WO2014016760A1

WO2014016760A1 - Apparatus for delivery in water

Info

Publication number: WO2014016760A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/056012
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alessia SELMIN
Original assignee: Selmin Alessia
Priority date: 2012-07-23
Filing date: 2013-07-22
Publication date: 2014-01-30
Also published as: ITMI20121272A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for water labor and delivery in water comprising a tub sized to accommodate a woman in labor and a bed suitable for supporting the woman in labor. Said bed is movable relative to the tub in a vertical direction (V) of the apparatus substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the tub between a lowered position in which the bed is close to said bottom, and a raised position in which the bed is spaced from the bottom and arranged beyond a peripheral edge of the tub. The bed is also movable relative to the tub in a longitudinal direction (L), substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction (V), between an internal position in which it is inside the periphery of the tub, and an external position in which is at least partially beyond the periphery of the tub. The movability of the bed along the vertical (V) and longitudinal (L) directions minimize efforts of the medical staff when moving the parturient and allows to carry the woman in labor beyond the perimeter of the tub as if she were on a bed for traditional delivery in order to perform afterbirth and other post-partum operations, that cannot be performed with the apparatuses known in the art, and to transfer the parturient in an easy, quick and safe manner in case of an emergency, simply by placing side-by-side a common hospital bed and the bed of the apparatus according to the present invention.

Description

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERY IN WATER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of obstetrics and gynecology and in particular to an apparatus for water labor and delivery in water.

Background Art

In the medical literature it is well known the benefit offered by the water with regard to pain tolerance both during labor and at the time of childbirth. For instance, in the document 'Immersion in water during labor and birth,' jointly published in 2006 by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and by the Royal College of Midwives, it is even recommended that any hospital should offer water delivery.

It is known that the availability of water during labor favors the natural delivery. When a parturient goes into a tub full of water, according to the well-known Archimedes' principle, the effect of gravity on her body is greatly reduced, which allows her to move and take up any posture she wishes in order to favor the descent of the fetus, greatly relieving pain during the dilation of the cervix. The buoyancy force exerted by the water on the parturient promotes relaxation before labor, because it allows her to consume less energy to support her own weight, leaving the necessary force to deal with the contractions. Moreover, the hydrostatic pressure allows to obtain an abdominal pressure reduction which results in uterine contractions of greater effectiveness, promotes blood circulation and therefore a greater oxygenation of uterine muscles. This relieves the pain for the woman in labor and consequently the risk of fetal distress is reduced. The therapeutic power of the water very often translates into a reduction of the expansion time and thus of the hours of labor.

Several apparatuses for delivery in water are known in the art. They generally comprise a tub adapted to be filled with water and equipped with a number of supports and grips, such as seating surfaces and handholds suitable to support the body of the parturient during labor.

For instance, patent publications CN 201147356Y and CN 1350832A describe tubs for water delivery equipped with adjustable surfaces suitable to enable the parturient to change her posture during labor. The patent publications KR 2011098867 A, KR 2011095094 A and KR 2009126943 A, describe apparatuses for delivery in water comprising armchairs wherein the seat can be closed laterally in such a way that the seat forms with the backrest a tub that can be filled with water. The chair is adjustable in height and the seat can take different positions to allow a parturient to stay sitting or lying down during labor.

The German publication DE 19747868 A1 describes an apparatus for delivery in water comprising a tub provided with a displacement system that allows to lift the tub from a first position, in which it rests on the ground, to a second position raised from the ground thus allowing the parturient a facilitated access to the tub and allowing an obstetrician to operate in a substantially erect position.

It is also known from the patent U.S. 4197838 an apparatus for delivery comprising a tub wherein a suitable platform for accommodating a parturient is present. The platform includes a seat and a backrest movable along guides from a position in which a parturient therein disposed is immersed in water, to a position in which the patient is out of the water. In the immersed position the platform assumes a configuration where the seat and the backrest are inclined to form a deck chair, in which the parturient can perform the relaxation stage that precede labor, while in the emerged position the seat and the backrest are substantially coplanar and the platform serves as a bed, allowing the parturient to take a delivery in a traditional manner.

Technical Problem

Despite the significant benefits offered to parturient by the water and the availability of appropriate apparatuses, currently water labor and waterbirth are still uncommon practices.

