GB2539652A

GB2539652A - Body decontamination apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2539652A
Application number: GB1510810.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Skowronski Roman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-06-19
Filing date: 2015-06-19
Publication date: 2016-12-28
Also published as: GB201510810D0

Abstract

An apparatus 1 for decontaminating a body comprising a base 2 mounted on at least four wheels 4, an upper support surface 3 above the base, at least one support 5 connecting the base to the upper support surface, the support portion comprising a raising and lowering mechanism configured to raise and lower the upper support surface relative to the base, a basin 6 removably mounted on the upper support surface, fluid delivery means 15 and means for supplying fluid to the fluid delivery means, and means for removing waste fluid from the basin, wherein the basin includes a drainage outlet and the means for removing waste fluid from the basin includes a waste fluid pipe 10 connectable to the drainage outlet of the basin. Also provided is a mobile apparatus comprising a base, a support surface and control means for raising and lowering said support surface.

Description

Body Decontamination Apparatus

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile apparatus for decontamination of a body and in particular to a mobile apparatus for decontamination of a patient's body prior surgical treatment.

Background of the Invention

Proper decontamination of a patient's body prior to undergoing a surgical procedure can reduce the risk of infection in the patient. Patients' bodies are typically contaminated with microorganisms originating from various sources and if the patient's body is not properly decontaminated before surgery then there is a risk of these microorganisms infecting the surgical site. The consequences of some infections are often severe and sometimes can be fatal.

Optimal preparation of a patient before surgery includes soaking the body in an antiseptic bath soak followed by an antiseptic shower. In reality this optimal preparation is rarely achieved since access to suitable washing and decontamination facilities is limited Very often attempts to decontaminate a patient's body prior to surgery are limited to partial washthg of only the area requiring surgery either in the Accident and Emergency department, on the hospital ward on in the Operating Theatre.

Considerable effort has been invested into treatments for resulting infections, but less into preventative measures for preventing infections occurring in the first instance It would be desirable to provide an apparatus for use in decontaminating patients' bodies prior to surgery.

It has also been observed that whilst great effort and resources have been directed to the improvement of operating tables so that a patient undergoing an operation may be presented in the most optimum way to be operated on by a particular surgeon performing the operation, the same progress has not been made in relation to tables used in an operating theatre by the surgeon for supporting instruments that might be required during an operation.

The height of the tables used to support instruments is fixed. Because of the way surgeons work, turing between thei istruments and the operating table it has been found that surgeons tend to set the height of the operating table to approximately the height of the table supporting the instruments. This means that the surgeon can turn between the two tables without bending down.

It would be desirable to provide an improved apparatus that may be used by surgeons in operating theatres, for example to have instruments that might be required during an operation readily to hand.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile apparatus for decontaminating a body comprising: a base mounted on at least four wheels; an upper support surface fir supporting a basin, the upper support surface mounted above the base; at least one support connecting the base to the upper support surface, the at least one support comprising a raising and lowering mechanism configured to raise and lower the upper support surface relative to the base; a basin removably mounted on the upper support surface; fluid delivery means and means for supplying fluid to the fluid delivery means; means hr renioving waste fluid from the basin, wherein the basin includes a drainage outlet and the means for removing waste fluid from the basin includes a waste fluid pipe connectable to the drainage outlet of the basin.

Preferably the waste fluid pipe is located underneath the support surface and the support surface includes an aperture aligned with the drainage outlet of the basin.

Preferably the base portion is mounted on a least five wheels.

Preferably the wheels are castors. Mounting the base portion on castors allows the apparatus to be easily manoeuvred into the desired location.

The apparatus may be connectable to mains water supply and mains drainage facilities.

The means for supplying fluid to the fluid delivery means may comprise a tube which is connectable to a mains water supply. Alternatively, the fluid delivery means may be connectable to a fluid storage vessel located on the apparatus. The fluid storage vessel may contain water or a liquid decontaminant. A pump may be used to draw fluid from the storage vessel through a fluid inlet pipe to the fluid delivery means.

The fluid delivery means may include a tap or a shower head. The fluid delivery means may comprise a pulse lavage device.

Preferably the apparatus further includes heating means for heating the fluid prior to dispensing the fluid from the fluid delivery means The heating means may form part of the fluid delivery means. The apparatus may further comprise a thermostat to regulate the temperature of the fluid.

