Apparatus and method for managing waste from patient care, maintenance and treatment

• US 5,438,721 A
• Filed: 06/11/1993
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SSI Medical Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Dalton, Roger D., Trauernicht, Timothy R., Smith, Kenneth R., Stolpmann, James R., Romano, James J., Bolden, Michael V., Thomas, James M. C., Ashcraft, David N., Pahno, Demetrios A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/074,860
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 5/606, 5/450, 5/453, 5/455, 5/461, 5/463, 5/468, 5/469, 5/484, 5/503.1, 5/910, 5/914, 5/928, 4/450, 4/453-457, 4/480, 4/482, 4/615, 4/616
• US Class Current: 5/604
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/05 Splash shields for protection of the surgeon, e.g. splash guards connected to the apparatus A41D13/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0005 Means for bathing bedridden persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/02 with toilet conveniences, or specially adapted for use with toilets
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/91 with suction means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/928 with sprinkling or washing means

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 liquid/gas separator and a vacuum blower. A liquid waste pump is connected to the separator to transfer liquid waste to a holding jug. A vacuum wand provides both suction and rinsing liquid via an on-demand pumping supply configuration that enables the rinsing liquid supplied from a rinse jug to be heated. Liquid levels in the rinse liquid jug, the holding jug, and the separator'"'"'s holding reservoir are sensed by capacitive 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.

Claims

1. 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:

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 coplanar 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.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

c) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising:

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.

4. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein:

e) said removing means includes;

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.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein:

f) said removing means further includes;

i) a drain fitting configured and disposed to permit transfer of fluid waste between said waste removal conduit and said catching means.

6. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein:

e) said catching means includes a liquid impermeable basin member, said basin member including at least one drain opening; and

f) said removing means includes;

i) at least one waste removal conduit connected in communication with said at least one drain opening of said basin member,

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.

7. An apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising:

e) means for detecting a predetermined level of liquid in said holding reservoir and providing a signal upon detecting same, said liquid level detecting means including;

i) a sensor element having a portion disposed for detecting a predetermined level of liquid in said holding reservoir, and

ii) a means for emitting a signal in response to said sensor detecting said predetermined level of liquid in said holding reservoir.

8. A patient support apparatus, comprising:

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; and

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 coplanar with said support surface, said second portion supporting means being a separate element from 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.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising:

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.

10. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein:

B) at least a portion of said catching means being permeable to liquids.

11. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said waste managing means further includes:

iii) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means.

12. A patient support apparatus, comprising:

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; and

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 coplanar with said support surface,

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

iii) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means, wherein;

said removing means includes a holding reservoir and a vacuum blower being connected in communication with said holding reservoir; and

e) said removing means further includes a vacuum wand selectively connected in communication with said holding reservoir wherein said vacuum blower can create a suction force in said vacuum wand.

13. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein:

f) said removing means further includes;

i) a rinse solution conduit having one end carried by said vacuum wand,

ii) a rinse solution container configured to be removably securable to said frame and connected for communicating with said rinse solution conduit, and

iii) 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.

14. An apparatus as in claim 13, further comprising:

f) means for activating operation of said rinse pump responsive to the user'"'"'s access to said vacuum wand.

15. An apparatus as in claim 13, further comprising:

f) 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.

16. A low air loss patient support apparatus, comprising:

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 coplanar 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.

17. An apparatus as in claim 16, further comprising:

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.

18. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said waste managing means further includes:

iii) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means.

19. An apparatus as in claim 18, wherein said waste managing means further includes:

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.

20. A low air loss patient support apparatus, comprising:

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 coplanar 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, wherein;

B) at least a portion of said catching means being permeable to liquids.

21. Apparatus for managing waste from the care and/or treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a) a rinse liquid container;

b) a rinse liquid nozzle;

c) a heat exchanger;

d) a means for carrying liquid between said container and said nozzle via said heat exchanger; and

e) a means for controlling the flow of liquid provided to said nozzle.

22. An apparatus as in claim 21, further comprising:

a means for regulating the temperature of liquid provided to said rinse liquid nozzle.

23. An apparatus as in claim 22, wherein:

said means for regulating the temperature of liquid provided to said nozzle includes a mixing valve configured and disposed in communication with said liquid carrying means between said heat exchanger and said nozzle, said mixing valve having an outlet connected in communication with said nozzle.

