Patent Abstract:
A hospital-grade basin holds water for washing patients, or alternatively converts easily/quickly for a patient&#39;s limb to rest comfortably within and across a portion of the basin. In a first embodiment, half-moon shaped openings on opposite sides of the basin side wall(s) comfortably support the limb at a reduced height with respect to adjacent side wall portions, which serve as a partial shield during wound irrigation, and aid fluid collection. The shaped openings may each be sealed with a hinged door in a closed position, using a friction fit, to form the traditional, watertight basin. In an alternate embodiment, the doors may be secured in the closed position using an elastomeric leaf-spring-shaped member. In other embodiments, rather than cutouts and doors, opposing portions of the side wall may instead be formed of an over-molded elastomeric material that conforms to the patient&#39;s limb, or may instead be formed like a bellows.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/607,007, filed on Jan. 27, 2015, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to improvements in hospital basins, and more particularly to improvements in a basin being usable for retaining water for sponge bathing of a patient or for emesis, or a basin being alternatively and particularly adapted for irrigating wounds, each of which may be efficiently accomplished using the transformable basin of the present invention. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A basin, particularly at a hospital and other facility that cares for patients, may be used for washing of the patient (i.e., a sponge bath). An example of such a basin is shown, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 3,611,450 to Bost, and by U.S. Design patent No. D546,943 to Kammer. This type of basin may also be used for carrying fluids, carrying tools, as a hospital admission kit, as a waste bin, or the basin may be further adapted to serve as an emesis basin, as shown by U.S. patent Design No. D197,106. 
     A number of prior art devices have been developed to be more particularly adapted for irrigating a patient&#39;s wounds. Several examples of such devices are shown by U.S. Pat. No. 2,709,435 to Kress, U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,257 to O&#39;Geary, U.S. Pat. No. 7,785,303 to Tapadiya, U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2011/0225726 to Dominguez, and U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2012/0222210 to Wiggins. 
     However, none of the prior art basins are adapted to efficiently and effectively serve in both roles. Certain basin embodiments disclosed herein are each adapted to transform to be effectively used for either purpose. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a first embodiment of a basin built in accordance with the present invention, having opposing hinged doors that are shown in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the tub member and hinged doors of the basin of  FIG. 1 , but shown with its doors in an open position. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the basin of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of the basin of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is the view of  FIG. 2 , but shown enlarged and without the hinged door. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a small door used for the basin of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the small door of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a large door used for the basin of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the large door of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the fastening pin used for the pivotal mounting of the hinged doors for the basin of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the side wall of the tub member and the corresponding door of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with the present invention, with the door shown in the open position. 
         FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of a section of the side wall of the tub member and corresponding door of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with the present invention with the door in the closed position. 
         FIG. 13  is a side perspective view of a basin with opposing hinged doors built in accordance with a round embodiment of the present invention having its doors in the closed position. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a basin built in accordance with the present invention, having opposing hinged doors. 
         FIG. 15  is an end view of the basin of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a top view of the basin of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 17  is a side view of the basin of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 18  is a reverse perspective view of the basin of  FIG. 14 , showing the doors prior to attachment to the tub portion. 
         FIG. 19  is an enlarged perspective section view through the tub and one of the doors and its elastomeric spring, for the basin of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 20  is the section view of  FIG. 19 , but shown with the door actuated away from its sealed position against the tub. 
         FIG. 21  illustrates the dimensions for certain features of the 5 th  percentile male and female, the 50 th  percentile male and female, and the 95 th  percentile male and female. 
         FIG. 22  illustrates the dimensions for certain features of the thigh and calf for the 5 th  percentile male and female, the 50 th  percentile male and female, and the 95 th  percentile male and female. 
         FIG. 23  illustrates the dimensions for certain features of the mid-arm and forearm for the 5 th  percentile male and female, the 50 th  percentile male and female, and the 95 th  percentile male and female. 
         FIG. 24  is a reverse perspective view of the basin of  FIG. 14 , but shown with the door in the unsealed position, and with a patient&#39;s arm extending across the two reduced height wall areas, in preparation for wound irrigation therein. 
         FIG. 25  is an idealized side view showing a representative arm cross-section resting upon the top of the reduced height wall area, and showing the clearances that would be obtained between the arm and the transitional portions of the reduced height wall area. 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective cross-sectional, view of the basin of  FIG. 24 , shown with two liters of water in the bottom of the tub. 
