Apparatus and method for managing waste from patient care, maintenance, and treatment
First Claim
1. An apparatus for managing waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- a) means for supporting at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body;
b) means for catching waste, said waste catching means being carried by said supporting means;
c) a vacuum blower disposed for sucking the wastes from said catching means;
d) a holding reservoir disposed in communication with said catching means and said vacuum blower to receive the waste sucked from said catching means by said vacuum blower, wherein;
e) said supporting means includes;
i) a support member configured to contain pressurized air,ii) said support member defining a plurality of discrete support fingers disposed adjacent to each other and separated from each other, andiii) each said support finger having a free end defining a patient support surface, said patient support surfaces being disposed to support the weight of the second portion of the patient'"'"'s body, wherein said supporting means further includes;
iv) an air permeable foam member disposed inside said support member and beneath said plurality of discrete support fingers.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for managing waste from patient care, maintenance, and/or treatment includes an inflatable bladder member disposed to support at least a first portion of the body of the patient. A flexible basin member is fitted over the bladder and receives waste materials, and a filter sheet is disposed atop the basin member. The basin member is connected to a holding reservoir and a vacuum blower. A liquid waste pump is connected to the holding reservoir to transfer liquid waste to a waste jug. A vacuum wand provides rinsing liquid from a rinse liquid jug via a rinse liquid pump and provides suction via the vacuum blower. Liquid levels in each of the rinse liquid jug, the waste jug, and the holding reservoir, are monitored by liquid level sensing devices which supply signals to a microprocessor which controls various functions of the apparatus. Special inflatable sacks are provided to assist turning the patient to facilitate cleansing of the patient. Inflatable cushions receive the inflatable bladder member and dispose it to become coextensive with the support of the rest of the patient in a patient support apparatus, if desired.
193 Citations
72 Claims
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1. An apparatus for managing waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for supporting at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body; b) means for catching waste, said waste catching means being carried by said supporting means; c) a vacuum blower disposed for sucking the wastes from said catching means; d) a holding reservoir disposed in communication with said catching means and said vacuum blower to receive the waste sucked from said catching means by said vacuum blower, wherein; e) said supporting means includes; i) a support member configured to contain pressurized air, ii) said support member defining a plurality of discrete support fingers disposed adjacent to each other and separated from each other, and iii) each said support finger having a free end defining a patient support surface, said patient support surfaces being disposed to support the weight of the second portion of the patient'"'"'s body, wherein said supporting means further includes; iv) an air permeable foam member disposed inside said support member and beneath said plurality of discrete support fingers. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An apparatus for managing waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for supporting at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body; b) means for catching waste, said waste catching means being carried by said supporting means, said catching means including; i) a liquid impermeable basin member, ii) said basin member being configured to conform to and receive said supporting means, iii) said basin member being further configured with a floor disposed beneath the upward-most level of said supporting means when said basin member is fitted over said supporting means and receives said supporting means, iv) said basin member being further configured with at least one drain opening defined through said floor, and v) said floor being configured so as to slope toward said at least one drain opening, and vi) a liquid permeable filter sheet disposed to be carried atop said basin member, wherein; vii) said basin member defines a plurality of grid configurations, viii) each said grid configuration being configured and disposed to support said filter sheet, and ix) each said grid configuration defining a plurality of slightly raised portions and a plurality of recessed channel portions separated from one another by said raised portions; c) a vacuum blower disposed for sucking the wastes from said catching means; and d) a holding reservoir disposed in communication with said catching means and said vacuum blower to receive the waste sucked from said catching means by said vacuum blower. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for managing waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for supporting at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body, said supporting means including a flexible member inflatable with pressurized air, said flexible member including a plurality of flexible surfaces forming in combination a discontinuous surface for receiving said portion of the patient'"'"'s body; b) means for catching waste, said waste catching means being carried by said supporting means; c) a vacuum blower disposed for sucking the wastes from said catching means; d) a holding reservoir disposed in communication with said catching means and said vacuum blower to receive the waste sucked from said catching means by said vacuum blower; e) means for collecting the waste received by said holding reservoir, said collecting means being removably securable in communication with said holding reservoir, wherein said collecting means includes a waste collection container, and a waste transfer pump connected in communication with said waste collection container and said holding reservoir; f) a waste transfer conduit connected to said waste transfer pump; and g) a dripless, quick-disconnect connector, said connector being configured and disposed to selectively render said waste collection container in communication with said waste transfer pump via said waste transfer conduit, said connector being further configured so as to be automatically open when said waste collection container is disposed to receive waste and automatically sealed when said waste collection container is being transported to a waste disposal site.
