AU2003203892B2

AU2003203892B2 - Device for turning and sliding bed ridden patients

Info

Publication number: AU2003203892B2
Application number: AU2003203892A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Anthony Neville Bromberger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-01
Filing date: 2003-04-29
Publication date: 2008-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2023-04-29
Also published as: AU2003203892A1

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

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RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: JOHN ANTHONY NEVILLE BROMBERGER Applicant LORD COMPANY, Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA.

Device for turning and sliding bed ridden patients. INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: AUSTRALIAN PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NUMBER PS2028 FILED MAY 1, 2002 AND 2002951213 FILED SEPTEMBER 5, 2002 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us:

TITLE

DEVICE FOR TURNING AND SLIDING BED RIDDEN PATIENTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for turning and sliding bed-ridden patients.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to provide a device that facilitates the turning of a bed-ridden patient in bed to prevent the formation of bedsores. It is also known to provide a device that facilitates the sliding of a bed-ridden patient in bed in a longitudinal direction to reposition the patient in bed. Both devices require a cumbersome patient management technique that is time consuming and labour intensive. Further, neither of the devices can be used effectively to facilitate the alternative operation.

The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part some of the aforementioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for turning and sliding a bed ridden patient comprising a broad loop of fabric and a securing means to secure the broad loop of fabric to a bed mattress, wherein opposing open ends of said loop are longitudinally aligned with side edges of the bed mattress.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for turning and sliding a bed-ridden patient in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of various patient turning positionings; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the device shown in Figure 1, wherein the device is shown as being used to turn a patient; Figures 4 and 5 are successive diagrammatic representations of the device shown in Figure I, wherein the device is shown as being used to slide a patient in a longitudinal direction on a bed mattress; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a device for turning and sliding a bed-ridden patient in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals and symbols refer to like parts throughout, there is shown a device 10 for turning and sliding bed-ridden patients.

The device 10 includes a broad loop 20 of fabric and a securing means 30 to secure the broad loop 20 of fabric to a bed mattress The broad loop 20 has an upper portion 20a and a lower portion 20b and is arranged in use to over lay the bed mattress 40 such that the lower portion 20b is proximal the bed mattress 40. The broad loop 20 is disposed such that opposing open ends 22 of the broad loop 20 are longitudinally aligned with opposing side edges 42 of the bed mattress 40. It is envisaged that the breadth of the broad loop 20 will vary according to the width of the bed mattress 40. Typically, the breadth of the broad loop 20 is marginally greater than the width of the bed mattress 40 to allow for a slight overhang of the open ends 22 of the broad loop 20 over the opposing side edges 42 of the bed mattress Preferably, the broad loop 20 of fabric is formed from a single, substantially rectangular sheet of fabric whereby opposing edges 24 are conjoined together, substantially along the whole length of the opposing edges 24, by a seam 26. The seam 26 may be formed in the conventional manner by stitching, application of adhesives, or by thermal treatment.

Alternatively, the broad loop 20 may be formed in a single integral piece without any seam. It is desirable that the number of seams formed in the device 10 should be kept to a minimum so as to reduce the potential for contact between the patient and raised or rough areas which may cause discomfort to the patient over a prolonged period of time. To that end, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the open ends 22 of the broad loop 20 are preferably heat sealed to prevent fraying and are not provided with respective seams.

Preferably, the broad loop 20 is formed from a fabric with slippery characteristics, such as typically found in nylon or polyester fabrics, so that in use the utipper portion readily slides over the lower portion Each open end 24 of the broad loop 20 is also provided with an outwardly depending small loop 28 or buckle or several consecutive loops to enable the broad loop 20 to be secured to the bed mattress 40. Preferably, the small loop 28 is attached to each side of the seam 26. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the seam 26 extending between the two small loops 28 may be reinforced with a length of webbing or stitching. In use, each loop 28 is disposed proximal the bed mattress 40 on the lower portion 20b, preferably aligned with a substantially central transverse axis of the lower portion The securing means 30 also includes an elongate strap 32 formed from a webbing material. In use, the elongate strap 32 is arranged to extend transversely under the bed mattress 40. It is envisaged that the length of the elongate strap 32 will vary according to the width of the bed mattress 30. Typically, the length of the elongate strap 32 is greater than the width of the bed mattress The elongate strap 32 may be conveniently formed from a pair of longitudinally aligned lengths of webbing material sewn "back-to-back" in order to afford a sleeve.

A rigid elongate member, preferably formed from a rigid plastic material, is arranged to be inserted into the sleeve in order to reinforce the strength and rigidity of the elongate strap 32. The reinforced elongate strap 32 is readily passed under the bed mattress 40 without necessarily lifting or removing the bed mattress Opposing end portions 34 of the elongate strap 32 are also provided with a portion of hook and loop fastening material, such as VelcroT

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A, to facilitate each end portion 34 being thread through the adjacent and overlying small loop 28 and then folded back upon itself to form a securing loop. In this way, the broad loop 20 is secured to the bed mattress 40 and prevented from slipping out of position while the patient is being turned or moved along the length of the bed. It will be understood that alternative conventional fastening means, such as buckles, may be used to engage the small loop 28 in order to secure the broad loop 20 to the bed mattress An underside of the lower portion 20b of the broad loop 20 may be provided with at least one portion of a foam-like material 31 as shown in Figure 6. In this embodiment, the portion of foam-like material acts as the securing means, by preventing the lower portion 20b of the broad loop 20 from sliding over the bed mattress It is envisaged that a single portion of foam-like material 31, whose dimensions are smaller than the dimensions of the lower portion 20b may be attached to the underside of the lower portion 20b by an adhesive, stitching or heat treatment means.

