289;FIGS. 17 to 19 (rotational bladders 145, 146, 147, 148 are under cushion 182) in U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,628;FIG. 3 (rotational bladders 80 are below cushion 60) in U.S. patent application publication number 2006/0168736; andFIG. 4 (rotational bladders 110 are positioned below cushions 33) in U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,167. In other words, the rotating (turn-assist) bladders are positioned below another cushion which the patient is designed to be positioned upon. - Like the standard therapeutic support embodiment, the rotating therapeutic support embodiment can also provide wave therapy. In most embodiments, the wave therapy on a rotating therapeutic support embodiment occurs when (1) the rotating bladders are in the set position—generally planar—and (2) the wave therapy bladders are positioned above the rotating bladders. The wave therapy bladders are not the same as the rotating (turn-assist) bladders. Rotating (turn-assist) bladders do not perform wave therapy. One reason wave therapy is not performed by the rotating bladders is because the rotating bladders are positioned below another bladder, which may be undesirable.
- A problem with the prior art therapeutic supports is that it is difficult to access the portion of the patient's body that contacts the inflated bladder(s). The present invention solves that problem.
- The present invention is directed to controlling the inflation and deflation of individual rotational (turn-assist) bladders to allow a patient caregiver to obtain easy access to the patient's body that is positioned toward the rotational (turn-assist) bladders.
-
FIG. 1 illustrates a patient positioned over rotating bladders of a therapeutic support from a head end of the rotating bladders—Prior Art. -
FIG. 2 illustratesFIG. 1 from arrow 2—Prior Art. -
FIG. 3 illustratesFIG. 1 from arrow 3—Prior Art. -
FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of rotational (turn-assist) bladders (a) on a support surface and (b) interconnected to a control unit. -
FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of rotational (turn-assist) bladders on a support surface. -
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment ofFIG. 5 . -
FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment ofFIG. 4 with additional cushions positioned over opposing left-right rotational (turn-assist) bladders. -
FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic of the control unit. -
FIG. 9 a illustrates a side view ofFIG. 4 taken from arrow 4 when the right rotational (turn-assist) bladders are being inflated simultaneously. -
FIG. 9 b illustrates an embodiment ofFIG. 9 a when the second right rotational (turn-assist) bladder remains inflated and the first right rotational (turn-assist) bladder deflates to expose a first portion of the patient that normally contacts the right rotational (turn-assist) bladder so a patient's assistant can care and treat the patient at the first portion without excessively disturbing the patient. -
FIG. 9 c illustrates an embodiment ofFIG. 9 a when the first right rotational (turn-assist) bladder is inflated and the second right rotational (turn-assist) bladder deflates to expose a second portion of the patient that normally contacts the right rotational (turn-assist) bladder so a patient's assistant can care and treat the patient at the second portion without excessively disturbing the patient. -
FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment to accomplishFIGS. 9 a and 9 b. -
FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment ofFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative embodiment ofFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative embodiment ofFIG. 7 . - The present invention is directed to a variation of present rotational (turn-assist) support. The rotational (turn-assist)
support 100 is similar to the prior art rotational (turn-assist)support surface 100. One of the similarities is that the rotational (turn-assist)bladder system 110 is positioned on asupport surface 102. Thesupport surface 102 can be a part of a mattress, a gelastic surface, a foam surface, a bladder surface, a solid surface or any other location that provides support to a patient. The variations are in the rotational (turn-assist)bladder system 110 and thecontrol unit 210. The rotational (turn-assist)bladder system 110 can extend the entire length of thesupport surface 100 as illustrated inFIG. 5 or just partially as illustrated inFIG. 6 . - As illustrated in
FIG. 4 , the rotational (turn-assist)bladder system 110 has a rightside bladder unit 120 and a leftside bladder unit 130. The rightside bladder unit 120 is subdivided into at least afirst right section 122 and asecond right section 124. Likewise, the leftside bladder unit 130 is subdivided into at least a firstleft section 132 and a secondleft section 134. - Unlike the prior art, the rotational (turn-assist)
bladder system 110 can be positioned immediately below apatient 200, as illustrated atFIGS. 5 and 6 , without any intervening cushion that interferes with the operation of thebladder system 110. There is no single cushion material that overlies the entire rotational (turn-assist)bladder system 110 or anentire bladder unit individual cushions 160 a, b, c, d positioned overbladders sections FIG. 13 or (b) cushions 162 a, b that extend across pairs of opposing left-right bladders sections, likesections sections FIG. 7 . - There can be covers, blankets (conventional, conductive and/or convective) and/or pads (incontinence, heating, cooling, and/or positioning), not shown, positioned between the patient 200 and the rotational (turn-assist)