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7. An apparatus for managing waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for supporting at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body; b) means for catching waste, said waste catching means being carried by said supporting means; c) a vacuum blower disposed for sucking the wastes from said catching means; d) a holding reservoir disposed in communication with said catching means and said vacuum blower to receive the waste sucked from said catching means by said vacuum blower, wherein; e) means for cleansing said catching means, said cleansing means including a rinse solution container, a rinse solution nozzle, and a rinse solution pump connected in communication with said rinse solution container and said rinse solution nozzle; f) a rinse solution conduit connected to said rinse solution nozzle; and g) a dripless, quick-disconnect connector, said connector being configured and disposed to render said solution container in communication with said rinse solution nozzle via said rinse solution conduit, said connector being further configured so as to be automatically open when said rinse solution container is disposed in communication with said rinse solution pump and automatically sealed when said rinse solution container is disengaged from communication with said rinse solution pump.
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8. An apparatus for managing waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for supporting at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body; b) means for catching waste, said waste catching means being carried by said supporting means; c) a vacuum blower disposed for sucking the wastes from said catching means; d) a holding reservoir disposed in communication with said catching means and said vacuum blower to receive the waste sucked from said catching means by said vacuum blower; and e) means for adapting the waste managing means to be carried by a patient support system, said adapting means including at least one inflatable U-shaped cushion configured and disposed for receiving at least a portion of said patient body portion supporting means.
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9. An apparatus for managing waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for supporting at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body; b) means for catching waste, said waste catching means being carried by said supporting means; c) a vacuum blower disposed for sucking the wastes from said catching means; d) a holding reservoir disposed in communication with said catching means and said vacuum blower to receive the waste sucked from said catching means by said vacuum blower; and e) means for turning the patient to facilitate cleansing of waste, said turning means being disposed adjacent said patient body portion supporting means. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for managing waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for supporting at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body; b) means for catching waste, said waste catching means being carried by said supporting means; c) a vacuum blower disposed for sucking the wastes from said catching means; d) a holding reservoir disposed in communication with said catching means and said vacuum blower to receive the waste sucked from said catching means by said vacuum blower; and e) means for counting the number of events producing waste caught by said catching means.
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13. An apparatus for managing waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for supporting at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body; b) means for catching waste, said waste catching means being carried by said supporting means; c) a vacuum blower disposed for sucking the wastes from said catching means; d) a holding reservoir disposed in communication with said catching means and said vacuum blower to receive the waste sucked from said catching means by said vacuum blower; e) means for detecting and signaling the presence of liquid waste, said detecting and signaling means being disposed downstream of said catching means, wherein; i) said detecting and signaling means including a pair of electrically conducting elements, ii) each said element being separated by a small predetermined distance from each other said element in said pair, iii) said detecting and signaling means further including an electrical circuit including said pair of elements and a signaling mechanism for emitting a signal, and iv) wherein moisture flowing between said pair of elements forms an electrical connection between said elements and completes said electrical circuit containing said signaling mechanism for emitting a signal in response to detecting such moisture; and f) means for controlling operation of said vacuum blower responsive to moisture detection by said detecting and signaling means, said control means being connected in communication with said vacuum blower and to said detecting and signaling means.
