GB2433061A

GB2433061A - A Patient Manoeuvring System

Info

Publication number: GB2433061A
Application number: GB0621183A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew John Wilson
Original assignee: Helping Hand Co Ledbury Ltd
Current assignee: Helping Hand Co Ledbury Ltd
Priority date: 2005-12-09
Filing date: 2006-10-25
Publication date: 2007-06-13
Also published as: WO2007066075A1; GB0621183D0

Abstract

A patient manoeuvring system (10 fig. 1) comprises a patient support (12, 14 fig. 1), an adjustable suspension device 20 comprising an elongate suspension member 24, a hoist 22 and at least one pulley 28, the support being suspended by at least two portions of the suspension member, the support comprising a substantially rigid frame (14 fig. 1) to which at least one sling (12 fig. 1) is attached for supporting a patient. The elongate suspension member 24 may be fixed at one end 27 and connected to wheel 32 of the hoist 22 at the other end. The elongate suspension member 24 may be a flexible strap made from webbing, plastics or polymeric material and may include reinforcing fibres. A pulley block 26 may be pivotably mounted to the frame (14 fig. 1) and may include a spacer (36 fig. 3) to align the pulley block with the two portions of the suspension member 24. The hoist may be movably mounted on an overhead structure such as a track.

Description

A patient manoeuvrinq system The present invention relates to a patient

manoeuvring system and a component thereof comprising a patient support frame. In this description, typically, a patient may be an invalid or an incapacitated or bedridden person.

The system is particularly applicable to the lifting or lowering of such a person e.g. into or out of a bed or bathing/toilet facilities.

Patient manoeuvring systems are known. EP390003, GB 2337036, US 4202064, US4117561, US4125908, US 4372452, and US 6523195 show different arrangements for manoeuvring patients. The documents all show a patient support which may be raised or lowered.

Often these manoeuvring systems are used in confined spaces e.g. in bedrooms or bathrooms so it is desirable to provide a system whose physical dimensions are as small as possible. It may be necessary for a carer to position the system ready for use, thus it is desirable to have a system which is as light weight as possible for positioning purposes. It is further desirable to have a system which is of low cost because those who need such systems are generally those who can least afford them. In order to produce a system which is, compact, low weight and low cost it is desirable to keep the structure and mechanisms employed as simple and light weight as possible.

However, with increasing obesity and when considering health and safety and product liability issues, simple and light weight structures and mechanisms are difficult to achieve. Aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide a manoeuvring system employing a simple, low cost structure and mechanism, but yet with the strength and capacity to support and manoeuvre large patients in safety.

According to a first aspect the present invention provides a patient manoeuvring system comprising: a patient support having a substantially rigid frame to which at least one sling is attachable for supporting a patient during manoeuvring of the patient; an adjustable suspension device connected to the frame of the patient support for suspending the patient support during use from an overhead structure, the suspension device including an elongate suspension member, at least one pulley device, and a hoist cooperating with the member for lifting or lowering the patient support; the system being characterised in that the patient support is suspendable by at least two portions of the elongate member, one of the said portions extending directly between the hoist and the pulley or a first of the pulleys.

According to a second aspect the present invention provides a patient manoeuvring system comprising: a patient support having a substantially rigid frame to which at least one sling is attachable for supporting a patient during manoeuvring of the patient; an adjustable suspension device connected to the frame of the patient support for suspending the patient support during use from an overhead structure, the suspension device including an elongate suspension member and a hoist cooperating with the member for lifting or lowering the patient support; the system being characterised in that the elongate member is fixed to, or adjacent, the hoist at one end, extends directly from a fixing at or adjacent the hoist to at least one pulley device mounted to the frame, extends further directly from the said at least one pulley device to the hoist and is cooperably connected to the hoist at its other end such that the frame is suspended by at least two portions of the elongate suspension member.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a patient manoeuvring system comprising: a patient support having a substantially rigid frame to which at least one sling can be attached for supporting a patient during manoeuvring of the patient; an adjustable suspension device connected to the frame of the patient support for suspending the patient support, during use, from an overhead structure, the suspension device including an elongate suspension member, a pulley block mounted to the frame including at least one pulley, and a hoist, together cooperating for lifting or lowering the patient support; wherein the elongate member is fixed at one end, extends around the said at least one pulley and is cooperably connected to the hoist at its other end such that the frame is suspended by at least two portions of the elongate suspension member; the system being characterised in that the pulley block is arranged such that the frame may pivot relative to the pulley block.

Preferably the hoist is positioned at or near the overhead structure.

Preferably the overhead structure is in the form of a track to which the hoist is moveably mountable.

Preferably the elongate suspension member is fixed at or near the hoist.

More preferably the elongate suspension member includes a first one of said portions extending in one direction away from the overhead structure toward the pulley block, said elongate member extending further around the or each pulley and said elongate member including a second one of said portions extending yet further back toward the support structure in a direction generally parallel to the said first direction for cooperating with the hoist during lifting and lowering the patient support.