24. An apparatus as in claim 23, wherein:

said means for controlling the flow of liquid provided to said nozzle includes a rinse solution pump communicating with said liquid carrying means; and

said means for regulating the temperature of liquid provided to said nozzle includes;

a temperature sensor configured and disposed to sense the temperature of liquid provided from said mixing valve and to provide signals indicating said temperature; and

a controller configured and disposed in communication with said temperature sensor to control operation of said pump depending upon signals provided by said temperature sensor.

25. An apparatus as in claim 21, further comprising:

a splash guard configured and disposed to intercept back-splashing liquid dispensed from said nozzle.

26. An apparatus as in claim 21, further comprising:

a means for providing rinse solution on demand to said nozzle and without surges of rinse solution.

27. An apparatus as in claim 26, wherein said on demand rinse solution means comprises:

a rinse solution pump communicating with said liquid carrying means;

an elastic accumulator forming part of said liquid carrying means disposed between said pump and said nozzle; and

a pressure switch disposed between said pump and said nozzle to sense pressure in said liquid carrying means and said accumulator.

28. An apparatus as in claim 21, further comprising:

means for detecting the level of liquid inside said liquid container, said liquid level detecting means including a capacitive liquid level sensor disposed outside said container to detect a predetermined level of liquid inside said liquid container.

29. An apparatus as in claim 21, wherein:

said liquid container has a bottom, an outlet, and a siphon tube disposed inside said liquid container with a first end in communication with said outlet and a second end disposed opposite said first end and near said bottom, said container including a check valve disposed in said tube.

30. An apparatus as in claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving said liquid container; and

means for positively locking said container into said receiving means wherein said positively locking means includes a spring-biased latching member configured and disposed to engage said liquid container.

31. An apparatus as in claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving said liquid container; and

means for detecting when said liquid container is securably received by said receiving means, wherein said securably received detecting means includes a micro-switch and a spring-biased plunger carried by said receiving means and configured and disposed to activate said micro-switch to a first status when said liquid container is securably received by said receiving means and to activate said micro-switch to a second status when said liquid container is other than securably received by said receiving means.

32. 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 first portion of the patient'"'"'s body, wherein said first portion supporting means includes;

i) a support member configured to contain pressurized air,

ii) said support member defining a plurality of discrete elongated cylindrical support fingers disposed adjacent to each other and separated from each other along their lengths thereof, 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 first portion of the patient'"'"'s body; and

b) means for catching waste, said waste catching means being carried by said first portion supporting means and wherein said catching means includes;

i) a liquid impermeable basin member,

ii) said basin member being configured to conform to and receive said support fingers,

iii) said basin member being further configured with a floor disposed beneath the upward-most level of said patient support surfaces when said basin member is fitted over said support fingers and receives said support fingers,

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.

38. An apparatus as in claim 32, further comprising:

means for turning the patient to facilitate cleansing of waste, said turning means being disposed adjacent said first portion supporting means.

39. An apparatus as in claim 38, wherein:

said turning means includes at least one turning sack and an air flow diverter valve disposed in communication with said turning sack.

40. An apparatus as in claim 39, wherein:

said at least one turning sack including a first envelope configured to be inflated with pressurized air and a first web diagonally disposed within said first envelope to separate said first envelope into at least a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber including a bottom wall configured with a first air supply opening, said second chamber including a bottom wall configured with a second air supply opening, said first chamber including a first side wall configured with a first air communication slot, said second chamber including a second side wall configured with a second air communication slot,

said at least one turning sack including a second envelope configured to be inflated with pressurized air and a second web diagonally disposed within said second envelope to separate said second envelope into at least a third chamber and a fourth chamber, said third chamber including a third side wall configured with a third air communication slot, said fourth chamber including a fourth side wall configured with a fourth air communication slot,

said first air communication slot being connected to communicate with said third air communication slot, said second air communication slot being connected to communicate with said fourth air communication slot.

41. An apparatus as in claim 38, further comprising:

means for preventing operation of said turning means unless at least one predetermined safety condition has been met.

42. An apparatus as in claim 38, further comprising:

means for automatically deflating a portion of said adapting means to facilitate operation of said turning means.