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14. An apparatus for managing waste from the treatment and/or care and maintenance of a patient who is supported at least as to a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body on a support surface of a patient support system, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for supporting at least a second portion of the body of the patient, said second patient body portion supporting means defining an inflatable first surface configured and disposed substantially coextensive with the support surface of the patient support system; and b) means for catching waste, i) said waste catching means being supported by said second patient body portion supporting means so as to be disposed between the patient and said second patient body portion supporting means; c) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means; and d) means for collecting the waste removed from said catching means by said removing means, said collecting means being disposed in communication with said removing means, wherein said collecting means includes; i) a collection container connected in communication with said removing means, and ii) said collection container having an opening configured so as to be removably securable to the patient support system and automatically open when secured to the patient support system and automatically sealed when unsecured to the patient support system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for managing waste from the treatment and/or care and maintenance of a patient who is supported at least as to a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body on a support surface of a patient support system, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for supporting at least a second portion of the body of the patient, said second patient body portion supporting means defining an inflatable first surface configured and disposed substantially coextensive with the support surface of the patient support system; b) means for catching waste, i) said waste catching means being supported by said second patient body portion supporting means so as to be disposed between the patient and said second patient body portion supporting means; c) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means; d) means for collecting the waste removed from said catching means by said removing means, said collecting means being disposed in communication with said removing means, said collecting means including; i) a collection container connected in communication with said removing means, and ii) said collection container having an opening configured so as to be removably securable to the patient support system and automatically open when secured to the patient support system and automatically sealed when unsecured to the patient support system; e) means for detecting a predetermined level of liquid waste inside said waste collection container and providing a signal upon detecting same, said liquid waste level detecting means including; i) a liquid sensor element having a portion disposed for detecting a predetermined level of liquid inside said waste collection container, and ii) a means for emitting a signal in response to said sensor detecting said predetermined level of liquid in said collection container; and f) a second housing configured for receiving said waste collection container, i) said second housing including a means for connecting said collection container in communication with said holding reservoir, ii) wherein said connecting means is automatically engagable with said collection container when said second housing receives said collection container, iii) wherein said connecting means is configured to prevent waste from escaping when said connecting means is disengaged from said collection container, iv) said second housing further including a means for coupling said liquid level sensor element in communication with said signal emitting means, and v) wherein said coupling means is automatically engagable when said second housing receives said collection container.
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18. An apparatus for managing waste from the treatment and/or care and maintenance of a patient who is supported at least as to a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body on a support surface of a patient support system, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for supporting at least a second portion of the body of the patient, said second patient body portion supporting means defining an inflatable first surface configured and disposed substantially coextensive with the support surface of the patient support system; b) means for catching waste, i) said waste catching means being supported by said second patient body portion supporting means so as to be disposed between the patient and said second patient body portion supporting means; c) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means; d) means for collecting the waste removed from said catching means by said removing means, said collecting means being disposed in communication with said removing means; and e) means for detecting and signaling the presence of liquid waste, said detecting and signaling means being in communication with at least one of said catching means, said removing means, and said collecting means.
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19. An apparatus for managing waste from the treatment and/or care and maintenance of a patient who is supported at least as to a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body on a support surface of a patient support system, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for supporting at least a second portion of the body of the patient, said second patient body portion supporting means defining an inflatable first surface configured and disposed substantially coextensive with the support surface of the patient support system; b) means for catching waste, i) said waste catching means being supported by said second patient body portion supporting means so as to be disposed between the patient and said second patient body portion supporting means; and c) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means, said removing means including; i) at least one waste removal conduit connected in communication with said catching means, ii) a holding reservoir connected to said waste removal conduit, iii) a vacuum blower disposed for creating a suction force in said waste removal conduit, iv) means for controlling odor, and v) said odor control means being disposed between said holding reservoir and said vacuum blower so that said vacuum blower communicates with said holding reservoir via said odor control means.