         FIG. 27  is a reverse perspective view of the basin of  FIG. 14 , but shown with the door in the unsealed position, and with a patient&#39;s leg extending across the two reduced height wall areas, in preparation for wound irrigation therein. 
         FIG. 28  is an idealized side view showing a representative leg cross-section resting upon the top of the reduced height wall area, and showing the clearances that would be obtained between the leg and the transitional portions of the reduced height wall area. 
         FIG. 29  is a bottom perspective view of the basin of  FIG. 14 , showing anti-skid waveforms protruding from the bottom of the tub portion of the basin. 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the anti-skid waveforms protruding outward from the bottom of the tub portion of the basin, as seen in  FIG. 29 , and showing waveform shapes protruding inwardly to form anti-splash baffles. 
         FIG. 31  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a basin built in accordance with the present invention, having tear-away door panels. 
         FIG. 32  is an end view of the basin shown in  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 33  is a top view of the basin of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 34  is a side view of the basin of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 35  is a reverse perspective view of the basin of  FIG. 31 , but shown with one of the tear-away door panels partially removed. 
         FIG. 36  is a reverse perspective view of the basin of  FIG. 31 , but shown with one of the tear-away door panels having been completely removed. 
         FIG. 37  is a perspective section view through one of the tear-away door panels and the tub of the basin of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 38  is a cross-sectional view through one of the tear-away door panels and the tub of the basin of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 39  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a basin built in accordance with the present invention, having elastomeric end panels overmolded with the tub. 
         FIG. 40  is an end view of the basin of  FIG. 39 . 
         FIG. 40A  is the end view of  FIG. 40 , but shown prior to overmolding of the flexible elastomer end panels onto the reduced height wall areas at each end of the tub. 
         FIG. 41  is a top view of the basin of  FIG. 39 . 
         FIG. 42  is a side view of the basin of  FIG. 39 . 
         FIG. 43  is a perspective section view through, one of the elastomeric end panels and the tub of the basin of  FIG. 39 . 
         FIG. 44  is a reverse perspective view of the basin of  FIG. 39 , shown with the elastomeric end panels deforming to conform to, and support, a patient&#39;s arm, in preparation for wound irrigation therein. 
         FIG. 45  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a basin built in accordance with the present invention, having accordion-shaped wall portions. 
         FIG. 46  is an end view of the basin of  FIG. 45 . 
         FIG. 47  is a top view of the basin of  FIG. 45 . 
         FIG. 48  is a side view of the basin of  FIG. 45 . 
         FIG. 49  is a perspective section view through the basin of  FIG. 45 . 
         FIG. 50  is a reverse perspective view of the basin of  FIG. 45 , shown with the accordion end panels deforming to conform to, and support, a patient&#39;s arm, in preparation for wound irrigation therein 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 , a basin with opposing hinged doors  100  is shown as a four-sided tub member  110  that includes a first side wall  111 , a second, side wall  112 , a large door side wall  113 , and a small door side wall  114 , each of which extend up from a tub floor  115 . In this embodiment, the tub member  110  is defined by a rectangular shape with the first side wall  111  and the second side wall  112  defining its longitudinal sides. It is contemplated, however, that in other embodiments the large door side wall  113  and small door side wall  114  may define the longitudinal sides, or the tub member  110  may be defined by an alternate shape suitable for a basin, such as a kidney shape, a round shape, an oval shape, etc. It is additionally contemplated that the tub member  110  may be constricted in a range of sizes, whether to accommodate different body parts or just different size requirements for different patients. 
     In this embodiment, the large door side wall  113  includes a large door frame section  130  and the small door side wall  114  includes a small door frame section  140 . The large door frame section  130  outlines a semi-circular shaped large opening extending down from the top of the large door side wall  113  into the body of the large door side wall  113 . The large door frame section  130  includes a large mounting frame  131  which defines a frame structure that extends around the border of the large opening that extends into the large door side wall  113 , thereby creating a large border surface area  132  having increased thickness relative to the thickness of the large door wall  113 . The large opening may have, for example, a diameter of 5.5 inches, resulting in it extending 5.5 inches wide across the large door side wall  113  at the widest point and 2.75 inches into the large door side wall  113  at its deepest point. 
