Hospital bed

• US 6,691,347 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Hand, Barry D., Doehler, Steven J., Brooks, Jack J., Delk, Dana H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Santos, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US10/335,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 560/0, 560/1, 560/7, 560/8, 560/9, 561/0, 561/1, 562/9
• US Class Current: 5/607
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0428 Patient cradles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0485 Inflatable rests for lifting of patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0487 Motor-assisted positioning
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/04 tiltable around transverse or longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/005 tiltable around transverse horizontal axis, e.g. for Trendelenburg position rocking beds for physical therapy A61H1/003; hanging patient inclined downwardly for drawing him out A61H2203/0493
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/008 tiltable around longitudinal axis, e.g. for rolling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/003 Rocking or oscillating around a horizontal axis transversal to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0103 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1238 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0456 Supine
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/207 partial O2-value
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/008 Supine patient supports or bases, e.g. improving air-way access to the lungs

Abstract

A patient support apparatus including a first patient support configured to be rotated about a longitudinal axis. The first patient support illustratively includes an inflatable bladder. A backboard may be removably coupled to the patient support apparatus and is configured to facilitate transport of a patient to and from the patient support apparatus.

Claims

1. A proning bed comprising:

a frame;

a first support member coupled to the frame and configured to be located adjacent a posterior side of a patient;

a second support member coupled to the frame and configured to be located adjacent an anterior side of the pattern;

a first patient support including an inflatable bladder, the first patient support supported by the first support member and configured to support the patient in a supine position;

a second patient support supported by the second support member and configured to support the patient in a prone position; and

wherein the first support member and the second support member are configured to rotate the first patient support and the second patient support about a longitudinal axis.

2. The proning bed of claim 1, further comprising a rotatable drive mechanism operably coupled to the first support member and the second support member, the drive mechanism being configured to rotate the first patient support and the second patient support about the longitudinal axis.

3. The proning bed of claim 2, wherein the drive mechanism is configured to rotate the first patient support and the second patient support by at least 180°

about the longitudinal axis.

4. The proning bed of claim 1, wherein the second patient support includes an inflatable bladder.

5. The proning bed of claim 4, further comprising a controller configured to selectively inflate and deflate the inflatable bladder of the first patient support and the inflatable bladder of the second patient support.

6. The proning bed of claim 1, further comprising a fluid supply in fluid communication with the inflatable bladder of the first patient support and configured to inflate and deflate the bladder.

7. The proning bed of claim 1, wherein the first support member comprises at least one pivotable door configured to provide access to the patient in a prone position, the inflatable bladder being coupled to the at least one pivotable door.

8. The proning bed of claim 1, wherein the second support member comprises at least one pivot-able door configured to provide access to the patient in a supine position.

9. The pinning bed of claim 1, further comprising a backboard supported by the first support member, the backboard removably coupled to the proning bed and being configured to facilitate transport of the patient to and from the proning bed.

10. The proning bed of claim 9, wherein the backboard includes at least one air bladder configured to provide a pressure reducing surface for the patient.

11. The proning bad of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of connectors configured to mechanically couple the backboard to the proning bed.

12. A method for handling a patient on a proning bed, the method comprising:

providing a proning bed having a bed support, first and second support members, and first and second patient supports coupled to the first and second support members, at least one of the first and second patient supports including an inflatable portion, and the patient supported by the first patient support in a supine position;

coupling the first support member to the bed support;

coupling the second support member to the bed support;

positioning a patient on the first patient support in a supine position;

inflating the inflatable portion; and

moving the first support member and the second support member so that the patient is supported by the second patient support in a prone position.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first patient support includes an inflatable portion.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second patient support includes an inflatable portion.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the proning bed further includes a fluid supply configured to selectively inflate and deflate the inflatable portions of the first and second patient supports.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the atop of inflating the inflatable portion of the second patient support before the first and second support members are moved.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of inflating the inflatable portion comprises the step of inflating the inflatable portion of the first patient support.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of deflating the inflatable portion of the first patient support.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of inflating the inflatable portion comprises the step of inflating the inflatable portion of the first patient support before the first patient support is coupled to the bed support.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of removing the first support member after the step of moving the first support member and the second support member.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of transporting the patient to the proning bed on a backboard, and removably coupling the backboard to the bed support.

