PORTABLE PATIENT WASHING APPARATUS

• US 3,805,305 A
• Filed: 12/20/1972
• Issued: 04/23/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tord G. Lunblad
• Original Assignee: Tord G. Lunblad
• Inventors: Lunblad, Tord G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Artis, Henry K.
• Application Number:
  US05/316,675
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 4/167,168,159,169,166,178,180,184,1
• US Class Current: 4/616
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/00 Bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes A61H35/00 takes precedence; sprays acting on a body or body part not immersed in water A61H9/00; means for washing bed-ridden persons A61G7/0005; for sub aquatic intestinal cleaning A61M9/00; isolation chambers A61M21/0094; electric or magnetic baths, applying ionised fluids A61N1/44 ; heater for bath tubs F24H1/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0028 Hand-held devices for spraying and removing liquid while moved on the skin

Abstract

A portable washing apparatus for washing a bedridden patient with minimum disturbance of the patient, wherein a hand manipulatable washing nozzle is adapted to discharge a washing medium onto the patient'"'"''"'"'s skin and remove it therefrom by suction. The nozzle, a washing medium supply receptacle, an air pressure source and a vacuum source are releasably interconnected through coupling assembly means which permit disassembly and sanitizing of the elements of the apparatus.

Claims

1. Apparatus for washing a patient hygienically with a minimum disturbance of the patient, comprising, in combination, container means for receiving used washing medium, coupling assembly means supported by said container means and having a plurality of flow passages therein, receptacle means supported by said coupling assembly means and adapted to support a quantity of washing medium therein, a source of pressurized gas, at least one handmanipulatable nozzle device, a source of suction, first means establishing communication between said pressurized gas and said receptacle means to pressurize said washing medium, second means adapted to establish flow communication between said washing medium and said nozzle device to discharge washing medium from said nozzle device for application to a patient'"'"''"'"'s skin, and third means establishing communication between said nozzle device and said source of suction through said container means for effecting return of the discharged washing medium to said container means after application to the patient'"'"''"'"'s skin.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said coupling assembly means is seperable from said container means to facilitate cleaning and sterilizing of said coupling assembly means and said container means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means effects communication between said pressurized gas and said receptacle means through said coupling assembly means, wherein said second means is adapted to establish communication between said washing medium and said nozzle device through said coupling assembly means, and wherein said third means includes flow conduit means connecting said nozzle device to said container means through said coupling assembly means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said first, second and third means include conduit means releasably connected to said coupling assembly means to allow separation therefrom for cleaning and sterilizing of said coupling assembly means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said washing medium comprises a liquid detergent compatible with human skin.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including portable carriage means supporting said container means, said carriage means further supporting said sources of pressurized gas and suction.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including valve means interposed between said receptacle means and said nozzle device for controlling the flow of washing medium to said nozzle device.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means includes flow conduit means releasably connected to said coupling assembly means, wherein said second means includes flow conduit means releasably connected to said coupling assembly means, and wherein said third means includes flow conduit means releasably connected to said coupling assembly means, said flow conduit means of said first, second and third means being releasable from said coupling assembly means to allow cleaning and sterilizing of said coupling assembly means.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said carriage means includes storage means for storing replacement nozzles and other materials desired for use in connection with said apparatus.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said nozzle device comprises a washing head device having a mixing chamber therein, and including means establishing communication between said washing head device and said source of pressurized gas in a manner to effect intermixing of gas and washing medium from said receptacle means within said mixing chamber to form a foam for discharge from said washing head device.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means loosely connecting said receptacle means to said coupling assembly means in a manner to substantially prevent transfer of vibrations from said coupling assembly means to said receptacle means whereby a washing medium container supported by said receptacle means will not be subjected to vibrations from said coupling assembly means.

12. In a patient cleaning apparatus having nozzle means for dispensing a washing medium onto a patient'"'"''"'"'s skin for cleaning thereof, and flow conduit means connected at one end to said nozzle and adapted for connection at its opposite end to a source of washing medium;

the improved combination therewith of washing medium supply means including a coupling assembly adapted for connection to said opposite end of said flow conduit means, bottle receptacle means supported by said coupling assembly, an inlet fitting mounted on said coupling assembly and projecting into the interior of said receptacle means, said receptacle means being adapted to support a washing medium container bottle therein with said inlet fitting communicating with the interior of said bottle, said inlet fitting and said coupling assembly having flow passage means therein adapted to effect fluid communication between the interior of said bottle and said flow conduit means when said bottle is inserted into said receptacle means.

13. The combination as defined in claim 12 including valve means supported by said coupling assembly and being cooperable with said flow passage means within said coupling assembly to selectively control the flow of washing medium from said bottle to said nozzle means through said flow conduit means.

14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said coupling assembly includes upper and lower portions, said lower portion having connector means thereon for connection to said opposite end of said flow conduit means, said bottle receptable means being supported by said upper portion of said coupling assembly in upstanding relation thereon.

15. The combination as defined in claim 14 wherein said upper portion of said coupling assembly is releasably connected to said lower portion of said coupling assembly such that said upper coupling portion and said bottle receptacle means may be removed from said lower coupling portion for cleaning.

16. The combination as defined in claim 14 including valve means mounted on said upper portion of said coupling assembly, and wherein said upper and lower portions of said coupling assembly define separate flow passages communicating with said flow conduit means, said valve means being adapted to selectively control the flow of washing medium through said diverse flow passages to said flow conduit means.

17. The combination of claim 12 wherein said coupling assembly defines a pair of flow passages providing flow communication between said inlet fitting and said flow conduit means, and including flow restrictor means in one of said pair of flow passages to effect a lesser flow rate therethrough than the other of said pair of flow passages, and valve means supported by said coupling assembly and operative to effect flow of washing medium through either of said pair of flow passages to said nozzle means.

