Patient support including turn assist, low air loss, or integrated lateral transfer

• US 7,712,171 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Butler, Mary
• Primary Examiner(s): CONLEY, FREDRICK C
• Application Number:
  US12/041,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20080263763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 571/5, 572/2, 565/53, 565/7, 564/0, 564/4, 5 8/11.R
• US Class Current: 5/715
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/16 bariatric, e.g. heavy or obese
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05715 with modular blocks, or inserts, with layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05784 with ventilating means, e.g. mattress or cushion with ventilating holes or ventilators

Abstract

A patient support including turn assist, low air loss or integrated lateral transfer. The patient support is adapted to support a bariatric patient and includes a turning bladder for turning or assisting in turning a bariatric patient.

Claims

1. A turning bladder to turn a bariatric patient, comprising:

a base portion;

a top portion positioned above the base portion;

a first side portion coupled to the base portion and to the top portion;

a second side portion coupled to the base portion and to the top portion;

a first fastener, coupled to the first side portion, the first fastener including a closed position and an open position, wherein the closed position holds the first side portion in a closed condition and the open position releases the first side portion to an open condition having a first height; and

a restraint coupled to the top portion and to the base portion and disposed between the first side portion and the second side portion, the restraint including a dimension to control a distance between the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the restraint has a center height configured to be less than the first height of the first side portion, and the second side portion has a second height configured to be about equal to the first height of the first side portion, and the center height of the restraint is less than the first height and the second height.

2. The turning bladder of claim 1, wherein the first side portion, the top portion, and the base portion define a first chamber defining a first volume to hold a fluid.

3. The turning bladder of claim 2, wherein the second side portion, the top portion, and the base portion define a second chamber defining a second volume to hold a fluid.

4. The turning bladder of claim 3, wherein the restraint is disposed substantially along a longitudinal centerline of the turning bladder and provides for air flow from the first chamber to the second chamber.

5. A patient support to support a bariatric patient, comprising:

a foam member;

at least one air bladder, supported by the foam member; and

a turning bladder supported by the at least one air bladder and adapted to be inflated with a fluid, the turning bladder including a base portion, a top portion, a first side portion and a second side portion each coupled to the top portion and to the base portion, and a restraint coupled to the top portion and to the base portion and disposed between the first side portion and the second side portion, the restraint including a dimension to restrict a distance between the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the first side portion is configured to have a first height, the second side portion is configured to have a second height about equal to the first height of the first side portion, and the restraint is configured to have a center height less than the first height and the second height.

6. The patient support of claim 5, wherein the restraint comprises a material including at least one aperture, the at least one aperture providing for the transfer of the fluid from one side of the restraint to the other side of the restraint.

7. The patient support of claim 6, wherein the restraint comprises a material including a plurality of apertures.

8. The patient support of claim 7, wherein the material including a plurality of apertures includes a perforated fabric.

9. The patient support of claim 5, further comprising a first fastener, coupled to the first side portion, the first fastener including a closed position and an open position, wherein the closed position holds the first side portion in a closed condition and the open position releases the first side portion to an open condition having a first height.

10. The patient support of claim 9, wherein the first side portion includes a top longitudinal edge disposed substantially adjacent to the top portion and a bottom longitudinal edge disposed substantially adjacent the base portion.

11. The patient support of claim 9, wherein the first fastener includes a first coupler disposed at the top longitudinal edge and a second coupler disposed at the bottom longitudinal edge, the first and second coupler including mating portions to hold the first coupler to the second coupler.

12. The patient support of claim 11, further comprising a lateral transfer chamber disposed between the turning bladder and the at least one air bladder.

13. The patient support of claim 12, further comprising a three-dimensional fiber network supported by the at least one air bladder.

14. The patient support of claim 13, wherein the foam member comprises a unitary foam member having a width and a length substantially similar to the width and length of the air mattress.

15. A bariatric patient support to support a bariatric patient comprising:

a frame adapted to support the bariatric patient;

a deck, coupled to the frame;

a mattress, supported by the deck; and

a bladder, supported by the mattress, to turn the bariatric patient, the bladder including a base portion, a first side portion coupled to the base portion, a second side portion coupled to the base portion, a central portion disposed between the first side portion and the second side portion, the central portion including a center height less than the first height of the first portion, a first fastener, coupled to the first side portion, the first fastener including a closed position and an open position, wherein the closed position holds the first side portion in a closed condition and the open position releases the first side portion to an open condition having a first height, and a second fastener coupled to the second side portion, the second fastener including a closed position and open position, wherein the closed position holds the second side portion in a closed condition and the open position releases the second side portion to an open condition having a second height and the first height is substantially equal to the second height.

16. The bariatric patient support of claim 15, wherein the first fastener comprises a zipper.