EP0547195B1 - Bedridden patient handling aid - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/CH92/00133 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 24, 1993 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 24, 1993 PCT Filed Jul. 2, 1992 PCT Pub. No. WO93/00874 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 21, 1993.A collapsible bedridden patient handling aid essentially consisting of a lifting device (10) comprising a frame (11), mounted on two pairs of wheels (12a, 12b) combined with retractable legs (17), and supporting a platform designed to be inserted between the patient (20) and the bed (21) to raise the patient and put him or her back down, said platform consisting of movable flat strips (14) mounted individually on a support (15) which is pivotable about a horizontal axis (16). A control unit is designed to control all the movements of said strips.

Description

The present invention relates to an assistance device for handling bedridden patients comprising an elevator, a platform carried by this elevator and intended to be interposed between the bed and the patient, and activation means for raising or lowering said platform for lifting a patient above his bed and then placing him again on this bed, in which the platform comprises a series of individually movable flat blades.

One of the serious problems in hospitals or nursing homes for the elderly is the handling of bedridden patients. This operation must often take place several times a day to allow the caregivers to provide the necessary care and the caregivers to take the required hygienic measures and carry out all the essential interventions such as re-dressing, making the bed, etc. It currently requires the intervention of at least two people, which poses a personnel problem which is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit and train. In addition, this work is exhausting and requires on the part of the workers an unusual physical strength and resistance to fatigue.

Elevators designed to assist nursing staff are already known, these elevators comprising a platform capable of lifting the patient above his bed. However, these elevators have the disadvantage of not allowing easy access to the dorsal parts of the body of this patient when it comes to providing care.

The device for assisting in the care of a bedridden patient as described in US Pat. No. 3,015,114 comprises a frame on which are mounted blades supporting the patient which are retractable laterally on both sides of the patient. The chassis which is placed two sides of the bed is inconvenient for caregivers because access to the patient can only be done from below and not from the side. This device is also cumbersome and its installation complicated. It is a fixed station and it has no mechanical means to control the blades. It is entirely manual.

The device described in British publication No. 2 226 004 has a bracket supporting a number of curved blades, parallel to each other, which cannot be used to lift a patient from a conventional hospital bed. Furthermore, to avoid painful rubbing of the blades by the patient against his back, it is necessary to lift said patient to remove a blade. Therefore the device is impractical and loses much of its interest. Finally, due to the geometry of the blades, the device is particularly bulky.

The present invention proposes to provide an effective solution to these problems and to overcome the chronic shortage of hospital staff, while sparing the workers who nevertheless remain essential for handling bedridden patients.

For this purpose, the device of the invention is characterized in that said movable blades are associated with first mechanical means for ensuring their displacement in an axial direction, substantially horizontal, and second mechanical means for ensuring their pivoting around a horizontal axis.

In an advantageous embodiment, said first mechanical means for ensuring the axial displacement of the movable blades comprise at least one friction member driven by an electric motor, which is held in abutment against one of the faces of these blades.

Preferably, each blade is associated with an independent friction member driven by an electric motor and the friction member may include at least one ring mounted in a peripheral groove of a rotary drum disposed under the blade.

In the preferred embodiment, the drum comprises a plurality of rings mounted in peripheral grooves and the blade is also simultaneously in abutment against a first roller disposed above the blade and a second roller disposed below this blade .

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, said second mechanical means for ensuring the pivoting of each blade around a horizontal axis comprise an electric motor, a worm screw mounted on the shaft of this motor and a toothed wheel which meshes said screw endless and which is integral with a pivot axis carrying a drum on which said blade is mounted.

Advantageously, said drum of the second mechanical means carries the drum, the first roller and the second roller serving as supports for the blade of the first mechanical means.

In another embodiment, said second mechanical means for ensuring the displacement of the movable blades along a substantially horizontal axis may include hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders respectively associated with said movable blades.

For safety reasons, the movable blades are arranged so that two juxtaposed blades are not movable simultaneously.

In the preferred embodiment, the friction member preferably comprises at least one ring mounted in peripheral grooves of a rotary drum arranged under the blades.