43. An apparatus as in claim 32, wherein:

said catching means further includes;

a liquid permeable filter sheet disposed to be carried atop said basin member and detachably securable thereover by at least one pair of substrates carrying hook-and-loop fasteners.

44. An apparatus as in claim 43, wherein:

said filter sheet further includes;

a plurality of liquid drainage holes formed in a generally centrally disposed section of said sheet.

45. An apparatus as in claim 32, further comprising:

a waste reservoir connected in communication with said at least one drain opening;

a vacuum flow diverter valve disposed between and in communication with said reservoir and said at least one drain opening and being configured to alternate selectably between at least a first orientation and a second orientation;

a vacuum wand disposed in communication with said vacuum flow diverter valve and in communication with said reservoir via said first orientation of said vacuum flow diverter valve and in communication with said at least one drain opening via said first orientation of said vacuum flow diverter valve; and

wherein said vacuum flow diverter includes a magnet and at least one Hall-effect sensor for detecting when said vacuum flow diverter valve is disposed in said first orientation.

46. An apparatus as in claim 32, further comprising:

a waste reservoir connected in communication with said at least one drain opening; and

means for detecting the level of liquid inside said waste reservoir, said liquid waste level detecting means including a capacitive liquid level sensor disposed outside said reservoir to detect a predetermined level of liquid inside said waste reservoir.

47. An apparatus as in claim 32, further comprising:

a waste jug configured to be removably connectable into communication with said at least one drain opening; and

,

means for detecting the level of liquid inside said waste jug, said waste jug liquid level detecting means including a capacitive liquid level sensor disposed outside said waste jug to detect a predetermined level of liquid inside said waste jug.

48. An apparatus as in claim 32, further comprising:

a waste jug configured to be removably connectable into communication with said at least one drain opening;

means for receiving said waste jug; and

means for positively locking said waste jug into said receiving means wherein said positively locking means includes a spring-biased latching member configured and disposed to engage said waste jug.

49. An apparatus as in claim 32, further comprising:

a waste jug configured to be removably connectable into communication with said at least one drain opening; and

means for receiving said waste jug; and

means for detecting when said waste jug is securably received by said receiving means, wherein said securably received detecting means includes a micro-switch and a spring-biased plunger carried by said receiving means and configured and disposed to activate said micro-switch to a first status when said waste jug is securably received by said receiving means and to activate said micro-switch to a second status when said waste jug is other than securably received by said receiving means.

50. An apparatus as in claim 49, further comprising:

a holding reservoir enclosing said separating tube and defining an air outlet.

51. An apparatus as in claim 50, further comprising:

a check valve disposed in communication with said air outlet of said holding reservoir.

52. An apparatus as in claim 32, further comprising:

a means for separating liquid waste from the waste caught by said catching means, said separating means being disposed in communication with said at least one drain opening and including a curved separating tube.

53. An apparatus as in claim 52, further comprising:

a vacuum blower disposed in communication with said separating tube via said air outlet of said holding reservoir.

33. An apparatus as in claim 321, further comprising:

a frame; and

means for adapting said first portion supporting means to be carried by said frame.

34. An apparatus as in claim 33, wherein said adapting means includes:

at least one inflatable slotted cushion having an upper exterior panel and a lower exterior panel, said lower exterior panel defining at least one air supply opening and at least a first elongated opening, said upper panel defining a second elongated opening configured and disposed in registry with said first elongated opening defined in said lower panel, each said elongated opening defining an opposite end of a slot defined through a portion of said cushion.

35. An apparatus as in claim 33, wherein said adapting means includes:

at least one pair of inflatable chambers disposed opposite one another and being configured to be separately inflated and deflated for selectively inflating at least one inflatable chamber while deflating said oppositely disposed chamber, thereby changing the relative height of one of said pair of chambers with respect to the height of said oppositely disposed chamber.

36. An apparatus as in claim 33, wherein said adapting means includes:

at least one peripheral containment cushion disposed to form a border around at least a portion of said first portion supporting means.

37. An apparatus as in claim 33, further comprising:

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 second portion of the patient'"'"'s body for supporting the patient above said frame when said sacks are inflated with pressurized gas; and

wherein said means for supporting at least a first portion of the patient is configured to support the first portion of the patient coextensive with said low air loss support surface defined by said sacks.