Abstract:
An apparatus and method for patient care and cleaning. Included are semi-disposable pants, a mattress, a care materials inflow preparation unit, a waste fluid container, a control unit, and a remote control device. The body area to be washed is covered with pants, providing a soft container having fittings connecting it to a wash liquid supply and effluent disposal hoses. The waist and femoral regions of the pants are provided with sealing rings for sealing of the space inside the pants during waste handling cycles of the patient care, and unsealing when this cycle is completed. Sensors are located in the pants for remote control of all materials handling functions in the patient care process. The mattress is provided with inflatable chambers that facilitate positioning of the patient&#39;s body and creation of a hollow space for bath water, thereby facilitating in-bed bathing of the entire body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon U.S. Patent Application No. 60/210,828, filed on Jun. 12, 2000, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated-by-reference thereto in its entirety and the priority of which is claimed under 35 USC 119(e). 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for patient care and cleaning. More particularly, the invention is related to an apparatus and method for managing the waste from a patient during care, maintenance, and treatment of sick or handicapped persons, which minimizes or eliminates the need for contact by the care giving personnel with the body waste products of the patient. 
     2. Description of Background and Relevant Information 
     A large number of patients are unable to transport themselves to conventional toilet facilities when the need arises. Often a care giver is not available at a critical time. When such patients suffer an episode of excretory functions, they may remain for a relatively prolonged period of time in contact with the waste products. In addition to being embarrassing to the patient, the waste products can cause skin maceration and breakdown as well as urinary tract infections. Moreover, cleaning and drying of the patient can require up to 45 minutes or more of nursing time after each such episode. A single nurse is often incapable of turning the patient to the position needed for treatment or comfort. Thus, more often than one nurse must be involved in the patient care. 
     A device such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,297 including a diaper cap having a main body for encompassing parts of the hip and buttocks region of the human body lacks a number of necessary functions. For example, there is a sealing problem between excreted waste and the patient&#39;s clothes and bed. Also, there exists the problem of limited washing and drying cycles, because the above-mentioned device does not allow for a possibility of passing wash water and drying air to narrow spaces at the extremities of the device between covered and uncovered areas of the patient&#39;s body and the device. 
     A device such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,583 is composed of a wearing section, a disposal device installed in an aperture in the wearing section, a washing device incorporated in the disposal device, and a driving section for operating the device. This device has a number of disadvantages. For example, wash water and excrement tends to leak out through the periphery of the pressing tube as a result of the poor adhesiveness of the pressing tube to the patient&#39;s body. This poor adhesiveness results from difficulty in fitting the device to various body shapes unless prohibitively high pressure is applied to the body part to form the seal. Such pressure would stop blood circulation in a patient with low venal pressure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is intended to solve the above-described difficulties and disadvantages of the prior art. 
     More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus that is easy to fit onto various body shapes, that provides an improved washing, drying, and other amenities and treatment functions needed for the care, comfort, and well-being of the patient. 
     It is a further object of the invention to minimize or eliminate altogether the requirement for personal contact by the patient care giver with bodily waste products of the patient. 
     An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having a built-in option enabling a mentally aware patient to assist oneself without being exposed to the scrutiny of others in an embarrassing situation. Generally, it is expected that the patient will want to assume some measure of personal control over operations of the apparatus of the invention. Therefore, the apparatus of the invention allows partial care giver intervention as an option, although a fully preprogrammed operation is additionally part of the invention. 
