Abstract:
According to at least one embodiment, an apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products is disclosed. The apparatus may include a bed frame, a lower plate having a container coupled thereto, an upper plate having an aperture defined therein, a mattress having an aperture defined therein, a mattress cover having an aperture defined therein and an absorbent pad having a bag coupled thereto. The apparatus may allow for continuous collection of human waste products while maintaining the patient in a comfortable position. The apparatus may further facilitate preventing human waste products from contacting the skin of the patient, thereby substantially reducing the occurrence of pressure ulcers. Additionally, the apparatus may reduce the need for the use of Foley catheters for incontinence management, thereby reducing the occurrence of urinary tract infections related to such use.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Bedridden and incontinent patients typically require continuous care to dispose of human waste products. Typically, bedridden patients may relieve themselves into a separate receptacle that is then replaced by a caretaker. As the patient has to adjust their position to use the receptacle, such a method of relief may be cause discomfort to the patient for physical reasons as well as for reasons of embarrassment. 
     Patients unable to move, as well as incontinent patients, are typically incapable of using a separate receptacle for relief. In such cases, human waste products are typically collected on an absorbent pad or similar device that may be fastened to the patient&#39;s bed or to the patient themselves. However, such devices are incapable of preventing human waste products from contacting the skin of the patient due to compression of the absorbent pad by the patient&#39;s weight. Consequently, the patient may develop pressure ulcers from continued contact with the waste products. Additionally, the necessity of having a caretaker change an unclean absorbent pad may cause further embarrassment for the patient. 
     Other alternatives for waste collection for bedridden and incontinent patient include waste collection receptacles that may be inserted into a cavity defined in a mattress while the patient is relieving themselves. However this alternative does not prevent the human waste products from contacting the patient&#39;s skin due to compression of the mattress and may be difficult to remove while the patient remains on the bed. A similar alternative involves adding a mattress overlay device to address the problem of mattress compression; however for reasons of patient comfort and other factors the device needs to be installed when the patient is ready to relieve themselves and removed immediately following relief, making such a device unsuitable for incontinent patients. Another alternative involves inflating a mattress and inserting a waste collection receptacle into a cavity defined in the mattress when the mattress is inflated; however, this device must similarly be inserted when the patient is ready for relief and removed immediately thereafter, thereby making continuous collection of human waste products impossible. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to at least one embodiment, an apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products is disclosed. The apparatus may allow for continuous collection of human waste products while maintaining the patient in a comfortable position. The apparatus may further facilitate preventing human waste products from contacting the skin of the patient, thereby substantially reducing the occurrence of pressure ulcers. Additionally, the apparatus may reduce the need for the use of Foley catheters for incontinence management, thereby reducing the occurrence of urinary tract infections related to such use. The apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products may also allow for an easy and efficient process of waste product disposal, thereby reducing the physical and emotional discomfort of the patient. 
     The apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products may include a bed frame, a lower plate having a container coupled thereto, an upper plate having an aperture defined therein, a mattress having an aperture defined therein, a mattress cover having an aperture defined therein and an absorbent pad having a bag coupled thereto. The absorbent pad may be placed on top of the mattress or the mattress cover with the bag of the absorbent pad being received through the apertures of the mattress cover, mattress, and upper plate and within the container of the lower plate. 
     According to another embodiment, a method for incontinence management is disclosed. The method for incontinence management may include placing an absorbent pad having a bag coupled thereto into an aperture in a mattress, positioning the patient comfortably over the aperture, separating the waste products from the patient&#39;s skin by collecting the waste products in the bag, and replacing the absorbent pad while reducing the physical and emotional discomfort of the patient. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of an absorbent pad having a bag coupled thereto. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
     As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiment are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products  100  may include a bed frame  102 , lower plate  108 , upper plate  114 , mattress  120 , at least one mattress cover  124 , and absorbent pad  130 . 
     Bed frame  102  may be made of metal, such as, for example, welded steel, or any other suitable construction known to one having ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, bed frame  102  may be sized to accommodate a mattress having a length of about 80 inches and a width of about 38 inches, such as, for example, a long size twin mattress. Bed frame  102  may include a pair of lower transverse rails  104  and a pair of lower longitudinal rails  106 . Bed frame  102  may also include a plurality of upper transverse rails  105  and a pair of upper longitudinal rails  106 . In one embodiment, bed frame  102  may incorporate a support platform (not shown) such as, for example the support platform disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,237,289, or any other support platform known to one having ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, the structure of bed frame  102 , lower longitudinal rails  106 , or a support platform included with bed frame  102  may allow for the elevation of the head portion of mattress  120  relative to the foot portion of mattress  120 . In one embodiment, the head portion of mattress  120  may be elevated about 30 degrees relative to the horizontal plane. In one embodiment, bed frame  102  may be a semi-electric bed similar to Invacare Product No. 5310IVC or the like. 
     Absorbent pad  130  may be constructed of materials that facilitate the absorption of human waste products into the interior of the pad while resisting the passage of absorbed products to the outside of the pad. Absorbent pad  130  may be sized such that the length of absorbent pad  130  substantially corresponds to the width of mattress  120 . In one embodiment, absorbent pad  130  may have a length of about 28 inches. Absorbent pad  130  may have a horizontal portion  132  and an aperture  136  defined substantially in the center thereof. Aperture  136  may have a substantially rectangular shape, with the longitudinal axis of aperture  136  being positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis of absorbent pad  130 . Absorbent pad  130  may also include bag  138 . Bag  138  may be constructed of polyethylene or any other material that facilitates isolation of human waste products that is known to a person having ordinary skill in the art. Bag  138  may be coupled to absorbent pad  130  such that the upper edges of bag  138  are coterminous with the edges of aperture  136 , thereby defining a cavity  137  such that the inner surface of cavity  137  is contiguous with the upper surface of absorbent pad  130 . Human waste products may therefore be collected within cavity  137  of bag  138 , thereby facilitating keeping away human waste products from contact with the skin of the patient. In one embodiment, cavity  137  may have a width of about 5 inches, a length of about 10 inches, and a depth of about 8 inches. 
     Apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products  100  may include at least one mattress cover  124 . At least one mattress cover  124  may include an impermeable layer that facilitates protecting the top of mattress  120  from moisture and contamination. In one embodiment, mattress cover  124  may be an Advanced Performance Non-Vinyl Mattress Protector manufactured by Tempur-Pedic International, Inc. In another embodiment, mattress cover  124  may be constructed of a vinyl or similar material. A mattress cover  124  may also be a bed sheet constructed of a fabric material or any other material known to one having ordinary skill in the art. 
     In one embodiment, mattress cover  124  may be sized to substantially cover the top of a mattress having a length of about 80 inches and a width of about 38 inches, such as, for example, a long size twin mattress. Mattress cover  124  may also include an aperture  126  defined substantially near the midpoint of the transverse axis of mattress cover  124 , wherein the longitudinal axis of aperture  126  may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of mattress cover  124 . Aperture  126  may have dimensions that facilitate receiving bag  138  within aperture  126 . In one embodiment, aperture  126  may have a width of about 5 inches and a length of about 10 inches. 
     Apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products  100  may also include mattress  120 . Mattress  120  may include an aperture  122  defined substantially near the midpoint of the transverse axis of mattress  120 , wherein the longitudinal axis of aperture  122  may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of mattress  120 . Aperture  122  may have dimensions that facilitate receiving bag  138  within aperture  122 . Aperture  122  may also have dimensions that facilitate increasing patient comfort while the patient is lying on mattress  120 . In one embodiment, aperture  122  may have a width of about 5 inches and a length of about 10 inches. 
     Mattress  120  may facilitate maintaining the patient&#39;s body in a comfortable position. Mattress  120  may also facilitate maintaining the patient&#39;s rectum and urethra above aperture  122 , thereby facilitating the collection of human waste products within cavity  137  of absorbent pad  130 . In one embodiment, mattress  120  may include a layer that may be constructed from a polyurethane foam with low rebound properties, such that the mattress may mold to the body of the patient, thereby further facilitating the maintenance of the patient&#39;s anus and urethra above aperture  122 . For example, in one embodiment, mattress  120  may be a mattress manufactured by Tempur-Pedic International, Inc. In another embodiment, mattress  120  may be constructed of any material known to one having ordinary skill in the art that facilitates maintaining the patient in the position described herein. 
     While bed frame  102  may include a plurality of upper transverse rails  105  that facilitate providing support to mattress  120 , the presence of bag  138  may interfere with the placement of upper transverse rails  105  proximate to the central portion of bed frame  102 . To facilitate providing support to the central portion of mattress  107 , upper plate  114  may engage upper longitudinal rails  107  or any analogous of bed frame  102 . Upper plate  114  may include an aperture  116  defined substantially therein, such that when upper plate  116  is coupled to bed frame  102 , aperture  116  may receive bag  138  within aperture  116 . Aperture  116  may have dimensions that facilitate receiving bag  138  within aperture  116 . In one embodiment, aperture  116  may have a width of about 5 inches and a length of about 10 inches. 
     Lower plate  108  may engage the lower longitudinal rails  106  or any analogous structure of bed frame  102 . Lower plate  108  may include container  112  coupled thereto, container  112  defining a cavity  110  that is sized to receive bag  138  of absorbent pad  130  therein. Container  112  may facilitate supporting bag  138  when apparatus  100  is in use. Consequently, when bag  138  contains human waste, container  112  may provide support to bag  138  and its contents, thereby reducing tension on bag  138  and reducing the likelihood of absorbent pad  130  shifting in position. 
     In operation, the caretaker may place absorbent pad  130  on the top surface of mattress  120  or mattress cover  124  and insert bag  138  into cavity  110  of lower support plate  108 . The patient may then lie on apparatus  100  such that the patient&#39;s anus and urethra are comfortably positioned substantially over the center of aperture  136  of absorbent pad  130 . The caretaker may desire to raise the head portion of mattress  120  to provide comfort to the patient and to increase the effectiveness of apparatus  100  in collecting human waste products from the patient. For example, raising the head portion of mattress  120  to 20 degrees above the horizontal may further increase the effectiveness of collecting urine waste from female patients, while raising the head portion of mattress  120  to 30 degrees above the horizontal may further increase the effectiveness of collecting urine waste for male patients. The apparatus thus allows for continuous collection of human waste products while the patient is lying on mattress  120 . 
     To replace absorbent pad  130 , the caretaker may roll the patient onto their side such that they are located on one side of mattress  120 . The caretaker may then gather and compact half of horizontal portion  132  such that cavity  110  of bottom plate  112  is accessible. The caretaker may then place a replacement absorbent pad onto mattress  120 , roll out half of horizontal portion  132  of the replacement pad, and insert bag  138  of the replacement pad into cavity  110 . The patient may then be rolled onto their other side such that they are located on the opposite side of mattress  120 . The caretaker may then withdraw the used absorbent pad and roll out the remaining half of horizontal portion  132  of the replacement pad. The patient may then be placed such that the patient&#39;s anus and urethra are comfortably positioned substantially over the center of aperture  136  of replacement absorbent pad  130 , allowing for further continuous collection of human waste products from the patient. 
     The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.