bladder system 110. - As illustrated in
FIG. 4 , the first rightside bladder unit 122 interconnects to thecontrol unit 210 through a firstright conduit 123 and the second rightside bladder unit 124 interconnects to thecontrol unit 210 through a secondright conduit 125. Thecontrol unit 210 distributes the desired amount of fluid to eachright bladder unit side bladder unit 132 interconnects to thecontrol unit 210 through a firstleft conduit 133 and the second leftside bladder unit 134 interconnects to thecontrol unit 210 through a secondright conduit 135. Thecontrol unit 210 distributes the desired amount of fluid to eachleft bladder unit bladder units - The principle of how the
control unit 210, as illustrated schematically atFIG. 8 distributes fluid to different conduits and not to other conduits, or all of them is similar to the prior art. Instead, there are justmore valves 212 a,b,c,d interconnected to amicroprocessor 214 that correspond to therespective conduits - Recall that the
control unit 210, for example, has a plurality ofinput keys 216 interconnected to at least themicroprocessor 214. Thatmicroprocessor 214 interconnects to pumps, fans, valves and/or switches (collectively box 216) that push, pull and/or allows (by potential energy contained in the bladder(s)) a fluid into, through or pass into the conduit(s) 123, 125, 133, 135 to the respective bladder(s) 122, 124, 132, 134. Prior to entering the conduits, the fluid is contained within a reservoir and/or ambient environment; a.k.a., fluid source. The fluid source can be within thecontrol unit 210 or exterior to thecontrol unit 210. Likewise theinput keys 216 can be a part of thecontrol unit 210, tethered to thecontrol unit 210 or remotely interconnected to thecontrol unit 210. - The
control unit 210 can be positioned within thesupport system 100 or exterior to it. It depends on how the product is to be designed. - For this example, we will assume the patient will be initially turned to the left side. Obviously, the patient can be turned to the right side first, as well. It merely depends on (1) which side the patient wants to be positioned on first and/or (2) how the patient's assistant (including and not limited to a nurse, a nurse practitioner, a nurse's aide, an aide, a friend, and/or a family member), who can control the support surface, wants the patient to be positioned first.
- The
first right section 122 and thesecond right section 124 are inflated at the same time (same as the prior art) as illustrated inFIG. 9 a or at different rates or times, as illustrated inFIG. 10 , to obtain the desired angle. Thesections section control unit 210 through different conduits and (2) the patient's assistant (or the manufacturer) can program the control unit through the microprocessor and/or input keys to open the valves to conduits 213, 215 at different times or with different apertures to control the inflation rate. - In a first embodiment, once the patient is properly rotated (turned) to the desired angle with both
sections 122, 124 (as illustrated inFIG. 9 a) inflated for rotation (turning) purposes, the patient's assistant can begin to deflate one of the inflated and rotated (turned)sections FIG. 9 b, thesection 122 is initially deflated. Why begin to deflate just one of the inflated and rotated sections? That way, the patient's assistant exposes a predetermined area (examples include and are not limited to the right side of the sacral region, the thoracic region, the lumbar region, the cervical region, the abdominal area, and/or the chest area) of the patient that normally contacts thesection 122. Deflating thesection 124 greatly enhances the patient's assistant ability to wash, treat, inspect the initial predetermined area of the patient, without the using props (pillows typically) or additional patient's assistants to hold the patient in position. This invention comforts the patient. - Once the patient's assistant is completed caring and treating the initial predetermined area, the
section 122 is inflated to the desired level and thesection 124 can be deflated to expose a second predetermined area of the patient as illustrated inFIG. 9 c. Deflating thesection 124 greatly enhances the patient's assistant ability to wash, treat, inspect the second predetermined area of the patient, without the using props (pillows typically) or additional patient's assistants to hold the patient in position. - Alternatively, when the
section 122 is being inflated thesection 124 can be simultaneously deflated to expedite the transition process. - It does not matter which
section - A second embodiment occurs when the
sections FIG. 10 . The section that is being inflated at the slower rate or at a later time (hereinafter “slow section”) inherently exposes a first predetermined area to the patient's assistant as shown inFIGS. 9 b and 9 c. That way the patient's assistant can wash, treat, inspect the predetermined area of the patient, without the using props (pillows typically) or additional patient's assistants to hold the patient in position. Once the slow section is fully inflated to the desired rotation (or turning) the fast section can be deflated so the patient's assistant can care and treat a different predetermined area of the patient. - Alternatively, when the slow section is being inflated the fast section can be simultaneously deflated to expedite the transition process.
