Patent Publication Number: US-2022233379-A1

Title: Patient Repositioning Sheet, System, and Method

Description:
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&#39;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&#39;s skin. Foam wedges are often used to lift one side of a patient to relieve pressure on the patient&#39;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&#39;s other side on the folded inflatable sheet, unfolding the inflatable sheet beneath the patient, then log rolling the patient&#39;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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a patient repositioning sheet including an inflatable sheet and a pair of inflatable wedges of the inflatable sheet; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a portion of the patient repositioning sheet of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken across line 3-3 in  FIG. 1  halfway up along the inflatable wedges, showing internal baffles of the inflatable wedges separating chambers of the inflatable wedges; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an example air inlet of the patient repositioning sheet of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another patient repositioning sheet including an inflatable sheet and a pair of inflatable wedges of the inflatable sheet; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken across line 6-6 in  FIG. 5  showing the inflatable wedges and the inflatable sheet of the inflatable patient repositioning sheet of  FIG. 5  in an initial, deflated configuration; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 5  showing one of the inflatable wedges in an inflated configuration and the inflatable sheet in the initial, deflated configuration; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken across line 8-8 in  FIG. 7  showing a patient having a side elevated by the inflated wedge; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 5  showing the inflatable wedges in the initial, deflated configuration and the inflatable sheet in an inflated configuration; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken across line 10-10 in  FIG. 9  showing longitudinal baffles in the inflated inflatable sheet. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Regarding  FIG. 1 , an inflatable patient repositioning sheet  10  is provided that includes an inflatable sheet  12  and one or more inflatable supports, such as inflatable wedges  14 ,  16 . The inflatable wedges  14 ,  16  each have one or more wedge air inlets  18  that may be connected to a hose of an air pump to receive air from the pump and inflate the respective wedge  14 ,  16 . The wedges  14 ,  16  may 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 wedges  14 ,  16  may be deflated by disconnecting the tube of the pump from the wedge air inlet  18  and permitting the air to escape either through the wedge air inlet  18  or through an upper wall  20  of the inflatable wedges  14 ,  16 . The upper wall  20  may be made of a breathable, air permeable material which improves the feel of the upper wall  20  against a patient. For example, the upper wall  20  may be made of a nylon material having a water vapor transmission rate in the range of 23-440 g/m 2  per day as determined by the ASTM E96/E96M testing standard. 
     Regarding  FIG. 2 , each inflatable wedge  14 ,  16  includes one or more walls, such as the upper wall  20 , an end wall  22 , a side wall  24 , an end wall  26 , and a portion  28  of an uppermost layer, such as a cover layer  30 , of the inflatable patient repositioning sheet  10 . The inflatable patient repositioning sheet  10  includes an upper patient support layer, such as upper layer  120 , and a lower base layer, such as a lower layer  122 . The upper layer  120  and lower layer  122  define an interior volume therebetween that receives air from an air pump at one or more sheet air inlets  60 . The layers  30 ,  120 ,  122  may each be made of nylon as an example. The layer  30  may be made of a microfiber material. 
     The one or more walls of the inflatable wedge  14 ,  16  define an interior volume 35 (see  FIG. 3 ) of the inflatable wedge  14 ,  16  that is in communication with the respective wedge air inlet  18 . The wedge air inlet  18  may include or may have connected thereto a one-way valve that permits air to enter the inflatable wedge  14 ,  16  but prevents air exiting the inflatable wedge  14 ,  16  via the wedge air inlet  18 . The air wedge inlet  18  may be directly in communication with the interior volume of the inflatable wedge  14 ,  16  such as if the air wedge inlet  18  is formed in the side wall  24 . In another embodiment, the air wedge inlet  18  is indirectly in communication with the interior volume  35  of the inflatable wedge  14 ,  16  and remote from the associated wedge  14 ,  16 . For example, the air wedge inlet  18  may be located near the sheet air inlet  60  and the inflatable patient repositioning sheet  10  includes a channel defined between the cover layer  30  and the upper layer  120  that communicates air from the remote air wedge inlet  18  to the interior volume  35  of the associated inflatable wedge  14 ,  16 . In one embodiment, the interior volumes  35  of the inflatable wedges  14 ,  16  are not in communication with the interior volume of the inflatable sheet  12  defined between the upper layer  120  and the lower layer  122 . The inflatable sheet  12  and inflatable wedges  14 ,  16  may each be independently inflated or deflated without inflating or deflating the others. 
     Regarding  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each inflatable wedge  14 ,  16  includes one or more internal baffles, such as baffles  34 ,  36 ,  38 . The baffles  34 ,  36 ,  38  and walls  22 ,  24 ,  26  may me made of an air impermeable material, such as polyurethane. In another embodiment, the walls  22 ,  24 ,  26  may be made of a material that is air-permeable, but with an air-permeability less than the air permeability of the upper wall  20 . The air permeability of the walls  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26  may be selected to control the deflation rate of the wedge  14 ,  16 . 