It is believed that this is mainly due to drawbacks in the configuration of the apparatuses for the delivery in water currently known in the art, which limit the interaction of the medical staff with the parturient, penalizing the typical prior-to-birth controls and not allowing the management of possible emergency situations that, for example, require to transfer the woman in labor to the operating room for a cesarean delivery. As a matter of fact, in the latter case the woman in labor must leave the tub immediately and be placed on a hospital bed. Furthermore, the apparatuses for the delivery in water known in the art do not allow to perform on the parturient the typical operations subsequent to delivery, in particular the afterbirth and perineal repair which in any case require the transfer of the patient on a common hospital bed.

It is clearly evident to the skilled in the art that there is therefore the need to improve the apparatuses for the delivery in water known in the art in order to allow the medical staff to follow all the stages of childbirth, and those subsequent to it, without requiring a parturient to get out of the tub, which represents one main scope of the present invention.

Furthermore, it is an additional objective of the present invention the realization of an apparatus which is suitable for accomplishing the practice of both water labor and delivery in water in conditions of maximum safety for the parturient and the baby.

Finally, it is an additional objective of the present invention the realization of an apparatus for water labor and delivery in water that allows the parturient to get out of the tub in emergency situations in a quick and safe manner.

Technical Solution

The basic inventive concept of the present invention is the realization of an apparatus for water labor and delivery in water comprising a tub and a bed suitable for supporting the woman in labor, wherein the bed is movable both vertically and longitudinally with respect to the tub.

The movability of the bed in the vertical direction allows a woman in labor to perform the stages of relaxation and also labor immersed in the water, favoring at the same time controls by the medical staff that is able to temporary raise the bed out of the water. Furthermore, the movability of the bed in the vertical direction allows to handle with ease overweight or obese parturient without requiring a significant effort for the medical staff.

Conversely, in the raised position, the movability of the bed in the longitudinal direction allows to carry the woman in labor beyond the perimeter of the tub as if she were on a bed for traditional delivery in order to perform afterbirth and other post-partum operations, that cannot be performed with the apparatuses known in the art, and to transfer the parturient in an easy, quick and safe manner in the case of an emergency, simply by placing side-by-side a traditional hospital bed and the bed of the apparatus according to the present invention.

The movements of the bed in the vertical and longitudinal directions are achieved by means of suitable kinematic mechanisms associated with linear actuators thereto, preferably powered by water, which advantageously allows to exploit the same water used to fill the tub for the operations of the linear actuators, and makes the apparatus for water labor and delivery in water intrinsically safe even in the case of failures with liquid leakage.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the tub of the apparatus for water delivery is provided with a recess formed along its perimeter in correspondence of the bed and sized so as to accommodate one or two people. The recess is arranged in front of the bed defining an assistance workspace which favors the access of the medical staff to the woman in labor in order to perform all the operations required for the delivery, as well as the operations during the preliminary stages, such as the monitoring of the fetal heartbeat and the verification of the dilation of the cervix during labor.

The bed of the apparatus for water delivery according to the present invention is preferably arranged in a central position of the tub and it is conveniently spaced from its perimeter as to leave to the parturient a space for moving around during the relaxation stage and allowing the parturient to take on any of the postures which are known to facilitate progression of the labor.

Support surfaces and / or seats can be advantageously formed along the inner perimeter of the tub, which allow the parturient to lean against and / or sit in positions which do not necessarily coincide with those of the bed.

The apparatus for water delivery according to the present invention can also include grips attached to the tub suitable to hold the parturient when she moves inside the tub. Furthermore, the apparatus for water delivery can advantageously comprise a seat, arranged externally to the tub in correspondence to the bed, for example in the assistance workspace defined by the recess, suitable to accommodate the medical staff when they assist the woman in labor.

Advantageous Effects

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention accomplishes the intended objectives providing advantageous efffects with reference to the background art.

The main advantage of the present invention with respect to the background art is the emergency management that can be accomplished without sacrifing the physiology of the delivery. Thanks to the movability of the bed along the vertical (V) and longitudinal (L) directions, the parturient can be transferred in an easy, quick and safe manner, simply by placing side-by-side a common hospital bed and the bed of the apparatus according to the present invention. Moreover, if bed is convenientely made of soft and waterproof material the patient is able to assume an 'on hands and on knees' position, so Gaskin manoeuvre can be performed to resolve any shoulder dystocia problem. In the case of a physiological labour, a supporting surface will let the patient move freely and assume any alternative position to help foetal progression.

