Patient repositioning sheet, system, and method

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a patient repositioning sheet including an inflatable sheet having a lower layer and an upper layer that are urged apart with inflation of the inflatable sheet. The patient repositioning sheet further includes at least one inflatable support, such as an inflatable wedge. The inflatable wedge has a wedge surface that extends obliquely to the upper layer of the inflatable sheet with the inflatable wedge inflated.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to patient transfer devices and, more specifically, to inflatable patient transfer sheets.

BACKGROUND

Inflatable patient transfer sheets are used to transfer patients from one surface to another, such as from a hospital bed to a gurney. Inflatable patient transfer sheets often include an interior volume that is filled with air via a pump. Inflating the patient transfer sheet increases the area that the patient's weight is distributed across, which makes it easier to move the patient. Inflatable patient transfer sheets may also include a series of holes in a bottom surface of the inflatable transfer sheet that permit air to flow downwardly against an underlying surface such as a hospital bed. The air creates an air bearing between the inflatable patient transfer sheet and further reduces resistance to movement of the patient.

Comatose patients or patients with limited movement may need to be turned periodically to limit the development of pressure ulcers on the patient's skin. Foam wedges are often used to lift one side of a patient to relieve pressure on the patient's skin. To position a foam wedge under a side of a patient, the patient may be log rolled in a first direction to elevate the one side of the patient off of a hospital bed, the foam wedge positioned beneath the patient, and the patient log rolled in a second direction opposite the first direction to position the one side of the patient on the foam wedge. A second log rolling process is subsequently performed to remove the foam wedge from under the patient and a third log rolling process is performed to position the foam wedge under the other side of the patient.

The repeated log rolling of the patient and placement/removal of the foam wedges are labor intensive processes, especially for heavier patients. Further, a patient supported by a foam wedge may need to be transferred to a gurney or another surface, which requires the foam wedge to be removed and an inflatable transfer sheet to be positioned beneath the patient. The inflatable transfer sheet may be positioned under the patient using another log rolling procedure that involves positioning part of a folded inflatable sheet beneath the patient once the patient has been log rolled onto one side, log rolling the patient in an opposite direction to position the patient's other side on the folded inflatable sheet, unfolding the inflatable sheet beneath the patient, then log rolling the patient's back onto the unfolded inflatable sheet. The sheet may then be inflated and pulled and/or pushed to shift the inflatable sheet and patient thereon to another surface. The process of positioning the patient on an inflatable sheet is further manual labor that complicates patient care.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

RegardingFIG. 1, an inflatable patient repositioning sheet10is provided that includes an inflatable sheet12and one or more inflatable supports, such as inflatable wedges14,16. The inflatable wedges14,16each have one or more wedge air inlets18that may be connected to a hose of an air pump to receive air from the pump and inflate the respective wedge14,16. The wedges14,16may be inflated one at a time to elevate a respective portion of the patient and relieve pressure on the skin of the patient. The inflatable wedges14,16may be deflated by disconnecting the tube of the pump from the wedge air inlet18and permitting the air to escape either through the wedge air inlet18or through an upper wall20of the inflatable wedges14,16. The upper wall20may be made of a breathable, air permeable material which improves the feel of the upper wall20against a patient. For example, the upper wall20may be made of a nylon material having a water vapor transmission rate in the range of 23-440 g/m2per day as determined by the ASTM E96/E96M testing standard.

RegardingFIG. 2, each inflatable wedge14,16includes one or more walls, such as the upper wall20, an end wall22, a side wall24, an end wall26, and a portion28of an uppermost layer, such as a cover layer30, of the inflatable patient repositioning sheet10. The inflatable patient repositioning sheet10includes an upper patient support layer, such as upper layer120, and a lower base layer, such as a lower layer122. The upper layer120and lower layer122define an interior volume therebetween that receives air from an air pump at one or more sheet air inlets60. The layers30,120,122may each be made of nylon as an example. The layer30may be made of a microfiber material.

The one or more walls of the inflatable wedge14,16define an interior volume35(seeFIG. 3) of the inflatable wedge14,16that is in communication with the respective wedge air inlet18. The wedge air inlet18may include or may have connected thereto a one-way valve that permits air to enter the inflatable wedge14,16but prevents air exiting the inflatable wedge14,16via the wedge air inlet18. The air wedge inlet18may be directly in communication with the interior volume of the inflatable wedge14,16such as if the air wedge inlet18is formed in the side wall24. In another embodiment, the air wedge inlet18is indirectly in communication with the interior volume35of the inflatable wedge14,16and remote from the associated wedge14,16. For example, the air wedge inlet18may be located near the sheet air inlet60and the inflatable patient repositioning sheet10includes a channel defined between the cover layer30and the upper layer120that communicates air from the remote air wedge inlet18to the interior volume35of the associated inflatable wedge14,16. In one embodiment, the interior volumes35of the inflatable wedges14,16are not in communication with the interior volume of the inflatable sheet12defined between the upper layer120and the lower layer122. The inflatable sheet12and inflatable wedges14,16may each be independently inflated or deflated without inflating or deflating the others.