- A third embodiment occurs when the patient is rotated to the patient is rotated to the right side so
sections - The
right bladder unit 120 can have anadditional bladder section 126 and theleft bladder unit 130 can have anadditional bladder section 136. Theadditional bladder section 126 can be inflated/deflated by anextension 128 a,b fromconduit 123 orconduit 125 as illustrated inFIG. 11 ; or anew conduit 127 as illustrated inFIG. 12 that is interconnected to thecontrol unit 210 with itsown valve 212 e. Thatvalve 212 e is controlled by the microprocessor like anyother valve 212 in thecontrol unit 210. - Likewise, the
additional bladder section 136 can be inflated/deflated by anextension 138 a,b fromconduit 133 orconduit 135 as illustrated inFIG. 11 ; or anew conduit 137 as illustrated inFIG. 12 that is interconnected to thecontrol unit 210 with itsown valve 212 f. Thatvalve 212 f is controlled by the microprocessor like anyother valve 212 in thecontrol unit 210. - If the
additional bladders control unit 210 as illustrated inFIG. 12 that means that theadditional bladders other bladders additional bladders control unit 210 as illustrated inFIG. 11 that means theadditional bladders additional bladders - The
additional bladder section FIG. 11 or a predetermined distance from the other rotational (turn) bladders as illustrated inFIG. 12 . - The
bladder sections - Programming an air pressure mattress unit requires a skilled technician. The skilled technician analyzes each patient and alters the programming to attain the desired rotation and air pressure. One means to avoid the expensive technician's analysis and re-programming is to create a self-monitoring mattress.
- Previous self-monitoring air pressure mattresses have utilized electrical signal transmission devices and electrical signal receiving devices that sandwich the top and bottom of each bladder to monitor the bladder size. The bladder size corresponds to the desired rotation and air pressure. Such signal devices are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,794,289 and 5,926,883; which are hereby incorporated by reference. Those signal devices generate signals, like rf or light signals, that determine the proper level of inflation in the rotating (turning) bladders.
- The conduits can be conventional tubing used in the therapeutic industry. The conduits can have additional valves like a one-way passage valve.
- It is intended that the above description of the preferred embodiments of the structure of the present invention and the description of its operation are but one or two enabling best mode embodiments for implementing the invention. Other modifications and variations are likely to be conceived of by those skilled in the art upon a reading of the preferred embodiments and a consideration of the appended claims and drawings. These modifications and variations still fall within the breadth and scope of the disclosure of the present invention.
