NEONATAL RETENTION SYSTEM

A neonatal retention or support system including a horizontal base configured for at least one of attachment to or placement on a mattress of a bed, and a wall attached to and extending vertically from and at least partially around the base, the wall comprising at least one pair of hinges to allow the retention system to follow an adjustment of the bed. The wall is flexible inwards to allow a person to lie on the bed, and inflexible outwards so that an infant disposed within the retention system is prevented from falling from the bed.

FIELD OF THE INENTION

The present disclosure relates to neonatal retention systems, akin to a bassinet large enough to encompass both mother and newborn, configured for placement next to or onto a hospital bed or chair.

BACKGROUND

A common practice in hospitals today is to allow a newborn baby to stay in the same room with the mother, as opposed to spending most of the time in the hospital's nursery. This practice, known as “rooming-in”, is beneficial to the health and development of infants, and often makes feeding, comforting, and monitoring a new baby much easier.

While rooming-in has improved the bonding experience and breast feeding between mothers and newborns, the practice may compromise a mother's opportunity for uninterrupted rest, and possibly increase the risk of neonatal falls. Studies suggest that at least60-1,600newborn falls occur annually on postpartum floors. This number is speculated to be highly underreported as most falls are unwitnessed as they occur while parents are asleep. Exhausted mothers fall asleep while holding their newborn while in bed or a reclining chair. Furthermore, for parents who are recovering from a cesarean or more complex delivery, there is the additional consideration of a mother's mobility and possibly extended recovery course. In addition to possible injury from direct trauma from a fall to the floor, infant entrapment between bed rails leading to suffocation also occurs. The possible traumatic injuries sustained by newborns from a fall include linear skull fractures, traumatic encephalopathy, cranial bumps/bruising, cephalohematoma, intracranial bleeding, or in worse cases neonatal death. In addition, even when no serious injury has been sustained by the infant, it is understandably a distressing event for parents and staff members. This problem also brings about possible legal ramifications for hospitals.

To date, other than parent teaching policies such as discouraging infant holding while sleeping, hourly rounds by staff, or increased verbal precautions given to families, there are no strategies developed to prevent newborn falls or entrapment that are routinely used in hospitals. Conventional newborn bassinets include wheels and require a mother or staff to be standing to place a newborn inside, and thus do not address the above-mentioned concerns.

SUMMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a system that directly attaches to a Hill-Rom (or other standard) postpartum bed or chair and which allows mothers to place newborns safely down without having to stand up or wait for assistance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that eliminates or minimizes the risk of possible neonatal entrapment or accidental suffocation.

A neonatal retention or support system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises: a horizontal base configured for at least one of attachment to or placement on a mattress of a bed; a wall attached to and extending vertically from and at least partially around the base, the wall comprising at least one pair of hinges to allow the retention system to follow an adjustment of the bed, wherein the wall is flexible inwards to allow a person to enter into and lie upon the bed, and wherein the wall is not flexible outwards so that an infant disposed within the retention system is prevented from falling from the bed.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the base comprises at least one strap configured to extend across and underneath a mattress to fasten the retention system in place.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the wall comprises at least three wall portions so that the wall surrounds at least three sides of a mattress.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the wall comprises a plurality of struts.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of struts comprises a plurality of vertically extending struts.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of struts comprises a plurality of horizontally extending struts.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the wall is removably attached to the base by a fastening mechanism.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the fastening mechanism is a hook and loop fastening system.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the fastening mechanism is a zipper.

A neonatal retention or support system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises: a horizontal base configured for attachment to a chair; and a wall attached to and extending vertically from and at least partially around the base, wherein the wall is flexible inwards to allow a person to sit in the chair, and wherein the wall is not flexible outwards so that an infant disposed within the retention system is prevented from falling from the chair.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the system further comprises at least one pair of extensions configured to attached to arms of the chair.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the extensions are configured to slide into tracks on arms of the chair.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the extensions comprise tracks that fit over arms of the chair.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the base comprises at least one strap configured to extend across and underneath a chair bottom to fasten the retention system in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1is a top view of a neonatal retention or support system, generally designated by reference number1, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The system1is configured for placement on a bed100, which may include a mattress110, a headboard120and a footboard130. The system1includes a generally rectangular horizontal base10and a wall20extending around the base10. In exemplary embodiments, the wall10may extend completely around the base10or may extend partially around the base10. For example, the wall10may be generally U-shaped so as to only run directly adjacent to the headboard120and along the longitudinal sides of the mattress110, thereby leaving the footboard130exposed. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the wall10extends completely around the bed so as to form a four-sided enclosure.

The wall20may include a first pair of hinges12that allow the system1to accommodate upward or downward adjustment of the head portion of the bed100. The wall20may optionally include a second pair of hinges14that allow the system1to accommodate upward or downward adjustment of the foot portion of the bed100.

In exemplary embodiments, the wall20is flexible inwards to allow a person (e.g., a mother) to enter into and lie upon the bed adjacent to and enclosed by the system1. Preferably, the wall20is not flexible outwards so that an infant disposed within the retention system is prevented from falling from the bed. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, at least the longitudinally extending sides of the wall20has a tensile strength of up to 10 lbs/sq in., preferably up to 20 lbs/sq in., more preferably up to 30 lbs/sq in., and even more preferably up to 50 lbs/sq. in. In exemplary embodiments, at least one of the longitudinally extending walls is prevented from flexing outwards by a locking mechanism, such as, for example, a hinge locking mechanism. This allows a mother to be in the same bed as her newborn while maintaining the safety of the newborn. Also, in exemplary embodiments, the wall20may not be flexible inwards.