     More specifically, and in accordance with primary objects and purposes of the invention, the apparatus for patient care and cleaning includes a set of semi-disposable pants with connection fittings for inflow and outflow hoses. The pants are provided with a recess portion for disposable absorbent, with sealing rings facilitating airflow for creation of a tight seal between the pants and the body of the patient. The pants are supplied with inflatable chambers for sealing particular areas of the body during excretory functions and washing process. The sensors installed within the wearing sections detect excretion and initiate patient care processes and disposing of the waste products. The mattress is provided with inflatable chambers that facilitate positioning of the patient body and creation of a hollow space for bath water, thereby facilitating in-bed bathing of the entire body. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention which follows, when considered in light of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the state and use of the apparatus of the invention for patient care and cleaning, in which semi-disposable pants are fitted to the patient; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the state and use of the apparatus of the invention for patient care and cleaning, in which a patient uses the mattress of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating semi-disposable pants on the patient in the enclosed condition according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating semi-disposable pants in an open condition according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a rear view schematically illustrating the semi-disposable pants which have preprogrammed inflatable chambers on the lower back side according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the schematically presented canals and tubes for controlling air flow next to the skin for air flow enhancement and prevention of bed sores and providing a smooth material in pubic and anal regions for easy handling of excrement; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the first state of the sealing rings with air supply attached to the semi-disposable pants during the washing of the patient&#39;s body; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the second state of the sealing rings of the semi-disposable pants during the washing and drying of the patient&#39;s body; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional detailed view, schematically showing the second state of the sealing rings of the semi-disposable pants during the washing and drying of the patient&#39;s body; 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state of the mattress when the patient is lying on his back; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state of the mattress in position creating a bath around the stretched-out patient&#39;s body; 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state of the mattress when the patient is lying on his side; 
     FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the use of the waste collection container, near the water closet, according to the invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state of use of the waste collection container above the water closet, according to the invention; and 
     FIG. 15 is a diagram generally illustrating the principal interactions between major components of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 depict two states of an embodiment of the apparatus  1  of invention for patient care and cleaning attached to a patient  37 . The apparatus includes semi-disposable pants  2  (FIG.  1 ), a mattress  3 , a wash liquid preparation unit  4 , an air preparation unit  4   a , a waste container  5 , a control unit  6 , and a remote control  7 . 
     FIG. 2 depicts a second state of the embodiment of the apparatus  1 , whereby the patient  37  is without the pants and the mattress  3  has a bath-shaped form with boards  8  for patient washing and care. In this state a plug  9  seals the out-flow opening  3   a  in the mattress  3 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3-9, the pants  2  has two three groups  10 ,  11 ,  12  of sealing rings in the waist and femoral regions of the patient&#39;s body. The pants  2  with ring groups  10 - 12  are made of a flexible film, for example, such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, etc. The sealing ring groups  10 - 12  are provided with connection fittings  10   a - 10   d,    11   a - 11   d,    12   a - 12   d  for inflow/outflow air pipes. There are connection fittings  10   e    12   e  between rings inside the groups  10 - 12  for inflow air pipes. These connection fittings  10   e - 12   e  are seen best in FIG.  9 . As best seen in FIG. 5, the back region of the pants  2  is provided with two groups  13 ,  14  of chambers and, in turn, they have connection fittings  13   a,    14   a  for inflow/outflow air pipes. Moreover, the back region has an inflatable ring  15  for a framed recess portion  16  (see FIGS. 6-8) for providing a material discharge area for the apparatus  1 . As shown in FIG. 6, the recess portion  16  is preferably filled with a disposable absorbent  17  made of small fractions of toilet paper, for example, or other suitable material. The absorbent material  17  is preferable soluble, or able to disintegrate in water. Absorbent material  17  is supplied through connection fitting  18 . Recess portion  16  is provided with a connection fitting  19  for an outflow pipe  20  for waste materials including the absorbent  17 . Pipe  20  passes through the hole  3   a  in the mattress  3 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3,  4  and  6 , inflatable chambers  21   a,    22   a  are provided with connection fittings  21   b,    22   b  for inflow/outflow air pipes. Moreover, the pants  2  are provided with a connection fitting  23  for an inflow pipe for washing materials, such as warm water, soap, antiseptic, lotion, etc. and a connection fitting  24  for an inflow pipe with warm air for drying of the patient&#39;s body, and the supply of powder, if desired. Also, sensors  25 ,  26  are provided on the inner side of the pants  2  for measuring environmental data, such as humidity, gas emission (methane, sulfur, etc.) and others, such as gas consistency, temperature, and gas pressure. The pants  2  are further provided with fasteners  27 - 31  for comfortable dressing and undressing, and for the manual care of the patient  37 . Therewith, the fasteners  27 ,  28  are pressure-sealing fasteners in the closed condition (see FIG.  3 ). The fasteners  29 ,  30 ,  31  have a self-gripping fastening system  29   a,    30   a,    31   a  (made of hook and loop fasteners) that secure the groups  10 ,  11 ,  12  of scaling rings in the closed position with a specific diameter according to the patient&#39;s body. In turn, the sealing rings  10   f,    10   g,    10   h,    10   j;    11   f,    11   g,    11   h,    11   j;  and  12   f,    12   g,    12   h,    12   j  are shifted relative to each other (see FIG. 4) in order to seal the borders of the shifted sealing rings. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, the air has been released from the boards  8  of the mattress  3  and the mattress  3  has assumed a predetermined form with inflated chambers  3   b.    
     FIGS. 2 and 11 illustrate a bath-shaped form of the mattress with inflated chambers  3   b  and  8 . 