The waste fluid pipe may be connected directly to a mains drainage outlet. Alternatively, the waste fluid pipe may be connectable to a waste fluid vessel located below the basin, allowing waste fluid to be collected in the vessel for later disposal. The waste fluid pipe may he connected to a pump to assist in the removal of fluid from the basin.

The raising and lowering mechanism may comprise one or more passive or active actuators. For example, a passive actuator in the form of a gas strut may be utilised. Alternatively, the raising and lowering mechanism may comprise a powered actuator. For example, an electrically powered actuator may be used. The apparatus may include controls for operating the actuator to raise or lower the upper surface of the apparatus.

Preferably the basin is disposable. Single use basins avoid the need for cleaning and sterilising basins between patients and reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

The fluid delivery means may be disposable. Where a fluid storage vessel and/or a waste fluid vessel are used these may be disposable as may be any pipes connecting said vessels to the fluid delivery means and the drain respectively.

Decontamination fluid may include bactericidal agents such as chlrohe idine or beta dine which are typically used with water and The invention provides an improved apparatus for decontaminating a body that is mobile, self-contained, simple to use, and reduces risks of cross-contamination between patients.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile apparatus comprising: a base mounted on at least four wheels; an upper support surface, the upper support surface mounted above the base; at least one support connecting the base to the upper support surface, the at least one support comprising a raising and lowering mechanism configured to raise and lower the upper support surface relative to the base; and control means for controlling the raising and lowering mechanism.

The raising and lowering mechanism preferably includes a powered actuator, such as an electrically powered actuator, configured to both raise and lower the upper surface. Alternatively; the raising and lowering mechanism may include an actuator to raise the upper surface relative to the base, with lowering of the upper surface relative to the base being reliant on the application of manual force. A gas strut for example, can be used to raise the upper support surface under the energy stored in the gas strut, but lowering of the upper support surface relative to the base would require external force, for example manual force.

The base may he mounted on five or more wheels.

The control means for controlling the raising and lowering mechanism may include switches and/or levers and preferably, the switches and/or levers are mounted on the upper support surface.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided the combination of an operating table that includes means for adjusting the table height and a mobile apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings,which illustrate a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for, and are by way of example: Figure I is a perspective view of a mobile apparatus for decontaminating a body according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure I; Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of the apparatus of figure 1; Figure 5a illustrates a plan views of in embodiment of the apparatus with the basin re-moved; Figure 5b illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure. 5a with the basin installed; Figure 6a illustrates a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus with the basin removed; Figure 6b illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure. Ga with the basin installed; Figure 7a illustrates a plan view if an alternative embodiment of the apparatus with the basin removed; and Figure 7b illustrates a side view of the apparatus of Figure 7a; Figure 8 illustrates a mobile apparatus according to another aspect of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4, a mobile apparatus for decontaminating a body is shown generally at 1. The apparatus comprises a base 2 mounted on live castors 4. The castors are preferably provided with brakes. An upper support surface 3 is located directly above the base 2. A central support 5 connects the base 2 to the support surface 3. A mechanism for raising and lowering the support surface 3 is located within the central support 5. The raising and lowering mechanism in this example comprises a gas strut or an electrically powered actuator and is operated using a foot pedal 6a, or in the case of an electrically powered actuator the raising and lowering mechanism may be controlled by buttons 21 mounted in the upper support surface A basin 6 is removably mounted on the upper support surface 3. The basin 6 may be disposable. In this example the apparatus comprises a nigher lower shelf 8 which is fixedly connected to the upper support surface 3 by four legs 9. The lower shelf 8 is raised and lowered along with the upper support surface 3. Where the actuator is electrically powered foot pedals Ga may be provided and may be used to control the flow of washing fluid to the fluid delivery apparatus.

A drainage hole 7 is located in the bottom of the basin 6. The drainage hole 7 is connected to a waste fluid pipe 10 via an aperture in the upper support surface (see Figures 5a to 61)). Typically, the drainage hole would have a collar depending therefrom to which a pipe may be attached with a push fit. In this example the waste fluid pipe 10 is connected to a waste fluid storage bag 11 which is hung on a bag stand 12 located directly underneath the upper support. surface 3. In an alternative embodiment the waste fluid pipe 10 may be connected to a waste fluid tank supported by the lower shelf 8 or the waste fluid pipe 10 may be arranged to debauch directly to a mains drain.

