Abstract:
A support chair for a patient in a body cast, such as a child or toddler wearing a spica cast, is disclosed. The support chair may hold the patient in a generally upright position and the seat may include a cut-out portion positionable over a commode. The chair may include stationary or adjustable leg support stirrups which support a portion of the body cast. The seat, back and/or legs of the support chair may be adjustable in order to change the height or inclination angle of the chair. Optional attachments include removable armrests, bed pan, splash guard and activity tray.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/703,213 filed Jul. 28, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to support chairs for patients in full or partial body casts, such as a child or toddler wearing a spica cast. The support chair holds the patient in a generally upright position and may be positionable over a commode or provided with a bedpan or other waste collection device.  
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
       [0003]     A body cast or spica cast is used to immobilize the hips and thighs of a patient to assist in the healing of bones, muscles and tendons. Spica casts are typically used on children following surgery or a reduction to hold the hips in a position that facilitates bone growth. The casts may begin at the chest and extend to cover both legs down to the toes or knee, or one leg down to the toes or knee and the other leg down to the hip or knee. A similar type of cast known as an abduction boot extends from the upper thigh of each leg down to the foot.  
         [0004]     Spica casts and abduction boots are customized for each patient depending on his or her body type and recovery needs. The casts are made from fiberglass or plaster, and a rigid bar is often placed between the legs to ensure immobility. The casts should be kept as dry as possible so that they do not cause skin irritation or lose their proper shape due to softening and cracking.  
         [0005]     Spica casts typically contain an opening between the legs for the patient to use the bathroom. For infants and toddlers, a disposable diaper is tucked into the edges of this opening, a second diaper is placed on top of this diaper, and an additional bladder control diaper is placed on top of the second diaper. A material such as moleskin is often placed around the edges of the cast to help prevent the cast from soiling. The child&#39;s head should be elevated above his feet to assist in draining urine and stool away from the cast. The diaper and plastic wrap should be changed immediately after wetting to maintain the cast&#39;s integrity. Older children can be rolled onto their sides to use a bed pan or urinal, but soiling of the cast is still a problem. Sponge baths are the only form of bathing for children wearing spica casts. The child is generally restricted to lying in bed, and his or her position must be changed periodically throughout the day and night.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a support chair for a patient in a body cast, such as a child or toddler wearing a spica cast. Other types of patients include patients suffering from spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, spinal injuries and the like which must be supported in a fully or partially upright position. In one embodiment, the support chair holds the patient in a generally upright position and is positionable over a commode. The chair may include stationary or adjustable leg support stirrups, as well as optional attachments such as a removable bed pan, splash guard, armrests and tray table. The seat, back and/or legs of the chair may also be adjustable to different heights and/or different inclination angles.  
         [0007]     An aspect of the present invention is to provide a support chair for a patient comprising a seat, and at least one stirrup disposed on the seat structured and arranged to support a body cast of the patient and/or a leg of the patient.  
         [0008]     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a support chair for a patient comprising a seat structured and arranged to support the body cast of a patient and/or a leg of the patient, and an opening in the seat to allow the patient to use a waste collection device.  
         [0009]     A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a seat for a patient comprising at least one stirrup disposed on the seat structured and arranged to support a body cast of the patient and/or a leg of the patient, and an opening in the seat to allow the patient to use a waste collection device.  
         [0010]     These and other aspects of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a support chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a support chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the support chair of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the support chair of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a back view of the support chair of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a top view showing details of a seat of the support chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view showing details of a stirrup support plate which may be mounted on the seat of a support chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a top view of a stirrup that may be mounted on a support chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is an end view of the stirrup of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a support chair  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The support chair  10  is positioned over a toilet  12  having a toilet seat  13  and a toilet tank  14 . A portion of a body cast  16  is shown resting on the support chair  10 . The body cast  16  has legs  17   a  and  17   b , and an opening  18  in the crotch. The body cast  16  may be a spica cast or the like.  
         [0021]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the support chair  10  has a base  20 , back  30  and seat  40 . The base  20  includes front legs  21 , rear legs  22  and horizontal supports  23  connecting the front and rear legs. In the embodiment shown, wheels  24  are mounted at the bottoms of the rear legs  22 . Front extension arms  25  are slidably mounted in the front legs  21 . Height adjusting knobs  26  are used to secure the front extension arms  25  at desired heights. As shown most clearly in  FIG. 2 , a spring  27  inside each front leg  21  contacts the bottom  28  of each front extension arm  25  to bias the arm  25  upward in order to facilitate height adjustment of the seat  40 .  
