Patient care system

• US 5,279,010 A
• Filed: 04/03/1992
• Issued: 01/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: American Life Support Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Roe, Steven N., Alvord, Lincoln J., Loh, William, Ferrand, Robert J., O'Connor, Richard W., Smith, Stephen D., Grass, Wesley E., Gilmartin, William A., Salsado, Jonathan, Neder, Charles W., Silva, William, Fish, William R., Thomas, Marc M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/864,881
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 5/53.1, 5/53.3, 5/600, 5/601, 5/602, 5/610, 5/624, 5/178, 5/183, 5/280, 5/507.1, 5/662
• US Class Current: 5/600
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/74 for anti-shear when adjusting furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/00 Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons stretchers with facilities for picking up patients or disabled persons A61G1/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/002 having adjustable mattress frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/02 with toilet conveniences, or specially adapted for use with toilets
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05 Parts, details or accessories of beds devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 ; mattresses A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0506 Head or foot boards head or foot boards for comfort or ergonomics A47C19/022
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0507 Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0509 sliding or pivoting downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0514 mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0516 with height adjustability
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0519 stowable, e.g. underneath mattress
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/052 characterised by safety means, e.g. to avoid injuries to patient or caregiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0522 Padding means to soften side-rail surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0525 Side-bolsters rests specially adapted for beds A61G7/065; non-medical devices for prevention against falling-out A47C21/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0526 Restraining enclosures side-rails A61G7/0507; enclosures for maintaining a germ-free environment A61G10/005; restraining device for the body or for body parts A61F5/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0527 Weighing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/057 Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor ventilation openings in mattresses A47C21/042; pneumatic or hydraulic mattresses A47C27/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers

Abstract

A patient support system comprises an inflatable mattress supported on a platform of articulable links by a support system mounted on a weigh frame. The weigh frame is supported on a base frame supported relative to a floor. A pneumatic system includes a platform-mounted blower directing air through passageways in the articulable links. An exhaust passageway parallels the pressure passageway for exhausting opposite the blower. Air flow into and out of air cells in the mattress are controlled by valves coupling the pressurized air chamber and exhaust chamber to cell ports. A connector assembly is used to couple the cells to the platform, to adjacent cells, and to tubes connected to other cells. A footboard assembly is formed as two gates that swing out from the foot of the bed. Each gate has a storable tray that is positionable on either side of the gate. A headboard has a removable central panel for providing emergency patient access. Additionally, each corner of the headboard has a telescoping equipment support post positionable at a variety of heights and having equipment supports that automatically drop into place upon removal from storage in the headboard. A three-point weight sensing system tracks patient weight and generates pre-exit and exit alarms based on sensed movement of the patient on the mattress. A portable control unit wraps around a guard rail to provide both patient and nurse controls, and uses a unitary membrane to cover exposed faces of the controls and resiliently wrap around the guard rail. Selectively engagable guide or fifth wheels are mounted to the base frame to provide direction stability during bed movement. The platform is articulable to allow a patient to enter or exit the bed in a standing position. An adjustable stand up board is selectively positionable at the foot of the bed to take the patient'"'"'s weight during this process. A vertically telescoping guard rail elevation system provides energy storage to resist lowering and assist raising the guard rail. A brace is provided for seating the platform on the weigh frame when the bed is in a low position and to assist in movement of the bed longitudinally when in the low position.

Claims

1. A bed comprising:

platform means having an end and a side for supporting a patient above a floor;

a board mounted generally vertically adjacent the end of the platform means;

means for pivoting the board about a generally vertical axis, whereby the board is movable between a first position in which the board extends along the end, a second position in which the board is pivoted away from the end, and a third position extending away from the side; and

a table mounted on the board for moving between a storage position in which the table is positioned vertically against the board and a raised position in which the table is positioned horizontally;

whereby the table is positioned alongside the platform means when the table is in the raised position and the board is in the third position.

2. The bed according to claim 1 wherein the board is parallel to the foot end of the bed when in the first and third positions.

