PATIENT SUPPORT

• US 20080000028A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Lemire, Guy, Stryker, Martin, Castonguay, Pascal
• Granted Patent: US 8,056,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/618
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/32 lying
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/325 prone
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/34 sitting
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/74 for anti-shear when adjusting furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/002 having adjustable mattress frame
• 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 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/053 Aids for getting into, or out of, bed, e.g. steps, chairs, cane-like supports
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1042 Rail systems walking aids with suspension devices A61H3/008
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1046 Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1067 for adjustable bases
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1076 Means for rotating around a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/16 converting a lying surface into a chair

Abstract

A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, stretcher, or cot, includes a patient support deck that is directly coupled to elevation adjustment mechanisms without the need for an intervening frame. The elevation adjustment mechanisms may be placed outside the perimeter of the support deck to allow the support deck to be lowered to a greater extent and provide room for attaching side rails to the support deck. The width of the patient support deck may be adjusted by way of extenders, and the sleep surface may also be adjusted by way of foldable strips. A jack type of actuator may be used to pivot the different sections of the support deck with respect to each other. The elevation adjustment mechanisms may include vertical threaded shafts that rotatingly engage threaded collars and raise or lower the collars when the shaft and the collar rotate with respect to each other.

Claims

1. A patient support apparatus comprising:

a base having a foot end and a head end;

a first elevation assembly positioned at the head end of said base;

a second elevation assembly positioned at the foot end of said base;

a support deck adapted to support a patient, said first and second elevation assemblies being coupled to said support deck such that said first and second elevation assemblies can raise and lower said support deck with respect to said base;

said support deck including a first rail extending from said first elevation assembly to an intermediate location between said foot end and said head end of said base, said first rail having a head end pivotably coupled to said first elevation assembly;

said support deck further including a second rail extending from said second elevation assembly to said intermediate location, said second rail being pivotably coupled to said first rail, and said second rail having a foot end pivotably coupled to said second elevation assembly;

at least one of said first and second rails including a beam and a sleeve, said beam and said sleeve each having longitudinal extents that are parallel to each other, said beam and said sleeve adapted to move with respect to each other such that a length of said at least one of said first and second rails can be extended and shortened; and

an actuator adapted to pivot said first rail with respect to said second rail such that said beam and said sleeve move with respect to each other and a horizontal distance between said head end of said first rail and said foot end of said second rail remains constant while said first rail pivots with respect to said second rail.

2. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 wherein said patient support apparatus includes a pair of first rails and a pair of second rails, each of said first rails in said pair of first rails being oriented generally parallel to each other, and each of said second rails in said pair of second rails being oriented generally parallel to each other.

3. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support deck defines a footprint and both said first elevation assembly and said second elevation assembly are positioned outside of said footprint.

4. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second elevation assemblies include a vertical threaded shaft and a threaded collar in engagement with said vertical threaded shaft, said threaded collar adapted to move vertically upward or downward when said threaded collar and said threaded shaft engaged with said threaded collar rotate with respect to each other.

5. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first elevation assembly includes:

a first vertical threaded shaft and a first threaded collar in engagement with said first vertical threaded shaft, said first threaded collar adapted to move vertically upward or downward when said first threaded collar and said first threaded shaft engaged with said first threaded collar rotate with respect to each other;

a second vertical threaded shaft and a second threaded collar in engagement with said second vertical threaded shaft, said second threaded collar adapted to move vertically upward or downward when said second threaded collar and said second threaded shaft engaged with said second threaded collar rotate with respect to each other; and

a head end horizontal beam extending between said first and second threaded collars, said head end horizontal beam being pivotably coupled to said head end of said first rail.

6. The patient support apparatus of claim 5 wherein said second elevation assembly includes:

a third vertical threaded shaft and a third threaded collar in engagement with said third vertical threaded shaft, said third threaded collar adapted to move vertically upward or downward when said third threaded collar and said third threaded shaft engaged with said third threaded collar rotate with respect to each other;

a fourth vertical threaded shaft and a fourth threaded collar in engagement with said fourth vertical threaded shaft, said fourth threaded collar adapted to move vertically upward or downward when said fourth threaded collar and said fourth threaded shaft engaged with said fourth threaded collar rotate with respect to each other; and

a foot end horizontal beam extending between said third and fourth threaded collars, said foot end horizontal beam being pivotably coupled to said foot end of said second rail.

7. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support deck includes a head section having a head end and a foot end, said head section being pivotably supported by said first rail at a location adjacent said foot end of said head section whereby said head end of said head section is pivotable toward and away from said first rail.