     The large door frame section  130  may have a large door member ISO pivotally attached thereto, and sized to fit into the large mounting frame  131 , thereby allowing it to be moved into a closed position in the large door frame section  130 , as illustrated by  FIG. 1 , into an open position relative to the large door frame section  130 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , as well as into other positions between the closed and open positions. It is contemplated, however, that the large door frame section  130  and corresponding large door member  150  may together be constructed in alternate shapes and different sizes relative to the large door side wall  113 . 
     The small door side wall  114  may be structured in a similar manner as the large door side wall  113 , with the only substantive difference being that the small door frame section  140  is smaller than the large door frame section  130 . Accordingly, the small door frame section  140  outlines a semicircular shaped small opening extending down from the top of the small door side wall  114  into the body of the small door side wall  114 . The small door frame section  140  includes a small mounting frame  141  which defines a frame structure that extends around the border of the small opening that extends into the small door side wall  114 , thereby creating a small border surface area  142  having increased thickness relative to the thickness of the small door side wall  114 . In this embodiment, the small opening has a diameter of 4 inches, resulting in it extending 4 inches wide across the small door side wall  114  at the widest point and 2 inches into the small door side wall  114  at its deepest point. 
     The small door frame section  140  may have a small door member  160  pivotally attached thereto, and sized to fit into the small mounting frame  141 , thereby allowing it to be moved into a closed position in the small door frame section  140 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , into an open position relative to the small door frame section  140 , as Illustrated in  FIG. 2 , as well as into other positions between the closed and open positions. It is contemplated, however, that the small door frame section  140  and corresponding small door member  160  may together be constructed in alternate shapes and sizes relative to the small door side wall  114 . 
     It is contemplated that by including the large door frame section  130  and the small door frame section.  140 , the tub member  110  may provide a modified basin means for collecting debris, water, run-off materials or specimens. Further, by corresponding to the respective large door frame section  130  and the small door frame section  140 , the large door member  150  and small door member  160  each provide a door means for selectively opening and closing an entry point in the tub member  110 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 , the large border surface area  132  and small border surface are  142  each include a centrally disposed ridge member  133 ,  143  running longitudinally through it. The ridge members  133 ,  143 , along with corresponding centrally disposed recesses  151 ,  161  in large door member  150  and small door member  160 , respectively, provide a locking means for securing the large door member  150  and small door member  160  in the large door frame section  130  and small door frame section  140 , respectively, when the respective door member is in the closed position. The locking means is operative to allow the large door member  150  to snap into the large door frame section  130  when the large door member  150  is moved to the closed position. In this regard, when the large door member  150  is moved to the closed position, the ridge member  133  frictionally passes along the circumferential surface of the large door member  150  as it moves toward the closed position and engages the recess  151  once the large door member  150  is in the closed position (i.e., is retained therein in a friction fit). When secured in the closed position, the large door member  150  is operative to close off the large opening outlined by the large door frame section  130 , and forms a watertight seal. 
     The locking means operates in essentially the same manner with the small door member  160  and the small door frame section  140 . Thus, the small door member  160  snaps into the small door frame section  140  when the small door member  160  is moved to the closed position. When the small door member  160  is moved to the closed position, the ridge member  143  frictionally passes along the circumferential surface of the small door member  160  as it moves toward the closed position and engages the recess  161  once the small door member  160  is in the closed position. As with the large door member, when the small door member  160  is secured in the closed, position, it closes off the small opening outlined by the small door frame section  140  and forms a watertight seal. 
     A small door hinge mechanism enables the small door member  160  to be pivotally attached to the small door side wall  114 . The small, door hinge mechanism is defined by two hinge attachment arms  162  which extend down from the bottom of the small door member  160 , a small wall receiving member (not shown, but identical to the large wall receiving member  123  discussed below) which extends out from the side of the small door side wall  114  underneath the small door frame section  140 , and a fastening pin  120 . The fastening pin  120  is structured to pass transversely through holes in both the small wall receiving member and the two hinge attachment arms  162  and remain fixed therein, thereby forming a pivot axis about which the small door member  160  rotates relative to the small door side wall  114 . 
     The large door member  150  and large door side wall  113  are connected through a large door hinge mechanism, which employs the same type of components as the small door hinge mechanism. Accordingly, the large door hinge mechanism is defined by two hinge attachment arms  152  which extend down from the bottom of the large door member  150 , a large wall receiving member  123  which extends out from the side of the large door side wall  113  underneath the large door frame section  130 , and another fastening pin  120 . As with the small door hinge mechanism, the fastening pin  120  is structured to pass transversely through holes in both the large wall receiving slot member  123  and the two hinge attachment arms  152  and remain fixed therein, thereby forming a pivot axis about which the large door member  150  rotates relative to the small door side wall  113 . 