The base10and wall20may be made of plastic mesh material, an example being mesh made of coated or uncoated polyester yarns. A more specific example is polyester yarns coated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), commercially available as Textilene® (Twitchell Corp., Dothan, Alabama, USA). Other suitable materials may be used, and the examples provided herein are not intended to be limiting.

FIG.2is a side view of the system1, showing more detailed elements of the wall20. Specifically, in exemplary embodiments, the wall20includes a frame made up of horizontally extending struts22and vertically extending struts24. The outer material (e.g., plastic mesh) of the wall20may be disposed in tension around the frame. The struts22,24may be made of any suitable material, such as, for example, aluminum or plastic. In exemplary embodiments, the struts22,24may be telescoping relative to one another to allow the system1to be adjusted in size. For example, the horizontally extending struts22may be adjusted to increase or decrease the width and/or length of the system1, and/or the vertically extending struts24may be adjusted to increase or decrease the height of the system1.

In exemplary embodiments, the height of the wall20may vary along its length. For example, the height of the wall20may be less towards the foot portion of the bed as compared to the head portion of the bed. In a specific exemplary embodiment, the height of the wall20is approximately 8 inches at the foot portion of the bed and then rises to approximately 9 inches two-thirds of the way towards the head portion of the bed.

In exemplary embodiments, the system1may include one or more straps for fastening the system1to a mattress and/or bed frame. The straps may be attached to the base10and/or wall20and be configured to extend under the mattress and/or bed frame. The straps may be adjustable in length to accommodate different sized beds.

FIGS.3A-3Eshow a neonatal retention system, generally designated by reference number200, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The system200is generally the same as the system1, except that the base of the system200is configured for placement under a mattress. Specifically, the system200includes a base210and a wall220that together form a frame into which a mattress may be placed. The wall220has enough height to rise above the top surface of the mattress to thereby surround the bed. The base210may include one or more straps212configured for tightening around the mattress so that the system200is fastened to the bed. In exemplary embodiments, the straps may be adjustable to accommodate different sized mattresses.

As best shown inFIG.3E, the base210is configured as a rectangular-shaped frame, including laterally and longitudinally extending frame elements. The base210may be removably attached to the wall220using fastening elements214. AlthoughFIG.3Eshows the fastening elements as zippers, any other types of fastening elements may be used, such as, for example, hook and loop fasteners, button fasteners or clips. In exemplary embodiments, the base210may not be removably attached to the wall220but instead may be fixed to the wall220so as to form a unitary structure.

In exemplary embodiments, the wall may include separate wall portions that are removable from one another. This allows for removal of portions of the wall at locations around the bed, for example, at the foot of the bed, in case a complete surround of the mattress is not necessary.

In exemplary embodiments, the neonatal retention system is configured for use on a standard postpartum hospital bed, such as, for example, a Hill-Rom postpartum bed (Hillrom, Chicago, Ill., USA). In exemplary embodiments, the neonatal retention system may be modified in size and/or shape to accommodate other areas where parents/mothers hold/bond/breastfeed their newborns and babies. For example, the neonatal retention system may be configured to accommodate use on a recliner chair or home bed.

FIGS.6A and6Bare perspective views of a neonatal retention or support system, generally designated by reference number400, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As in the previous exemplary embodiments, the system400includes a generally rectangular horizontal base410and a wall420extending around the base410. The wall420extends completely around the base410so as to form a four-sided enclosure. The wall420includes a first pair of hinges412that allow the system400to accommodate upward or downward adjustment of the head portion of the bed, and a second pair of hinges414that allow the system400to accommodate upward or downward adjustment of the foot portion of the bed. As shown best inFIG.6B, each hinge412,414may be made up of a stretchable piece of fabric or mesh415fixed to the ends of sections of the system400so that when the sections are adjusted relative to one another the pieces of fabric or mesh415stretch and/or fold to accommodate the adjustment.

FIG.4is a photograph of a neonatal retention or support system, generally designated by reference number500, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As described, the system500includes a base510and side walls520extending around the base510. The side walls520are made up of a frame522and mesh material524extending across openings in the frame.

FIG.5is a front view of a neonatal retention or support system, generally designated by reference number300, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The system300differs from previously-described embodimnets in that it is configured for attachment to and use with a chair, such as a recliner chair. The system300includes a generally rectangular horizontal base310and a wall320extending around the base310. In exemplary embodiments, the wall310may extend completely around the base310or may extend partially around the base310. In use, the mother would sit in the chair1000with the system300arranged above or on her legs, with the long side of the system300directly opposite to her. The short side of the system300may include extensions322that attached to the arms of the chair1000. For example, the extensions322may be configured to slide into tracks on the chair arms or may themselves include tracks that fit over the chair arms, to thereby allow the system300to be slid in and out relative to the chair back. The extensions322may include attachment mechansims, such as, for example, hook-and-loop attachments or snap attachments, for attaching to the chair arms.

In exemplary embodiments, the system300may include straps330that extend around the bottom of the chair1000to better secure the system300in place. As shown inFIG.5, the straps330may be arranged in a triangular manner, with two or more in the back and one in the front, to allow room for the mother's legs.

As in the previous exemplary embodiments, the wall320is flexible inwards to allow a person (e.g., a mother) to sit in the chair adjacent to the system300and the wall320is preferably not flexible outwards so that an infant disposed within the retention system is prevented from falling from the chair.

Now that embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon can become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. The spirit and scope of the present invention is to be construed broadly.