Patent ID: 8225443
Filing Date: 2012-07-24
Classification: A61G

Abstract:
1. A bedpan system including an underlayment for supporting a supine human patient above a substantially horizontal supporting surface, wherein the underlayment has: a substantially horizontal top surface upon which the patient rests, a substantially parallel, spaced apart bottom surface for lying upon the supporting surface, and a bedpan cavity having an open top in registry with buttocks of the patient; the bedpan system comprising: an underlayment comprising: an inflatable mattress constructed substantially of flexible plastic sheet material comprising: a top sheet providing the top surface, a bottom sheet providing the bottom surface, side wall sheets attached between the top sheet and the bottom sheet providing substantially vertical side walls around the perimeter of the underlayment when it is inflated, and cavity sidewall sheets attached between the top sheet and the bottom sheet providing a cavity top seam and a cavity bottom seam, respectively, and substantially vertical sidewalls in the cavity; and a smooth junction at the cavity top seam where the cavity sidewalls join with the top surface, thereby precluding irritation of a patient's sensitive skin; and the bedpan system further comprising: a fitted bed sheet tailored to cover the top surface of the underlayment with a top surface portion, plus an integral pocket tailored to closely fit as a lining inside the entire cavity, the pocket having an open top at the cavity top seam, and a closed bottom at the cavity bottom seam; a seam where the pocket joins the top surface portion of the bed sheet wherein the seam is substantially smooth wherever it is exposed at, or on top of the underlayment top surface; and a rigid shield, having approximately the same overall shape as the cavity and sized to jam-fit in the cavity while pressing down on the pocket bottom, thereby to hold the top surface portion of the bed sheet tight and wrinkle-free around the cavity.