     In this embodiment, a secondary locking means may be included for securing the large door member  150  and small door member  160  in the large door frame section  130  and small door frame section  140  respectively, when the respective door member is in the closed position. The second locking means, as illustrated on the large door side wall  113  in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , may include a locking recess  153  formed in the area between the two hinge attachment arms  152  and the large door member  150  and the abutment formed by large mounting frame  131  as it extends outward from the large door side wall  113 . The corresponding locking recess  153  and abutment engage when the large door member  150  is in the closed position relative to the large door frame section  130 , thereby providing a supplemental lock for keeping the large door member  150  in place. It is understood that the small door member  160  and small door frame section  140  include identical structures, thereby enabling such a supplemental lock in their operation. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 13 , an alternate embodiment of a basin with opposing hinged doors  200  is shown as a circular tub member  210  with a circumferential side wall  211  that includes a large door frame section  230  surrounding a large opening  231  and small door frame section  240  surrounding a small opening  241 . As with the rectangular embodiment, integral with the large door frame section  230  is a large door member  250  sized to fit into the large opening  231 , thereby allowing it to be moved into a closed position in the large door frame section  230  and integral with the small door frame section  240  is a small door member  260  sized to fit into the small opening  241 , thereby allowing it to be moved into a closed position in the small door frame section  240 . It is contemplated that the large door frame section  230  and large door member  250  and the small door frame section  240  and small door member  260 , respectively, are operative to move between an open and closed position in the same manner as described above for the rectangular embodiment. 
     It is also contemplated that for any of the above described embodiments, that the large and small door members may alternatively be configured to pivot inwardly into the basin to be in the open position. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a basin formed in accordance with the present invention. Basin assembly  300  may include a tub portion  301  that is formed with a substantially flat base  302 , from which may upwardly extend a wall  303 . Wall  303  may be integrally formed with base  302 , and may be formed as a single continuous member, which, as noted above, may be formed to be any desired shape including a circular shape, a rectangular shape, etc. Merely to be illustrative, a rectangular shape is shown throughout  FIGS. 14-47 . The wall  303  may have markings  303 Mi,  303 Mii, etc., integrally formed therein, or stenciled thereon, to indicate the fluid level (e.g., 2 liter, 3 liters, etc.). 
     A first set of opposing portions of the top of the wall  303  may have a return flange that forms a first lip  304 A and a second lip  304 B, which may be used for carrying and handling of the basin assembly  300 . The return flange that forms the lip  304 A and  304 B may gradually reduce in size, until no lip is formed at the top of wall  303 . A second set of opposing portions of the wall  303  may not have a lip formed thereat, and each of those portions may instead have a reduced height wall area, as seen in  FIG. 18 . 
     A first reduced height wall area  305  may have a central portion being substantially horizontal, which may then gradually transition upwardly at each end to the full wall height. Alternatively, the reduced height area may be semi-circular, or half-moon shaped, as described above. The second reduced height area  306  may be formed the same as the first reduced height area  305 , being formed to have the same height and length and transition. Alternatively, any or all of the dimensions of the second reduced height area may be different than the first reduced height area (i.e., the first and second reduced height areas may be different as the unique shape may accommodate different sized door panels, discussed hereinafter). 
     The reduced height areas  305  and  306  of wall  303  may permit a patient&#39;s limb to extend out from those openings, with a wounded portion of the limb being positioned over the base  302  of tub  301 , as seen for example in  FIG. 24 , to undergo irrigation therein. To help provide ergonomic support for the patient&#39;s limb, the wall  303  may have a first inward bulge  307  and a second inward bulge  308  respectively formed at the first reduced height area  305  and the second reduced height area  306 . The extent of the inward bulge may serve to provide an area of sufficient width, so as to be comfortable when supporting the patient&#39;s limb, rather than the limb merely being supported, by a narrow flange that may dig into the skin of the person&#39;s arm or leg. The underside of the inward bulges  307  and  308  may also serve as a stable set of handles for lifting of the basin assembly  300 , instead of using the lip  304 A/ 304 B, particularly when it may contain a substantial quantity of fluid therein. 
