AU697070B2

AU697070B2 - Patient mover

Info

Publication number: AU697070B2
Application number: AU52482/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jennifer Elizabeth Nelson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-05-29
Filing date: 1996-05-24
Publication date: 1998-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 2016-05-24
Also published as: AU5248296A

Description

1- P/00/01 1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Pate.-its Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: PATIENT MOVER 0 0 0 0 0 0 000 a a49 *a of The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: GH&CO REF: P50337C:CLG:SB 2 The present invention is concerned with a patient lifting device for altering the position of bed-ridden patients in a bed and, more particularly, with such a device for raising a patient to a sitting position or for turning a patient.

In hospitals and in nursing homes, where patients are often bed-ridden for extended periods, it is crucial to the patient's well being that they be moved from time to time. If a patient lies on one side for an extended period it is likely that bed sores will develop on that side, so. a bed-ridden patient must be turned from side to side at regular intervals. It is also desirable for a bed-ridden patient to be able to be raised into a sitting position to facilitate feeding of the patient and to allow the patient to converse with visitors and the like.

Hitherto, it has been difficult for some healthcare workers to move patients as considerable physical strength is required to manhandle a patient. Accordingly,

S

the present invention provides a technique which allows a 20 healthcare worker to move a bed-ridden patient without having to manhandle the patient and with minimal effort.

a According to the present invention there is provided a patient lifting apparatus having a frame for use in 0 o •conjunction with a bed, a flexible patient support means o. 25 mounted on the frame and including a first flexible supnort means extending across a bed widthwise and a second flexible support means extending across the bed S0 o. lengthwise, the frame including a control means for raising a portion of the patient support means above the .00 30 surface of the bed to alter the position of a patient resting on the portion.

In a first embodiment of the invention the patient support means is held at either end of the bed and extends along the bed whereby tensioning the patient support means raises a portion thereof above the surface of the bed.

Preferably, the patient support means is elevated at the head of the bed and at approximately bed height at S:50377C/703 3 the foot of the bed so that the patient will be lifted into a sitting position.

Advantageously, the means for tensioning said patient support means comprises a roller around which the patient support means can be wound.

Typically, a plurality of rollers can be provided in the appropriate positions to apply tension to the patient support means to control the movement thereof and so control variation alteration of the position of the patient.

In the first embodiment of the invention described above, it is preferred that the patient lifter include an elevated roller at the head of the bed, a roller at bed level at the head of the bed and a roller at bed level at the foot of the bed. The patient support means, which may be a bedsheet or a substantially inextensible plastic sheet, is wrapped around the rollers. A pull sheet extends down from its junction with a cradle sheet (which S"supports the patient) at the elevated roller at the head 20 of the bed around the non-elevated roller at the head of the bed and rejoins the cradle sheet part way down the bed towards the roller at the foot of the bed. The :J cradle sheet extends downwardly from the elevated roller at the head of the bed and has sufficient slack that it 25 comes near to the non-elevated roller at the head of the bed when not under tension and extends along the surface of the bed to the roller at the foot of the bed. Tension is applied by rotating the top roller at the head of the bed in the anti-clockwise direction, the cradle sheet is wound onto the elevated roller and the pull sheet is tensioned around the non-elevated roller at the head of the bed to pull the cradle sheet back towards the head of the bed at its junction with the pull sheet, hence the cradle sheet is pulled into a suitable position to support a patient in a sitting position.

Alternatively, the elevated and non-elevated rollers at the head of the bed can be joined by a chain and sprocket arrangement to drive the non-elevated roller and S:50377C/703

~I

4 the pull sheet need only extend from non-elevated roller towards its junction with the cradle sheet part way towards the foot of the bed.

In a second embodiment of the invention the patient support means is mounted at either side of the bed and extends across the width of the bed whereby tensioning either side of the patient support means lifts that side of it and drops the other. Thus, a patient lying on one side of the bed is lifted as the patient support means on that side of the bed is tensioned and rolled onto the other side of the bed where the patient support means is loose.