8. The patient support apparatus of claim 7 wherein said support deck further includes a seat section mounted to said first rail.

9. The patient support apparatus of claim 8 wherein one of said seat section and said head section is mounted to said beam and the other of said seat section and said head section is mounted to said sleeve, said seat section and said head section moving away from each other as said first and second rails are pivoted away from a flat orientation in which said first and second rails are parallel to each other.

10. The patient support apparatus of claim 3 further including a plurality of generally planar side rails, each said side rail being pivotably supported by one of said first and second rails such that said side rails are pivotable between a first orientation and a second orientation wherein said first orientation is perpendicular to said second orientation.

11. The patient support apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first orientation is a vertical orientation in which said generally planar side rails extend in a direction parallel to a line extending from said foot end of said base toward said head end of said base, and said second orientation is a vertical orientation in which said generally planar side rails extend in a direction perpendicular to the line extending from said foot end of said base toward said head end of said base.

12. The patient support apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first orientation is a vertical orientation and said second orientation is a horizontal orientation.

13. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 further including a sleep surface having a foot end, a head end, and a pair of sides, said sleep surface being positioned on top of said support deck and including a strip along at least one of said sides, said strip being foldable between a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein when said strip is in the unfolded position, said sleep surface has a distance between said pair of sides greater than the distance between said pair of sides when said strip is in the folded position.

14. The patient support apparatus of claim 13 wherein said strip includes a stiff portion, said stiff portion positioned at an edge of said sleep surface when said strip is unfolded, and said stiff portion positioned along a bottom of said sleep surface when said strip is folded.

15. The patient support apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of said side rails further includes an extension, said extension being supported by one of said first and second rails and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, said side rails being positioned closer to a longitudinal center line of said support deck when in said retracted position than when in said extended position.

16. The patient support apparatus of claim 15 wherein said side rails are further adjustable between a raised position and a lowered position, said side rails define a first plane in said raised position and a second plane in said lowered position, and said first and second planes are parallel to each other.

17. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 further including:

a patient sleeve adapted to wrap around a patient while lying on said support deck;

an overhead support positioned above a patient lying on said patient support apparatus, said overhead support adapted to support said patient sleeve; and

an actuator assembly adapted to increase a vertical distance between said overhead support and said patient support deck while a patient is positioned in said sleeve.

18. The patient support apparatus of claim 17 wherein said actuator assembly is further adapted to move said patient sleeve in a horizontal direction perpendicular to an imaginary line extending from said head end to said foot end of said base.

19. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuator includes:

a threaded, horizontal shaft oriented perpendicular to an imaginary line running from said head end of said base to said foot end of said base;

a first set of arms, each of the arms in said first set of arms including a first end threadingly mated to said horizontal shaft and a second end pivotably coupled to an underside of said foot section; and

a second set of arms, each of said alms in said second set of arms including a first end threadingly mated to said horizontal shaft and a second end pivotably coupled to said support deck at a location under said seat section.

21. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support deck further includes a length extender movingly coupled to said foot section, said length extender movable between a retracted position in which a length of said support deck has a first value, and an extended position in which a length of said support deck has a second value greater than said first value.

22. A patient support apparatus comprising:

a base having a head end and a foot end;

a support deck adapted to support a patient and having an outer perimeter, said support deck including a foot section, a seat section, and a head section, both said seat section and said head section pivotable between generally horizontal orientations and raised orientations;

a first elevation assembly positioned at the head end of said base;

a second elevation assembly positioned at the foot end of said base, said first and second elevation assemblies being coupled to said support deck such that said first and second elevation assemblies can raise and lower said support deck with respect to said base,

said first and second elevation assemblies being positioned outside a footprint of said support deck wherein said footprint is defined by a vertical downward projection of said perimeter onto said base; and

a shear reduction assembly adapted to increase a distance between said head section and said seat section when said head section and said seat section are pivoted from their respective generally horizontal orientations to their respective raised orientations.

23. The patient support apparatus of claim 22 further including an actuator, said actuator including:

a threaded, horizontal shaft oriented perpendicular to an imaginary line running from said head end of said base to said foot end of said base;

a first set of arms, each of the arms in said first set of arms including a first end threadingly mated to said horizontal shaft and a second end pivotably coupled to an underside of said foot section; and

a second set of arms, each of said arms in said second set of arms including a first end threadingly mated to said horizontal shaft and a second end pivotably coupled to said support deck at a location under said seat section.