         [0022]     The back  30  of the support chair  10  includes rear extension arms  31  slidably received in the rear legs  22 . Height adjusting knobs  32  are used to secure the extension arms  31  at their desired heights. Although not shown in the figures, biasing springs similar to the spring  27  shown in  FIG. 2  are also installed in the rear legs  22  to bias the rear extension arms  31  upward. As most clearly shown in  FIG. 5 , horizontal supports  33  are connected between the rear extension arms  31 . The back  30  includes a cushioned backrest  34 . Handles  35  may optionally be mounted on the rear extension arms  31  in order to facilitate movement of the support chair  10  to desired locations. Armrest height adjustment slots  36  are provided in the rear extension arms  31 . Armrests  37  secured to brackets  38  are removably attached to the rear extension arms  31  in the slots  36  at adjustable heights. As shown most clearly in  FIGS. 2-4 , an activity tray assembly  39  may be removably mounted on or above the armrests  37 . The tray  39  may be extended and retracted horizontally away from or toward the rear extension arms  31 .  
         [0023]     The support chair seat  40  is pivotally mounted on the front extension arms  25  with front mounting brackets  41  and front mounting pins  42 . Back mounting brackets  43  secured to the seat  40  include slots into which a back mounting pin  44  is inserted to pivotally mount the seat  40  to the back extension arms  31 . The front mounting brackets  41  and pins  42 , and the slotted back mounting brackets  43  and pin  44 , allow the seat  40  to be tilted forward or backward at selected angles and at selected heights. The seat may be tilted forward or backward to different inclination angles such as ±30° or more measured from horizontal. For example, the seat may be tilted forward in order to accommodate a spica cast or other patient to an inclination angle of from 5 to 30 degrees. Furthermore, the back  30  may be pivoted or reclined to any desired angle in order to accommodate a particular patient. For example, the rear extension arms  31  may be pivoted backward using any conventional reclining mechanism (not shown) to a selected angle of up to 90° from vertical.  
         [0024]     The support chair seat  40  has a cutout  45  which allows a patient to use a toilet, bedpan or other waste collection device. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the cutout  45  of the seat  40  may have a similar shape and be positioned over a toilet seat opening  13 . Alternatively, a bedpan or other collection device may be supported below the cutout  45 .  
         [0025]     As the patient uses the toilet  12 , his or her legs are comfortably supported in the stirrups  46   a  and  46   b  on either side of the cut-out  45 , and the seat  40  and back  34  provide additional support. The cut-out may have any suitable size and shape, such as a U-shape, circle, oval, square or the like. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the cut-out  45  is provided as a generally U-shaped opening at the front of the chair seat  40 . Alternatively, the cut-out may be closed at the front of the seat  40 . The cut-out  45  may also be fitted with a removable plate (not shown) to close off the opening when not in use.  
         [0026]     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, stirrups  46   a  and  46   b  are mounted on the seat  40 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the stirrups  46   a  and  46   b  may be positioned to support the leg portions  17   a  and  17   b  of a body cast  16 . The seat  40  includes mounting plates  48  with multiple alignment holes  49 .  
         [0027]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate details of the mounting plates  48  which may be used to adjust the positions of the stirrups  46   a  and  46   b . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the mounting plates  48  are positioned near the cutout  45  of the seat  40  and extend from the middle toward the front of the seat  40 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , each plate  48  includes multiple holes  49  which serve to align and fasten the stirrup in the desired orientation on the seat  40 . Thus, the stirrups  46   a  and  46   b  may be adjustably mounted on the seat, e.g., at different locations along the width of the seat, at different locations along the depth of the seat (measured from the front to the back of the seat), and at different angular orientations on the seat.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are top and end views of a stirrup  46  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the stirrup  46  has two mounting holes  47  which receive a flush-mounted bolt or other type of mechanical fastener (not shown) which may be fastened in a selected alignment hole  49  on the mounting plate  48 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the stirrup  46  has a generally hemispherical cross section shaped to receive a cast or leg of a patient. Any other suitable stirrup shape and/or size may be used such as deep or shallow U shapes, V shapes and rectangular shapes. The stirrups may be provided in various sizes to accommodate different types of casts and different sizes of patients. In one embodiment, the stirrup  46  may be covered with any suitable type of material such as a fabric, cushion, non-slip material, and the like.  
         [0029]     In an embodiment of the present invention, a splash guard  52  may be removably mounted in or near the cutout  45  of the seat  40  in order to control urine flow, e.g., into the toilet  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The splash guard  52  may be made of flexible plastic, injection molded plastic or any other suitable material. A seatbelt  54  mounted on the extension arms  31  or any other suitable location on the support chair  10  may be used to secure a patient in the chair. A stowable bedpan support tray  56  may be mounted at any suitable location on the support chair  10 . The bedpan support tray  56  may be moved to a position below the cutout  45  of the seat  40  in order to support a bedpan or other waste collection device. When not in use, the bedpan support tray  56  may be retracted or moved to a stowed location on the support chair  10 , such as the stowed location shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , a pouch  58  may be mounted on the back  30  of the support chair  10  and may be used to store items such as the removable armrests  37 , toys, supplies, etc.  
         [0030]     The components of the support chair  10  may be made from any suitable materials, such as metal, plastic, wood or the like. Stainless steel and aluminum are examples of suitable metals for the legs  21  and  22 , horizontal supports  23  and  33 , front extension arms  25 , rear extension arms  31 , and armrests  37 . The seat  40  may be made of metal or a plastic such as PVC or injection molded plastic. The stirrups  46   a  and  46   b  may be made from plastic, metal, wood, or the like. ABS plastic is suitable. The stirrups may optionally be covered with any natural or synthetic material such as cloth, leather, vinyl or the like.  
