GB2108381A

GB2108381A - Improvements in bed pans

Info

Publication number: GB2108381A
Application number: GB08230711A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Parker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-10-28
Filing date: 1982-10-27
Publication date: 1983-05-18
Also published as: GB2108381B

Abstract

This invention relates to a bed pan comprising an enclosure 10-13, 20 adapted to define a receptacle therein, said enclosure being adapted to receive and substantially enclose a support 15 capable of carrying the weight of a user; an aperture 14 in said enclosure for permitting introduction of the support 15 to and withdrawal of the support 15 from the enclosure 10-13, 20. The enclosure is formed of a disposable material which can be macerated, disintegrated, burned or otherwise reduced to a readily disposable condition. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in bed pans The invention relates to bed pans. It is well accepted in hospitals or the like that reuseable bed pans, even when washed and cleaned can be a dangerous source of cross-infection between patients or even between patients and nursing staff.

Such cross-infection can be transferred from a bed pan to a person in contact with it or to the sheets of a bed on which it is used.

In order to try to overcome the aforesaid risk of cross-infection, proposals have previously been made to produce disposable bed pans which after use, can be placed in a suitable machine which can disintegrate the bed pan and contents for consignment into the mains drainage system without the risk of blocking the latter. For example, British Patent No.898903 describes a rigid support within which rests a disposable seat liner made of papier-mache or like pulp material. With this arrangement it is intended that the disposable seat liner can be removed for disintegration.The major disadvantage of this arrangement, however, is that the rigid supporting member is subsequently reused a large number of times and therefore acts as a serious source of cross-infection as it comes into direct contact with patients and particularly bed sheets so that cross-infection can be transmitted from one set of bed sheets to another. My own British Patent No.

992403 attempts to overcome the problem of cross -infection arising from contact with bed sheets by providing a bed pan made wholly of papier-mache or like material and which does not require a rigid re-useable support. The arrangement of British Patent No.992403 provides a completely disposable bed pan, consequently removing the risk of cross -infection as a result of the transfer of any part of it from one patient or one bed to another. A disadvantage of the bed pan of British Patent No.992403 is that the side walls in some cases do not provide adequate strength, particularly in circumstances where there are commercial limitations on weight and cost.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bed pan of disposable material which can be used with a separate reusable rigid support but in which, nevertheless, the risk of cross-infection is obviated or mitigaged.

According to the present invention there is provided a bed pan comprising an enclosure adapted to define a receptacle therein, said enclosure being adapted to receive and substantially enclose a support capable of carrying the weight of a user; an aperture in said enclosure for permitting introduction of the support to and withdrawal of the support from the enclosure; and the enclosure being formed of a disposable material which can be macerated, disintegrated, burned or otherwise reduced to a readily disposable condition.

By providing for the support to be substantially enclosed by the entirely disposable enclosure or at least kept apart from the user and the bed clothes by the enclosure, the possibility of the reusable support picking up any infective material and hence the risk of cross-infection between the user and another, is obviated or at least substantially mitigaged.

The enclosure may be made of any material used for the manufacture of conventional disposable bed pans which are reducible by means of maceration, disintegration or burning into a form which can be readily handled by ordinary sewage disposable systems. Suitable materials include papier-mache, woodpulp, paper and the like.

It will be appreciated that with a bed pan of the present invention it is no longer necessary for the disposable enclosure to perform any supporting and load-bearing function so that it may be made of any material in any form which is reducible by maceration, disintegration or burning into a form which can be readily handled by ordinary sewage disposal systems and which provides an adequate barrier to the passage of infective material. Thus the enclosure may be made of flexible sheet material such as a plastics film or paper.

If desired though, the enclosure may be formed in whole or in part by a substantially rigid or semi-rigid outer side wall portion of a disposable material, and a flexible sheet material extending across the base of the enclosure and below said base of the bed pan.