Secondly, both the preliminary stages of childbirth and the post-partum operations can be performed with the full assistance of the medical staff by means of the apparatus for water labor and delivery in water according to the present invention.

In particular, the movability of the bed along the vertical (V) and longitudinal (L) directions allows to carry the woman in labor beyond the perimeter of the tub as if she were on a common bed for delivery. In this manner, those post-partum operations (e.g. the afterbirth, the donation of the umbilical cord and the perineal repair) that cannot be performed with the apparatuses known in the art, can be easily and conveniently performed. Moreover, the movability of the bed minimize efforts of the medical staff when moving the parturient.

The tube of the apparatus may comprise a recess formed along its periphery that is preferably arranged in front of the bed defining an assistance workspace suitable to accommodate the medical staff assisting the woman in labor. The control panel of the control unit can be disposed in correspondence of the workspace allowing the medical staff to manage from this position all the functions of the apparatus. Said recess can also accommodate the partner of the parturient allowing the couple to share the maximum intimacy during the relaxation stage and labor.

Finally, the apparatus for water labor and delivery in water can also advantageously comprise an internal lighting system of the tub allowing a monitoring of the parturient immersed in the water. The lighting system by means of a suitable control system can advantageously be configured to perform a chromotherapy.

Description of Drawings

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, made by way of a non-limiting examples, with reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the apparatus for water labor and delivery in water according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a top view of the apparatus for water labor and delivery in water as shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross section along the line III-III of Figure 2;
Figures 4 to 6 are longitudinal cross sections views similar to the one as shown in Figure 3 which show subsequent steps of the movement of the bed of the apparatus for water labor and delivery in water according to the present invention;
Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views of the apparatus for water labor and delivery in water similar to the one depicted in Figure 1 which show subsequent steps of the movements of the bed of the apparatus for water labor and delivery in water according to the present invention;
Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views of the apparatus for water labor and delivery in water which show two postures that the parturient can assume on the bed of the apparatus for water labor and delivery in water according to the present invention;
Figures 11 and 12 are top views of the apparatus for water labor and delivery in water which show different positions that the parturient can assume during the labor and the delivery;
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the apparatus for water labor and delivery in water which show a posture that the parturient can assume when the bed of the apparatus for water labor and delivery in water according to the present invention is in the raised position in order to perform the delivery in the traditional position or to manage an emergency situation.

Best Mode

With reference to the figures, an apparatus (10) for water labor and delivery in water according to the present invention, comprises a tub (20) so sized to accommodate a woman in labor. The access of the woman in labor to the tub (20) can be favored, for instance, by an external ladder (not shown) disposed along the perimeter which can be combined to a corresponding inner ladder (not shown).

The apparatus (10) comprises also a bed (30) which, as for an ordinary bed for delivery, is suitable for supporting the parturient in supine or lying on side positions and semi-prone position, but also sitting or 'on hands and on knees' position. The bed (30) includes a seat (31) and a backrest (32) suitably shaped to allow the woman in labor to take on the postures mentioned above. In the illustrated embodiment the seat (31) includes two separable portions suitable for supporting the legs of the woman in labor wide apart during parturition. The inclination of the backrest (32) relative to the seat (31) is adjustable in a range between about 90° and 180°, manually or automatically by at least a dedicated linear actuator, for example of mechanical or hydraulic type.

The bed (30) may further comprise a pair of grips (not shown) for the hands of the parturient suitable to favor the pelvic thrusts in the expulsion stage as well as a pair of supports (not shown) for the legs suitable to keep during parturition the legs of the parturient spread apart in front of the obstetrician.

According to the present invention, the bed (30) is movable relative to the tub (20) in a vertical direction (V) of the apparatus (10) substantially perpendicular to a bottom (21) of the tub (20). In particular, the bed (30) is vertically movable between a lowered position in which the bed is close to said bottom (21) of the tube (20), and a raised position in which the bed (30) is spaced from the bottom (21) and arranged beyond a peripheral edge (22) of the tub (20).

