WO2008041959A2

WO2008041959A2 - Support unit for the physically handicapped

Info

Publication number: WO2008041959A2
Application number: PCT/TR2007/000106
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arslan Ali Pirli
Original assignee: Arslan Ali Pirli
Priority date: 2006-10-06
Filing date: 2007-10-02
Publication date: 2008-04-10
Also published as: WO2008041959A3; TR200605576A1

Abstract

It is a support unit which fulfills patients needs by means of automatic or manual commands, which transforms into a bed, a device which enables blood circulation by bringing the patient to an upright position and by making the patient perform physical exercises or if desired transformed into a wheel chair for handicapped people, and beneath the said wheel chair's seat section (7) there is a functional underpants (1) worn by the patient which prevents urine and excrements from spreading to patient's body or other environment, which allows conveying excrement to the waste reservoir depot (2), which performs the patient's hygienically cleaning, which carries the waste to the waste transfer station (17) by following trace lines by means of sensors and which brings free movement capability to handicapped people by means of its battery powered motor (19).

Description

SUPPORT UNIT FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED

It is a support unit which fulfills patients needs by means of automatic or manual commands, which transforms into a bed, a device which enables blood circulation by bringing the patient to an upright position and by making the patient perform physical exercises or if desired transformed into a wheel chair for handicapped people, and beneath the said wheel chair's seat section (7) there is a functional underpant (1) worn by the patient which prevents urine and excrements from spreading to patient's body or other environment, which allows conveying excrement to the waste reservoir depot (2), which performs the patient's hygienically cleaning, which carries the waste to the waste transfer station (17) by following trace lines by means of sensors and which brings free movement capability to handicapped people by means of its battery powered motor (19).

People lose their ability to meet their mandatory needs, toilet and such, because of physical handicaps at least once during their life time. Because of their limited mobility, they need the help of family members and the aid of nurse to change their diapers which is like a torture. These patients, who are obliged to remain in their rooms all the time, become a source of distress for the people around them. People who have such a patient live through great difficulties. This results in a decline of life quality. Knowing that he or she causes such troubles, the patient becomes anxious and suffers several psychological problems. Whole family is obliged to live an arduous life. This invention, which is published in Tϋbitak's November 2005 dated periodical magazine Bilim ve Teknik on page 27, is a support unit for patients with physical handicaps to help them meet their own needs maximally almost without the help of another.

Object of the invention is to realize a support unit to meet the requirements and improve the life quality of people such as elderly, bedridden, disabled, paralyzed, young and sick who are dependent and incapable of movements to fulfill their basic needs. Support unit for the physically handicapped people which is realized in order to attain the object of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, wherein:

Figure 1. Front view of the support unit's standing position Figure 2. Front view of the support unit's sitting position

Figure 3. Sectional view of underpant part of the waste removal mechanism.

Figure 4. Sectional view of the waste removal mechanism and the waste transfer station

Each part in the figure is numbered corresponding to the following:

1. Underpant

2. Waste reservoir depot

3. Cylindrical projection

4. Sensor 5. Slide

6. Mixer

7. Seat

8. Base

9. Joystick 10. TV

11. Wheel

12. Clean water pipe

13. Clean water depot

14. Pump 15. Electrical cable chamber

16. Inlet pipe for running water

17. Waste transfer station

18. Safety belt

19. Motor The said invention can be worn like a baby diaper or an underpant (1) and it wraps the body. Its inner section (thermo qualified viscose etc.) is equipped with a spongy material that does not make patient sweat nor effect their blood circulation. Front part of the functional underpants (1) for urination is designed different for men and women, and immediately after urination, device acts just as it does for excrement to complete the process. Back part of the functional underpants (1) is the section that wraps patient's bottom. This part is made of an inflexible material. The reason for such a material is to prevent the displacement of parts that surround areas to urinate and excrement. Front part of the functional underpants (1) is produced with an inflexible stretchy material. Functional underpants are fixed to patient's body like a baby diaper or an underpant (1).