Preferably the elongate suspension member is flexible.

Preferably the elongate flexible suspension member has two substantially parallel opposing surfaces forming a strap.

Preferably the strap is of webbing material, plastics or polymeric material, natural material or the like. The plastics or polymeric material may be fibre reinforced.

Preferably the strap is flexible only transversely to the general direction of reinforcement Preferably the two opposing surfaces of the strap are flat.

Preferably the pulley block includes a spacer positioned between the first and second portions of the elongate member extending generally parallel to the two portions.

Preferably the spacer may abut a surface of either or both of the portions of the elongate member should the spacer relatively move out of its position generally parallel to the two portions.

Preferably the at least one pulley is a single pulley and the pulley is a cylinder.

Preferably the frame comprises at least two articulatable elements and the suspended attitude of the at least one sling is alterable as a result of the relative articulation of the elements.

Preferably the at least two articulatable elements are connected by a length adjustable member for altering the said relative articulation.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a patient support having a substantially rigid frame to which at least one sling is attachable for supporting a patient during manoeuvring of the patient characterised in that the frame includes at least one pulley block pivotably mounted thereto for receiving an elongate suspension member for lifting and lowering the frame.

The invention provides also a patient manoeuvring system or a patient support substantially as described herein, optionally, with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a patient manoeuvring system according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the suspension device illustrated in figure 1; Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of the pulley block illustrated in figures 1 and2;and Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the patient supporting frame shown in figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a patient manoeuvring system 10. The system includes two slings 12 supported by a frame 14. The system also includes a frame suspending device 20 which consists of a hoist 22 and an elongate suspension member in the form of a flexible overhead strap 24. The hoist 22 is mounted to an overhead support structure 26. In practice the overhead structure will be in the form of a track mounted at ceiling height, a suitably strong ceiling fixing, or some framework which can be moved from one place to another. The hoist may be moveable relative to the overhead structure e.g. the hoist may have a carriage which moves along a track. The hoist 22 in cooperation with the strap 24 is used to lift and lower patient supporting frame 14 in use.

Figure 2 shows the adjustable suspension device 20 in more detail. Strap 24 has a first portion 24a which is fixed at securing block 27 to the housing of the hoist 22. The first portion 24a of the strap extends directly toward pulley block 26. Pulley block 26 includes a simple pulley 28 (shown more clearly in figure 3). The strap 24 extends around the pulley 28. The strap 24 includes a second portion 24b which extends directly from the pulley to the hoist. The hoist includes an electric motor 30 and a winding wheel 32. In use the electric motor can be operated to rotate in either direction. The action of the motor winds or unwinds the strap 24 onto or off the wheel 32 causing the frame to lift or lower accordingly. The strap portions 24a and 24b extend directly between fixing 27, pulley block 26 and hoist winding wheel 32, with no intervening elements (such as idler pulleys), or changes in direction.

Figure 3 shows the pulley block 26 in more detail. Pulley block 26 is pivotably mounted to frame 14 via pivot pin 38. Strap 24 extends around a plain cylindrical pulley 28 which is mounted to the pulley block 26 using a pivot bolt 40. Mounted also to the pulley block is a spacer 36 which extends in parallel with the portions of the strap 24a and 24b. The function of the spacer is to keep the pulley block aligned with the two portions 24a and 24b of the strap 24.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the frame 14 together with adjacent components. It can be seen that the frame consists of 3 major elements: a crossbar 16; a sling support 18; and a ram 42. Crossbar 16 is attached to pulley block 26 in a pivotal manner as shown in figure 3. Sling support 18 is attached to the crossbar 16 by means of two further pivot pins 44. Thus, the sling support 18 can pivot with respect to the crossbar 16. Ram 42 is operable in use to alter the distance L between the crossbar and sling support 18. This in turn adjusts the attitude of the sling support 18 and slings attached thereto. In use, the ram is electrically operable to increase or decrease the length L and thereby to change the position of the slings 12 (shown in Figure 1).

In the foregoing embodiment hoist 22 is mounted to support 26 and a pulley 28 is mounted at frame 14. Various configurations of this arrangement and modifications thereto will be apparent to the skilled addressee. For example hoist 22 may be mounted to frame 14 and pulley 28 may be mounted to support 26. Also, more than one pulley may be employed. Thus, in the embodiment shown the use of one pulley reduces the loading on motor 30 by approximately half, whereas the use of two or more pulleys will reduce the loading further. A winding wheel hoist has been shown, however other types of hoist mechanism are possible e.g. two pinch rollers or a toothed arrangement. Whilst an electric hoist motor 30 has been described other motors may be used. Additionally, a hand hoist could be employed. Strap 24 is preferably of a webbing material having woven fibre construction. However, a polymeric, plastics or natural material strap may be used. The strap may have a fibre reinforcing which will allow flexing in directions transverse to the reinforcing but substantially no tensile stretching. Use of a cylindrical pulley 28 is illustrated, however, the pulley may be of an alternative construction e.g. a V' shaped pulley or a convex (barrel) shaped pulley. The pulley shown is rotatable but it need not be so e.g. a smooth non-rotatable pulley having a webbing strap sliding thereon would function effectively. The fixing of strap portion 24a need not be made at securing block 27. The fixing of the strap may occur at some other position for example at support 26. The fixing 27 may be external to the hoist 22 housing.