When the tub (20) is full of water and the bed (30) is arranged in the lowered position, the woman in labor lying on the bed (30) is immersed in the water, thus being able to perform the stages of relaxation, labor and also childbirth according to the well-known methods of delivery in water. The tub (20) may be advantageously provided with a water heating system, a water recirculation and purification system, possibly suitable for hydro-massage, which add-up to the action of buoyancy of the water the benefit of the warm and of the continuous cleaning and / or massage, significantly increasing the effectiveness of the relaxation stage.

The apparatus (10) for water labor and delivery in water can also advantageously comprise an internal lighting system of the tub (20), allowing a monitoring of the parturient immersed in the water. The lighting system is preferably arranged in the proximity of the bottom of the tub (20) and can advantageously be configured to perform a chromotherapy, providing for the purpose a suitable control system.

Conversely, in the raised position the bed (30) is completely out of the water, allowing for the medical staff to perform on the parturient all postpartum operations, in particular the afterbirth, perineal repair and cutting the umbilical cord, that require her transfer on a traditional bed in the apparatuses for water labor and delivery in water known in the art. In the raised position of the bed (30) it is also possible to perform the typical pre-partum controls which are held during the relaxation stage, such as the monitoring of the fetal heartbeat, the verification of the level of dilation of the cervix, as well as a possible episiotomy and the curettage the uterine cavity.

To allow for the movement of the bed (30) in the vertical direction (V) between the lowered and the raised positions, the apparatus (10) for water labor and delivery in water is provided with a moving device (40) comprising a base and a movable platform whereon the bed (30) is slidably restrained, said movable platform being restrained to said base through displacement means adapted to allow its lifting and lowering with respect to the bottom (21) of the tub (20).

With reference to the illustrated embodiment, the base of said moving device (40) is, for instance, arranged to bottom (21) of the tub (20) and as an not-limiting example, may include a pair of parallel bars (41, 42) that extend in the longitudinal direction (L) of the apparatus (10), perpendicular to the vertical direction (V). For reasons of safety and stability, the base of the moving device (40) is preferably fixed to the the bottom (21) of the tub (20).

Similarly to the base, the mobile platform may comprise a pair of parallel rails (43, 44), that also extend in the longitudinal direction (L), whereon the bed (30) is bound to.

The displacement means are associated with at least a linear actuator (not shown) and may for example comprise two pairs of cranks (45, 46) and (47, 48) parallel to each other respectively pivoted on the base and on the movable platform. With reference to the illustrated embodiment, said cranks are respectively pivoted on the bars (41, 42) of the base and on the rails (43, 44) of the mobile platform. Each set consisting of a bar of the base, a rail of the platform and a pair of cranks therefore constitutes an articulated quadrilateral, which, as shown in Figures 3 to 6, allows for the lifting and for the lowering of the bed (30) with a movement of rotation and translation with respect to the bottom (21) of the tub (20).

In the raised position the rails (43, 44) are aligned with the top edge (22) of the tub (20). In Figures 3 to 6, which show longitudinal sections of the apparatus (10) are only visible the bar (41) of the base, the rail (43) of the platform and the cranks (45, 46).

It will be understood that alternatively to the articulated quadrilateral kinematic mechanism described above, the moving device (40) could include equivalent kinematic systems, well-known to skilled in the art, such as a kinematic pantograph, or one or more telescopic uprights suitable to support the platform and the rails (43, 44) whereon the bed (30) is bound.

According to the present invention, in the raised position the bed (30) is also movable relative to the tub (20) in the longitudinal direction (L) between an internal position in which it is disposed within the perimeter of the tub (20), and an external position in which it is located at least partially beyond the perimeter of the tub (20). To achieve this purpose , the bed (30) is slidably restrained on the movable platform of the moving device (40), for example along the rails (43, 44) of said movable platform, and the apparatus (10) includes a protruding member (50) which extends from the peripheral edge (22) towards the outside of the tub (20) from the portion where the movable platform of the moving device (40) of the bed (30) is arranged in the raised position. Therefore the protruding member (50) forms an extension of the movable platform in the longitudinal direction (L) suitable to accommodate the bed (30) when it is moved towards the outside of the tub (20) beyond its peripheral edge (22).