Claims (19)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US11/891,451 US20080040860A1 (en) | 2006-08-17 | 2007-08-10 | Turn-assist with access areas |
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Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US83845306P | 2006-08-17 | 2006-08-17 | |
US11/891,451 US20080040860A1 (en) | 2006-08-17 | 2007-08-10 | Turn-assist with access areas |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20080040860A1 true US20080040860A1 (en) | 2008-02-21 |
Family
ID=39099963
Family Applications (1)
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US11/891,451 Abandoned US20080040860A1 (en) | 2006-08-17 | 2007-08-10 | Turn-assist with access areas |
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US20090106893A1 (en) * | 2007-10-30 | 2009-04-30 | Jerry Blevins | Inflatable air mattress for rotating patients |
US7712171B2 (en) | 2007-04-25 | 2010-05-11 | Hill-Rom Services, Inc. | Patient support including turn assist, low air loss, or integrated lateral transfer |
US20140223665A1 (en) * | 2013-02-13 | 2014-08-14 | William Lawrence Chapin | Traveling Wave Air Mattresses And Method And Apparatus For Generating Traveling Waves Thereon |
US20140259432A1 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2014-09-18 | Kap Medical, Inc. | Patient support apparatus and method |
US20150136146A1 (en) * | 2012-05-22 | 2015-05-21 | Hill-Rom Services, Inc. | Adverse event mitigation systems, methods and devices |
US20170333270A1 (en) * | 2014-07-25 | 2017-11-23 | Huntleigh Technology Limited | Therapeutic mattress with low volume bladders |
JP2018057902A (en) * | 2012-08-29 | 2018-04-12 | ヒル−ロム サービシズ,インコーポレイテッド | Occupant support with turn assist members |
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USD888962S1 (en) | 2018-09-28 | 2020-06-30 | Stryker Corporation | Cover assembly for a patient support |
USD888963S1 (en) | 2018-09-28 | 2020-06-30 | Stryker Corporation | Cover assembly for a patient support |
USD890914S1 (en) | 2018-10-31 | 2020-07-21 | Stryker Corporation | Pump |
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USD894956S1 (en) | 2018-10-31 | 2020-09-01 | Stryker Corporation | Display screen or portion thereof with graphical user interface |
USD894957S1 (en) | 2018-10-31 | 2020-09-01 | Stryker Corporation | Display screen or portion thereof with graphical user interface |
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US11109799B2 (en) | 2017-10-24 | 2021-09-07 | Hill-Rom Services, Inc. | Modular turn assist apparatus and method therefor |
US11173085B2 (en) | 2017-12-28 | 2021-11-16 | Stryker Corporation | Mattress cover for a mattress providing rotation therapy to a patient |
US11219567B2 (en) | 2018-09-28 | 2022-01-11 | Stryker Corporation | Patient support |
US11241349B2 (en) | 2018-09-28 | 2022-02-08 | Stryker Corporation | Patient support including a connector assembly |
US11246775B2 (en) | 2017-12-28 | 2022-02-15 | Stryker Corporation | Patient turning device for a patient support apparatus |
US11559451B2 (en) | 2018-10-31 | 2023-01-24 | Stryker Corporation | Fluid source for supplying fluid to therapy devices |
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US11660242B2 (en) | 2019-06-17 | 2023-05-30 | Morgan Leigh Miller | Portable patient turning device |
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US20090106893A1 (en) * | 2007-10-30 | 2009-04-30 | Jerry Blevins | Inflatable air mattress for rotating patients |
US20150136146A1 (en) * | 2012-05-22 | 2015-05-21 | Hill-Rom Services, Inc. | Adverse event mitigation systems, methods and devices |
US10617581B2 (en) * | 2012-08-29 | 2020-04-14 | Hill-Rom Services, Inc. | Occupant support with longitudinally spaced turn assist members, associated graphical user interface, and methods of providing access to portions of the occupant support or to occupants thereof |
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US9015885B2 (en) * | 2013-02-13 | 2015-04-28 | William Lawrence Chapin | Traveling wave air mattresses and method and apparatus for generating traveling waves thereon |
US20140223665A1 (en) * | 2013-02-13 | 2014-08-14 | William Lawrence Chapin | Traveling Wave Air Mattresses And Method And Apparatus For Generating Traveling Waves Thereon |
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US20170333270A1 (en) * | 2014-07-25 | 2017-11-23 | Huntleigh Technology Limited | Therapeutic mattress with low volume bladders |
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US11872052B2 (en) | 2017-10-24 | 2024-01-16 | Hill-Rom Services, Inc. | Modular turn assist apparatus and method therefor |
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