22. A therapy bed comprising:

a base;

a frame coupled to the base;

a patient support assembly including a first lateral side and a second lateral side, the patient support assembly coupled to the frame and configured to be rotated about a longitudinal axis the longitudinal axis being between the first lateral side and the second lateral side, the patient support assembly including a backboard having a first patient support surface, the backboard being removably coupled to the frame to facilitate transport of the patient to and from the therapy bed; and

a motorized drive mechanism configured to rotate the patient support assembly about the longitudinal axis.

23. The therapy bed of claim 22, further comprising a second patient support surface, the patient lying on the first patient support surface in a supine position, the first and second support surfaces configured to rotate by at least 180°

about the longitudinal axis so that the patient Is lying on the second patient support surface in a prone position.

24. The therapy bed of claim 23, wherein the motorized drive mechanism is a rotatable drive mechanism.

25. The therapy bed of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of connectors configured to mechanically couple the backboard to the frame.

26. The therapy bed of claim 22, wherein the motorized drive mechanism includes a rotatable member coupled to the patient support assembly and a motor operably coupled to the rotatable member, the motor being configured to rotate the rotatable member.

27. The therapy bed of claim 22, further comprising a controller operably coupled to the motorized drive mechanism to control the rotation of the patient support assembly about the longitudinal axis.

28. The therapy bed of claim 27, wherein the controller is programmable.

29. The therapy bed of claim 28, wherein the controller is programmed to position the patient support assembly in a prone position.

30. The therapy bed of claim 28, further comprising a pivot mechanism coupled to the patient support assembly to rotate the patient support assembly about a pivot axis, the pivot axis being generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, the pivot mechanism being operably coupled to the controller.

31. The therapy bed of claim 30, wherein the controller is programmed to cause rotation of the patient support assembly about the pivot axis to provide rotational therapy to the patient.

32. A therapy bed comprising:

a base;

a frame coupled to the base; and

a patient support assembly coupled to the frame and configured to be rotated about a longitudinal axis, the patient support assembly including a backboard having a first patient support surface, the backboard being removably coupled to the frame to facilitate transport of the patient to and from the therapy bed, and wherein the backboard includes an inflatable portion.

33. The therapy bed of claim 32, wherein the inflatable portion of the backboard is deflated when the patient is in the prone position.

34. The therapy bed of claim 32, wherein the second patient support surface includes an inflatable portion.

35. The therapy bed of claim 34, wherein the inflatable portion of the second patient support surface is inflated when the patient is in the prone position.

36. The therapy bed of claim 34, further comprising a fluid supply configured to selectively inflate and deflate the inflatable portion of the backboard and the second support surface.

37. A method for handling a patient on a therapy bed, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a backboard including a first patient support surface;

positioning a patient on the first support surface in a supine position;

providing a therapy bed in spaced relation to the backboard, the therapy bed including a base and a frame coupled to the base;

transporting the backboard to the therapy bed;

releasably coupling the backboard to the frame;

providing a motorized drive mechanism to impart a rotation to the patient support surface; and

rotating the first patient support surface of the backboard about a longitudinal axis such that the patient is rotated from a supine position to a generally prone position.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the steps of providing a second patient support surface, coupling the second patient support surface to the frame, and simultaneously rotating the first patient support surface and the second patient support surface.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of simultaneously rotating the first patient support surface and the second patient support surface comprises rotating the first patient support surface and the second patient support surface by at least 180°

about the longitudinal axis.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of removing the backboard from the therapy bed after the step of rotating the first patient support surface and the second patient support surface.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of releasably coupling comprises the step of mechanically coupling the backboard to the frame through a plurality of connectors.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of providing a controller operably coupled to the motorized drive mechanism and configured to control the motorized drive mechanism.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of automatically positioning the patient in the prone position.

44. A method for handling a patient on a therapy bed, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a backboard including a first patient support surface and an inflatable portion;

positioning a patient on the first support surface in a supine position;

providing a therapy bed in spaced relation to the backboard, the therapy bed including a base and a frame coupled to the base;

transporting the backboard to the therapy bed;

releasably coupling the backboard to the frame; and

rotating the first patient support surface of the backboard about a longitudinal axis.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the second patient support surface includes an inflatable portion.

46. The method of claim 44, further comprising the step of inflating the inflatable portion of the backboard.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the inflating step is performed before the rotating step.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of deflating the inflatable portion of the backboard.

49. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of inflating the inflatable portion of the second patient support surface.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the therapy bed further includes a fluid supply configured to selectively inflate and deflate the inflatable portion of the backboard and the inflatable portion of the second patient support surface.