         [0031]     In addition to allowing a body cast patient to use a toilet, the support chair also serves as a means to support the patient in a comfortable, upright position. When equipped with the detachable and/or adjustable tray table  39 , the patient may more easily perform activities such as eating, playing or working. The tray  39  may be pivotable to a stowed position, e.g., behind the back of the chair  10 .  
         [0032]     The seat  40  may be adjustable from a level position to an inclined or tilted position to assist the patient in sitting comfortably or in using the toilet. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the orientation of the seat is adjustable by providing telescoping or other height-adjustable legs which can independently be set at varying heights. The back  10  may also be adjustable from a vertical position to a slanted or tilted position, or movable up and down, to provide better support for the patient.  
         [0033]     Various mechanisms can be used for raising, lowering and tilting the seat. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the front extension arms  25  and rear extension arms  31  are slidably received in the front legs  21  and back legs  22  of the base  20  in a telescoping fashion, allowing the upper portion to slide within the lower portion from a retracted position to an extended position. In one embodiment, e.g., as shown in  FIG. 2 , the telescoping legs may be spring loaded to assist in raising the legs, for example, when a patient is seated in the chair. The upper and lower portions may have a series of holes for engaging a retractable pin, screw or threaded handle. When the retractable pin, screw or threaded handle is engaged, the upper portion of the leg can be fixed at various sliding positions. Alternatively, each leg may have an upper portion that is clamped onto the lower portion using a vice-like clamping device, or any other suitable means for adjustment.  
         [0034]     The seat  40  may be hingedly mounted to each extension arm  25  and  31 , or mounted using another type of mechanical fastener, a ball and joint assembly, a frictional assembly, or the like. The seat  40  may be manually or automatically raised, lowered, or tilted in any direction that assists the spica cast or other patient in sitting upright or inclined, using the toilet, performing activities, etc. The back  34  may also be hingedly mounted to the base  20 , back  30  and/or seat  40  of the support chair, or mounted using another type of mechanical fastener, a ball and joint assembly, a frictional assembly, or the like. The front legs  21  and rear legs  22  of the base  20  may be connected with various types of support braces to provide greater structural stability.  
         [0035]     The embodiment shown in the figures includes adjustable leg support stirrups  46   a  and  46   b . Alternatively, the stirrups may be integrally formed by contouring on the surface of the seat  40 , in which case customized seat and stirrup contours may be provided for individual patients. On either side of the cut-out  45 , the seat  40  may have natural depressions or curves which serve as stirrups designed to hold the legs of a spica or other cast. The seat  40  and/or stirrups  46   a  and  46   b  may have a foam or cushioned lining that molds to the shape of the spica cast, providing customized leg support regardless of the shape or size of the cast. The back  34  and armrests  37  may also have such a liner to cushion the spica cast as it rests against the chair, e.g., a vinyl covered foam backing.  
         [0036]     Numerous variations of the details of the present invention may be made without departing from the invention. For example, the support chair may be equipped with other restraint or safety mechanisms in place of, or in addition to, the seat belt. The support chair may be foldable. The chair may be provided with a removable seat and/or backrest, or a removable seat or backrest cover, in order to change the design, pattern, color, etc. of the seat and/or backrest. The handles may be eliminated or removably mounted on the chair at any suitable location. Although the support chair shown in the figures is equipped two wheels at the bottom of the rear legs, additional wheel(s) may be added, for example, at the bottom of each front leg. The wheels may be lockable for safety purposes. The size of the wheels may also be selected as desired, e.g., larger or smaller wheels than shown in the figures may be used. A foot kick may optionally be mounted, e.g., near the bottom of each back leg in order to facilitate tilting of the chair onto its rear wheels for movement of the chair. In some cases, it may be desirable to motorize the support chair in order facilitate patient mobility.  
         [0037]     Furthermore, electronic actuators or other types of actuators may be used, e.g., to adjust the seat height, leg height, backrest height, seat inclination, back inclination and the like. In one embodiment, markings may be provided on the support chair in order to indicate chair positions such as inclination or stirrup positions. For example, the back legs of the chair may be marked with degree marks at varying heights to indicate the angle of the seat and/or back of the chair at various telescoping locations of the rear legs. As another example, the stirrups and/or stirrup support plates may be marked with width and/or angle marks in order to facilitate the desired placement and orientation of the stirrups based upon a particular patient&#39;s needs.  
         [0038]     In addition to the support chair shown in the figures, other types of chairs and/or seats may be retrofitted with support assemblies for body cast patients in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Wheelchairs or the like may be retrofitted with the present stirrup seat, in which case the support seat may be mounted on a standard wheelchair frame. In addition, other types of seats and/or chairs may be retrofitted, such as car seats, toilets, household chairs and the like.  
         [0039]     Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of the present invention may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.