24. The patient support apparatus of claim 22 wherein said first elevation assembly includes:

a first vertical threaded shaft and a first threaded collar in engagement with said first vertical threaded shaft, said first threaded collar adapted to move vertically upward or downward when said first threaded collar and said first threaded shaft engaged with said first threaded collar rotate with respect to each other;

a second vertical threaded shaft and a second threaded collar in engagement with said second vertical threaded shaft, said second threaded collar adapted to move vertically upward or downward when said second threaded collar and said second threaded shaft engaged with said second threaded collar rotate with respect to each other; and

a head end horizontal beam extending between said first and second threaded collars, said head end horizontal beam being pivotably coupled to said support deck adjacent said head section.

25. The patient support apparatus of claim 24 wherein said second elevation assembly includes:

a third vertical threaded shaft and a third threaded collar in engagement with said third vertical threaded shaft, said third threaded collar adapted to move vertically upward or downward when said third threaded collar and said third threaded shaft engaged with said third threaded collar rotate with respect to each other;

a fourth vertical threaded shaft and a fourth threaded collar in engagement with said fourth vertical threaded shaft, said fourth threaded collar adapted to move vertically upward or downward when said fourth threaded collar and said fourth threaded shaft engaged with said fourth threaded collar rotate with respect to each other; and

a foot end horizontal beam extending between said third and fourth threaded collars, said foot end horizontal beam being pivotably coupled to said foot section of said support deck.

26. The patient support apparatus of claim 25 further including a first load cell positioned underneath said head end horizontal beam and a second load cell positioned underneath said foot end horizontal beam, said first and second load cells providing sufficient force measurements to determine a weight of a patient on said patient support deck without additional force measurements from any load cells other than said first and second load cells.

27. The patient support apparatus of claim 22 further including a plurality of generally planar side rails attached to an underside of said support deck, each of said side rails being pivotable between a first orientation and a second orientation perpendicular to said first orientation.

28. The patient support apparatus of claim 22 further including a sleep surface having a foot end, a head end, and a pair of sides, said sleep surface being positioned on top of said support deck and including a strip along at least one of said sides, said strip being foldable between a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein when said strip is in the unfolded position, said sleep surface has a distance between said pair of sides greater than the distance between said pair of sides when said strip is in the folded position.

29. The patient support apparatus of claim 22 further including:

a patient sleeve adapted to wrap around a patient while lying on said support deck;

an overhead support positioned above a patient lying on said patient support apparatus, said overhead support adapted to support said patient sleeve; and

an actuator assembly adapted to increase a vertical distance between said overhead support and said patient support deck while a patient is positioned in said sleeve, said actuator assembly further adapted to move said patient sleeve in a horizontal direction perpendicular to an imaginary line extending from said head end to said foot end of said base.

30. The patient support apparatus of claim 22 wherein said support deck includes:

a first rail extending from said head end of said base to an intermediate location between said foot end and said head end of said base, said first rail having a head end pivotably coupled to said first elevation assembly; and

a second rail extending from said foot end of said base to said intermediate location, said second rail being pivotably coupled to said first rail, and said second rail having a foot end pivotably coupled to said second elevation assembly;

wherein at least one of said first and second rails includes a beam and a sleeve, said beam and said sleeve each having longitudinal extents that are parallel to each other, said beam and said sleeve adapted to slide with respect to each other such that a length of said at least one of said first and second rails can be extended and shortened.

31. The patient support apparatus of claim 22 further including:

a sleep surface positioned on top of said support deck;

a side rail attached to said support deck along a side of said head section;

a headboard attached to said support deck at a location adjacent said head section, said headboard being oriented generally perpendicular to said side rail;

a vertical post mounted to said base adjacent said head end of said base, said post positioned at corner wherein a horizontal distance between said post and said headboard is less than or equal to 2.5 inches, and a horizontal distance between said post and said side rail is less than or equal to 2.5 inches.

32. The patient support apparatus of claim 31 wherein said post extends upwards to a height greater than a maximum height of said sleep surface, said maximum height of said sleep surface being defined by a vertical maximum of said first elevation assembly.

33. The patient support apparatus of claim 32 wherein said post houses a first vertical threaded shaft and a first threaded collar in engagement with said first vertical threaded shaft, said first threaded collar adapted to move vertically upward or downward when said first threaded collar and said first threaded shaft engaged with said first threaded collar rotate with respect to each other.

