GB2151472A

GB2151472A - Human-body turning device

Info

Publication number: GB2151472A
Application number: GB08426871A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kiyoshi Kitahama; Tsuruko Kitahama
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-10-24
Filing date: 1984-10-24
Publication date: 1985-07-24
Also published as: GB8426871D0; DE3438956A1; GB2151472B

Abstract

In a human body turning device, e.g. for X-ray fluoroscopy, radiation therapy, parallel rotary rods 5a-5d are each rotatable about the axle to rotate a body-enclosing sheet formed as an endless loop 12 stretched thereover while maintaining a concave curved shape to accommodate and as the sheet is moved, to turn, a human body lying on the sheet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Human body turning device The present invention relates to a human body turning device in which the position of a person lying in a bed can be changed optionally and readily by means of a novel mechanism based on the fundamental principles of rotational motion of rigid bodies. The invention may be used on a person under diagnosis in a hospital, a person under medical treatment, a physically handicapped person in an asylum, a bedridden old person or a person confined to bed for a long time at home.

During radiation therapy the site must be irradiated from various directions. Thus a person to be subjected to such therapy is often required to change his body position on a bed. Particularly in x-ray digestive-tract inspection, it is essential that the person to be inspected lies on a bed and changes his body position to the right or to the left repeatedly in order to introduce and apply a contrast medium to the diseased part and to select the optimum fluoroscopy direction and timing. In conventional practice, such position-changing is performed by the person himself in accordance with the instructions of the operator. In most cases, however, the person to be inspected cannot readily change his body position on the hard and narrow fluoroscopy table and mistakes, uneasiness, delay, tension and the like arise.These may hinder accurate x-ray fluoroscopy necessary to establish variations in the patient's condition. If the patient is weak or in pain, or is a physically handicapped person, an old man or a child, the required position-changing is difficult even with the assistance of a helper and suitable inspection may often become impossible.

A human body turning device used exclusively for digestive tract inspection, for example, a gyro type fluoroscopy table is already known. However, such device has a complicated mechanism, and is very specialized in fuction. Its mechanism has disadvantages in that the body-rotation angle is limited and in that person to be inspected must be bound to a plate by a band and be rotated in suspended state. Therefore use of this mechanism with a weak person, an old person or a child is difficult. Moreover, on account of its high unit cost, even large hospitals or exclusive diagnosis and treatment facilities cannot always justify purchase.

In order to at least reduce certain of abovementioned disadvantages in the prior art, the invention sets out to provide a human body turning device which can change position of a patient lying on a medical bed readily and safely, into a simple structure and at low cost.

The invention further sets out to provide a human body turning device, wherein rotary rods each rotatable about the rod axis are arranged in parallel and rotate a body-enclosing sheet stretched on the rotary rods in concave curved form, so that as the sheet is moved the body lying on the sheet is turned.

The present invention consists in a human body turning device characterized by having a body-enclosing sheet which (a) forms a concave curved shape at position above a bed surface and between parallel rotary support rods and (b) is moved by means of rotating action of one or more rotary drive rods.

The invention will be further described into reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a human body turning device, being a first embodiment of the invention, installed on a body raising fluoroscopy table; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment installed on a bed on a ward; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment, installed on a stretcher; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment installed over a horizontal fluoroscopy table; Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the principle of human body turning in the equipment of the invention; Figs. 6a and 6b are diagrams illustrating possible movements of the sheet enclosing the human body; Figs. 7 to 9 are diagrams illustrating the conditions where side support posts are erected or lowered; and Figs. 1 0a to 1 Of are diagrams illustrating stages of human body turning.

Fig. 1 shows a human body turning device 2 installed on a fluoroscopy table 1 of a known elevating type as used for x-ray inspection of the digestive tract. The human body turning device 2 comprises a bottom frame having nearly equal size to that of a front surface of the fluoroscopy table 1, and end plates 4 standing upright one at each longitudinal end of the table. Rotary rods are rotatably fitted between bearings 6 in the end plates 4. Four such rotary rods, upper rotary rods 5a and lower rotary rods 5b, are installed in parallel to each other.Each rotary rod 5a, 5b can be made of a hard tube of polyvinylchloride about 100--200 cm in length and 30-1 50 mm outer diameter, or can be made of polymer reinforced with composite carbon fibers, or can be made of rigid rod material such as iron or steel 20 -30 mm outer diameter, all by way of examples only.