     The first reduced height wall area  305  and the second reduced height wall, area  306  may each be releasably sealed using a door panel, so that the basin may be capable of holding fluid all the way up to the top of wall  303  (i.e., at a level above the reduced height wall areas). A first door panel  350  may be configured to releasably seal the first reduced height area  305 , and a second door panel  360  may similarly be configured to releasably seal the second reduced height area  306 . Each door panel may be formed of a suitable material, including, but not limited to, polypropylene-based thermoplastic elastomer. 
     To effectively seal the reduced height areas of wall  303 , each of the door panels  350  and  360  may be respectively shaped to correspond to a portion of the periphery of the first reduced height area  305  and the second reduced height area  306 . To releasably seal the reduced height areas of wall  303 , each of the door panels  350  and  360  may be mounted to the tub  301  using respective elastomeric spring members  370  and  380 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 19 , a first end  371  of the elastomeric spring member  370  may be fixedly secured to a portion of the tub  301  proximate to the top of the first reduced height area  305 , and a second end  372  of the spring member may be fixedly secured to a corresponding location on the door panel  350 . The ends of each of the elastomeric spring members  370 / 380  may each be fixedly secured to the tub  301  and respective door panels  350 / 360  using any suitable attachment means, including, but not limited to, adhesive, mechanical fasteners, ultrasonic welding, etc., or any combination of the above. 
     When the nurse or other medical practitioner desires to use the basin assembly  300  for wound irrigation of a patient&#39;s limb, he/she may move the door panels  350 / 360  away from the first and second reduced height areas  305 / 306  of the wall  303 , causing the elastomeric spring members  370 / 380  to deform elastically, as shown generally in  FIG. 20 . 
     To releasably retain the door panels  350 / 360  away from the sealed position at each of the reduced height areas of wall  303 , hook and loop fastening materials (e.g., Velcro®) may be used. As shown in  FIG. 20 , a first piece  353  of the hook and loop fastening material (either the hook material or the loop material) may be fixedly secured to the exterior of the door panel  350 , and the corresponding piece of material  354  (the other of the hook material or loop material) may be fixedly secured to the tub  301 . When the door panel  350  is displaced from its sealed position it may be secured using the Velcro to be as shown in  FIG. 24 . The size of the pieces ( 353 / 354 ) of hook and loop materials, and the peel strength may be selected to be able to withstand separation due solely to the restoring force provided by the elastomeric spring member  370  so that the door panel may only be returned to the sealed position by being detached by the nurse or other medical personnel. The door panel  360  may similarly be secured using hook and loop materials. 
     To enhance, the leak-proof nature of the door panels  350 / 360 , which, are biased into contact with the tub  301  by the elastomeric spring members  370 / 380 , each panel may be made of a stiff plastic material, and the faying portion of its edge may have a more pliable seal member  350 S/ 360 S fixedly attached thereto, as seen in  FIG. 20 . The respective seal members  350 S/ 360 S may be formed of a suitable material, which may include, but is not limited to, PTFE, nitrile, neoprene, EPDM rubber, fluorocarbon, silicone, etc. 
     To further enhance the leak-proof nature of the door panels  350 / 360  being biased into contact with the tub  301 , the reduced height areas  305 / 306  of the wall  303  may have respective curved flanges  305 F/ 306 F protruding outwardly therefrom ( FIG. 20 ), which may form a wedge-shaped opening. The corresponding portion of the seal members  350 S/ 360 S on each door panel may be formed to have a similar wedge-shaped flange  350 SF, so that the biasing provided by the elastomeric spring members  370 / 380  may cause the seal members to become wedged within the wedge-shaped opening formed by the curved flange of the reduced height wall areas  305 / 306  of the wall  303 , as seen generally in  FIG. 19 . 
       FIGS. 21-23  illustrate key anatomical dimensions for each of the 5 th  percentile man and woman, the 50 th  percentile man and woman, and the 95 th  percentile man and woman, which are useful for determining suitable sizes for the door panels  350 / 360 , and corresponding sizes/shapes for the reduced height wall areas  305 / 306  of the wall  303 . 