• la figure 1 représente une vue schématique en élévation du dispositif à l'état replié,
• la figure 2 représente ce même dispositif dans ce même état, vu de dessus,
• la figure 3 représente une vue schématique en élévation du dispositif selon l'invention préparé en vue d'une intervention,
• la figure 4 représente le dispositif de la figure 3 vu de dessus,
• la figure 5 représente une vue en élévation du dispositif lors d'une première phase de l'intervention proprement dite,
• la figure 6 représente le dispositif lors de cette même phase, vu de dessus,
• la figure 7 représente une vue en élévation du dispositif lors d'une deuxième phase de cette intervention,
• la figure 8 représente ce dispositif lors cette même phase, vu de dessus,
• la figure 9 représente le dispositif en élévation lors d'une troisième phase de l'intervention,
• la figure 10 représente ce dispositif lors de cette même phase de l'intervention, vu de dessus,
• la figure 11 représente une vue de profil illustrant partiellement les premiers moyens mécaniques pour assurer le déplacement axial de la plate-forme et les seconds moyens mécaniques pour assurer son pivotement,
• la figure 12 représente lesdits premiers moyens en vue frontale,
• la figure 13 représente une vue en élévation des seconds moyens qui assurent le pivotement des lames de la plate-forme, et
• la figure 14 est une vue schématique illustrant le mode de fonctionnement des moyens représentés par la figure 13.

The present invention will be better understood with reference to the drawing, in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a schematic elevation view of the device in the folded state,
• FIG. 2 represents this same device in this same state, seen from above,
• FIG. 3 represents a schematic elevation view of the device according to the invention prepared for intervention,
• FIG. 4 represents the device of FIG. 3 seen from above,
• FIG. 5 represents an elevation view of the device during a first phase of the intervention proper,
• FIG. 6 represents the device during this same phase, seen from above,
• FIG. 7 represents an elevation view of the device during a second phase of this intervention,
• FIG. 8 represents this device during this same phase, seen from above,
• FIG. 9 represents the device in elevation during a third phase of the intervention,
• FIG. 10 represents this device during this same phase of the intervention, seen from above,
• FIG. 11 represents a profile view partially illustrating the first mechanical means for ensuring the axial displacement of the platform and the second mechanical means for ensuring its pivoting,
• FIG. 12 represents said first means in front view,
• FIG. 13 represents an elevation view of the second means which ensure the pivoting of the blades of the platform, and
• FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating the operating mode of the means represented by FIG. 13.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the assistance device for handling bedridden patients as shown essentially consists of an elevator 10 composed of a frame 11 mounted on two pairs of wheels 12a, 12b and carrying a platform. form 13 composed, in this case, of seven flat blades 14 individually mounted on a support 15 pivoting about a horizontal axis 16. A control unit (not shown) is designed to control all the movements of the blades. It can be integrated into the device or be independent. As shown in Figure 1, the device can be folded so that its size is relatively small. In this position, the blades 14 constituting the platform 13 are folded down and the pair of wheels 12b, which is mounted on a retractable foot 17, is brought substantially under the frame 11.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the device in a waiting position in which it is ready to be used for an intervention on a patient 20 lying on a hospital bed 21. In this position, the platform 13 has been raised and the foot 17 has been extended so that the two pairs of wheels 12a and 12b constitute a stable base for the entire device. It will be noted that the blades 14 which have been previously raised and which occupy a horizontal position are temporarily directed towards the outside of the bed 21.

The device represented by FIG. 5 illustrates an intervention phase in which the patient 20 is tilted on the side by a carer or a carer from a position A to a position B, which makes it possible to bring the blades 14 constituting the platform 13 on the bed in a position where the patient can be returned to his initial position not on the bed but on the platform 13. This position is illustrated by FIG. 6, on which we can see the blades 14 which form the platform 13 serving to support the patient 20.

The next step is illustrated by FIGS. 6 and 7 which represent the patient 20 placed on the platform 13 which has been lifted by the elevator 10. In this position, the patient is fully supported by the platform 13 at a few tens of centimeters above the bed 21, which allows a nursing assistant to carry out all the necessary interventions on the bed, namely: preparation, disinfection, etc. Note that Figures 6 and 8 are absolutely identical because, seen from above, the patient 20 occupies the same position when the platform 13 is in the lower position as shown in Figure 5 or in the raised position as shown in Figure 7 .

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a particular use of the platform 13 supporting the patient 20. Since the blades 14 are independent of each other, it is possible to pivot one or more of these blades to allow a caregiver or a caregiver direct access to a dorsal part, for example for personal hygiene care etc. of the patient. Indeed, if one or more blades 14 are tilted as shown in Figure 9, the patient is held by the other blades which remain in a horizontal position, which has the effect of freeing up an area where the caregiver is able to intervene . For security reasons, it is provided that two juxtaposed blades cannot be tilted simultaneously.