A body-enclosing sheet 1 2 of width of about 100--200 cm e.g usually about 180 cm for adults is joined at its free ends so as to form an endless loop with the rotary rods 5a, 5b inside the loop. Each loop has a length such that when a human body is located between the upper rotary rods 5a the body enclosing sheet 1 2 is concave between the upper rotary rods 5a and subjected to tension between the other rotary rods 5b. The distance between the upper rotary rods 5a is about 40-90 cm i.e enough to enclose the human body therebetween. Ends of the rotary rods 5b project from one end plate 4 and are connected to a rotation apparatus via a transmission link 8.The rotation apparatus 7 maybe a motor with output of about 100w, and the transmission link 8 may combine sprockets 10, chain 9, or the like. Other devices such as pulleys and a belt; or a ratchet mechanism with detents may be installed. Numeral 11 designates a protective housing over rotation power apparatus 7. The rotary rod 5 maybe provided with an engagement means 1 3 for the body enclosing sheet 1 2. The engagement means may be constituted by combination of a gear wheel and holes, a chain and teeth or "Velcro" (RTM) members on the sheet and rods respectively.

However, the embodiment shown the engagement means 1 3 is made of polyvinylchloride sheet 1-3 mm thick, fixed partly or entirely to the portion where the lower rotary rod contacts the body-enclosing sheet 1 2. The engagement means at the body enclosing sheet 1 2 may also be made of polyvinylchloride sheet, or of rubber sheet or a reinforced composite sheet of these material. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, transparent poly vinyl chloride sheet 1-3 mm thick is applied. This sheet is fixed partly or almost entirely around the outer circumference of the rotary rod 5 and is used as the body enclosing sheet 1 2.

Since polyvinylchloride sheet is sufficiently coherent, the friction coefficient at contacting portion between the body enclosing sheet 1 2 and the rotary rod is large and a rotating force sufficient to move the body enclosing sheet 1 2 in the contact direction is obtained. Consequently, a special engaging mechanism need not be constituted. The device may be simplified and is particularly safe, as necessary for a medical instrument. Furthermore, since such sheet material somewhat retains its shape the body-enclosing sheet does not slip downward when the device is elevated. Also twisting-up on winding is not produced. Also excessive feeding of the body enclosing sheet 1 2 on account of excessive turning of the rotary rod 5 can be eliminated.

The body-enclosing sheet 1 2 maybe made of any material which is strong, of acceptable feel, and readily washable, and which provides has no hindrance for x-ray fluoroscopy.

Examples are polyvinylchloride, rubber, cloth, artificial leather or other plastic sheet orreinforced composite material thereof. Transparent sheet may also be used. The body-enclosing sheet 1 2 generally runs at about 10--50 cm above the fluoroscopy table 1 on the two upper rotary rods 5a. For inspection, the fluoroscopy table 1 is placed in the upright position and a person to be inspected stands between the upper rotary rods 5a. Bearing 6 at the upper can be freely movable along the upper face of the end plate 4. Position of the bearing 6 is varied corresponding to the body dimensions of the person to be inspected. The upper rotary rod 5a is moved accordingly so that the body-enclosing width in the bodyenclosing sheet 1 2 can be adjusted.By widening the distance between the two upper rotary rods 5a, the hair or clothes of the person to be inspected are not caught in the rotation of the rotary rods. If the body-enclosing sheet 1 2 is made of transparent sheet material the general condition of the person surrounded by the body enclosing sheet 1 2 can be observed readily. A longitudinal center axis may be added if desired, as by a string or a belt contacting the table, assisting the body enclosing sheet 1 2 from twisting or hanging down. Numeral 1 6 designates a foot supporting plate, and numeral 1 7 a handle. The body enclosing sheet 1 2 may be formed in several strips arranged in parallel or in a net or lattice or other shape or may exhibit with a window.