     FIG. 12 illustrates the state in which some air chambers  3   b  are inflated and others deflated for turning over the patient  37 . The same possibility (not shown) is available in the state of the bath-shaped form of the mattress  3 . 
     With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the wash liquid preparation unit  4 , the air preparation unit  4   a,  the waste container  5 , and the control unit  6  are connected to the pants  2  and the mattress  3  by various pipes and cables. The remote control  7  is displaced close to the patient  37 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the waste container  5  has a lifter  32  supported on wheels  33 , a handle  34 , a connection fitting  35  for an inflow waste materials hose, and a discharge valve  36 . FIG. 14 illustrates an elevated position of the waste container  5  for discharging through the open valve  36  into a water closet or other appropriate container. 
     The apparatus described above operates as follows. First, the patient  37  is dressed in underwear (not shown), such as panties with a hole in the anal and pubic regions. This underwear can be made of thin cotton textile, such as batiste, for example. The open pants  2  (see FIG. 4) are fitted on the patient  37  and closed by the fasteners  27 - 31 . The pipes and cables are connected with appropriate connection fittings (see FIG.  1 ). The inflow materials preparation unit  4  and control unit  6  are preprogrammed and switched on. 
     At the beginning of catharsis and/or urination gas and/or humidity sensors  25 ,  26  give information to the control unit  6 . In turn, the air preparation unit  4   a  inflates three groups  10 - 12  of sealing rings and the chambers  21   a,    21   b.  Thus, all regions of the patient&#39;s body inside the pants  2  are sealed and the bulk of the excrement and urine is kept near the anal and pubic regions. Concurrently, two groups  13 ,  14  of chambers are deflated. It is significant that the solid excrement hitting into the recess portion  16  are dominantly encapsulated in the pieces of absorbent  17  and, in so doing, the smearing of the patient&#39;s body is reduced. Then, waste material is removed from the recess portion  16  into the waste container  5 . 
     After catharsis and/or urination, the warm washing water and soap are fed from the wash liquid preparation unit  4  and are injected into the crotch region. Simultaneously, the chambers  21   a,    22   a  are deflated and the region to be washed expanded. At the same time, by means of alternate inflating and deflating of two groups  13 ,  14  of chambers and the injection of warm air through fittings  10   e - 12   e,    24 , the washing process is enhanced. The washing region is gradually extended to eventually encompass the entire soiled area. The air from the sealing rings  10   f - 12   f  and  10   g - 12   g  in the groups  10 - 12  is sequentially released through fittings  10   a - 12   a  and  10   b - 12   b  and, in so doing, so the washing region gradually increases from dirtier to cleaner places. Finally, it is preferred that the rinsing water is injected with a dose of body lotion. 
     After the washing cycle is complete, air in all of the sealing rings in groups  10 - 12  is completely released, warm air is then injected, and an alternate inflation and deflation of groups  13 ,  14  of the pants chambers is continued to effect some body massage and to make the drying process more pleasurable. Preferably, powder is then injected one or more times during the drying and ventilation cycles. A new dose of disposable absorbent  17  is inserted in the recess portion  16 . The ventilation cycle is continued in the interval between catharsis and/or urination. 
     All above-mentioned cycles may be actuated or terminated by remote control. 
     Pipes and cables are disconnected from connection fittings and the patient is undressed if washing and care of the entire body is intended. The opening  3   a  in the mattress  3  is tightly closed with the plug  9 . The boards  8  are inflated and the mattress-bath is filled with wash water. 
     For turning over the mattress, chambers  3   b  close to the patient&#39;s body are completely or partially deflated and the process is manually guided using control unit  6  or the remote control  7 . 
     As an alternative to the gravity discharge for the removal of waste material from the pants, or trousers, it is contemplated that a vacuum removal could be provided. For this purpose, a vacuum pump would be provided for removal of such waste material into a container under the patient&#39;s bed. A particular benefit of the vacuum in the trousers is that it facilitates the air flow between the sealing rings, groups  10 - 12 , and the patient&#39;s body. Sick, old, and frail patients often have a very low venal pressure. If any pressure on the skin is applied, this may stop circulation. Having a vacuum, or relatively low pressure, in the trousers, air pressure can be minimized or eliminated altogether. A vacuum or low pressure on the skin actually can help blood vessels expand near the skin and improve localized circulation there. 
     It is also contemplated to employ a second vacuum pump to remove the effluent from the tank under the patient&#39;s bed to a collecting tank. In the collecting tank, the material can then be sterilized and, for example, made ready to enter the municipal sewer system.