RegardingFIGS. 1 and 2, each inflatable wedge14,16includes one or more internal baffles, such as baffles34,36,38. The baffles34,36,38and walls22,24,26may me made of an air impermeable material, such as polyurethane. In another embodiment, the walls22,24,26may be made of a material that is air-permeable, but with an air-permeability less than the air permeability of the upper wall20. The air permeability of the walls20,22,24,26may be selected to control the deflation rate of the wedge14,16.

The baffles34,36,38are connected to the upper wall20via joints40, such as seams, and are connected to the portion28of the cover layer30at joints44. The joints40,44may be formed using heat welds, ultrasonic welds, fusible tape, fusible thread, and/or adhesive as some examples. Fusible thread may be used to stitch fabrics together and melted using heat to fuse the fabrics together The joints between the various components of the inflatable wedges14,16may be airtight such that the only way air may exit the inflatable wedges14,16after inflation of the inflatable wedges14,16is through the upper wall20of the inflatable wedges14,16. In one embodiment, the material of the wedges14,16are selected so that the inflatable wedges14,16will remain inflated for at least a predetermined time, such as two hours, after the air pump is turned off or disconnected from the inflatable wedges14,16. In another embodiment, the associated pump runs continuously or intermittently for the period of time the inflatable wedges14,16are employed to keep the inflatable wedges14,16inflated.

Upon inflation of the inflatable wedges14,16, the baffles34,36,38are placed in tension and resist ballooning of the upper wall20to maintain the shape of the inflatable wedge14,16. Further, the end walls22,26and side wall24are also placed in tension upon inflation of the inflatable wedges14,16and resist inflation of the wedges14,16beyond the intended wedge shape. The baffles34,36,38also help to distribute the flow of air within the wedge14,16so the air is not focused entirely at the center of the upper wall20to limit ballooning. The baffles34,36,38also distribute the flow of air so that the air is not focused at the edge seams of the wedge14,16to limit tears and leaks at the edge seams.

In one embodiment, the inflatable wedges14,16each position a surface portion of the upper wall20thereof at an angle of approximately 30 degrees relative to an adjacent portion of an upper surface46of the cover layer30upon inflation of the wedges14,16. The phrase approximately 30 degrees is intended to encompass exactly 30 degrees as well as some variation customary to patient positioning wedges, such as plus or minus five degrees.

RegardingFIG. 1, the inflatable sheet12includes one or more handles50that may be grasped and used to push or pull the inflatable patient repositioning sheet10in directions52,54. The inflatable sheet12further includes one or more air inlets60which may take a variety of forms such as the sheet air inlet62shown inFIG. 4and discussed in greater detail below. The inflatable sheet12may also include a head-receiving portion64and an indicator line66. The indicator line66indicates the position of an upper edge of an absorbent incontinence pad that may be placed on the cover layer30.

RegardingFIG. 2, a portion of the inflatable patient repositioning sheet10is shown in an exploded view. The upper wall20includes end edges70,72that are joined to upper edges74of the end walls22,26. A center edge78may be joined to a tip80of the end walls22,26and to the cover layer30. The end walls22,26each include a lower edge84joined to the cover layer30and a side edge86joined to the side wall24. The baffles34,36,38include upper edges90that are joined to the upper wall20at the joints40, lower edges92that are joined to the cover layer30, and side edges94that are spaced from the side wall24.

RegardingFIG. 3, each inflatable wedge14,16includes one or more chambers, such as chambers102,104,106,108separated by the baffles34,36,38. The side edges92of the baffles34,36,38are separated by a gap96from the side wall24. The gaps96permit air that enters the inflatable wedge14,16via the wedge air inlet18to travel in direction100from the chamber102to the chambers104,106,108and fill the inflatable wedge16. InFIG. 3, the cross-section is taken approximately halfway up the wedges14,16to show the upper wall20and an upper, patient-supporting surface110thereof extending away from the center edge78of the upper wall20toward the side wall24. In one approach, the center edges78of the upper walls20of both inflatable wedges14,16are joined to the cover layer30with a single joint that runs along the length of the upper walls30.

Returning toFIG. 2, the upper layer120and the lower layer122may be urged apart by supplying air to the sheet air inlet60of the inflatable sheet12. The cover layer30has a laminated configuration with the upper layer120and such that the cover layer30and inflatable wedges14,16thereon move with the upper layer120away from the lower layer122as air is provided to the sheet air inlet60. The cover layer30, upper layer120, and lower layer122have peripheral edges126,128,130that may be joined together, such as by heat welding, ultrasonic welding, and/or adhesive as some examples.