In the second embodiment of the invention described above, a pair of rollers are placed one each side of the bed and each roller is rotatably mounted on a frame extending upwardly from the side of the bed. Each roller has a handle to allow a healthcare worker to apply tension to the patient support means on either side of the bed.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the o* accompanying drawings in which:- 0 Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention 25 with the patient in the lying position; o Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 with the patient in the sitting position; 0 Fig. 3 is a front view of the head of the bed in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; 0o 30 Fig. 4 is a front view of the foot of the bed in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of the second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 is a side view of the arrangement shown in Fig. Figure 7 shows a top view of a third embodiment of the present invention with a transfer slide in a first position; S:50377C/703 w~ c 5 Figure 8 shows a side view of the third embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 shows a top view of the third embodiment with the slide in a second position; Figure 10 shows a side view of the third embodiment shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 shows an end view of the third embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 12 shows the end view of the third embodiment having different handle positions for the drive roller.

Figs. 1 and 2 show schematically a hospital bed having mattress 1, bedhead 2 and foot 3. A frame (not shown) supports rollers 4, 5, 6 in the arranger nt shown just inside the frame of the bed. A cradle 'eet 8 extends down from roller 4, passing roller 5, and ends on roller 6. A pull sheet 7 joins cradle sheet 8 near roller 4 and extends around roller 5 and rejoins cradle sheet 8 on top of mattress 1. Approximately half way down the bed, the cradle sheet 8 passes between a 20 waterproof sheet (known as a "mac") which is covered by another sheet (known as a "kylie"), the purpose of these sheets being to prevent damage to the mattress when incontinent patients are placed in the bed.

In operation, roller 4 is driven either by a worm 25 gear and a handle or by a motorised drive in a clockwise direction to roll cradle sheet 8 and pull sheet 7 onto it, thereby placing tension on the sheets. 'Pull sheet 7 wraps around roller 5 anJ2 ,hen rejoins cradle sheet 8 hence, as can be seen Fig. 2, a portion 10 of cradle a.

30 sheet 8 is held on Lhe surface of mattress 1 but the remainder of cradle 8 is brought into a position which can support the b.-k of a patient substantially vertically when the patient is in a sitting position.

Roller 6 can be driven in a clockwise direction to release the tension on the sheets 7 and 8 and unwind the sheets from roller 4. Roller 5 is not driven in the embodiment shown in FPg. 1 but in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 a chain and spr'cet arrangement 11 drives roller S:50377C/703 a I ra~- l rH 6 and the portion of pull sheet 7 extending between rollers 4 and 5 is omitted. In this embodiment of the invention, only portion 12 of pull sheet 7 need be provided and this rolls onto roller 5 when the roller is driven by the chain and sprocket 11 to pull the cradle sheet in the same way as described above. The frame on which the rollers are supported and driven is shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. The roller 4 is rotatably supported on pin 13 which is held in slot 14 in support 15, which can be raised or lowered to adjust the tension and hence the position of the cradle sheet. The roller 4 has a split containing teeth which engage eyelets on the cradle sheet to hold the sheets on the roller.

Advantageously, the pull sheet is made of a durable plastic material and the cradle sheet is made of a porous mesh material. The roller is driven by motor 16, or can be driven by a handle and worm gear arrangement. The whole arrangement is supported on frame 17 which sits in front of the headboard of the bed. Bottom roller 5 is also shown in Fig. 3 but in this embodiment of the invention is not driven by the motor 16. As described earlier, the roller 4 is driven by motor 16, and in the case of an electric motor drive a button is pressed by a healthcare worker or by the patient (if the button is on 25 a flexible cord) to move the patient from the prone to the upright position.

Fig. 4 shows the end of the bed where roller 6 is C Co supported by pin 19 which engages a slot in frame 18.

Frame 18 is positioned just inside the foot of the bed S S" 30 and roller 6 can be driven by an electric motor or by worm drive and handle. The cradle sheet 8 is secured to roller 6 in the same way as it is to roller 4.