18. The improvement of claim 12 wherein said bottle receptacle means is adapted to receive a totally sealed replaceable bottle having liquid washing medium therein, said bottle having a point of weakness therein positioned for engagement with said inlet fitting when said bottle is inserted into said bottle receptacle means to allow penetration of said inlet fitting into the interior of said bottle through said point of weakness.

19. The improvement of claim 18 wherein said bottle receptacle means has a generally rectangular configuration, and wherein said bottle has a corresponding exterior configuration adapted to be received within said bottle receptacle means, said bottle receptacle means and said bottle being cooperable to insure placement of said point of weakness on said bottle in a position to receive said inlet fitting therethrough.

20. The improvement as defined in claim 12 including an air inlet tube supported in coaxial relation with said inlet fitting and extending upwardly within said bottle receptacle, said air inlet tube being adapted to be received within said bottle when inserted within said receptacle over said inlet fitting, said air inlet tube having air passage means adapted for communication to a source of air pressure for selectively introducing air pressure into said bottle when inserted within said bottle receptacle means.

21. In a container for use with an apparatus for washing a patient hygienically, said container having a first opening therein adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum to effect communication between the interior of the container and the source of vacuum, said container having a second opening adapted to receive a foam therethrough when the interior of the container is subjected to vacuum, and said container being adapted to container a predetermined quantity of a liquid having a de-foaming agent therein, the combination therewith of foam distributor means disposed within the container, said distributor means including a depending hollow tube connected at one end to said second opening so that foam entering the container passes through said hollow tube, and foam strainer means secured to the opposite end of said tube and being positioned so as to be submerged in said predetermined quantity of liquid when introduced into said container, said foam strainer means cooperating with said container to define a chamber into which foam passes after passing through said tube, said strainer means having a plurality of openings therein of a size sufficient to disperse foam received within said chamber and passed upwardly through said openings.

22. The combination of claim 21 wherein said foam strainer means includes an upper plate portion connected to said opposite end of said tube, and a depending peripheral wall connected to The periphery of said plate portion and having a lower edge extending in close proximity to the bottom surface of the container.

23. The combination of claim 22 wherein said upper plate portion of said strainer means is connected at its center to said opposite end of said tube, and wherein said upper plate portion has a plurality of openings therethrough disposed in annular rings concentric with said center of said upper plate portion.

24. The combination as defined in claim 21 including liquid separator means disposed within said container in communication with said first opening to prevent liquid within the container from passing outwardly through said first opening.

25. The combination as defined in claim 24 wherein said liquid separator means comprises a first dish-shaped element having a generally flat upper surface and a depending peripheral wall, said flat upper surface of said first dish-shaped element having an opening therethrough in communication with said first opening in the container, said liquid separator means including a second dish-shaped element having a lower surface and an upstanding peripheral wall defining a chamber which receives the depending wall of said first element therein in radial spaced relation from the upstanding wall of said second element so as to define an air passage therebetween through which air may pass to said first opening toward said vacuum source while said liquid separator means prevents the passage of liquid outwardly of said first opening in the container.

26. In a container for use with an apparatus for washing a patient hygienically, said container adapted to contain a liquid and including an upper cover having a first opening therein adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum to effect communication between the interior of the container and the source of vacuum;

the combination therewith of liquid separator means disposed within the container in communication with said first opening to prevent liquid within the container from passing outwardly through said first opening, said liquid separator means including a first inverted dish-shaped element having an upper plate portion and a depending wall defining with said upper plate portion a first chamber in communication with said first opening in the container, said liquid separator means including a second dish-shaped element having a lower plate portion and an upstanding wall having an upper edge disposed in close proximity to said upper cover, said upstanding wall defining with said lower plate portion of said second element a second chamber, said first and second elements being positioned such that the depending wall of said first element is received within said second chamber in inward spaced relation from said upstanding wall of said second element to define a flow passage between the spaced walls of said first and second elements to allow the passage of air through said first opening but preventing the flow of liquid through said first opening.

27. In a patient cleaning apparatus having a washing nozzle adapted to discharge a cleaning foam onto a patient'"'"''"'"'s skin and withdraw the foam from the skin, a generally closed container adapted to contain a predetermined quantity of liquid having a de-foaming agent therein, conduit means connecting the nozzle to the interior of the container, a source of vacuum, and means connecting the source of vacuum to the interior of the container in a manner to draw foam discharged from the nozzle through said conduit means into the container by vacuum;

the improved combination therewith of foam distributor means disposed within said container and comprising a depending tube having one end connected to the conduit means for receiving foam therein, and a strainer member secured to the opposite end of said depending tube in a position so as to be submerged in said predetermined quantity of liquid when introduced into the container, said strainer member comprising an inverted dish-shaped element having an upper surface and a peRipheral depending wall defining a chamber within said strainer member, said upper surface being connected to said tube such that foam passing into said container through said tube enters into said chamber, said upper surface having a plurality of openings therein of sufficient size to disperse foam into said liquid as the foam passes upwardly from said chamber through said openings in said strainer member.

28. The combination of claim 27 including liquid separator means supported within said container and comprising a first inverted dish-shaped element having a generally flat upper plate portion and a depending wall defining with said upper plate portion a first chamber in communication with said source of vacuum, said liquid separator means including a second dish-shaped element having a lower plate portion and an upstanding peripheral wall defining a second chamber in said second element, said first and second elements cooperating to allow air flow from the container through said means connecting said container to said source of vacuum while preventing liquid within the container from passing outwardly of the container toward said source of vacuum.

29. The combination of claim 28 wherein said first and second elements of said separator means are positioned such that said depending wall of said first element is received within said second chamber in said second element, said depending and upstanding wall portions being in spaced relation to allow air flow therebetween.