Appparatus for preventing and healing bedsores in long-term inpatients

• US 5,018,225 A
• Filed: 12/18/1989
• Issued: 05/28/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Italpres SNC Di Frengni Bruno & C
• Original Assignee: Italpres SNC Di Frengni Bruno & C
• Inventors: Venturi, Giancarlo, Fergni, Bruno, Bedogni, Carlo
• Primary Examiner(s): Grosz, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US07/452,550
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 5/61, 5/63, 5/64, 5/65, 74/665 N
• US Class Current: 5/607
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/32 lying
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0573 with mattress frames having alternately movable parts adjustable mattress frames A61G7/015
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1019 Vertical extending columns or mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1032 Endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1057 Supported platforms, frames or sheets for patient in lying position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19135 Spur

Abstract

The apparatus for preventing and healing bedsores in long-term inpatients comprises a bed which is supported by four elements arranged in pairs at the longitudinal sides of the bed. Each element is constituted by a tubular upright fixed to the bed frame, inside which a column is telescopingly accommodated. A roller is rotatably supported at the top of both columns arranged on each longitudinal side of the bed. A piece of fabric closed in a loop is wound around the two rollers. The fabric is moved with respect to the bed by lifting and lowering the columns, whereas the fabric can be caused to slide transversely with respect to the bed by actuating the rollers. Therefore, the patient is first lifted off the bed on which he is laying and is then turned in the required position by virtue of the lifting and sliding motion of the fabric.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preventing and curing bedsores, comprising a bed including a bed frame and two pairs of supporting elements, each pair being disposed at a respective side of said frame, and each supporting element comprising a vertical tubular upright fixed to said frame and having a box-like base, a tubular column telescopingly guided inside said tubular upright and provided with an internal female thread, a pair of parallel fabric traction rollers, each roller having coaxial opposite pivots supported for rotation on the top portion of the columns of a respective pair of supporting elements, a piece of fabric closed in a loop around said pair of rollers, means for axially actuating said column and thereby lifting or lowering said pair of rollers with respect to the bed frame, and means for rotating said pair of rollers and moving said piece of fabric wound thereon, said roller lifting and lowering means comprising for each column a threaded rod coaxially extending inside each columns engaging said female thread and rotatably supported in said base, a toothed pulley keyed onto said rod inside said base, an electric motor flanged on said base and having a toothed pinion inside said base, and a toothed belt wound in a loop about said toothed pulley and pinion, and said means for rotating each roller comprising a box-like body articulated to the top portion of a column of each pair, a tang rotatably supported inside said box-like body and coaxially to said roller and an electric motor flanged onto said box-like body and driving said tang, said tang comprising a cup-like portion having a recess for prismatic engagement with a pivot of said roller, said prismatic engagement being defined by a dowel extending transversely through said pivot and engaging slots formed in the edge of said cup-portion.