A second embodiment of the invention which enables a patient to be turned from side to side is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. In this embodiment of the invention a sheet 20 (which can have a mac and kylie on top of it) is pulled from side to side by rollers 21, 22 supported on legs 23, 24 which attach to the bed frame to suspend the S:50377C/703 7 rollers 21, 22 above the sides of the bed. In each case, handle 25 or 26 is used to wind the sheet 20 onto either roller 21 or 22 respectively and off the other roller, thus the sheet is tensioned on one side but not the other. In the configuration shown in Fig. 5, the sheet is wound around roller 21 and that side of the sheet is lifted whereas there is considerable slack in the sheet on the side of roller 22. It will be appreciated that a patient sleeping on the bed illustrated in Fig. must sleep on the right hand side of the bed as the pull sheet 20 will prevent them from sleeping on the left hand side of the bed in the configuration shown. However, if handle 26 is wound to wind the sheet 20 onto roller 22 and off roller 21, the sheet will be loosened on the left hand side of the bed and tightened on the right hand side of the bed and the patient on the right hand side of the bed will be rolled onto the left hand side of the bed.

The natural motion of a patient so rolled is to roll from lying on one side of their body to lying on the other 20 side of their body. Thus, if a patient is turned by this method every few hours bed sores will be prevented.

According to a third embodiment of the present invention a patient mover 30 is provided which is intended to be used in conjunction with a patient bed.

:25 The patient mover 30 comprises a rectangular horizontal frame 31 and a rectangular vertical frame 32 located at the end of the horizontal frame where the bed head would be located.

The sides of the horizontal frame 31 include a 30 transfer slide bearing in the form of a spacer tube 33.

A transfer slide frame 34 is mounted on each one of the spacer tubes 33 and is slidable along the length of the spacer tube 33 from one end of the horizontal frame to the other.

At each end of the horizontal frame 31 a drive roller 35, 36 is provided and these are mounted on brackets 36 between the sides of the horizontal frame 31.

The brackets 36 also support the tubes 33 on which the S:50377C/703 8 transfer slide frame 34 moves. The tubes 33 thus in this embodiment extend in parallel with the length of the horizontal frame and slightly above the level of this frame.

The transfer slide tube 34 forms part of a transfer slide frame which allows a patient to be moved from one side of the horizontal frame to the other. This transfer frame 37 consists of pivot arms 38 which support a drive roller 39. An identical arrangement is provided on each side of the horizontal frame 31.

The pivot arm 38 is shown in a vertical orientation but may be fixed in another orientation to suit the particular situation required.

The drive roller 39 extends parallel to the length of the horizontal frame and is supported at each end by one of the pivot arms 38. Each of the pivot arms 38 are supported by pivot arm bushes 40 which are connected to the transfer slide 34. The bushes 40 are provided with locking bolts 41 which fix the location of the transfer S 20 slide frame with respect to the tube 33.

~A transmission bearing 42 is located at one end of the roller 39 (in this case the end closest to the vertical frame 32). The other end of the roller is provided with a handle and gear assembly 43 and 44. The S 25 gear assembly includes a fixed dog clutch, a moving dog clutch, a gear box adaptor housing, a spring plunger and clips as required. In addition a worm blank and worm 0e gear blank are located inside a gear box housing 45 to which the handle 43 is connected.

S 30 The vertical frame 32 is provided with a top horizontal roller 50 which extends between the sides of the frame 32 on support brackets 51. Similarly a horizontal roller 52 is provided at the bottom of the frame 32 slightly above the lower side 53 of the frame 32.

As shown in Figure 8, another roller 54 is located just above roller 52 and extends in parallel between the sides of the frame 32. In this embodiment none of the S :50377C/703 I c ~h p~ 9 rollers 50, 52, 54 are provided with handles.