With reference to the illustrated embodiment, the protruding member (50) may comprise a pair of parallel rails (51, 52) arranged in the longitudinal direction (L) that extend from the peripheral edge (22) of the tub (20) outwards from the points wherein the ends of the rails (43, 44) of the movable platform of the displacement device (40) are arranged in its raised position. The rails (51, 52) thus constitute the extensions of the rails (43, 44) of the movable platform allowing to bring the bed (30) beyond the peripheral edge (22) i.e. outside of the perimeter of the tub (20).

The protruding member (50) is pivotally restrained to the peripheral edge (22) of the tub (20) and is rotatable between an non-operating position in which it is arranged vertically parallel to the peripheral edge (22), and an operating position in which it is perpendicular to the peripheral edge (22), thus constituting an extension of the movable platform of the displacement device (40).

In the illustrated embodiment, the rails (51, 52) are individually pivoted on the peripheral edge (22) of the tub (20) and preferably interconnected by a crosspiece (53) arranged in the proximity of their free ends, which allows the synchronous rotation relative to the peripheral edge (22) of the tub (20). In the operating position, the rotation of the protruding member (50) can be achieved by one or more linear actuators, or manually. The apparatus for delivery (10) also comprises locking means (not shown) suitable to maintain the protruding member (50) in its operating position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the tub (20) of the apparatus (10) is provided with a seat (60) formed in its outer peripheral edge (22) and adapted to accommodate the protruding member (50), for example the rails (51, 52) and their cross member (53), so that it does not protrudes from the tub (20) when said protruding member (50) is arranged in the non-operating position, allowing the maximum freedom of movement to the medical staff.

The movability of the bed (30) in the longitudinal direction (L) beyond the perimeter of the tub (20) allows to bring the patient out of said tub (20), substantially as if it were on a common hospital bed, which facilitates access of the medical staff and thus the operations before or after childbirth and, in the case of an emergency, the movability of the bed (30) especially allows for a transfer of the patient quick and with no trauma simply by placing side-by-side a traditional bed and the bed (30) in the outer position.

The linear actuators that allow for the movement of the displacement device (40) in the vertical direction (V) and the movement of the bed (30) in the longitudinal direction (L) are preferably hydraulic actuators powered by water, which advantageously allows to exploit the same water used to fill the tub (20) making intrinsically safe the apparatus (10) for water labor and delivery in water according to the present invention even in the case of failures of said actuators.

The operation of the linear actuators and of any water heating systems, water purificationsystem and/or hydro-massage and internal lighting can advantageously be managed through the control unit of the apparatus for delivery (10), which may advantageously comprise a control panel (not shown) arranged along the perimeter of the tub (20) to achieve that purpose

As shown in the figures, the bed (30) is preferably arranged in a central position of the tub (20), and it is conveniently spaced from its perimeter as to leave to the parturient a space for moving around from one end of the tub (20) to the other during the relaxation stage. Along the perimeter of the tub (20) support surfaces and / or seats (23, 24) are preferably formed, said support surfaces and / or seats (23, 24) allowing the parturient to lean and / or sit in positions which do not necessarily coincide with that of the bed (30). The tub (20) can also be provided with grips(not shown) suitable to allow the parturient to move inside of the tub (20) in conditions of maximum safety.

Mode for Invention

According to a further embodiment (not shown) of the apparatus for delivery (30), the tube (20) comprises a recess formed along its periphery in correspondence of the bed (30). The recess is preferably arranged in front of the bed (30) defining an assistance workspace suitable to accommodate the medical staff assisting the woman in labor. Said recess can be advantageously sized so as to accommodate two people, for example an obstetrician and a doctor, but also the partner of the parturient allowing the couple to share the maximum intimacy during the relaxation stage and labor. The control panel of the control unit can also be disposed in this position, allowing the medical staff to manage all the functions of the apparatus (10) for delivery according to the present invention from the assistance workspace.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the apparatus for delivery (10) can advantageously comprise at least one seat in front of the bed (30) constrained to the tub (20), for example in the assistance workspace defined by the recess.

