Patent Publication Number: US-8978184-B1

Title: Patient movement assist device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for assisting in the movement of bed-ridden patients, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for pressurizing and depressurizing at least one bladder disposed below a patient to elevate at least a portion of the patient to preferably assist in turning the patient for such actions as changing the diaper of an Alzheimer or other appropriate patient and/or moving a patient to reduce a likelihood of bed sores developing. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     In nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health care situations, and hospitals and possibly other situations, it is possible to encounter patients that are bed ridden. If a patient is unable to move from a particular location in bed, it is usually necessary to move the patient at least once every two to four hours to prevent bed sores from developing where the weight of the person rests against the bed. Severe bed sores can be painful, extremely expensive to treat and can even kill patients. Reducing bed sores would be advantageous. 
     Additionally the movement of patients can be awkward, especially when changing diapers, for those patients that require such articles. For caregivers to stand over a person in a bed, lift one side of the person and try to slide a diaper underneath at least part of the person while cleaning them and disposing of the spent diaper, it is possible for the caregiver(s) to unintentionally strain their back due to leaning and pulling at the same time. Furthermore, two caregivers are not really assigned this task. Reducing the number of caregivers and/or risk to caregivers would be advantageous as well. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and device for assisting the movement of a patient that is in a prone position and not able to consistently move their weight for a caregiver. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a device to assist in the movement of a patient to prevent a caregiver from attempting to pick up a significant portion of the weight of an individual for such routine chores as changing diapers and shifting weight load to prevent bed sores. 
     Another object of the present invention to provide a device and method for elevating at least a portion of a patient relative to a bed for assisting in changing diapers and/or other functions. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and device for assisting in turning a patient in bed. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and device for assisting in the changing of diapers. 
     Accordingly, at least one bladder or compartment which can be filled with air or other fluid is disposed intermediate a portion of a bed and at least a portion of a patient. The bladder is at least partially inflated to elevate at least a portion of a patient relative to the bed. In the preferred embodiment, a gap is then created in the area of the buttocks relative to the bed so that a caregiver could then potentially slide their hand and one or more diapers below the buttocks of a person to assist in cleaning and changing. 
     Furthermore, by having one or more compartment(s) of air immediately below the portion of the torso of the individual, especially when utilizing more than one air compartment, air can be selectively let out of the one or more bladders to assist and the patient pushed with relatively little force to relatively easily turn the patient. This is particularly an attractive option for changing diapers. Additionally, the ability to turn patients in this manner is extremely helpful to prevent the occurrence of bed sores. Finally, this method and apparatus in the presently preferred embodiment has been found to be able to be performed by a single operator regardless of the weight of the patient (i.e., patients in excess of 200 pounds have been easily manipulated by extremely small caregivers). At least some embodiments may at least partially inflate/deflate certain areas automatedly as controlled by a controller or processor in an effort to prevent and/or alleviate bedsores. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a patient in a hospital bed prior to inflating the a first preferred embodiment of the present invention in the course of the preferred method of its operation; 
         FIG. 2  shows a side plan view of the patient partially elevated utilizing the first preferred embodiment of the present invention to create a space between the portion of the buttocks of the patient and the bed for such use as changing diapers; 
         FIG. 3  shows a top plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a side cross sectional view of one of the bladders shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows operation of the preferred embodiments of the present invention to turn a patient looking on the head of the body; 
         FIG. 6  is a side plan view showing a patient turned in an opposite direction than shown in  FIG. 5  in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizing a preferred method; 
         FIG. 7  is a side plan view showing fluid connections, connection straps and covering of an alternatively preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is front plan view of a portion of an embodiment of a fluid transfer system used with the turning assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9  in a first mode of operation; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9  in a second mode of operation; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9  in a third mode of operation; and 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9  in a fourth mode of operation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  shows a patient  10  on a hospital bed  12  and a moving or turning assembly  14  constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The patient  10  could be any size person, even extremely heavy, depending upon the particular embodiment selected. The bed  12  is provided for illustration purposes. It could be a hospital bed, the bed of a patient at home, the floor or any surface on which a patient  10  is desired to be moved relative thereto. The turning assembly  14  is illustrated in the first embodiment. It will be obvious to others skilled in the art that various other embodiments can be provided utilizing the technique as shown and described herein. 