It will easily be understood that this assistance device is particularly interesting because it allows a caregiver or a caregiver to perform alone tasks which could only be done by two people simultaneously taking care of the same patient. In addition, this assistance device has the advantage of caring for caregivers or caregivers, since work that requires forceful intervention, such as lifting the patient is taken care of by mechanized means.

So that the various functions described above can be performed, the blades 14 are individually associated with first mechanical means 30 arranged to ensure the movement of each blade in an axial direction, these mechanical means being shown in detail in the figures. 11 and 12 and second mechanical means 40 arranged to ensure the pivoting of these blades around a horizontal axis, these mechanical means being shown in detail in FIGS. 11 and 13. FIG. 14 illustrates the mode of operation of said second mechanical means .

With reference to these figures, the first mechanical means essentially comprise an electric motor 31, the output shaft of which carries a drive pinion 32 which is engaged with a second drive pinion 33 fixed to the end of a drum. 34. This cylindrical drum carries a certain number of friction members, in the form of rings 35, preferably constituted by elastomer O-rings, housed inside peripheral grooves formed in the drum 34. The rings 35, are in abutment against the underside of a blade 14 held in its position by a first roller 36 disposed above and in abutment against the upper face of this blade and a second roller 37 in abutment against its underside, at a point sufficiently distant from the roller 36 so that the blade resists the weight of a patient placed on the platform 13.

The second mechanical means 40 consist of an electric motor 41, the output shaft 42 of which carries an endless screw 43 which meshes with a toothed wheel 44 mounted integral with a pivoting shaft 46 (see FIG. 13). The motor 41 is mounted on a support 9 which is mounted on the pivoting shaft 46 by means of two bearings 45. This shaft 46 is carried by a two supports 47 integral with the elevator 10. This assembly is mounted inside a drum 48 which serves as a support for the first mechanical means 30 as well as for the rollers 36 and 37. As a result, the support 9 of the motor being fixed and the drum which also carries the blade 14 being movable around the axis pivoting 46, the blade can be tilted in different positions.

FIG. 14 illustrates the three positions that can be occupied by the blades 14. These three positions in fact correspond to three positions of the drum 48, these positions being controlled by the motor 41, by means of the worm screw 43 and the toothed wheel 44. In a first position 14a, the blades are folded down. This position corresponds to that described in Figure 1. In a second position, the blades are straightened horizontally but directed outward from the area of use. In this position, the blades 14b correspond to the state of the device as described with reference to Figure 3. Finally, in a third position the blades 14c are oriented at about 45 ° down below the area of the 'use. They correspond to the state of the device as shown in FIG. 9.

This tilting of the blades 14 can also be obtained using hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders (not shown) associated with each blade of the platform 13.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described but can undergo different modifications and come in various variants obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims (9)

1. An aid for handling bedridden patients consisting of a lifting device (10), a platform (13) supported by said lifting device and designed to be inserted between the bed (21) and the patient (20) and activating means for raising or lowering said platform in order to lift the patient above the bed and then replace the patient on the bed, wherein the platform (13) comprises a series of flat individually movable strips (14), characterized in that said movable strips (14) are associated with a first mechanical means (30) for displacing them in an axial and generally horizontal direction, and a second mechanical means (40) which makes them pivot about a horizontal axle.
2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that said first mechanical means (30) for axially displacing the movable strips (14) comprises at least one friction device driven by an electric motor (31) maintained in contact with one of the strip surfaces.
3. Device according to claim 2 characterized in that each strip (14) is associated with an independent friction device driven by an electric motor.
4. Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the friction device comprises at least one ring (35) attached to a peripheral groove in a rotatable drum (34) below the strip (14).
5. Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the drum (34) comprises a plurality of rings (35) attached to peripheral grooves and in that the strip (14) is, in addition, simultaneously in contact with a first roller (36) located above the strip and a second roller (37) located beneath the strip.
6. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that said second mechanical means (40) for making each strip pivot about a horizontal axle comprises an electric motor (41), an endless screw (43) attached to the shaft (42) of said motor and a gear (44) engaging said endless screw and which is connected to a pivotable axle supporting a drum (48) to which said strip is attached.
7. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that said drum (48) supports the drum (34), the first roller (36) and the second roller (37) which serve as supports for the strip (14).
8. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that said second mechanical means for displacing the movable strips along a generally horizontal axle comprises hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders respectively associated with said movable strips.
9. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises control means designed to prevent two juxtaposed strips from moving simultaneously.

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