The opposite end of the horizontal frame 31 is provided with a horizontal roller 60 which is aligned vertically and horizontally with roller 52. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, a handle 61 and gear assembly 62 are provided on one side of the horizontal frame and a transmission bearing 63 is provided on the opposite end of the roller 60. The bracket which supports the tube 33 also supports the roller The actual rollers which are used as the drive rollers can be varied according to specific requirements.

In Figure 7 and Figure 8 the drive roller and handle 61 are located on roller 60 at one end only. This embodiment could be adapted quite easily however to have the handle and drive roller at roller 50, 52 or 54.

As shown in Figure 8 a pull sheet 70 wraps around rollers 50, 54 and 52. A cradle sheet 80 extends around roller 50, roller 52 and along the length of the horizontal frame and around roller 60 at the opposite end 20 of the horizontal frame. As shown in Figure 8 rollers 62 and 52 are provided with smaller rollers 91 and 92 o respectively. These rollers ensure tension is provided :on the cradle sheet during winding of the sheet. The operation of the third embodiment is similar to that already described, although the transfer slide frame and accompanying components enables a sheet 93 extending between rollers 39 to be placed in many different orientations as shown in Figure 11. Thus because the pivot arms 38 can be moved through 1800 from vertically •30 upwards to vertically downwards a sheet 93 can be moved to move a patient with minimum discomfort to the patient.

As shown in Figure 12 both sides of the transfer slide frame 37 may have their pivot arms 38 fixed in any orientations within the 1800 available for pivoting.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10 the transfer apparatus may be moved to any location along the length of the transfer tube 33. In Figures 9 and 10 the transfer slide is shown pushed as far as possible to the right of the S:50377C/703 10 horizontal frame 31. With this movement it is possible to provide very accurate control of movement of sheet 93 and sheet 92 to provide sideways and lengthwise movement of a patient.

It is also possible to vary the apparatus described in embodiment 3 by changing the location of the vertical frame 32 to any location along the length of the horizontal frame.

O..e a a.

a a to o ft S:50377C/703

Claims

1. A patient lifting apparatus having a frame for use in conjunction with a bed, a flexible patient support means mounted on the frame and including a first flexible support means extending across a bed widthwise and a second flexible support means extending across the bed lengthwise, the frame including a control means for raising a portion of the patient support means above the surface of the bed to alter the position of a patient resting on the portion.

2. A patient lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the patient support means comprises a flexible sheet.

3. A patient lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the frame comprises a horizontal and vertical section.

4. A patient lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 3 comprising a moveable frame moveable along the horizontal section. :O 20

5. A patient lifting apparatus as claimed in claim oo4 wherein the moveable frame comprises first and second o0*: vertical frames located on opposite sides of the a° horizontal section.

6 A patient lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the moveable frame comprises first and second tensioning means located on the first and second vertical GO frames respectively. 0'0"

7. A patient lifting apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the vertical section 30 comprises a third tensioning means.

8. A patient lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the control means includes the first, second and third tensioning means.

9. A patient lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first, second and third tensioning means each comprise a roller adapted to rotate to tension the flexible sheet.

A patient lifting apparatus as claimed in claim S:50377C03 12 9 wherein the rollers are automatically driven by a driving means.

11. A patient lifting apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5, 6, 7 or 8 wherein at least one of the vertical frames or vertical section is pivotable with respect to the horizontal section to adjust the height and associated tensioning means with respect to the horizontal frame.

12. A patient lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 1C 9 wherein the flexible sheet is arranged to be wound around the roller.

13. A patient lifting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this day of 1998 JENNIFER ELIZABETH NELSON By her Patent Attorney GRIFFITH HACK o.. S osee 4* *5o. a« e S:50377C/703 I ABSTRACT A patient lifting apparatus comprising a frame for use in conjunction with a bed, a flexible patient support means mounted on the frame and arranged to extend across at least a portion of a bed for the patient to rest on, the frame including a control means for raising a portion of the patient support means above the surface of the bed to alter the position of the patient resting on the portion. As a 0 0 0 a o 64 qe 0 0U B, 00 00 SsoQ a B as e s a S:50337A/701 II