Patient orienting device

• US 3,895,403 A
• Filed: 04/05/1974
• Issued: 07/22/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanford Davis
• Original Assignee: Sanford Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Sanford
• Primary Examiner(s): Nunberg, Casmir A.
• Application Number:
  US05/458,171
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 5/68,61,81,348R
• US Class Current: 5/81.10T
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient

Abstract

An inflatable device effective in causing a body-turning maneuver for a hospital patient and the like is described wherein a first inflatable body lifts the patient partially on his side and then a second inflatable body, during its inflation, bears on one side against the already inflated first body and with its opposite side exerts pushing contact against the patient to complete a body turning maneuver or support the patient in an intermediate inclined position. A pneumatic air control system is provided for selectively inflating and deflating the inflatable bodies to a desired level of pressure. In another embodiment, independently inflatable first and second bodies are provided adjacent each side of the patient to thereby permit turning of the patient side to side.

Claims

1. A patient orienting device for hospital patients and the like comprising a resilient body provided with two spaced opposing edges arranged adjacent to each side of a patient when the patient is supported by said resilient body, first and second inflatable bodies being provided along each edge of said resilient body, each first inflatable body being arranged for at least partially lifting said resilient body and the patient positioned thereon in response to inflation of the respective first inflatable body, each second inflatable body being arranged to be inflated subsequent to substantial inflation of an associated first inflatable body, at least a portion of each second inflatable body being at least partially supported by said associated first inflatable body and having an opposite other portion thereof in pushing contact against the patient, the inflatable bodies in each pair being in pushing contact with each other and together arranged to bear against and push the patient relative to said resilient body when the respective pair of inflatable bodies are inflated;

and pneumatic air supply means for independently and selectively inflating and deflating said bodies on each side of said resilient body to a desired level of pressure to turn the patient or to support the latter in an intermediate inclined position, whereby a patient may be fully turned or inclined in the direction of one or the other of said exposed edges.

2. A patient orienting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first inflatable body includes a pair of upper and lower panels connected along said exposed edge, the portion of said second inflatable body supported by said first inflatable body bearing against said upper panel.

3. A patient orienting device as defined in claim 2, including an inlet connected to said first inflatable body for the introduction of air under pressure thereto;

and valve means connected from said first inflatable body to said second inflatable body for channeling the air under pressure from said first inflatable body into said second inflatable body to thereby produce sequential infation.

4. A patient orienting device as defined in claim 3, wherein said valve means includes a valve opening of a lesser extent than said inlet to said first inflatable body.

5. A patient orienting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said resilient body is provided with two spaced opposing edges arranged adjacent to each side of a patient when the patient is supported by said resilient body, first and second inflatable bodies bening provided along each edge of said resilient body, said pneumatic air supply means being arranged to independently and selectively inflate and delfate said inflatable bodies on each side of said resilient body, whereby a patient may be fully turned or inclined in the direction of one or the other of said exposed edges.

6. A patient orienting device as defined in claim 1, further including an inlet connected to said first inflatable body for introduction of air under pressure thereto, and wherein said pneumatic supply means includes a supply of air under pressure, a supply line connected to said supply of air;

an inlet air valve connected between said supply line and said inlet; and

fill actuation means for selectively actuating said air valve for opening and closing the flow path between said supply line and said inlet.

7. A patient orienting device as defined in claim 6, wherein said actuation means includes a push button valve, wherein said inlet valve maintains the air flow path between said supply line and said inlet open as long as said push button is depressed.

8. A patient orienting device as defined in claim 7, further comprising a check valve arranged between said input air valve and said inlet, whereby air under pressure within said inlet is prevented from returning to said supply line by way of said inlet air valve when said push botton is depressed. Pg,26

9. A patient orienting device as defined in claim 6, further comprising an outlet air valve connected to said inlet, and further comprising exhaust actuation means for actuating said outlet air valve for placing said inlet in flud flow communication with the atmosphere, whereby air under pressure at said inlet is permitted to be evacuated during such time as the exhaust actuation means is actuated.

10. A patient orienting device as defined in claim 9, wherein said exhaust actuation means comprises a push button valve, said outlet air valve being arranged in a position for evacuation of air under pressure from said inlet during such time as the exhaust push button is depressed.

11. A patient orienting device as defined in claim 10, wherein said inlet and outlet air valves are pneumatically controlled by application of pressure air at a control port, further comprising an exhaust control line and a fill control line connected to said supply line and the respective inlet and outlet air valve control ports, said exhaust actuation means comprising a pneumatic push button valve disposed within said exhaust control line and said fill actuation means comprising a pneumatic push button valve within said fill control line, whereby only that air valve is placed into the operative mode when the corresponding push button valve is depressed to apply air under pressure to a respective control port.