     The baffles  34 ,  36 ,  38  are connected to the upper wall  20  via joints  40 , such as seams, and are connected to the portion  28  of the cover layer  30  at joints  44 . The joints  40 ,  44  may 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 wedges  14 ,  16  may be airtight such that the only way air may exit the inflatable wedges  14 ,  16  after inflation of the inflatable wedges  14 ,  16  is through the upper wall  20  of the inflatable wedges  14 ,  16 . In one embodiment, the material of the wedges  14 ,  16  are selected so that the inflatable wedges  14 ,  16  will remain inflated for at least a predetermined time, such as two hours, after the air pump is turned off or disconnected from the inflatable wedges  14 ,  16 . In another embodiment, the associated pump runs continuously or intermittently for the period of time the inflatable wedges  14 ,  16  are employed to keep the inflatable wedges  14 ,  16  inflated. 
     Upon inflation of the inflatable wedges  14 ,  16 , the baffles  34 ,  36 ,  38  are placed in tension and resist ballooning of the upper wall  20  to maintain the shape of the inflatable wedge  14 ,  16 . Further, the end walls  22 ,  26  and side wall  24  are also placed in tension upon inflation of the inflatable wedges  14 ,  16  and resist inflation of the wedges  14 ,  16  beyond the intended wedge shape. The baffles  34 ,  36 ,  38  also help to distribute the flow of air within the wedge  14 ,  16  so the air is not focused entirely at the center of the upper wall  20  to limit ballooning. The baffles  34 ,  36 ,  38  also distribute the flow of air so that the air is not focused at the edge seams of the wedge  14 ,  16 to limit tears and leaks at the edge seams. 
     In one embodiment, the inflatable wedges  14 ,  16  each position a surface portion of the upper wall  20  thereof at an angle of approximately 30 degrees relative to an adjacent portion of an upper surface  46  of the cover layer  30  upon inflation of the wedges  14 ,  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. 
     Regarding  FIG. 1 , the inflatable sheet  12  includes one or more handles  50  that may be grasped and used to push or pull the inflatable patient repositioning sheet  10  in directions  52 ,  54 . The inflatable sheet  12  further includes one or more air inlets  60  which may take a variety of forms such as the sheet air inlet  62  shown in  FIG. 4  and discussed in greater detail below. The inflatable sheet  12  may also include a head-receiving portion  64  and an indicator line  66 . The indicator line  66  indicates the position of an upper edge of an absorbent incontinence pad that may be placed on the cover layer  30 . 
     Regarding  FIG. 2 , a portion of the inflatable patient repositioning sheet  10  is shown in an exploded view. The upper wall  20  includes end edges  70 ,  72  that are joined to upper edges  74  of the end walls  22 ,  26 . A center edge  78  may be joined to a tip  80  of the end walls  22 ,  26  and to the cover layer  30 . The end walls  22 ,  26  each include a lower edge  84  joined to the cover layer  30  and a side edge  86  joined to the side wall  24 . The baffles  34 ,  36 ,  38  include upper edges  90  that are joined to the upper wall  20  at the joints  40 , lower edges  92  that are joined to the cover layer  30 , and side edges  94  that are spaced from the side wall  24 . 
     Regarding  FIG. 3 , each inflatable wedge  14 ,  16  includes one or more chambers, such as chambers  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  separated by the baffles  34 ,  36 ,  38 . The side edges  92  of the baffles  34 ,  36 ,  38  are separated by a gap  96  from the side wall  24 . The gaps  96  permit air that enters the inflatable wedge  14 ,  16  via the wedge air inlet  18  to travel in direction 100 from the chamber  102  to the chambers  104 ,  106 ,  108  and fill the inflatable wedge  16 . In  FIG. 3 , the cross-section is taken approximately halfway up the wedges  14 ,  16  to show the upper wall  20  and an upper, patient-supporting surface  110  thereof extending away from the center edge  78  of the upper wall  20  toward the side wall  24 . In one approach, the center edges  78  of the upper walls  20  of both inflatable wedges  14 ,  16  are joined to the cover layer  30  with a single joint that runs along the length of the upper walls  30 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 2 , the upper layer  120  and the lower layer  122  may be urged apart by supplying air to the sheet air inlet  60  of the inflatable sheet  12 . The cover layer  30  has a laminated configuration with the upper layer  120  and such that the cover layer  30  and inflatable wedges  14 ,  16  thereon move with the upper layer  120  away from the lower layer  122  as air is provided to the sheet air inlet  60 . The cover layer  30 , upper layer  120 , and lower layer  122  have peripheral edges  126 ,  128 ,  130  that may be joined together, such as by heat welding, ultrasonic welding, and/or adhesive as some examples. 
     Regarding  FIG. 4 , the sheet air inlet  62  is configured to receive an outlet tube  131  of an air pump  133 . The inflatable sheet  12  may include an internal tubular sock  132  that receives air from the tube  131  and distributes air across the width of the inflatable sheet  12 . In  FIG. 4 , the cover layer  30 , upper layer  120 , and lower layer  122  are shown joined around the peripheral edges  126 ,  128 ,  130  via stitching  140 . The cover layer  30  and upper layer  120  have portions  142 ,  144  joined together that may be separated from a portion  146  of the lower layer  122  to define an opening  148  between the portions  144 ,  146  that permits the tube  131  to be placed in communication with the tubular sock  135 . In one embodiment, the sheet air inlet  62  includes an adjustable closure  150  that has a closure member, such as a strap  152 , with an anchor portion  154  secured to the lower layer  122 , an intermediate portion  156  that extends through an opening  158  in the cover layer  30  and upper layer  120 , and an end portion  160  that is outside of the cover layer  30  and upper layer  120 . The adjustable closure  150  may include a hook and loop closure  162  of the end portion  160  and the cover layer  30 . The hook and loop closure  162  include loops  164  on the cover layer  30  that engage hooks on the underside of the end portion  160  of the strap  152 . A user may constrict the adjustable closure  150  about the tube  131  by pulling the end portion  160  upward away from the opening  158  in the cover layer  30  and upper layer  120 . The user then pivots the end portion  160  downward against the loops  164  to engage the hook and loop closure  162  and maintain the adjustable closure  150  in a constricted configuration about the tube  131 . The constricted adjustable closure  150  restricts air escaping via the sheet air inlet  62  as air discharges from the tube  131  into the inflatable sheet  12 . 
     In one embodiment, the wedge air inlets  18  of the inflatable wedges  14 ,  16  may be similar to the sheet air inlet  62  of  FIG. 4 . For example, the wedge air inlets  18  may include an opening for receiving an air supply tube (e.g., tube  131 ) and an adjustable closure  150  to constrict the opening about the air supply tube. In this manner, the same pump  133  and air supply tube  131  may be used to inflate any of the inflatable sheet  12 , inflatable wedge  14 , and inflatable wedge  16  as desired by a user. Further, in one embodiment, the internal volumes of the inflatable sheet  12  and inflatable wedges  14 ,  16  are not in communication with each other such that the pump  133  may be used to independently inflate any one of the inflatable sheet  12 , inflatable wedge  14 , and inflatable wedge  16 . 
     The inflatable supports of the inflatable patient repositioning sheet  10  may have shapes other than the wedges  14 ,  16 . For example, the inflatable supports may include rectangular, dome-shaped, and half-cylindrical inflatable supports as some examples. 
     Regarding  FIG. 5 , an inflatable patient repositioning sheet  200  is provided that is similar in many respects to the inflatable patient repositioning sheet  10  discussed above such that differences will be highlighted. The inflatable patient repositioning sheet  200  includes an inflatable sheet  202  having one or more sheet air inlets  204  and one or more inflatable wedges, such as inflatable wedges  206 ,  208 . In  FIG. 5 , one inflatable wedge  206 ,  208  is provided on each side of the inflatable sheet  202 . The inflatable wedges  206 ,  208  are elongated and extend for a majority of the length of the inflatable patient repositioning sheet  200 , 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 sheet  200 . The lengths of the inflatable wedges  206 ,  208  permit the inflatable wedges  206 ,  208  to reposition patients of varying heights because the supported portion of the patient, such as a patient&#39;s hip, may be positioned anywhere along the inflatable wedges  206 ,  208 . In other embodiments, there may be two or more inflatable wedges positioned on each side of the inflatable sheet  202 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , the inflatable wedges  206 ,  208  each include an upper wall  210  that may be inclined relative to an upper surface  212  of a cover layer  214 , such as at an angle of approximately 30 degrees, when the inflatable wedge  206 ,  208  is inflated. The inflatable wedges  206 ,  208  each include one or more wedge air inlets  220  that may receive air from a pump. The inflatable patient repositioning sheet  200  includes a gap  222  between the inflatable wedges  206 ,  208 . In one embodiment, the inflatable wedges  206 ,  208  are separated by a surface portion  224  of the cover layer  214 . 
     Regarding  FIG. 6 , the inflatable patient repositioning sheet  200  is shown in an initial, deflated configuration. The term deflated is used to refer to a state of inflation less than fully inflated. In  FIG. 6 , a patient  230  is shown in a supine position having a side  232  supported on the wedge  206 , a side  234  supported on the inflatable wedge  208 , and a head  236  supported on the upper surface  212  of the cover layer  214  (such as on a pillow). In one embodiment, the cover layer  214  is made of a high-friction material so that the upper surface  212  resists movement of the patient on the cover layer  214 . For example, the cover layer  214  may be made of a microfiber material. 