     The moving assembly  14  is shown illustrated connected to a fluid transfer system  16  such as an air pump, but other fluid such as air, etc., could be utilized for the moving assembly  14  as will be described in further detail below. Other embodiments may have more complicated fluid transfer systems  16  as will be described below. Upon activation of the fluid transfer system  16 , air or other fluid is pumped into at least one if not several compartments in the moving assembly  14 . This is shown in  FIG. 2  with one or more compartments being fully inflated. A first compartment  18  is illustrated right below the backbone or hips of the patient  10  while at least the second compartment  20  supports the weight of the torso and head. Of course, other compartments could be utilized as well. The first compartment  18  is illustrated so that it terminates to provide gap  22  to allow access below at least a portion of a diaper  24  as shown at least partially below the patient&#39;s hips, buttocks and/or spine. The gap  22  assists the caregiver in providing access below the diaper  24 . This will assist the caregiver in being able to remove and/or replace the diaper  24 . While the diaper  24  could be removed while the patient  10  is in the position in  FIG. 2 ,  FIGS. 5 and 6  are provided illustrative of the first preferred method of changing the diaper  24  of the patient  10 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a third compartment  26  in addition to first and second compartments  18 , 20 . Once or more valves  28 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 38  are shown with their respective compartments  18 , 20 , 26 . In other embodiments valves  28 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 38  and/or other may be supplemented and/or replaced with valve arrangements associated with and/or intermediate the fluid transfer system  16  and the moving assembly  14 . It is possible to utilize inlet valves  28 , 32 , 36  and separate outlet valves  30 , 34 , 38 . Alternatively, single valves or other valve arrangements could be utilized for such purposes. By providing two valves such as  28 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 38  for each of the respective compartments  18 , 20 , 26 , one or more sets of inlet and outlet lines  40 , 42  could be provided from the fluid transfer system or station  16  so that the transfer station  16  could smoothly handle inflation and/or deflation. This would allow the fluid transfer system  16  to have a controller to relatively easily perform inflation and deflation as will be described in reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  6  below. Of course, in other embodiments more or fewer valves cold be utilized to achieve similar results. 
       FIG. 4  is useful to show that certain embodiments of the present invention can have fabric covering  44  over the respective compartments such as compartment  18 . Fabric covering  44  over bladder can be fluid impenetrable or not. Furthermore, the bladder  46  may have a fabric or other outer surface  48  and/or covering somewhat akin to a pillow case or velour material on some air mattresses. There are a large plurality of different fabrics  44 , exterior surfaces  48 , and air bladder  46  material available on the market would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Straps  47  from the corners or other locations on the moving assembly  14  and/or covering  44  are useful in many embodiments. Elastic straps  47  connected with hook and loop fasteners to hospital beds have provided a comfort factor to users that the moving assembly  14  will not become moved inadvertently out from under a patient  10 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the second compartment  20  in a more inflated configuration than third compartment  26  and first compartment  18 . As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the patient  10  is located so that his spine is roughly approximately along the divider  50  intermediate second and third compartments  20 , 26  so that the shoulders are now angled at angle [alpha] {acute over (α)} relative to planar bed surface  52  depending on the degree of inflation and relative deflation of second and third compartments  20 , 26  respectively. More and more of the patient  10  can be turned to a higher degree of rotation {acute over (α)}.  FIG. 6  shows the exact opposite condition from a side plan view where third compartment  26  is more inflated than first compartment  18  and second compartment  20  (i.e., the patient has been turned in the other direction). 
     By turning the patient  10  in one direction and then the other, it is believed to assist in the cleaning capability of the buttocks of a patient  10  and as well as assist in changing the diaper  24 . Furthermore, gap  22  is useful in removing a replaced diaper  24  and inserting a new diaper  24 . 