These various embodiments of the invention serve to illustrate how a patient manoeuvring system can be constructed.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A patient manoeuvring system comprising: a patient support having a substantially rigid frame to which at least one sling is attachable for supporting a patient during manoeuvring of the patient; an adjustable suspension device connected to the frame of the patient support for suspending the patient support during use from an overhead structure, the suspension device including an elongate suspension member, at least one pulley device, and a hoist cooperating with the member for lifting or lowering the patient support; the system being characterised in that the patient support is suspendable by at least two portions of the elongate member, one of the said portions extending directly between the hoist and the pulley or a first of the pulleys.

2. A patient manoeuvring system comprising: a patient support having a substantially rigid frame to which at least one sling is attachable for supporting a patient during manoeuvring of the patient; an adjustable suspension device connected to the frame of the patient support for suspending the patient support during use from an overhead structure, the suspension device including an elongate suspension member and a hoist cooperating with the member for lifting or lowering the patient support; the system being characterised in that the elongate member is fixed to, or adjacent, the hoist at one end, extends directly from a fixing at or adjacent the hoist to at least one pulley device mounted to the frame, extends further directly from the said at least one pulley device to the hoist and is cooperably connected to the hoist at its other end such that the frame is suspended by at least two portions of the elongate suspension member.

3. A patient manoeuvring system comprising: a patient support having a substantially rigid frame to which at least one sling can be attached for supporting a patient during manoeuvring of the patient; an adjustable suspension device connected to the frame of the patient support for suspending the patient support, during use, from an overhead structure, the suspension device including an elongate suspension member, a pulley block mounted to the frame including at least one pulley, and a hoist, together cooperating for lifting or lowering the patient support; wherein the elongate member is fixed at one end, extends around the said at least one pulley and is cooperably connected to the hoist at its other end such that the frame is suspended by at least two portions of the elongate suspension member; the system being characterised in that the pulley block is arranged such that the frame may pivot relative to the pulley block.

4. A patient manoeuvring system according to claims 1-3 wherein the hoist is positioned at, or near, the overhead structure.

5. A patient manoeuvring system according to claims 1-4 wherein the overhead structure is in the form of a track to which the hoist is movably mounted.

6. A patient manoeuvring system according to claims 1-5 wherein the elongate suspension member is fixed at, or near, the hoist.

7. A patient manoeuvring system according to claim 6 wherein the elongate suspension member includes a first one of said portions extending in one direction away from the overhead structure towards the pulley block, said elongate member extending further around the or each pulley and said elongate member including a second one of said portions extending yet further back towards the support structure in a direction generally parallel to the said first direction for co-operating with the hoist during lifting and lowering the patient support.

8. A patient manoeuvring system according to claim 6 or 7 wherein said elongate suspension member is flexible.

9. A patient manoeuvring system according to claims 6-8 wherein said elongate suspension member has two substantially parallel opposing surfaces forming a strap.

10. A patient manoeuvring system according to claims 6-9 wherein the elongate suspension member is made of webbing material, plastics or polymeric material, or natural material.

11. A patient manoeuvring system according to claim 10 wherein the elongate suspension member includes reinforcing fibres.

12. A patient manoeuvring system according to claims 8-11 wherein the member is flexible only transversely to the general direction of reinforcement.

13. A patient manoeuvring system according to claims 6-12 wherein the elongate suspension member comprises two opposing flat surfaces.

14. A patient manoeuvring system according to any preceding claim wherein the pulley block includes a spacer positioned between the first and second portions of the elongate member extending generally parallel to the two portions.

15. A patient manoeuvring system according to claim 14 wherein the spacer may abut a surface of either or both of the portions of the elongate member should the spacer relatively move out of its position generally parallel to the two portions.

16. A patient manoeuvring system according to any preceding claim wherein the at least one pulley is a single pulley.

17. A patient manoeuvring system according to any preceding claim wherein the frame comprises at least two articulatable elements and the suspended attitude of the at least one sling is altered as a result of the relative articulation of the elements.

18. A patient manoeuvring system according to claim 17 wherein the at least two articulatable elements are connected by a length adjustable member for altering the said relative articulation.

19. A patient support having a substantially rigid frame to which at least one sling is attachable for supporting a patient during manoeuvring of the patient characterised in that the frame includes at least one pulley block pivotably mounted thereto for receiving an elongate suspension member for lifting and lowering the frame.

20. A patient manoeuvring system as substantially herein described and with reference to the accompanying Figures.

21. A patient support as substantially herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures.