Proning bed

• US 7,137,160 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2004
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Robinson, Richard, Weidner, Eric, Cavanaugh, Matthew R., Hand, Barry D., Babson, Vincent L., Doehler, Steven J., Brooks, Jack J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trettel, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/795,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20040168253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 560/7, 560/9, 562/1, 562/3, 562/4, 542/4, 542/5, 542/8
• US Class Current: 5/607
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/00 Stretchers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/04 tiltable around transverse or longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/06 raising or lowering of the whole table surface A61G13/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/121 Head or neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/122 Upper body, e.g. chest
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/123 Lower body, e.g. pelvis, hip, buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/1245 Knees, upper or lower legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/1285 having modular surface parts, e.g. being replaceable or turnable
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/325 prone
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient
• 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: A61G 7/0507 Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/051 pivoting sideward
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0513 covering particular sections of the bed, e.g. one or more partial side-rail sections along the bed
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0516 with height adjustability
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0522 Padding means to soften side-rail surfaces
• 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 7/07 for the head or torso, e.g. special back-rests pillows in general A47G9/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1019 Vertical extending columns or mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1046 : Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1057 : Supported platforms, frames or sheets for patient in lying position

Abstract

A bed (10) includes a base (12) and a frame assembly (14). A head end support assembly (16) and a foot end support assembly (18) are coupled between the base (12) and the frame assembly (14). The frame assembly (14) includes first and second side frame members (80, 82) located above the base (12). The bed (10) also includes a plurality of latch mechanisms (160) coupled to the first and second side frame members (80, 82), and a patient support surface (162) configured to be coupled to the first and second side frame members (80, 82) by the plurality of latch mechanisms (160). A rotational drive mechanism (130) is coupled to the foot end support assembly (18) to rotate the frame assembly (14) about its longitudinal axis to a prone position. A proning surface (250) is coupled to the frame assembly (14) to support a patient in the prone position.

Claims

1. A bed comprising:

a base;

a frame coupled to the base, the frame including a top surface and a bottom surface;

a patient support surface coupled to the frame;

a support assembly coupled to the base and the frame, the support assembly including a drive mechanism coupled to the frame which is configured to rotate the frame about a longitudinal axis to move the patient support surface from a supine position to a prone position;

a proning surface configured to be coupled to the frame to support a patient in the prone position; and

a side support coupled to the frame and including a patient engaging surface and a coupling mechanism for attaching the patient engaging surface to the frame, the coupling mechanism being configured to permit movement of the patient engaging surface along an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the bed to abut a side of a patient on the patient support surface.

2. The bed of claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism is further configured to permit vertical adjustment of the patient engaging surface.

3. The bed of claim 2, wherein the coupling mechanism is further configured to permit movement of the patient engaging surface along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis.

4. The bed of claim 3, wherein the coupling mechanism includes:

a first channel coupled to the frame;

a first block slidably received within the first channel and supported for vertical movement;

a second channel coupled to the first block;

a second block slidably received within the second channel and supported for movement along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis;

a third block coupled to the second block; and

a sleeve supported for movement relative to the third block along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis.

5. The bed of claim 4, wherein the coupling mechanism further includes a clevis coupled to the sleeve, and a cylinder pivotably coupled to the clevis and supporting the patient engaging surface.

6. The bed of claim 1, wherein the patient engaging surface is pivotable relative to the coupling mechanism about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis.

7. The bed of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to hold the patient engaging surface in a desired location.

8. The bed of claim 1, wherein the bed includes a head end and an opposing foot end, the side support being positioned adjacent one of the head end and the foot end.

9. The bed of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is configured to rotate the frame at least 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis.

10. A bed comprising:

a base;

a frame coupled to the base;

a patient support surface coupled to the frame;

a drive mechanism coupled to the frame which is configured to rotate the frame about a longitudinal axis to move the patient support surface from a supine position to a prone position; and

a side support coupled to the frame and including a patient engaging surface and a coupling mechanism for attaching the patient engaging surface to the frame, the coupling mechanism being configured to provide at least four degrees of freedom for movement of the patient engaging surface, including a first degree of freedom permitting movement of the patient engaging surface along an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the bed to abut a side of a patient on the patient support surface, a second degree of freedom permitting movement of the patient engaging surface along a vertical axis, a third degree of freedom permitting movement of the patient engaging surface along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed, and a fourth degree of freedom permitting rotational movement of the patient engaging surface along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed.

11. The bed of claim 10, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to restrict the number of degrees of freedom.

12. A bed comprising:

a base;

a frame supported by the base;

a patient support surface removably coupled to and supported by the frame; and

a side support supported by the frame and independent of the patient support, the side support including a patient engaging surface and a coupling mechanism for supporting the patient engaging surface, the coupling mechanism being configured to permit movement of the patient engaging surface along an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the bed to abut a side of a patient on the patient support surface, the coupling mechanism being further configured to permit movement of the patient engaging surface along a vertical axis.

13. The bed of claim 12, further comprising a support assembly including a drive mechanism coupled to the frame which is configured to rotate the frame about a longitudinal axis to move the patient support surface from a supine position to a prone position.

14. The bed of claim 12, the coupling mechanism being further configured to permit movement of the patient engaging surface along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed.

15. The bed of claim 12, wherein the patient engaging surface is pivotable relative to the coupling mechanism about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed.

16. The bed of claim 12, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to hold the patient engaging surface in a desired location.

17. The bed of claim 12, wherein the bed includes a head end and an opposing foot end, the side support being positioned adjacent one of the head end and the foot end.

18. The bed of claim 12, wherein the coupling mechanism includes a channel supported by the frame and a member slidably received within the channel and supported for vertical movement.

19. The bed of claim 18, wherein the coupling mechanism further includes a track and a block supported for sliding movement along an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the bed.

20. The bed of claim 12, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to hold the patient engaging surface in a desired location.

21. A bed comprising:

a base;

a frame supported by the base;

a patient support surface supported by the frame;

a support assembly including a drive mechanism coupled to the frame which is configured to rotate the frame about a longitudinal axis to move the patient support surface from a supine position to a prone position; and

a side support supported by the frame, the side support including a patient engaging surface, a coupling mechanism for supporting the patient engaging surface, and an inflatable bladder coupled to the patient engaging surface and configured to move the patient engaging surface inwardly along an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the bed to abut a side of a patient.

22. The bed of claim 21, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises an expandable bellows.

23. A bed comprising:

a base;

a frame supported by the base;

a patient support surface supported by the frame; and

a side support supported by the frame, the side support including a patient engaging surface, a coupling mechanism for supporting the patient engaging surface, and an inflatable bladder coupled to the patient engaging surface and configured to move the patient engaging surface inwardly alone an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the bed to abut a side of a patient, wherein the inflatable bladder is supplied with pulses of air pressure to compress the side of a patient and provide percussion/vibration therapy.

24. The bed of claim 23, wherein the pulses of air pressure are sent at a range of between 0 and 25 Hertz.

25. A bed comprising:

a base;

a frame supported by the base;

a patient support surface supported by the frame; and

a side support supported by the frame, the side support including a top surface, a lower housing coupled to the top surface, an inflatable bladder received within the lower housing and supporting a patient engaging surface, wherein air supplied to the bladder causes the patient engaging surface to move out of the lower housing and inwardly along an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the bed to abut a side of a patient.

26. The bed of claim 25, further comprising a support assembly including a drive mechanism coupled to the frame which is configured to rotate the frame about a longitudinal axis to move the patient support surface from a supine position to a prone position.

27. The bed of claim 25, wherein the air bladder is coupled to an air supply which delivers air pressure in pulses.

28. The bed of claim 27, wherein a vacuum pulls the inflatable bladder back into the lower housing.

29. The bed of claim 25, wherein the pulses of air pressure are sent at a range of between 0 and 25 Hertz.