There is a cylindrical projection (3) that is integrated with functional underpants (1), surrounding the anus and securing impermeability when inflated and/or adhered. This cylindrical projection (3) is made of a stretchy material preferably with 3 cm diameter and length. The other end is fixed by thrusting it to the waste inlet mouth of the waste removal mechanism. There are sockets that fix micro camera and sensor (4) outside of the cylinder ledge (3). Camera transmits the images it receives to the TV on the supply unit for the handicapped and cleaning process of the anus and its surrounding area is observed on TV (10). The sensors, while providing impermeability by inflating the area that contacts the anal region as soon as wastes leave the body, activates DC engine (19) of waste removal mechanism which has a grinder like qualities and allows wastes to reach waste reserve depot (2) without any contamination.

There is a slide (5) which is parallel embedded from the outside to the drill which removes wastes in the waste removal machine. This slide (5), by going in and out of the breach that is opened at the same width with the bolt when actuated by the small DC motor (19), washes and dries the anus and its surrounding area by spraying warm water and air. The slide (5) enters in and shuts the entrance neck in order to prevent bacteria generation. Sensing the wastes leaving the body, the sensor (4) stimulates the central system and the central system in return commands the slide (5) to open. The slide (5) is pulled from the space and the central system which is regulated with a timing program gives commands to the slide (5) respectively at changing time intervals and ensures the process is complete with different commands.

A clips shaped collapsible system that allows flapping the engine right to left, in order to provide the same lid task can also be implemented in another embodiment of the invention.

The protective enclosure part, which surrounds device with a half moon shape from outside and which is fixed form the sides of the hips, is made of a hard inflexible material in order to protect waste removal device at the back outside of the underpants (1) and camera and sensor (4) fixed on the cylinder. Resistance of the enclosure gives the patient freedom of movement by preventing device to be effected by the pressure of the patient's sitting position.

While transformed in a bed shape (patient may also use it as a bed), support unit for the physically handicapped is changed into a wheel chair by folding it from both sides, about 20 cm. and takes a U shape when bent from parts corresponding to ankle, knee and waist. Unit holds patient in an upright position with its U shape in desired angles from the neck part while working the patient's legs with up and down movements of the base (8). It helps the patient's blood circulation and prevents bruises by holding patient in an upright position.

Unit which is actuated by battery supported electrical motor, gives the patient freedom of movement enabling driving to desired places. The required mechanical operations are realized by applying different hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanic techniques to the support unit which is designed for the physically handicapped.

Necessary equipments such as battery, clean and waste water reserve depots and air compressors have been designed to fit under the seat (7). Two types of waste reservoir depots are produced. First one is equipped with related equipment such as pump (14), clean water chamber, battery etc., has dismantling mobile quality and may be carried with the patient if necessary. It is easy to clean and mantle and dismantle.

On the second type there is a mixer (6) connected to DC engine (19) mantled on the waste reservoir depot (2) that is fixed on the unit. Waste transfer station (17) which is given together with the unit is mantled to locations where there are connections to sewer system. From'the proper point of the residence (if it is a house, this point may be living room) where patient generally spends time to the waste transfer station (17), a trace is applied on the floor. Support unit for the physically handicapped warns when the waste reserve depot (2) is filled. If the patient is conscious, he or she herself directs the unit with a joystick (9), if he or she is not, unit is brought on the trace line with someone else near the patient using the remote control. When the unit reaches to trace line, the sensors (4) under the unit which are programmed to scan the ground for the trace recognize it and the unit takes control and commands itself. Unit follows the trace line to the station and finds the waste transfer unit (17). There are two channels which are fixed to the station under the station base. These channels aim to keep a standardized distance between the unit and the station. Centering the two channels the front and back wheels (11) of the of the unit moves on the channel by means of the trace lines. The magnetic sensor (4) affirms the command center. Unit continues a bit further. The laser sensor (4) affirms command center and when the station aligns with the three sectioned lock ledge, mechanic switch affirms unit's locking line and transmits it to the command center. The central system stops the unit as it is certain that it is at the station. This safety measure is to prevent wastes to be depleted to a place other than the station. One part of the three sectioned locking output of the station, which has an energy transition hub with a 3 DC exit, is connected to sewer system, second part is connected to the clean running water and the third part is connected to the two clean water solenoid which are commanded from the central system to clean the system after the process. Clean water, wastes and DC outlets are connected to station's three sectioned locking output. When central system ascertains to be at the right part of the station, waste reservoir depot's (2) three sectioned ledge at the support unit for the phyically handicapped people activates a bearing mechanism with a DC motor and takes it out about 15 cm from the unit, performs locking process and affirms that locking is completed by means of existing sensor.

Central system stops the DC motor, transmits a command to open the valve and starts the clean water and waste transmission. After the process ends, time limited washing process by pressure water from few different points with a pump (14) starts in the mechanism which is locked to waste reservoir depot (2) and waste transfer station (17). When the time is up, waste removal valve on the mechanism shuts off. Then a washing process inside the station begins and stops after given time. Before starting another procedure, central system waits for the end of the specified program for the draining of water. Double sided wash provides adequate cleaning. By a command transmitted from the central system, unit's mechanism which is locked to the station unit is pulled to its place. Then the unit leaves the station, turns back to the starting point by following the trace line. At this point, it becomes ready for a command initiated by a human. If the locking process is failed due to some reason, unit will not discharge.

Technical equipment of the support unit for the physically handicapped is equipped to perform its functions with manual and/or vocal etc. remote commands, depending on the patient's mobility.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A support unit which is used as a bed by the patient, which exercises the patient when needed, which holds the patient upright to improve blood circulation, which can be transformed into a wheel chair if necessary, which is actuated by a battery powered motor (19), which mixes wastes under the seat by means of a mixer (6), comprising technical features wherein the unit has a functional underpants (1), connected to hoses from waste, clean water and air reservoir depots that removes wastes without contaminating the patient or the environment, conveys wastes from reservoir depots to sewer system by following the line, is equipped with sensors that brings itself to lock with waste transform station, and the functions of which is realized by manual, automatic, vocal etc. remote control commands.

2. A support unit for physically handicapped people as defined in claim 1 which has four wheels (1 1), can be used as a bed, which can exercise the patient if desired, which can be transformed into a wheel chair when needed, which has a waste reservoir depot (2) with a mixer, an air compressor, clean water reservoir depot (13) under the seat (7), which is activated by a battery powered motor (19), and which has a sensor (4) detection qualities and manual or automatic remote controlled functions.

3. A functional underpants as defined in claim 1 which prevents wastes to contaminate patient's body and the environment, removes wastes from the body by waste removal mechanism (17), provides the transfer of wastes to waste reservoir depot (2) with mixer (6), allows patient's discharge areas to be cleaned, dried and perfumed.

4. A waste reservoir depot (2) as defined in claim 1, 2 and 3 which can be dismantled with both of its liquid and solid waste hoses that can adapt to functional weight, can be taken apart to be emptied, can be mobile or fixed to the unit, which has a mixer (6) that wastes arrive with automatic command, which can be locked with its three sectioned locking output to waste transfer station (17) which has also three sectioned locking output, which transfers wastes to sewer when locked, which washes mechanism and transfers DC current and commands to solenoids, which fills clean water depot (13) and retreats to its original place, which does not perform its waste discharging function in case of a failure of locking with waste transfer station (17).

5. A waste transfer depot (17) as defined in claims 1 and 4 wherein one end of which is connected to sewer system and the other one to three sectioned locking output of the unit in order to transfer wastes to sewer and when locked with waste removal mechanism, transfers wastes to sewer, with the command from unit washes locking output by activating solenoids on it with DC current, transfers clean water to unit's clean water depot (13) and has channels that keep the unit stable during these processes.

6. A support unit for physically handicapped people as defined in the previous claims characterized by a slide (5) which is embedded on the drill in a parallel way from the outside and which removes wastes in the waste removal machine by going in and out of the breach beside the waste entrance tank.

7. A support unit for physically handicapped people as defined in the previous claims characterized in that it has a clips shape which can be turned to left and right by means of a motor (19) which removes wastes inside the waste removal mechanism.