     When changing the diaper  24 , it is anticipated that the patient  10  will first be elevated to create the gap  22  by just raising first compartment  18  in elevation and/or more of the compartments such as second compartment  20  or third compartment  26  or even other compartments second or third compartment may be selectively inflated and/or deflated to achieve a desired alpha ({acute over (α)}) angle. The caregiver may then undo the front part of the diaper  24  and then roll the patient  10  to the position shown in  FIG. 5  by operating the fluid transfer system  16 . It is important to remember that the fluid transfer system  16  may be as basic as a pump which cooperates with one or more valves  28 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 38  so that the desired position shown in  FIG. 5  is achieved. 
     The used diaper  24  can then be partially moved out of the way when the patient  10  is in this position or the caregiver can push the patient  10  further over as they will turn relatively easy in this position due to the leverage achieved by the second compartment  20  relative to the third compartment  26 . Furthermore, the patient&#39;s buttocks and other parts can be cleaned relatively easy when in this position. The diaper  24  is then put at least partially in place and the patient  10  can then be rolled over to the position shown in  FIG. 6  on top of the new diaper  24  and completely off the old diaper  24  and the diaper can then be reattached as shown in  FIG. 6  to complete the process or the patient  10  rolled back into position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  to complete the process with the new diaper  24  after having being cleaned in the position shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  to provide at least a relatively clean patient  10 . The compartments  18 , 20 , 26  can then be deflated, if not already deflated. 
     It is important to remember that bed sores can be caused, in addition to pressure, by unclean or relatively poorly cleaned patients  10 . Cleaning when replacing diapers  24  is usually important for the patient&#39;s health. 
     By utilizing the method and devices shown herein, it is easier to change diapers. Furthermore, it is believed to significantly cut Workers&#39; Compensation claims. In fact, the fluid transfer system  16  could be automated and utilized with joy sticks so that upon actuation of a joy stick the desired inflation and deflation of relative compartments such as first compartment  18 , second and third compartments  20 , 26  can be provided to provide the desired rotation of the patient  10 . Although the three compartments  18 , 20 , 26  are illustrated, it can be provided with more compartments  10 , 20 , 26  or possibly fewer compartments  18 , 20 , 26  could be utilized in various other embodiments. The moving device  14  could be made to be disposable or more of a reusable product. Furthermore, it could be made to support the weight of an adult, a child or even an extremely heavy or even grossly obese individual depending on the particular construction of the particular design. 
       FIG. 7  shows a covering  44  such as a pillow case type construction having openings at the corners where straps, such as elastic straps  47  connected to exterior surfaces  48  of the bladder  46  or other structure can connect the moving system  14  to a bed or other structure. 
     The fluid transfer system  16  could be on a rolling cart and provide a location for the spent diapers  24  as well as the new diapers  24  and an air or other fluid pump on the cart. Various conduits such as air hoses, etc., could be utilized for the conduits  40 , 42 . In addition to rolling the patient back and forth for changing a diaper or other procedure, the moving system  14  and the fluid transfer system  16  could be made also to slightly adjust the position of the patient  10  relative to the bed  12 . In fact, the fluid transfer system  16  could have an automated system which gradually or periodically moves the patient  10  relative to the bed  12  to adjust his or her position so that limited caregiver assistance is all that is required, if any. This is believed to generate huge savings for taxpayers through Medicare expenses of treating a patient from a nursing home for bed sores. As for a relatively inexpensive expenditure for the moving assembly  14  and a fluid transfer system  16 , the patient could be moved at least every two to four hours if not more often or even continuously in an attempt to minimize if not eliminate the occurrence of bed sores. 
       FIG. 8  shows detail of valving associated with one presently preferred embodiment of a fluid transfer station  16 . Other valving arrangements could be provided in other embodiments. In this embodiment, supply source, such as from an air compressor or other supply (not shown), provides inlet  100  with fluid. The fluid to the inlet  100  can be directed to at least one, if not all three outlets  102 ,  104 ,  106  which are preferably directed to each of the three compartments  18 , 20 , 26  shown in  FIG. 3 . The air vent/supply valve  108  can be turned (about 20 degrees in the embodiment illustrated) to align inlet  100  with supply  110 . This then provides communication to each of the outlets  102 ,  104 ,  106  as long as valves  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  are open. Valves  112  and  122  are preferably one-way valves which open upon a pressure differential with a higher pressure on the side of supply  110  as opposed to respective outlets  102 , 104 , 106 . 
     After filling the compartments  18 , 20 , 26  a desired amount, the air supply source can be secured and/or the air/vent valve  108  turned to a position which does not align the inlet  100  with supply  100  such as with communicator  130  aligning with positions  126  and  128  for valve  118  (“off”, for this embodiment). To vent the first and second compartments  18 ,  20 , the communicator  130  may be turned to the position illustrated in  FIG. 8  and with valves  118 ,  120  and  124  open, valve  122  will open due to the pressure differential and air will vent from outlets  104 ,  106  through positions  132  and  134  and out vent outlet  136 . Wall  142  seals off position  138  and  140  and preferably positions  144  and  146  and one way valve  112  prevents air flow from outlet  102  out vent outlet  136  when in this configuration. One skilled in the art will see a similar effect when the communicator is turned to align with positions  144  and  146  in the preferred embodiment. Of course valves  114 , 116   118   120  and  124  and/or others may be utilized to only allow air to vent from one or more compartments at a time. Valves such as valve  108 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 , 118 , 120 ,  122 ,  124  may be automatically, manually and/or otherwise operated with signals from a processor, handles, etc. A processor, not shown, may measure inflation in time and/or pressure in any of the various compartments  18 ,  20 ,  26  which may provide feedback to control inflation. The processor may also control periodic patient movement of the patient  10  as described above. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a decreased risk to the patient  10  in terms of the possibility of bed sores, a decreased risk to the caregiver in that it should virtually eliminate back injuries caused by pushing and pulling patients  10  in an effort to overcome gravity and further increase the comfort to the patient  10  as the patient is not being manhandled by the caregiver. Another advantage of the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention is that it allows older individuals to take care of their loved ones since physical strength would potentially no longer be necessary to change the diaper  24  of a patient  10 . Very little upper body strength would be required to change a diaper  24 . 
     While the first turning assembly  14  worked for its intended purpose, the applicant discovered during its construction and implementation that improvements over the initial design were discovered to provide increased patient comfort for at least some applications. Accordingly, the embodiments of  FIGS. 9-13  were developed and have been implemented. 
     Head support  102  is located above at least one first fluid blocker illustrated as left and right turning sections  104 , 106 . Cavity section  108  is provided which facilitates the provision of a gap as discussed below. Upper leg lift section  110  is preferably provided along with lower leg lift section  112 . Finally, step platform  114  may be provided in various embodiments. Furthermore, instead of being about half of a bed length product as the embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , as can be seen in  FIGS. 9-13 , the preferably preferred embodiment of turning assembly  100  can extend substantially the length of the entire bed  126 . Furthermore, in a deflated condition, the product can be made to have substantially no significant height. The turning assembly  100  can virtually disappear under a sheet  135  when not in use. Elastic bands  116 ,  118 ,  120 , 122  or other connectors can be utilized to assist in retaining the turning assembly  100  to the bed  126  as illustrated in  FIGS. 10-13  such as at corners of the turning assembly  100  and/or bed  126 . 
     Controller  128  is useful to adjust the inflation/deflation under various sections  102 , 104 , 106 , 110 , 112 , 114  in a similar or dissimilar manner as provided in the preferred embodiment of the turning assembly  14 . Sections  102 , 104 , 106 , 110 , 112 , 114  are preferably separate fluid compartments in the illustrated embodiment, but other embodiments may combine compartments, fluidly couple compartments, omit certain compartments and/or provide additional compartments. 