The bag stand 12 also supports a bag 13 containing washing fluid. This fluid may be water or may be a solution of decontaminant fluid The washing fluid bag 13 is connected to a fluid inlet tube 14, which in turn is connected to a fluid delivery apparatus 15 which includes a pump, such as a pulse lavage device In an alternative embodiment, the washing fluid bag 13 may be replaced by a washing fluid tank supported by the lower shelf 8.

The basin 6 is shaped to allow easy bathing of patient limbs.

Figures 5a and 5b illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which the basin 6 sits upon the upper support surface 3. An aperture 16 in the upper support surface is aligned with the drainage hole 7 of the basin 6 to allow for passage of the waste fluid pipe 10 therethrough.

Figures 6a and 6b illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the basin 6 sits inside a recess 17 on the upper support surface 3, the recess 17 being shaped to correspond to the shape of the base of the basin 6 An aperture 16' within the recess is aligned with the drainage hole 7 of the basin 6 to allow for passage of the waste fluid pipe 10 therethrough.

Figures 7a and 7b illustrate a further alternative embodiment of the invention in which the basin 6 sits within a hole. 18 on file upper support surface 3. The hole 18 is shaped to correspond to the shape of the basin 6 such that the upper edge of the basin 19 is wider than the hole 18, preventing the basin 6 from dropping through the hole 18. As shown in Figure 7b in this embodiment of the invention the central support portion 5' is connected to the upper support surface 3 via at least two side struts 20. The central support portion comprises a raising and lowering mechanism such as an electrically powered actuator or a gas strut as with previously described embodiments.

Figure 8 illustrates a table 40 according to the second aspect of the invention and the combination of the table 40 and operating table 30 according to the second aspect of the invention. The table 40 comprises a base 41 which includes a number of legs 42 (eve in the example) each supported on a castor wheel 43 One or more of the castor wheels may be provided with a brake A telescopic support 44 extends from the base, with a support surface 45 being attached to one end thereof The support 44 and hence the support surface 45 can move up and down in the direction K The operating table 30 comprises a base 31, an operating surface 32 on which a patient would he and a support 33 extending therebetween. The support 33 may be extended or retracted in the direction X to raise and lower the operating table surface 32.

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus for decontaminating a body comprising: a base mounted on at least four wheels; an upper support surface for supporting a basin. , the upper support surface mounted above the base portion; at least one support connecting the base to the upper support surface, the at least one support portion comprising a raising and lowering mechanism configured to raise and lower the upper support surface relative to the base; a basin removably mounted on the upper support surface; fluid delivery means and means for supplying fluid to the fluid delivery means; and means for removing waste fluid From the basin, wherein the basin includes a drainage outlet and the means for removing waste fluid from the basin includes a waste fluid pipe connectable to the drainage outlet of the basin.
An apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising a fluid storage vessel and a fluid inlet pipe connected to the fluid delivery means.
3. An apparatus according to Claim 2, further comprising a pump for pumping fluid from the storage vessel to the fluid delivery means.
4. An apparatus according to any preceding chum, further comprising a waste fluid vessel.
5. An apparatus according to Claim 4, further comprising a pump for pumping waste fluid from the basin to the waste fluid vessel.
G. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for heating the fluid prior to dispensing of the fluid from the fluid delivery means.
7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the fluid delivery means and/ or the means for removing waste comprises a pump.
8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the raising and lowering mechanism comprises at least one gas strut.
9. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the raising and lowering mechanism comprises at least one powered actuator.
10. An apparatus according to Claim 8 or 9, further comprising control means for controlling the position of the upper surface relative to the base.
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the basin is disposable.
12. A mobile apparatus comprising: a base mounted on at least four wheels; an upper support surface, the upper support surface mounted above the base; at least one support connecting the base to the upper support surface, the at least one support comprising a raising and lowering mechanism configured to raise and lower the upper support surface relative to the base; and control means for controlling the raising and lowering mechanism.
13. The combination of an operating table that includes means for adjusting the table height and a mobile apparatus according to Claim 12.
14. Apparatus for decontaminating a body substantially as shown in and described with reference to the drawings.