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20. An apparatus for managing waste from the treatment and/or care and maintenance of a patient who is supported at least as to a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body on a support surface of a patient support system, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for supporting at least a second portion of the body of the patient, said second patient body portion supporting means defining an inflatable first surface configured and disposed substantially coextensive with the support surface of the patient support system; b) means for catching waste, i) said waste catching means being supported by said second patient body portion supporting means so as to be disposed between the patient and said second patient body portion supporting means; c) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means, said removing means including; i) at least one waste removal conduit connected in communication with said catching means, ii) a holding reservoir connected to said waste removal conduit, and iii) a vacuum blower disposed for creating a suction force in said waste removal conduit, iv) said vacuum blower being connected in communication with said holding reservoir; and v) a vacuum wand selectively connected in communication with said holding reservoir wherein said vacuum blower can create a suction force in said vacuum wand. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. Apparatus for managing waste from the care and/or treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for supporting at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body at less than capillary closure pressures; and b) means for receiving, removing and collecting for disposal, waste from events associated with care and/or treatment of the patient supported by said patient body portion supporting means, independent of active cooperation of the patient prior to the occurrence of the event, independent of prepositioning the excretory organs of the patient over an enlarged opening defined through said patient body portion supporting means, independent of active cooperation of the hospital staff prior to the occurrence of the care and/or treatment event, independent of movement of any section of said patient body portion supporting means prior to the occurrence of the event.
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26. An apparatus for supporting a patient in the presence of at least one liquid associated with the treatment and/or care and maintenance of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
a) a support member configured to contain pressurized air, i) said support member defining a base portion and a plurality of discrete, elongated, inflatable, cylindrical support fingers extending upwardly from said base portion to define their lengths thereof and disposed adjacent to each other and separated from each other along their lengths thereof when inflated, ii) each said support finger having a free end defining a patient support surface at the end of its length opposite the end extending from said base portion, said patient support surfaces being disposed to support the weight of at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body, and iii) said base portion of said support member further defining a drain opening extending through said base portion and configured to receive a drain conduit passing between said support fingers. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for supporting a patient in the presence of at least one liquid associated with the treatment and/or care and maintenance of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a support member configured to contain pressurized air, i) said support member defining a plurality of discrete, elongated, cylindrical support fingers disposed adjacent to each other and separated from each other, ii) each said support finger having a free end defining a patient support surface, said patient support surfaces being disposed to support the weight of at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body; and b) a liquid impermeable basin member, i) said basin member being configured to conform to and receive a plurality of at least said free ends of said support fingers of said support member, ii) said basin member being further configured with a floor disposed beneath the level of said support surfaces of said support fingers when said basin member is fitted over said support member and receives said support fingers, iii) said basin member being further configured with at least one drain opening defined through said floor, and iv) said floor being configured so as to slope toward said at least one drain opening. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. Apparatus for receiving and containing liquid associated with the treatment and/or care and maintenance of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a housing defining a receptacle configured for receiving a container; b) a liquid impermeable container having an exterior portion configured and disposed to engage said receptacle of said housing, said container further defining an opening; c) a conduit mounted to said housing; d) means for selectively, detachably connecting said conduit to said container opening, said connecting means being configured so as to automatically open a flow path between said conduit and said container when said container is connected to said conduit and automatically close said flow path when said container is disconnected from said conduit. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A method for managing waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the method comprising:
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a) supporting at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body on the top surfaces of a plurality of pressure-relieving fingers, each finger defining an elongated gas inflatable cylinder formed of a flexible material and filled with pressurized gas; b) catching waste arising from events associated with at least one of the care, treatment, and bodily functions of the patient; c) using a vacuum force and gravity to transfer the caught fluid wastes away from the immediate environment of the patient; and d) containing the transferred fluid waste in a portable waste collection container that automatically remains open when disposed to receive waste and automatically seals itself upon being removed from the disposition for receiving waste and remains sealed when being transported to a waste disposal site. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A patient support apparatus comprising:
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a frame; a support surface conforming to at least a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body for supporting the patient above said frame; means for managing waste associated with a patient who is supported at least in part on said support surface, said waste managing means being carried by said frame and including; i) means for supporting at least a second portion of the patient coextensive with said support surface, and ii) means for catching the waste associated with the patient, A) said catching means being supported by said second portion supporting means between the patient and said second portion supporting means; and means for adapting said waste managing means to be carried by said frame, said adapting means being supported by said frame and configured for receiving said second portion supporting means, wherein said adapting means includes; i) an adaptor shell, said adaptor shell defining; A) a bottom surface configured for being carried by said frame, and B) a generally centrally located receiving opening, said receiving opening being defined with a configuration for securingly receiving said waste managing means such that said second portion supporting means is disposed substantially coplanar with said support surface. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A patient support apparatus comprising:
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a) a frame; b) a support surface conforming to at least a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body for supporting the patient above said frame; c) means for managing waste associated with a patient who is supported at least in part on said support surface, said waste managing means being carried by said frame and including; i) means for supporting at least a second portion of the patient coextensive with said support surface, and ii) means for catching the waste associated with the patient, said catching means being supported by said second portion supporting means between the patient and said second portion supporting means, iii) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means, said removing means including a holding reservoir and a vacuum blower, said vacuum blower being connected in communication with said holding reservoir, said removing means including a vacuum wand selectively connected in communication with said holding reservoir wherein said vacuum blower can create a suction force in said vacuum wand, said removing means including a rinse solution conduit having one end carried by said vacuum wand, said removing means including a rinse solution container configured to be removably securable to said frame and connected for communicating with said rinse solution conduit, and said removing means including a rinse pump connected for pumping rinse solution from said rinse solution container through said rinse solution conduit to be dispensed via said vacuum wand; d) means for detecting a predetermined level of liquid in said rinse solution container and providing a signal upon detecting same, said rinse solution level detecting means including; i) a liquid sensor element having a portion disposed for detecting a predetermined level of rinse liquid inside said rinse solution container, and ii) a means for emitting a signal in response to said sensor element detecting said predetermined level of liquid in said rinse solution container; e) a first housing configured for receiving said rinse solution container, i) said first housing including a means for connecting said rinse solution container in communication with said vacuum wand, ii) wherein said connecting means is automatically engagable with said rinse solution container when said first housing receives said rinse solution container, iii) wherein said connecting means is configured to prevent rinse solution from escaping when said connecting means is disengaged from said rinse solution container, iv) said first housing further including a means for coupling said liquid level sensor element in communication with said signal emitting means, and v) wherein said coupling means is automatically engagable when said first housing receives said rinse solution container. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. A patient support apparatus, comprising:
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a frame; a support surface conforming to at least a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body for supporting the patient above said frame; and means for managing waste associated with a patient who is supported at least in part on said support surface, said waste managing means being carried by said frame and including; i) means for supporting at least a second portion of the patient coextensive with said support surface, ii) means for catching the waste associated with the patient, said catching means being supported by said second portion supporting means between the patient and said second portion supporting means, iii) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means, and iv) means for collecting the waste removed from said catching means by said removing means, said waste collecting means being disposed in communication with said removing means. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A patient support apparatus, comprising:
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a) a frame; b) a support surface conforming to at least a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body for supporting the patient above said frame; c) means for managing waste associated with a patient who is supported at least in part on said support surface, said waste managing means being carried by said frame and including; i) means for supporting at least a second portion of the patient coextensive with said support surface, and ii) means for catching the waste associated with the patient, said catching means being supported by said second portion supporting means between the patient and said second portion supporting means; and d) means for automatically partially turning the patient to facilitate cleansing after a waste-producing event, said turning means being carried by said frame.