The aperture in the enclosure may be positioned at any point but is conveniently located at the front or rear end, especially the front end, to facilitate handling of the bed pan before and after use. In the case of an enclosure incorporating a rigid or semi-rigid outer side wall portion, the aperture is normally formed in this side wall portion.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a bed pan of the invention in combination with a support as described hereinbefore.

Further details of the invention will appear from the foilowing description of embodiments by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of bed pan in accordance with the present invention before insertion of a rigid support; Fig. 2 is a corresponding view of the bed pan of Fig. 1 showing a rigid support inserted therein; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bed pan and support of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of bed pan in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of bed pan in accordance with the invention with support inserted; and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of bed pan in accordance with the invention with support inserted.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings a disposable bed pan enclosure is formed buy a moulding approx. 3/16" thick of disposable material e.g. papier mache in the form of a receptacle comprising a base 10, an upwardly and outwardly inclined surrounding wall 11, a flange 12 extending outwardly from the marginal edge of said wall 11 and an outer surrounding wall comprising an outer wall portion 13 depending from theflange 12 and a flexible sheet material 20 extending across the base of said outer wall portion. The outer wall portion 13 is slightly upwardly tapered from the lower edge thereof.

The inclination of the two walls 11 and 13 is such that the bed pans can be nested or partly nested one within the other depending on the flexibility and deformability of the flexible sheet material 20.

The outer wall portion 13 is cut-away at one end so asto define an aperture 14 having a width corresponding generally to the greatest width of the flange 12. A generally U-shaped support 15 is configured so that its inwardly disposed face 21 defining a recess 21a fits snugly around the inner wall 11 of the bed pan whilst the flange 12 of the bed pan rests on the upper surface 22 of the support 15.

The depth of the support 15 is greater than that of the inner wall 11 of the bed pan so that the base 10 is held clear of the bed or other surface on which the bed pan is placed. Thus the weight of the user is substantially supported on the support 15 through the flange 12. At its rear end, the support 15 is provided with an outwardly extending handle 16 to facilitate insertion and withdrawal of the support into and from the bed pan enclosure.

Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the bed pan enclosure constituted by a moulding approximately 5mm. thick of disposable material e.g. papier mache in the form of a receptacle comprising a base 110, an upwardly and outwardly inclined surrounding wall 111, a flange 112 extending outwardly from the marginal edge of the wall 111 and an outer surrounding wall comprised by a flexible sheet material (e.g. paper sheet) 120 depending from the flange 112 and extending around the base 110. The outer wall 120 of the enclosure is made sufficiently extensive to provide an adequate clearance below the base 110 to permit the introduction of a support into the space below the receptacle defined on the one hand by the receptacle and on the other by the paper outer wall 120.

The support in this case can be a conventional one-piece plastics moulding support of the general type used with the previously known seat liners according to British Patent No.898903, though of course other supports providing the required support to the receptacle may also be used. The support has a base inner wall and flange conforming generally to the corresponding parts of the above described receptacle of the invention and also has a rigid or semi-rigid outerwall provided with apertures in its base providing finger grip portions.

Fig. 5 of the drawings illustrates a third embodiment of bed pan wherein a rigid support 200 of plastics material formed with a handle 201, and, defining a central recess 202, is adapted to be inserted within a flexible enclosure 203 of paper, plastics or other suitable material. The support 200 is insertable within the enclosure 203 through aperture 204 therein so that the enclosure can be deformed into the recess 202 so as to extend along the surfaces thereof as at 203a and 203b. The depth of the wall 203c of the enclosure is substantially greater than the depth of the support 200 so that after use the support 200 can be lowered below the portions 203a and 203b without deformation thereof and so as to permit withdrawal of the support 200 from the enclosure 203. The enclosure 203 is provided with a withdrawal tab 205.

If desired the surfaces 203a and 203b can be preformed to the approximate contours of the recess 202 so that they nest easily within said recess.