As explained above, in the illustrated embodiment the displacement device (40) is restrained inside the tub (20) with the base fixed to the bottom (21) thereof, which allows to minimize the overall dimensions of the apparatus (10) for delivery according to the present invention. According to an embodiment of the invention the bed (30) is completely integrated in the bottom (21) of the tub (20) and forms a movable portion thereof, allowing the parturient to have at her disposal all the space inside of the tub (20) during the relaxation stage and then allowing her to settle down on the bed (30) for labor, delivery and postpartum stages.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the broad scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, the displacement device (40) may be restrained outside the tub (20). Furthermore, the bed (30) may be pivotally restrained to the outside displacement device around a vertical axis, allowing the rotation from outside to inside of the tub (20) and vice versa according to the needs of the parturient. The provision of a displacement device (40) outside the tub (20) would also facilitate the cleaning operations. Furthermore, the bed (30) may be restrained to the movable platform of the displacement device (40) pivotally around a transverse axis parallel to the bottom (21) of the tub (20) and perpendicular to the longitudinal (L) and vertical (V) directions, allowing to bring the parturient in the Trendelenburg position in case of an emergency, for example in the case of a prolapse of the umbilical cord.

Where the characteristics and techniques mentioned in the claims are followed by a numerical reference, such references have been allocated solely with the objective of increasing the understandability of the claims. Consequently, such numerical references do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation on the interpretation of each element and are used exclusively as numerical references for their identification.

Industrial Applicability

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that in accordance with the scope and intended objectives of the present invention, it is herein disclosed an apparatus for water labor and delivery in water that can be produced by means of known technologies.

Claims

An apparatus (10) for water labor and delivery in water, said apparatus (10) comprising a tub (20) so sized to accommodate a woman in labor and a bed (30) suitable for supporting the woman in labor in said tub (20), wherein said bed (30) is movable relative to the tub (20) in a vertical direction (V) of the apparatus (10) substantially perpendicular to a bottom (21) of the tub (20) between a lowered position in which the bed is close to said bottom (21) and a raised position in which the bed is spaced from the bottom (21) and arranged beyond a peripheral edge (22) of the tub (20) in said vertical direction (V), and wherein in said raised position the bed (30) is also movable relative to the tub (20) in a longitudinal direction (L), substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction (V), between an internal position in which it is inside the periphery of the tub (20) and an external position in which is at least partially beyond the periphery of the tub (20) characterized in that the bed (30) is supported in the vertical direction (V) by a moving device (40) comprising a base and a movable platform, and in that the bed (30) is slidably restrained to the movable platform in the longitudinal direction (L), the movable platform being restrained to said base through displacement means adapted to allow its displacement in the vertical direction (V) between said lowered and raised positions.
An apparatus (10) according to claim 1, further comprising an protruding member (50) which extends from the peripheral edge (22) towards the outside of the tub (20) from the portion where the movable platform of the moving device (40) of the bed (30) is arranged in the raised position, said protruding member (50) forming an extension of the movable platform in the longitudinal direction (L).
An apparatus (10) according to claim 2, wherein the protruding member (50) is pivotally restrained to the peripheral edge (22) of the tub (20) and is rotatable between an non-operating position in which it is arranged vertically parallel to the peripheral edge (22) and an operating position in which it is perpendicular to the peripheral edge (22).
An apparatus (10) according to claims 2 or 3, wherein said displacement means comprise two pairs of cranks (45, 46, 47, 48) parallel to each other that are respectively pivoted on the base and on the movable platform of the moving device (40).
An apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the movable platform comprises a pair of parallel rails (43, 44) that extend in the longitudinal direction (L) and wherein the protruding member (50) comprises a pair of parallel rails (51, 52) arranged in the longitudinal direction (L) that extend from the peripheral edge (22) of the tub (20) outwards from the points wherein the ends of the rails (43, 44) of the movable platform of the displacement device (40) are arranged in its raised position.
An apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising at least one linear actuator adapted to allow movement of the moving device (40) in the vertical direction (V) and at least one linear actuator adapted to allow movement of the bed (30) in the longitudinal direction (L).
An apparatus (10) according to claim 6, wherein said linear actuators are hydraulic actuators powered by water.
An apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the moving device (40) is restrained inside the tub (20) with the base fixed to the bottom (21) thereof, and wherein the bed (30) is completely integrated in the bottom (21) of the tub (20) and forms a movable portion thereof.
An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the tub (20) comprises a recess formed along its periphery in correspondence of the bed (30), said recess being arranged in front of the bed (30) and defining an assistance workspace suitable to receive the medical staff assisting the woman in labor.