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53. A patient support apparatus, comprising:
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a) a frame; b) a plurality of low air loss sacks, i) said sacks being carried by said frame, ii) said sacks being configured to be connected in communication with a source of pressurized gas and configured to be inflatable with pressurized gas, and iii) said sacks being configured to define a low air loss support surface conforming to at least a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body for supporting the patient above said frame when said sacks are inflated with pressurized gas; c) means for managing waste associated with a patient who is supported at least in part on said low air loss support surface, said waste managing means including; i) means for supporting at least a second portion of the patient coextensive with said low air loss support surface of said sacks, and ii) means for catching the waste associated with the patient, said catching means being supported by said second portion supporting means between the patient and said second portion supporting means; and d) means for adapting said waste managing means to be carried by said frame, said adapting means being supported by said frame and configured for receiving said second portion supporting means, wherein said adapting means includes; i) an adaptor shell, said adaptor shell defining; A) a bottom surface configured for being carried by said frame, and B) a generally centrally located receiving opening, said receiving opening being defined with a configuration for securingly receiving said waste managing means such that said second portion supporting means is disposed substantially coplanar with said low air loss support surface defined by said sacks. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
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56. A low air loss patient support apparatus, comprising:
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a) a frame; b) a plurality of low air loss sacks, i) said sacks being carried by said frame, ii) said sacks being configured to be connected in communication with a source of pressurized gas and configured to be inflatable with pressurized gas, and iii) said sacks being configured to define a low air loss support surface conforming to at least a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body for supporting the patient above said frame when said sacks are inflated with pressurized gas; and c) means for managing waste associated with a patient who is supported at least in part on said low air loss support surface, said waste managing means including; i) means for supporting at least a second portion of the patient coextensive with said low air loss support surface of said sacks, and ii) means for catching the waste associated with the patient, A) said catching means being supported by said second portion supporting means between the patient and said second portion supporting means; and d) means for automatically partially turning the patient to facilitate cleansing after a waste-producing event, said turning means being carried by said frame.
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57. An apparatus for managing waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
a) means for catching the waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of the patient, said waste catching means including a flexible basin member, i) said basin member defining an upper surface disposed to receive the waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of the patient, said upper surface being configured with a floor and a plurality of discrete, elongated, hollow, cylindrical support fingers extending upwardly from said floor to define their lengths thereof and disposed adjacent to each other and separated from each other along their lengths thereof, ii) each said support finger having a free end defining a patient support surface at the end of its length opposite the end extending from said floor, iii) said basin member being further configured with at least one drain opening defined through said upper surface at a level beneath said patient support surface, and iv) said floor being configured so as to slope toward said at least one drain opening and intersect said fingers so as to angularly truncate said cylinders. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60)
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61. An apparatus for managing waste arising from events connected with at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, which waste includes moisture, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for catching waste arising from at lest one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient; b) a vacuum blower disposed for sucking the wastes from said catching means; c) a holding reservoir disposed in communication with said catching means and said vacuum blower to receive the waste sucked from said catching means; and d) means for detecting the presence of moisture arising from events connected with at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of the patient before the moisture reaches said holding reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. An apparatus for managing waste arising from events connected with at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, which waste includes moisture, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for catching waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient; b) a vacuum blower disposed for sucking the wastes from said catching means; and c) means for controlling odor, said odor control means being connected in communication with said vacuum blower. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69)
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70. An apparatus for managing waste arising from events connected with at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, which waste includes moisture, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a frame; b) means for catching waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, said catching means being carried by said frame; c) means for collecting the waste received by said catching means, said collecting means being removably securable in communication with said catching means; d) a housing carried by said frame and configured for removably receiving and securing said collecting means; and e) wherein said collecting means includes a waste jug, i) said waste jug defining an enclosed container configured with a handle for manual portability, and ii) said waste jug being further configured with a translucent portion and graduations defined in said translucent portion. - View Dependent Claims (71)
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72. An apparatus for managing waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a means for supporting at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body, said supporting means including a flexible member inflatable with pressurized air, said flexible member including a plurality of flexible surfaces forming in combination a discontinuous surface for receiving said portion of the patient'"'"'s body; b) a means for catching waste, said waste catching means being carried by said supporting means; c) a vacuum blower disposed for sucking the wastes from said catching means; d) a holding reservoir disposed in communication with said catching means and said vacuum blower to receive the waste sucked from said catching means by said vacuum blower; e) means for cleansing, said cleansing means being connected in communication with said holding reservoir, wherein; said cleansing means includes a vacuum wand and a diverter valve configured and disposed to selectively connect said vacuum wand in communication with said vacuum blower, said vacuum wand defining a free end with a tip, said tip defining a plurality of safety louvers at the underside surface of the free end thereof.
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Specification