Fig. 5 of the drawings illustrates a fourth embodiment of bed pan in which a rigid support 300, of e.g.

synthetic plastics material, provided with a handle 301 comprises a horizontal base 302 and upstanding side walls 303. A dispensable portion 304 of disposable material comprises a semi-rigid member 305 of 3/16" thick papier mache of arcuate form (in plan view) which complements the support 300 to define the bed pan walls. The semi-rigid member 305 having outwardly diverging walls 305a and 305b is provided with a first flexible integral flexible portion 306 of paper or the like which is adapted to overlie the base 302 and side walls 303 of the support 300.

The semi-rigid member 305 is provided with a withdrawal tab 307. A second integral flexible portion 308 is secured to the base of the outer wall of the semi-rigid member 305. In this way, the first and second flexible portions 306 and 308 together with the semi-rigid arcuate member 305 define an enclosure in which the support 300 can be inserted so that the support is substantially enclosed therein. The first and second integral flexible portions 306 and 308 are of paper or the like.

The support may be made of any substantially rigid or semi-rigid material of sufficient strength to bear the weight of the intended bed pan user.

Conveniently though the support is made of metal for example stainless steel or plastics material for example polypropylene.

It should be emphasised, that, the complete bed pan other than the support is constructed of material which is disposable e.g. by mechanical or chemical means. The disposable material from which the bed pan enclosure is constructed will, for reasons of economy, usually be as light-weight as possible.

The construction of the support and bed pan enclosure is such that the former is sufficiently rigid to support a patient at least up to a predetermined weight sitting on the latter, the weight being supported on the support through the enclosure.

After being used once, the support, surrounded by its enclosure, is inserted into a disintegrating or macerating machine or a furnace where the withdrawal tab of the enclosure is hooked or clamped.

The support is withdrawn from the retained enclosure which enclosure together with its contents are disposed of in the machine or furnace. The support which has been substantially wholly enclosed within the enclosure is screened from and has not been in contact with either patients or bed sheets and can therefore be inserted into a further enclosure for re-use substantially without fear of cross-infection having taken place. Such disintegrating or macerating machines are well known and may include rotary shredders or the like.

The improved bed pan can be very cheaply produced and, although only used once, it is economical in that it obviates the time and expense involved in washing, scrubbing and sterilizing bed pans of conventional construction.

If desired the bed pan may be provided with a flexible cover (not shown), anchored to one part of the bed pan so that it can be turned outwardly when the bed pan is in use, the cover thereafter being secured around the flange 12 (Figs. 1 to 3) so as to seal off the contents of the bed pan. For the purpose of so sealing the cover to the flange, both the cover and flange may have applied thereto a strip of latex, the contact of the two adhesive strips serving to bond the cover in its sealing position.

The base of the bed pan of Figs. 1 to 3 is shown provided with an upwardly projecting transverse barrier 23. By the provision of such barrier, surging of the contents of the bed pan, when the latter is being carried, is damped.

It will be appreciated that although only four particular embodiments of bed pan forming an enclosure for a support have been described above, other forms of outer wall and support can equally well be employed so long as they together provide the required supportive strength and the bed pan is disposable. Thus the separate support is convenientlyformed so that it includes a base portion which extends beneath said base of the bed pan (as in Figs.

5 and 6) and optionally supports said base at the same time as the outer parts of the support are providing support to the flange of the bed pan.

In the case of the bed pan of Fig. 1, the base advantageously slopes upwardly towards the front end of the bed pan, the base-supporting portion of the separate support being correspondingly inclined so as to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the bed pan and support combination by allowing this to be achieved by relative sliding of the bed pan enclosure and support. This represents a considerable improvement over previously known systems using separate supports in which the bed pan must be lifted bodily into and out of the support.

Since in most cases, any handle provided on the support for use in carrying the support and bed pan is closest to the aperture and hence most vulnerable to picking up infection it is desirably designed to minimise any such risks. Thus, for example, it is desirably formed so as to project as little as possible from the outer wall of the support consistent with ease of handling. It is also normally spaced away from the base and upper surface of the support to avoid contact with bed clothes or the user, respectively.

