Method and apparatus for minimizing bed sores and lower back pain in spinal injury patients

• US 20060167397A1
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew C. Walsh
• Original Assignee: Andrew C. Walsh
• Inventors: Walsh, Andrew C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,351,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/3769 for attaching the body to beds, wheel-chairs or the like

Abstract

Apparatus for suspending the calf and foot of a patient recumbent on a bed to relieve pressure on the thigh of the patient includes a leg lift unit in the form of a rigid, trough-like posterior shell having an interior surface shaped to engage under the patient'"'"'s calf and foot. The shell has opposite side walls and an upper end and one or more securements are connected to the side walls for securing the shell to the patient'"'"'s calf and foot. The unit also includes a bail having opposite ends connected to the side walls of the shell so that the bail loops above the shell. The apparatus also comprises a support frame including an upright extensible post having an upper end and a lower end for positioning at the foot of the bed, and a horizontal bar having one end adjustably secured to the upper end of the post and a second end extending over the bed. A cord extending down from the bar is releasably connected to the bail. By appropriately adjusting the position of the post and bar, the patient'"'"'s calf may be subjected to the necessary amount of lift and/or tension to minimize localized pressure on the patient'"'"'s thigh and buttock areas and to relieve compression forces on the patient'"'"'s spinal column.

Claims

1. Apparatus for suspending the calf and foot of a patient recumbent on a bed to relieve pressure on the thigh of the patient, said apparatus comprising

a leg lift unit, said unit including

a rigid, trough-like posterior shell having an interior surface shaped to engage under the patient'"'"'s calf and foot, said shell having opposite side walls and an upper end,

one or more securements connected to said side walls for securing the shell to the patient'"'"'s calf and foot, and

a hanger having opposite ends connected to said side walls of the shell so that the hanger loops above said shell, and

a support frame including

an upright post having an upper end and a lower end for positioning at the foot of the bed,

a horizontal bar having one end adjustably secured to the upper end of the post and a second end extending over the bed, and

a cord having an upper end connected to said bar and a lower end releasably connected to the hanger.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 and further including padding covering the interior surface of said posterior shell.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one securement includes a plurality of flexible straps connected to the opposite sides of the shell at spaced apart locations therealong.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one securement includes

a rigid trough-like anterior shell having an interior surface shaped to engage over the patient'"'"'s calf and foot, and

one or more connections releasably connecting the anterior shell to the posterior shell.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 and further including padding covering the interior surfaces of the posterior and anterior shells.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the hanger is connected near the upper end of the posterior shell.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the hanger comprises a rigid bail.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said bail is composed of two mirror-image sections, said sections having corresponding first ends pivotily connected to the opposite walls of the posterior shell and corresponding second ends formed as eyes which can be brought into register above the posterior shell.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein the lower end of said cord carries a hook which may be hooked through said eyes to secure them together.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said post is composed of telescoping first and second sections and includes first means for adjustably fixing the relative positions of said sections and second means at the upper end of the post for adjustably fixing the horizontal position of said bar relative to the post.

11. A method for relieving pressure on the thigh of a recumbent patient to minimize bed sores and to relieve lower back pain, said method comprising the steps of engaging a rigid leg left unit under the calf and foot of at least one leg of the patient;

suspending said unit from a support frame which extends over the patient'"'"'s legs, and

adjusting the frame so as to exert a sufficient amount of lift and tension on the patient'"'"'s thigh as to relieve pressure on the patient'"'"'s buttock and/or compression forces on the patient'"'"'s spinal column.