3. A bed comprising:

platform means for supporting a person above a floor and having a foot end and a side extending from the foot end;

a base for supporting the platform means on a floor;

a board mounted generally vertically on the base independently of the platform means and adjacent the foot end;

means for pivoting the board about a generally vertical axis, whereby the board is movable between a first position in which the board is adjacent to the foot end and a second position in which the board is pivoted away from the foot end;

means for lowering the foot end toward the floor while maintaining the board in the second position relative to the base, and the board thereby being positioned for use as a support by a person supported on the platform means while the foot end is lowered toward the floor.

4. A bed comprising:

a base supported on a floor;

platform means for supporting a person and having a foot end and opposite sides, each side meeting the foot end at a corresponding corner;

means for supporting the platform means on the base, including means for tilting the platform means toward an upright position relative to the base in which the platform means has a generally vertical orientation with the foot end adjacent to the base;

a first board mounted to the base independently of the platform means and extending adjacent to and higher than the foot end when the platform means is disposed generally horizontally; and

first means for pivoting the board about a generally vertical axis positioned adjacent to a first one of the corners, whereby the board is movable between a first position in which the board is adjacent to the foot end and a second position in which the board is pivoted away from the foot end, the board being positioned in line with the side of the platform means when the board is in the second position and the platform means is tilted toward the upright position, the board thereby remaining in the second position relative to the base for use as a support by a person on the platform means.

5. A bed according to claim 4 wherein the first board extends partially along the length of the foot end, and the bed further comprises a second board mounted to the base frame independently of the platform means and extending, when in a first position, along a portion of the length of the foot end means toward the first board when the first board is in the first position, and second means for pivoting the second board about a generally vertical axis positioned adjacent to the second one of the corners, whereby the second board is movable between a first position in which the board is adjacent to the foot end and a second position in which the board is pivoted away from the foot end, whereby the first and second boards are adjacent to opposite sides of the platform means when the first and second boards are in the respective second positions and the platform means is tilted toward the upright position, the first and second boards remaining in the respective second positions relative to the base for providing side supports for a person supported on the platform means.

6. A bed according to claim 5 further comprising means for releasably securing the first and second boards in the respective second positions, and thereby preventing pivoting of the first and second boards during use by a person.

7. A bed comprising:

platform means having opposite ends for supporting a patient above a floor;

a board mounted generally vertically adjacent one end of the platform means and having horizontally spaced, generally vertically extending channels;

means for pivoting the board about a generally vertical axis, whereby the board is movable between a first position in which the board is adjacent to the one end of the platform means and a second position in which the board is pivoted away from the one end of the platform means;

a table positionable adjacent to the channels and having a guide element extending into each channel, which guide elements are slidable relative to the channels for moving the table between a storage position in which the guide elements are positioned in lower regions of the channels, and a raised position in which the guide elements are positioned at upper regions of the channels;

pivot means coupling the table to the guide elements for pivoting the table about a pivot axis between an upright position in which the table is generally vertically disposed and a lowered position in which the table is generally horizontally disposed; and

first stop means for limiting the pivoting of the table relative to the channels in a first direction.

8. A bed comprising:

platform means having opposite ends for supporting a patient above a floor;

a board mounted generally vertically adjacent one end of the platform means;

means for pivoting the board about a generally vertical axis, whereby the board is movable between a first position in which the board is adjacent to the one end of the platform means and a second position in which the board is pivoted away from the one end of the platform means;

a stand-up board extending between the sides of the platform means; and

means for mounting the stand-up board on the foot end of the platform means, the mounting means being adjustable for varying the angle of the stand-up board relative to the platform means.

9. A bed comprising:

platform means having opposite ends for supporting a patient above a floor;

a board mounted generally vertically adjacent one end of the platform means;

means for pivoting the board about a generally vertical axis, whereby the board is movable between a first position in which the board is adjacent to the one end of the platform means and a second position in which the board is pivoted away from the one end of the platform means;

an inflatable mattress having a predetermined thickness supported on the platform means and having a foot end on the foot end of the platform means;

a stand-up board extending between the sides of the platform means;

means for mounting the stand-up board on the foot end of the platform means adjacent to the mattress; and

means for moving the stand-up board from a support position in which the stand-up board extends above the mattress for contact by the feet of a person when the platform means is tilted up with the foot end down, and a storage position in which the stand-up board is positioned below the upper surface of the mattress.