In addition, the enclosure of the bed pan desirably is extendible beyond the handle and conveniently arranged to enclose the handle entirely, for example by being wrapped around it during the use thereof by a patient. It will be appreciated that in all the foregoing embodiments of the invention, the support is maintained out of contact both with a patient and the bed sheets or the like on which the bed pan is located.

Also, if desired, the present invention can be applied to the type of bed pan as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 of British Patent No. 898903. In this case a flexible disposable enclosure would be used to surround the non-expendable portion of the bed pan and the disposable portion can then be nested therein so that the enclosure is sandwiched between the disposable portion and the non-expendable portion.

Claims

1. A bed pan comprising an enclosure adapted to define a receptacle therein, said enclosure being adapted to receive and substantially enclose a support capable of carrying the weight of a user; an aperture in said enclosure for permitting introduction of the support to and withdrawal of the support from the enclosure; and the enclosure being formed of a disposable material which can be macerated, disintegrated, burned or otherwise reduced to a readily disposable condition.

2. A bed pan as claimed in claim 1, in which the enclosure is of a flexible sheet material capable of being readily deformed to define the receptacle therein.

3. A bed pan as claimed in claim 2, in which the flexible sheet material is of synthetic plastics film or paper.

4. A bed pan as claimed in claim 1, in which the enclosure comprises a first portion of a substantially rigid or semi-rigid material preformed to define the receptacle therein and said first portion being adapted to be carried by the support, and a second portion connected to said first portion and adapted to be located below the support when in use to prevent contact between the underside of the support and a surface on which it is placed.

5. A bed pan as claimed in claim 4, in which the second portion is of a flexible sheet material.

6. A bed pan as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the first portion includes an outer side wall depending from the outer periphery of said first portion and the aperture for the introduction and removal of the support from the enclosure being provided in said side wall.

7. A bed pan comprising, in combination, an enclosure adapted to define a receptacle therein, said enclosure being formed of a disposable material which can be macerated, disintegrated, burned or otherwise reduced to a readily disposable condition; an aperture in said enclosure for permitting access to the interior of the enclosure; and a support of a substantially rigid material having a recess in its central portion to receive or assist in defining the receptacle of the bed pan, said support being insertable into the enclosure through the aperture so that the support is substantially enclosed to prevent contact between the support and a surface on which the bed pan is placed.

8. A bed pan as claimed in claim 7, in which the enclosure comprises a first portion of a substantially rigid or semi-rigid material preformed to define the receptacle therein, and a second portion connected to said first portion, the recess of the support receiving the receptacle when the support is inserted into the enclosure between said first and second portions.

9. A bed pan as claimed in claim 8, in which the support is of bifurcated form, the legs of the bifurcated support defining the receptacle-receiving recess.

10. A bed pan as claimed in claim 8 or 9, in which the second portion is of a flexible sheet material.

11. A bed pan as claimed in any of calims 8 to 10, in which the first portion includes an outer side wall depending from the outer periphery of said first portion and the aperture for the introduction and removal of the support from the enclosure being provided in said side wall.

12. A bed pan as claimed in claim 7, in which the enclosure is of a flexible sheet material and the recess of the support has a wall portion or portions to which the flexible sheet material can conform in order to define, at least in part, the receptacle when the support is inserted into the enclosure.

13. A bed pan as claimed in claim 12, in which receptacle is wholly defined by the flexible sheet material conforming to the wall portion or portions of the support.

14. A bed pan as claimed in any of claims 7 to 13, in which the support is provided with a handle spaced at least from the plane of the underside of the support.

15. A bed pan as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the enclosure is provided with means for engagement with a co-operating member in a disintegrating machine or the like to assist in separation of the enclosure from a support when inserted therein.

16. A bed pan substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 4; Fig. 5 or Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.