Pneumatic lift to aid bedpan use

• US 4,949,409 A
• Filed: 07/28/1989
• Issued: 08/21/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stefano, Sandra
• Original Assignee: Stefano, Sandra
• Inventors: Stefano, Sandra
• Primary Examiner(s): Trettel, Michael F.
• Application Number:
  US07/387,217
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 5/90, 5/446, 5/461, 5/463, 5/449, 5/453, 5/458, 4/450, 4/456, 4/457
• US Class Current: 5/604
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/32 lying
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/02 with toilet conveniences, or specially adapted for use with toilets
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1021 Inflatable cushions
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 9/00 Bed-pans, urinals or other sanitary devices for bed-ridden persons; Cleaning devices therefor, e.g. combined with toilet-urinals urinals worn by the patient A61F5/44

Abstract

An inflatable underlayment is provided for a bedridden patient to elevate the patient and, by means of a wedge-shaped cavity in the inflated underlayment, to provide clearance for the placement of a fracture pan for use as a bedpan by the patient, wherein the placement and removal of the fracture pan requires no movement of the patient.

Claims

1. A pneumatic lifting device and underlayment adapted to be placed under a supine-positioned human and for use with a fracture type bedpan of common commercial use, said fracture pan having a tapered cross section in side view and a tapered cross section in plan view and an overhanging rim around the periphery thereof, wherein said lifting device comprises an upper sheet and a lower sheet, said two sheets are attached at the edges thereof to form a bladder capable of holding air therein, wherein said lifting device has a through passage through the thickness thereof in register with the rectal area of said supine-positioned human and wherein said lifting device is adapted to be inflated by external means or deflated as desired, and, when inflated at relatively low pressures as in an air mattress, thereby lifting said human above an underlying substantially horizontal surface, and when said lifting device is inflated, said through passage in said lifting device forms a wedge-shaped cavity for receiving said fracture pan in register with the rectal region of said human, wherein the shape of said through passage in plan view matches the tapered shape of said fracture pan in plan view, and wherein said cavity has around the periphery thereof a projecting ledge-like ridge adapted to engage said rim of said fracture pan and thereby to support said fracture pan in a use position in said cavity, and wherein, owing to said low inflation pressure, which allows the depressing of the top surface of said lifting device, said fracture pan may be inserted into and removed from said cavity without moving the legs or hips of said supine-positioned human.

2. The lifting device of claim 1 wherein said projecting ridge is adapted to engage the periphery of said rim as said fracture pan is inserted into said cavity, thereby to guide said fracture pan into its use position wherein it is supported by said ridge.

3. The lifting device of claim 1 wherein said upper and lower sheets are attached by means of an intermediary sheet forming a side wall of said bladder.

4. The lifting device of claim 3, wherein said two sheets are additionally attached at multiple points over the surfaces thereof to form a tufted bladder, said additional attachements are by means of intermediary sheets that define the thickness of the inflated bladder. said additional attachments are by means of intermediary sheets that define the thickness of the inflated bladder.

5. The lifting device of claim 4 wherein said top and bottom sheets comprise a thermoplastic material;

said sidewall comprises a thermoplastic material; and

said additional intermediary sheets comprise a thermoplastic material.

6. The lifting device of claim 8 wherein said top and bottom sheets and said sidewall comprises a thermoplastic material.

7. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein said top and bottom sheets comprise a thermoplastic material.

8. The lifting device of claims 1 wherein said device is of a length to effectively contact the length of the body of said human extending from the head to the feet and of suitable width to comfortably support the entire said body when said device is inflated.

9. A combination comprising a fracture pan and a pneumatic lifting device and underlayment adapted to be placed under a supine-positioned human and for use with a fracture pan of common commercial use, said fracture pan having a tapered cross section in side view and a tapered cross section in plan view and an overhanging rim around the periphary thereof, wherein said lifting device comprises an upper sheet and a lower sheet, said two sheets are attached at the edges thereof to form a bladder capable of holding air therein, wherein said lifting device has a through passage through the thickness thereof in register with the rectal area of said supine-positioned human and wherein said lifting device is adapted to be inflated by external means or deflated as desired, and, when inflated at relatively low pressure as in an air mattress, thereby lifting said human above an underlying substantially horizontal surface, and when said lifting device is inflated, said through passage in said lifting device forms a wedge-shaped cavity for receiving said fracture pan in register with the rectal region of said human, wherein the shape of said through passage in plan view matches the tapered shape of said fracture pan in plan view, and wherein said cavity has around the periphery thereof a projecting ledge-like ridge adapted to engage said rim of said fracture pan and thereby to support said fracture pan in a use position in said cavity, and wherein, owing to said low inflation pressure, which allows the deperessing of the top surface of said lifting device, said fracture pan may be inserted into and removed from said cavity without moving the legs or hips of said supine-positioned human.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said projecting reige is adapted to engage the periphery of said rim as said fracture pan is inserted into said cavity, thereby to guide said fracture pan into its use position wherein it is supported by said ridge.

11. The combination of claim 9 wherein said upper and lower sheets are attached by means of an intermediary sheet forming a side wall of said bladder.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said two sheets are additionally attached at multiple points over the surfaces thereof to form a tufted bladder, said additional attachments are by means of intermediary sheets that define the thickness of the inflated bladder.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said top and bottom sheets comprise a thermoplastic material;

said sidewall comprises a thermoplastic material; and

said additional intermediary sheets comprise a thermoplastic material.

14. The combination of claim 11 wherein said top and bottom sheets and said sidewall comprise a thermoplastic material.

15. The combination of claim 9, wherein said top and bottom sheets comprise a thermoplastic material.

16. The combination of claims 9 wherein said device is of a length to effectively contact the length of the body of said human extending from the head to the feet and of suitable width to comfortably support the entire said body when said device is inflated.