     Regarding  FIG. 6 , the inflatable patient repositioning sheet  202  includes an upper layer  240  to which the cover layer  214  is secured and a lower layer  242  separated by an air gap  244  from the upper layer  240 . The air gap  244  may be small or nonexistent when the inflatable patient repositioning sheet  202  is deflated. The inflatable sheet  202  may include one or more baffles  246  that divide an interior volume  250  of the inflatable sheet  202  into two or more chambers  252 . The lower layer  242  may include a plurality of exit holes  254  that permit air pumped into the interior volume  250  to travel downward against a support surface  256  and create an air bearing therebetween the lower layer  242  and the surface  256 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , each inflatable wedge  206 ,  208  has an upper wall  210  and a surface portion, such as an upper, patient supporting surface  260 , at an angle  262 . The inflatable wedges  206 ,  208  are shown in an initial deflated configuration, which may be partially or completely deflated, such that the angle  262  may be less than 20 degrees, such as less than 10 degrees, such as less than 5 degrees. The angle  262  may be generally limited by the material of the upper wall  210 , a side wall  264 , end walls  266  (see  FIG. 5 ), and baffles  268  of the inflatable wedges  206 ,  208 . Further, the cover layer  214 , upper layer  240 , and lower layer  242  may be joined at peripheral edges  270  thereof at a joint  272 . The joint  272  may be formed using, for example, heat welding, ultrasonic welding, adhesive, and/or other approaches. 
     Regarding  FIGS. 7 and 8 , an air pump has been connected to the wedge air inlet  220  and operated to inflate the inflatable wedge  208  to an inflated configuration. The inflatable sheet  202  remains in the initial, deflated configuration during the wedge inflating process and provides a stable base for the patient  230 . By inflating the inflatable wedge  208 , the upper wall  210  thereof extends at an angle  280  relative to the upper surface  212  of the cover layer  214  that is larger than angle  262 . In one embodiment, the angle  280  is greater than 20 degrees. For example, the angle  280  may be in the range of 20 degrees to approximately 40 degrees, such as approximately 30 degrees. The upper wall  210  may generally form a plane  282  that extends transversely to a plane of the upper surface  260  of the inflatable wedge  206 . 
     Due to the inflation of the inflatable wedge  208 , the side  234  of the patient  230  is elevated above the position that is shown in  FIG. 6 . By elevating the side  234 , a portion  290  of the skin of the patient is relieved of pressure. For example, elevating the side  234  may relieve pressure on skin near sacral vertebrae of the patient. The inflation of the inflatable wedge  208  thereby 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 wedge  208  to reposition the patient  230  reduces the manual labor involved in repositioning the patient  230 . 
     Once the side  234  of the patient  230  has been elevated for a period of time, such as two hours, the inflatable wedge  208  may be deflated and the patient permitted to lie in the supine position flat on the deflated inflatable patient repositioning sheet  200  for a period of time, such as two hours. Next, the inflatable wedge  206  may be inflated to lift the other side  232  of the patient  230  and relieve pressure on the side  232  of the patient  230 . The process of inflating and deflating the inflatable wedges  206 ,  208  may be performed in any order desired. 
     Regarding  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the inflatable patient repositioning sheet  200  is shown with the inflatable wedges  206 ,  208  in the initial, deflated configuration and the inflatable sheet  202  in an inflated configuration. The inflatable sheet  202  may be shifted from an initial, deflated configuration of  FIG. 5  to the inflated configuration of  FIG. 9  via an air pump connected to the air inlet  204 . With the inflatable sheet  202  inflated, the inflatable patient repositioning sheet  200  includes one or more handles, such as handles  300 ,  302  that may be grasped and used to push and/or pull the inflatable patient repositioning sheet  200  and patient  230  thereon, such as in a lateral direction  304 . 
     Regarding  FIG. 10 , the air provided to the air inlet  204  inflates the inflatable sheet  202  and shifts a center portion  306  of the cover layer  214  and upper layer  240  away from a center portion  308  of the lower layer  242 . This creates a distance  310  between the upper layer  240  and a lower layer  242  that is greater than a distance  312  (see  FIG. 8 ) when the inflatable sheet  202  is in the initial, deflated configuration thereof. The larger surface area provided by the inflated inflatable sheet  202  as well as the air traveling through holes  254  in the lower layer  242  reduces the resistance to shifting of the inflatable sheet  202  along the surface  256 . The reduced resistance makes it easier for a nurse to shift the inflatable patient repositioning sheet  200  and patient  230  thereon from the surface  256  to 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.