RegardingFIG. 4, the sheet air inlet62is configured to receive an outlet tube131of an air pump133. The inflatable sheet12may include an internal tubular sock132that receives air from the tube131and distributes air across the width of the inflatable sheet12. InFIG. 4, the cover layer30, upper layer120, and lower layer122are shown joined around the peripheral edges126,128,130via stitching140. The cover layer30and upper layer120have portions142,144joined together that may be separated from a portion146of the lower layer122to define an opening148between the portions144,146that permits the tube131to be placed in communication with the tubular sock135. In one embodiment, the sheet air inlet62includes an adjustable closure150that has a closure member, such as a strap152, with an anchor portion154secured to the lower layer122, an intermediate portion156that extends through an opening158in the cover layer30and upper layer120, and an end portion160that is outside of the cover layer30and upper layer120. The adjustable closure150may include a hook and loop closure162of the end portion160and the cover layer30. The hook and loop closure162include loops164on the cover layer30that engage hooks on the underside of the end portion160of the strap152. A user may constrict the adjustable closure150about the tube131by pulling the end portion160upward away from the opening158in the cover layer30and upper layer120. The user then pivots the end portion160downward against the loops164to engage the hook and loop closure162and maintain the adjustable closure150in a constricted configuration about the tube131. The constricted adjustable closure150restricts air escaping via the sheet air inlet62as air discharges from the tube131into the inflatable sheet12.

In one embodiment, the wedge air inlets18of the inflatable wedges14,16may be similar to the sheet air inlet62ofFIG. 4. For example, the wedge air inlets18may include an opening for receiving an air supply tube (e.g., tube131) and an adjustable closure150to constrict the opening about the air supply tube. In this manner, the same pump133and air supply tube131may be used to inflate any of the inflatable sheet12, inflatable wedge14, and inflatable wedge16as desired by a user. Further, in one embodiment, the internal volumes of the inflatable sheet12and inflatable wedges14,16are not in communication with each other such that the pump133may be used to independently inflate any one of the inflatable sheet12, inflatable wedge14, and inflatable wedge16.

The inflatable supports of the inflatable patient repositioning sheet10may have shapes other than the wedges14,16. For example, the inflatable supports may include rectangular, dome-shaped, and half-cylindrical inflatable supports as some examples.

RegardingFIG. 5, an inflatable patient repositioning sheet200is provided that is similar in many respects to the inflatable patient repositioning sheet10discussed above such that differences will be highlighted. The inflatable patient repositioning sheet200includes an inflatable sheet202having one or more sheet air inlets204and one or more inflatable wedges, such as inflatable wedges206,208. InFIG. 5, one inflatable wedge206,208is provided on each side of the inflatable sheet202. The inflatable wedges206,208are elongated and extend for a majority of the length of the inflatable patient repositioning sheet200, such as more than 55 percent, more than 60 percent, more than 70 percent, more than 80 percent, or more than 90 percent of the length of the inflatable patient repositioning sheet200. The lengths of the inflatable wedges206,208permit the inflatable wedges206,208to reposition patients of varying heights because the supported portion of the patient, such as a patient's hip, may be positioned anywhere along the inflatable wedges206,208. In other embodiments, there may be two or more inflatable wedges positioned on each side of the inflatable sheet202.

With reference toFIG. 5, the inflatable wedges206,208each include an upper wall210that may be inclined relative to an upper surface212of a cover layer214, such as at an angle of approximately 30 degrees, when the inflatable wedge206,208is inflated. The inflatable wedges206,208each include one or more wedge air inlets220that may receive air from a pump. The inflatable patient repositioning sheet200includes a gap222between the inflatable wedges206,208. In one embodiment, the inflatable wedges206,208are separated by a surface portion224of the cover layer214.

RegardingFIG. 6, the inflatable patient repositioning sheet200is shown in an initial, deflated configuration. The term deflated is used to refer to a state of inflation less than fully inflated. InFIG. 6, a patient230is shown in a supine position having a side232supported on the wedge206, a side234supported on the inflatable wedge208, and a head236supported on the upper surface212of the cover layer214(such as on a pillow). In one embodiment, the cover layer214is made of a high-friction material so that the upper surface212resists movement of the patient on the cover layer214. For example, the cover layer214may be made of a microfiber material.