       FIG. 10  shows a first mode of operation which all the sections  102 , 104 , 106 , 110 , 112 , 114  are deflated. The sections  102 , 104 , 106 , 110 , 112 , 114  are air bladders and/or fluid compartments, preferably separated from one another in the preferred embodiment. The patient  130  is illustrated resting flat on a bed  126  with the turning assembly  100  taking up virtually no height and in some embodiments roughly a millimeter more so or even less. Various operations shown in  FIGS. 11-13 , and/or various modes can be provided. Specifically, a step platform  114  can be provided by inflating step platform  114  so the patient can have a step  132  to assist in pushing his or herself back towards the top  134  of bed  126 . This is particularly useful when certain portions of the hospital bed are elevated. The step  132  is preferably located below the foot  136  of the patient  130 . 
     In a second alternatively preferred embodiment, a lower leg section  112  can be inflated to at least partially elevate the patient&#39;s heel  138  above the upper surface  140  of at least one of the bed  126  and turning assembly  100  while being spaced from the lower leg section  112 . Other embodiments may just reduce pressure on the heel without such spacing by partially inflating/deflating particular sections, such as section  112  and/or others. Bed sores on the heels are a common phenomena for which the selected inflation and deflation of lower leg section  112  could assist in preventing. This may be performed automatedly and/or periodically with processor or controller  128 . In fact, the automated process may be stopped with controller  128  to change a diaper as described above and then resumed. 
     Unlike the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-8  such as is shown in  FIG. 6  instead of providing a first compartment  18 , turning sections  104 , 106  are provided adjacently and which may have cutout  142  at the area of a patient&#39;s buttocks  144  to facilitate in the exchange of a bedpan and/or the changing of a diaper. Both turning sections  104 , 106  (at least one first compartment) can be inflated symmetrically relative to patient axis  200  or otherwise to elevate the patient. In the illustrated embodiment, only section  104  is shown elevated thereby turning patient. However, what distinguishes this embodiment from the embodiment of  FIG. 6  is that upper leg portion  110  (third section) is also inflated thereby providing an intentional gap  146  between the buttocks  144 , the upper surface of cavity  108  and the first or turning section  104  if not also  106  and the upper leg section  110 . By lifting the patient  110  together with the first section  104  and/or  106 , easier access is provided to be able to change bedpans and/or diapers. The various sections such as head section  102  (fourth section), the turning section(s)  104 , 106 , the upper leg section  110 , the lower leg section  110  (fifth section) and the step platform  114  (sixth section) preferably all have at least one inflation/deflation access  150 , 152 , 154 , 156 , 158 , 160 , 162 . Two inflation accesses  150 , 152  are useful for the head support  102  because of the head normally being roughly in the middle, head support  102  inflating on one side the position of the head could create a temporary bind as it relates to the inflation of the head support  102 . Head support  102  may preferably be inflated with the inflation of at least one of the turning sections  104 , 106  to support the head of a patient. 
     The third compartment or upper leg section  110  can be maintained inflated or not relative to the inflation or deflation of turning sections  104 , 106  (the at least one first section). Alternatively, the inflation/deflation of turning sections  104 , 106  thereby turns the patient while maintaining the third section inflated such as upper leg section  110  and/or lower leg section  112 . 
     In operation, it has been discovered that a 90 pound nurse can lift a 300 pound patient with a single finger. Furthermore, controller  128  can be provided with a blower or other fluid transfer device as roughly less than a pound of pressure can successfully inflate the various sections  102 , 104 , 106 , 110 , 112 , 114  turning assembly  100 . In fact, less than a pound of pressure roughly 670 pounds have been tested with actual units in operation. The turning assembly  100  of the presently preferred embodiment connects to top  134  and bottom  164  portions of bed  126  with the bands  116 , 118 , 120 , 122  which other connection mechanism be provided in embodiments. In fact, the turning assembly  100  substantially covers the entire upper surface  166  of bed  126  in the presently preferred embodiment. 
     Controller  128  can be provided with lights or other indicia to advise an operator as to time to turn the patient  130  and/or automatedly inflate or deflate certain sections such as particular sections such as  104  and  106  to assist in left to right movement. Furthermore, the sections  104 , 106  can be simultaneously inflated and/or either one of turning section  104 , 106  can be inflated more than the other (if the other is inflated at all). Furthermore, lower leg section  112  may be inflated and deflated in order to relieve pressure off of the heels  138  similarly or dissimilarly as described above. 
     Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.