34. A patient support apparatus comprising:

a base having a foot end, a head end, and a plurality of corners;

a first vertical threaded shaft and a first threaded collar in engagement with said first vertical threaded shaft, said first threaded collar adapted to move vertically upward or downward when said first threaded collar and said first threaded shaft engaged with said first threaded collar rotate with respect to each other, said first vertical threaded shaft extending upwardly from a first one of said corners of said base;

a second vertical threaded shaft and a second threaded collar in engagement with said second vertical threaded shaft, said second threaded collar adapted to move vertically upward or downward when said second threaded collar and said second threaded shaft engaged with said second threaded collar rotate with respect to each other, said second vertical threaded shaft extending upwardly from a second one of said corners of said base;

a third vertical threaded shaft and a third threaded collar in engagement with said third vertical threaded shaft, said third threaded collar adapted to move vertically upward or downward when said third threaded collar and said third threaded shaft engaged with said third threaded collar rotate with respect to each other, said third vertical threaded shaft extending upwardly from a third one of said corners of said base;

a fourth vertical threaded shaft and a fourth threaded collar in engagement with said fourth vertical threaded shaft, said fourth threaded collar adapted to move vertically upward or downward when said fourth threaded collar and said fourth threaded shaft engaged with said fourth threaded collar rotate with respect to each other, said fourth vertical threaded shaft extending upwardly from a fourth one of said corners of said base;

a head end horizontal beam extending between said first and second threaded collars;

a foot end horizontal beam extending between said third and fourth threaded collars;

a support deck adapted to support a patient, said support deck being coupled to said head end and foot end horizontal beams, said support deck including a head section, a seat section, and a foot section;

a threaded, horizontal shaft oriented perpendicular to an imaginary line running from said head end of said base to said foot end of said base;

a first set of arms, each of the arms in said first set of arms including a first end threadingly mated to said horizontal shaft and a second end pivotably coupled to an underside of said foot section; and

a second set of arms, each of said arms in said second set of arms including a first end threadingly mated to said horizontal shaft and a second end pivotably coupled to said support deck at a location under one of said seat and said head sections.

35. The patient support apparatus of claim 34 further including a first load cell positioned underneath said head end horizontal beam and a second load cell positioned underneath said foot end horizontal beam, said first and second load cells providing sufficient force measurements to determine a weight of a patient on said patient support deck without additional force measurements from any load cells other than said first and second load cells.

36. The patient support apparatus of claim 34 further including:

a sleep surface positioned on top of said support deck;

a side rail attached to said support deck along a side of said head section;

a headboard attached to said support deck at a location adjacent said head section, said headboard being oriented generally perpendicular to said side rail;

a vertical post mounted to said base adjacent said head end of said base, said post positioned at corner wherein a horizontal distance between said post and said headboard is less than or equal to 2.5 inches, and a horizontal distance between said post and said side rail is less than or equal to 2.5 inches.

37. The patient support apparatus of claim 34 wherein said support deck includes:

a first rail extending from said head end of said base to an intermediate location between said foot end and said head end of said base, said first rail having a head end pivotably coupled to said head end horizontal beam; and

a second rail extending from said foot end of said base to said intermediate location, said second rail being pivotably coupled to said first rail, and said second rail having a foot end pivotably coupled to said foot end horizontal beam;

wherein at least one of said first and second rails includes a beam and a sleeve, said beam and said sleeve each having longitudinal extents that are parallel to each other, said beam and said sleeve adapted to slide with respect to each other such that a length of said at least one of said first and second rails can be extended and shortened.

38. The patient support apparatus of claim 34 further including:

a patient sleeve adapted to wrap around a patient while lying on said support deck;

an overhead support positioned above a patient lying on said patient support apparatus, said overhead support adapted to support said patient sleeve; and

an actuator assembly adapted to increase a vertical distance between said overhead support and said patient support deck while a patient is positioned in said sleeve, said actuator assembly further adapted to move said patient sleeve in a horizontal direction perpendicular to an imaginary line extending from said head end to said foot end of said base.

39. The patient support apparatus of claim 34 wherein said seat section and said head section are both pivotable from a generally horizontal orientation to raised orientations, and further including a shear reduction assembly adapted to increase a distance between said head section and said seat section when said head section and said seat section are pivoted from their respective generally horizontal orientations to their respective raised orientations.

40. The patient support apparatus of claim 34 further including a sleep surface having a foot end, a head end, and a pair of sides, said sleep surface being positioned on top of said support deck and including a strip along at least one of said sides, said strip being foldable between a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein when said strip is in the unfolded position, said sleep surface has a distance between said pair of sides greater than the distance between said pair of sides when said strip is in the folded position.