RegardingFIG. 6, the inflatable patient repositioning sheet202includes an upper layer240to which the cover layer214is secured and a lower layer242separated by an air gap244from the upper layer240. The air gap244may be small or nonexistent when the inflatable patient repositioning sheet202is deflated. The inflatable sheet202may include one or more baffles246that divide an interior volume250of the inflatable sheet202into two or more chambers252. The lower layer242may include a plurality of exit holes254that permit air pumped into the interior volume250to travel downward against a support surface256and create an air bearing therebetween the lower layer242and the surface256.

InFIG. 6, each inflatable wedge206,208has an upper wall210and a surface portion, such as an upper, patient supporting surface260, at an angle262. The inflatable wedges206,208are shown in an initial deflated configuration, which may be partially or completely deflated, such that the angle262may be less than 20 degrees, such as less than 10 degrees, such as less than 5 degrees. The angle262may be generally limited by the material of the upper wall210, a side wall264, end walls266(seeFIG. 5), and baffles268of the inflatable wedges206,208. Further, the cover layer214, upper layer240, and lower layer242may be joined at peripheral edges270thereof at a joint272. The joint272may be formed using, for example, heat welding, ultrasonic welding, adhesive, and/or other approaches.

RegardingFIGS. 7 and 8, an air pump has been connected to the wedge air inlet220and operated to inflate the inflatable wedge208to an inflated configuration. The inflatable sheet202remains in the initial, deflated configuration during the wedge inflating process and provides a stable base for the patient230. By inflating the inflatable wedge208, the upper wall210thereof extends at an angle280relative to the upper surface212of the cover layer214that is larger than angle262. In one embodiment, the angle280is greater than 20 degrees. For example, the angle280may be in the range of 20 degrees to approximately 40 degrees, such as approximately 30 degrees. The upper wall210may generally form a plane282that extends transversely to a plane of the upper surface260of the inflatable wedge206.

Due to the inflation of the inflatable wedge208, the side234of the patient230is elevated above the position that is shown inFIG. 6. By elevating the side234, a portion290of the skin of the patient is relieved of pressure. For example, elevating the side234may relieve pressure on skin near sacral vertebrae of the patient. The inflation of the inflatable wedge208thereby performs patient repositioning without a user having to log roll the patient and position a foam wedge as in some prior approaches. The use of the inflatable wedge208to reposition the patient230reduces the manual labor involved in repositioning the patient230.

Once the side234of the patient230has been elevated for a period of time, such as two hours, the inflatable wedge208may be deflated and the patient permitted to lie in the supine position flat on the deflated inflatable patient repositioning sheet200for a period of time, such as two hours. Next, the inflatable wedge206may be inflated to lift the other side232of the patient230and relieve pressure on the side232of the patient230. The process of inflating and deflating the inflatable wedges206,208may be performed in any order desired.

RegardingFIGS. 9 and 10, the inflatable patient repositioning sheet200is shown with the inflatable wedges206,208in the initial, deflated configuration and the inflatable sheet202in an inflated configuration. The inflatable sheet202may be shifted from an initial, deflated configuration ofFIG. 5to the inflated configuration ofFIG. 9via an air pump connected to the air inlet204. With the inflatable sheet202inflated, the inflatable patient repositioning sheet200includes one or more handles, such as handles300,302that may be grasped and used to push and/or pull the inflatable patient repositioning sheet200and patient230thereon, such as in a lateral direction304.

RegardingFIG. 10, the air provided to the air inlet204inflates the inflatable sheet202and shifts a center portion306of the cover layer214and upper layer240away from a center portion308of the lower layer242. This creates a distance310between the upper layer240and a lower layer242that is greater than a distance312(seeFIG. 8) when the inflatable sheet202is in the initial, deflated configuration thereof. The larger surface area provided by the inflated inflatable sheet202as well as the air traveling through holes254in the lower layer242reduces the resistance to shifting of the inflatable sheet202along the surface256. The reduced resistance makes it easier for a nurse to shift the inflatable patient repositioning sheet200and patient230thereon from the surface256to another surface.

Uses of singular terms such as “a,” “an,” are intended to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms. Any description of certain embodiments as “preferred” embodiments, and other recitation of embodiments, features, or ranges as being preferred, or suggestion that such are preferred, is not deemed to be limiting. The invention is deemed to encompass embodiments that are presently deemed to be less preferred and that may be described herein as such. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended to illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention. Any statement herein as to the nature or benefits of the invention or of the preferred embodiments is not intended to be limiting. This invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited herein as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. No unclaimed language should be deemed to limit the invention in scope. Any statements or suggestions herein that certain features constitute a component of the claimed invention are not intended to be limiting unless reflected in the appended claims. Neither the marking of the patent number on any product nor the identification of the patent number in connection with any service should be deemed a representation that all embodiments described herein are incorporated into such product or service. It is intended that the phrase “at least one of” as used herein be interpreted in the disjunctive sense. For example, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is intended to encompass only A, only B, or both A and B.