       FIG. 24  illustrates a patient&#39;s forearm disposed across the reduced height wall areas  305 / 306  of basin assembly  300 , and resting on the inward bulges  307  and  308 . As shown therein a live inch separation may be used at the largest gap tor each of the reduced height areas.  FIG. 25  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the arm at the reduced height wall area, and the clearance afforded the arm. A five inch gap would provide adequate clearance for the largest arm dimensions of the 95 th  percentile man (i.e., from  FIG. 23 , 4.7 inch mid-arm width and 4.1 inch forearm width), which would also provide clearance for the 95 th  percentile woman, with the woman&#39;s features each being correspondingly smaller than the man&#39;s features. Alternatively, a 5.25 inch or a 5.5 inch gap may be used to provide additional clearance for the 95 th  percentile man. Also, different sized door panels  350 / 360 , and corresponding reduced height wall areas  305 / 306  may be used at the two locations (i.e., a smaller door panel for the forearm and a larger door panel for the mid-arm). However, use of the same size door panels eliminates the need to specifically orient the basin assembly during use, to match the larger and smaller basin openings with the patient&#39;s forearm and mid-arm. 
       FIG. 26  illustrates that for the use of a panel assembly with a base width of roughly ten inches, a length of approximately 15 inches, a wall height of five inches, and a reduction in wall height of roughly 2.5 inches, that two liters of saline solution would fill approximately one-half of the basin volume below the door opening. 
       FIGS. 27-28  illustrate that a larger gap may be needed for use of the basin assembly  300  for wound irrigation of a patient&#39;s leg (i.e., as seen in  FIG. 22 , the 95 th  percentile thigh width of a man is 7.5 inches). 
       FIG. 29  illustrates that the bottom of the tub  302  of basin assembly  300  may be formed with protruding waveform shapes  302 TP that may protrude outward from the bottom of base  301 , to provide an anti-slip feature.  FIG. 30  also shows the outward protruding waveform shapes  302 TP, and additionally shows that waveform shapes  302 IP may be formed to protrude inwardly to form anti-splash baffles that may reduce the walk and splash effect. 
     It should be noted that each of the herein disclosed basin embodiments may be formed, to be stackable (i.e., at least wall  303  may be appropriately formed, and may be outwardly angled—see  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 17 ). Each of the basin embodiments may also be formed to be sterilizable, and autoclavable. 
       FIGS. 31-38  illustrate views of another embodiment of a basin formed in accordance with the present invention. Basin  400  may be formed substantially the same as basin  300 , except that instead of having actuable door panels formed as separate parts that may be attached to the tub using an elastomeric spring, it may include a pair of tear-away panels  450 / 460  that may be integrally formed with the tub. The tear-away panels  450 / 460  may be formed according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 3,458,080 to Laurizio, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The tear-away panels  450 / 460  may be formed, by creating a weakened zone at the desired periphery tor each panel (i.e., periphery  450 P for panel  450 ), by forming the tub with a notch, therein, or by scoring of the tub along the desired periphery, after the tub is formed. The notch or scoring may be sufficiently deep so that medical personnel possessing even minimal strength may be able to remove the panel, by peeling it away from one of its ends, similar to the pop top on a can of soda. The strength provided by the weakened connection between the panel and the tub, prior to being torn away, should be sufficient to avoid inadvertent tear-out, and should be water-tight  FIG. 35  shows panel  460  in the process of being removed, while  FIG. 36  shows the panel completely removed.  FIGS. 37 and 38  show that the lowermost periphery of each of the panels may preferably be positioned below the top surface of the corresponding inward bulge (e.g., inward bulge  407 ), so that the patient&#39;s limb would be supported by the bulge, and not the flange from where the panel had been torn away. 
       FIGS. 39-44  illustrate views of another embodiment of a basin formed in accordance with the present invention. Basin  500  may be formed of a tub  501  with an overmolded elastomer. Tub  501  may be formed with a substantially flat base  502 , from which may upwardly extend a wall  503 . Wall  503  may be integrally formed with base  502 , and may be formed as a single continuous member, which, as noted above, may be formed to be any desired shape including a circular shape, a rectangular shape, etc. Merely to be illustrative, a rectangular shape is shown throughout  FIGS. 39-44 . The wall  503  may have markings  503 Mi,  503 Mii, etc., integrally formed therein, or stenciled thereon, to indicate the fluid level (e.g., 2 liter, 3 liters, etc.). 