The device 10 for turning and sliding bed-ridden patients can be used in the following manner.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the elongate strap 32 is first arranged to extend transversely under the bed mattress 40, being located at any convenient point intermediate to the head or foot of the bed mattress 40. The broad loop 20 is then laid upon the bed mattress 40 as shown in Figure 1, wherein the seam 26 is longitudinally aligned with the elongate strap 32.

The portion of hook and loop fastening material on each end portion 34 of the strap is then threaded through the adjacent and overlying small loop 28, buckle or consecutive loops and folded back upon itself to form a securing loop 36.

A draw sheet 50 or normal cotton bed sheet is then placed over the broad loop Alternatively, a waterproof sheet and a sheet made from water absorbent and water dispersing material can be placed over the broad loop 20 instead of the draw sheet The draw sheet 50 serves to insulate the patient's torso from the synthetic fabric of the broad loop 20 and it can also be tucked under the bed mattress 40 to keep the broad loop 20 in place when it is not being used to turn or slid the bed ridden patient.

To turn the patient, the lower arm and leg of the patient must first be positioned, as shown in Figure 2, so that these limbs will not "block" the turn. The carer then holds the draw sheet 50 in a location disposed between the patient's shoulders and hips, and uses his/her body weight to pull the draw sheet 50 towards them and so turn the patient, as shown in Figure 3. Alternatively, the upper portion 20a of the broad loop may be held in order to turn the patient. After completing the turn, a section of upper portion 20a and draw sheet 50 located behind the patient may be straightened out and smoothed, although the section of upper portion 20a and draw sheet 50 located in front of the patient may be difficult to straighten out. The draw sheet 50 or cotton sheet can then be tucked under the bed mattress To slide the patient longitudinally in bed, the draw sheet 50 or cotton sheet is first untucked from the bed mattress 40. Two carers, one on each side of the patient, hold the draw sheet 50 at a location next to the patient's hips and shoulders and pull the draw sheet 50 in a longitudinal direction to move the patient either up or down the bed mattress 40 as shown in Figures 4 and In each of the two abovedescribed actions, the upper portion 20a of the broad loop slides readily over the lower portion 20b of the broad loop 20, thereby allowing the patient to be turned or slid along the length of the bed mattress 40 without overt strenuous effort on the part of the carers.

Alternatively, the broad loop 20 may be laid upon a bed mattress 40 with the open ends 22 of the broad loop 20 in parallel alignment with the head and foot of the bed mattress 40, rather than the opposing side edges 42 of the bed mattress. This arrangement is particularly convenient for people who have Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, arthritis or some other muscular skeletal problems and have difficulty in turning from side to side in bed.

With reference to the embodiment of Figure 6, the portion of foam-like material 31 is laid adjacent the bed mattress 40 with the lower and uipper portions 20b, 20a evenly spread out on either side of the portion of foam-like material 31. The broad loop may also be positioned with an upper side just utinder a patient's pillow to ensure it is disposed under a patient's shoulders. A lower side of the broad loop 20 will then be disposed under a patient's thighs, ensuring that the patient's hips will lie above and against the upper portion 20a of the broad loop When turning in bed, the patient can use their legs or arms to start turning, whereupon the upper portion 20a of the broad loop 20 will move under the body of the patient as it slides over the lower portion 20b of the broad loop 20. Excess material of the broad loop 20 disposed on either side of the portion of foam-like material 31 will also slide under the patient as they turn, leaving a little of the material in front of them, but with surplus material behind them. When the patient turns again, onto either their back or onto their other side, the excess material of the broad loop 20 that was behind the patient will pass under them again during the turn. In the meantime, the portion of foam-like material 31 maintains the lower portion 20b of the broad loop 20 in place.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

2. A device for turning and sliding a bed ridden patient in accordance with claim 1, wherein the broad loop is formed of a relatively slippery material, such that contacting portions of the broad loop of fabric slide relatively easily over each other.
3. A device for turning and sliding a bed ridden patient in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the broad loop is formed from a single, substantially rectangular sheet of fabric with opposing edges of the sheet of fabric are conjoined together.
4. A device for turning and sliding a bed ridden patient in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein opposing open ends of the broad loop are heat sealed to prevent fraying. A device for turning and sliding a bed ridden patient substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 9 DATED THIS 2 9 TH DAY OF APRIL 2003. JOHN ANTHONY NEVILLE BROMBERGER By his Patent Attorneys LORD COMPANY PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.