     A first set of opposing portions of the top of the wall  503  may have a return flange that forms a first lip  504 A and a second lip  504 B, which may be used for carrying and handling of the basin assembly  500 . The return flange that forms the lip  504 A and  504 B may gradually reduce in size, until no lip is formed at the top of wall  503 . A second set of opposing portions of the wall  503  may not have a lip formed thereat, and each portion may instead have a reduced height wall area  505 / 506 , as seen in  FIG. 40A . 
     Each of the reduced height wall areas  505 / 506  of tub  581  may be semi-circular, or half-moon shaped, or shaped like half of an oval or other similar curved shape. Alternatively, a rectangular shape or even an irregular shape may also be used. The reduced height areas  505 / 506  may be formed to be different sizes, or may preferably be formed to be the same size, as seen in  FIG. 40A , and may be large enough to accommodate the thigh of the 95 th  percentile man. Each of the reduced height wall areas  505 / 506  may then be overmolded with a flexible elastomeric materials  550 / 560 , as seen in  FIGS. 39-40 . As seen in  FIG. 43 , the reduced height wall areas  505 / 506  of tub  501  may be formed with a structural bezel (e.g.,  550 B), which may support the bottom of the overmolded elastomer material (e.g.,  550 ). The top (e.g.,  550 T) of the elastomer materials may be formed to bow outwardly in a central region, as seen in  FIG. 43 , which may initially receive the limb of the patient when the basin is to be used for wound irrigation, as illustrated in  FIG. 44 . The elastomer materials  550 / 560  may stretch and conform to the patient&#39;s limb, and portions of it may also fold under the weight of the limb, to conform to the shape of the limb. 
       FIGS. 45-50  illustrate views of another embodiment of a basin formed in accordance with the present invention. Basin  600  may be formed with a substantially flat base  602 , from which may upwardly extend a wall  603 . Wall  603  may be integrally formed with base  602 , and may be formed as a single continuous member, which, as noted above, may be formed to be any desired shape including a circular shape, a rectangular shape, etc. Merely to be illustrative, a rectangular shape is shown throughout  FIGS. 46-50 . The wall  603  may have markings  603 Mi,  603 Mii, etc., integrally formed therein, or stenciled thereon, to indicate the fluid level (e.g., 2 liter, 3 liters, etc.) 
     A first set of opposing portions of the wall  603  may have a return flange at a top of the wall that forms a first lip  604 A and a second lip  604 B, which may be used for carrying and handling of the basin  600 . The return flange that forms the lips  604 A and  604 B may gradually reduce in size, until no lip is formed at the top of wall  603 . This first set of wall portions may generally be smooth. A second set of opposing portions  605 / 606  of the wall  603  may not have a lip formed thereat, and each portion may instead be formed like a bellows (i.e., alternate ridges and grooves), so that the wall areas  605  and  606  seen in  FIG. 50  may be easily compressed and may contract like an accordion, and/or may elastically deform as a result of a downward force applied thereat (i.e., the patient&#39;s limb). The bellows may thus generally conform to a portion of the shape of the patient&#39;s limb. Basin  600  may be formed as a single part using a single material. 
     The top-most flange of the bellows (e.g.,  605 F in  FIG. 49 ) for each of the opposing wall portions  605 / 606  may extend further than each of the other ridges, as it is intended to provide a larger surface area for the comfort of the patient, similar to the inward bulges  307  and  308  of basin assembly  300 . The top-most flange may also be formed to be generally parallel to the flat base  601 . 
     To enable greater flexure of the bellows, upon receiving the patient&#39;s limb thereon, the bellows of the opposing wall portions  605 / 606  may be formed to extend through a greater portion of the periphery of the wall  603  than the smoothly formed first set of opposing wall portions. For the square-shaped basin  600  illustrated within  FIG. 45 , the bellows of the opposing wall portions  605 / 606  may extend beyond the respective sides of the rectangular shape, and therefore at least a portion of all four sides of the rectangular shape of basin  600  may have the corrugations formed thereon. Analogously, for a basin formed with a generally circular shape (i.e., 360 degrees of curvature), the opposing bellows sections may be formed on more than 180 degrees of the curvature (e.g., 240 degrees of the 360 degrees of curvature, with roughly 120 degrees of bellows on one side and roughly 120 degrees of bellows formed on the opposing side). 
     The sidewall flexibility provided by the bellows of opposing wall portions  605 / 606  may thus accommodate various different patient limb sizes and orientations. 
     Accordingly, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described example embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0