Furthermore, use of the body-enclosing sheet on a concave fluoroscopy table or use as the body enclosing sheet in a space separated from surface of the fluoroscopy table is possible.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment where the body enclosing sheet 1 2 surrounds the upper and lower sides of the bed 1. The rotary rods are in this case seven rods all in parallel i.e two upper rotary rods 5a, four side rotary rods Sc and one power rotary rod 5d. The upper rotary rods 5a extend between bearings 1 8 on end arches 4 at thehead and foot. The bearings 1 8 are slidable on the end arches 4.

They are normally located at lower lateral portions of the arch 4 and may in some case be removed together. The distance between the upper rotary rods 5a is usually about 60-80 cm. The lateral rotary rods Sc are installed slightly outwards from this, parallel to the bed 1, so that the body enclosing sheet 1 2 does not contacted the sides of the bed 1 itself. The power rotary rod 5d is installed at the center line of the bed 1 and is connected through the transmission link 8 to the motor 7 also installed to underneath the bed 1. A pinion 1 9 is installed on the power rotary rod 5d, so as to mesh with a line of holes 20 provided on each ends of the body-enclosing sheet 12. Each rotary rod 5 is installed within the loop of the body enclosing sheet 1 2. A concave curved portion is formed between the upper rotary rods 5a. In this embodiment, the body enclosing sheet 1 2 is formed into a loop by a fastener 24 or an adhesive tape and therefore may be readily attached or detached to the rotary rod 5.

Fig. 3 shows application of the invention to a stretcher for carrying a patient or the like.

On the table 1 of the stretcher are provided support posts 21 which can be erected or lowered. Bearing 1 8 is installed on upper end of the support post 21. The support post 21 may lower outwardly as shown, i.e in the lateral direction. The rotary rods are composed of six rods in parallel to each other, i.e two upper rotary rods 5a, two lateral rotary rods Sc and two lower rotary rods 5b. The upper rotary rods 5a are rotatably fitted to the bearings 1 8 at the ends of the support posts 21. When the support posts 21 are erected, each upper rotary rod 5a is located in its uppermost position; when the support posts 21 are brought down, each upper rotary rod 5a is located in its lowermost position.The lateral rotary rods Sc are located one to each side of the table 1 of the stretcher at a height slightly above the front surface ofthe table 1 and parallel to the sides ofthe table 1, and are rotatably fitted to further bearings 1 8 detachably fixed to the table 1. One end of each lateral rotary rod Sc projects from its further bearing 1 8 and may be detachably fitted to a crank 22. The lateral rotary rods Sc are provided at suitable positions with the engaging means 1 3 for the sheet 1 2. In this embodiment, the lateral rotary rod 5a is the power rotary rod.The lower rotary rods 5b are rotatably located the table by their own bearings 18, at a lateral distance less than that of the lateral rotary rods 5c. The lower rotary rods 5b do not contact the body-enciosng endless sheet 1 2 when the upper rotary rod 5a is lowered. The body-enclosing endless sheet 1 2 is installed so that the rotary rods 5 and the table 1 are within its loop and so that a concave curved portion is formed between the upper rotary rods 5a.

The operation of the invention will now be described on the basis ofthe embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The body 23 of the person to be inspected lies between the upper rotary rods 5a, in the concave curved portion of the loop of a depth of about a half or whole of the body thickness. The sheet 1 2 thus contacts with the rotary rods 5 since it is under tension. The motor 7 (or the crank 22) is rotated and the rotation is transmitted to the power i.e lower rotary rods 5b in Fig. 1, the power rod 5d at lower side of the bed center in Fig. 2 or the lateral rotary rods Sc in Fig. 3 such motions is further transmitted to the body-enclosing sheet 1 2 through the engaging means 1 3 provided on the rotary rod.

If polyvinylchloride sheet is applied to the outer circumference of the relevant rotary rod and to the body enclosing sheet 12, mutual friction of the polyvinylchloride surfaces may be utilized as described above. The rotation force of the relevant rotary rod can be transmitted to move the body-enclosing sheet 1 2. Therefore the body on the sheet is turned according to the principles of rotation of a rigid body. A reverse rotation, or stopping, may be performed in a similar manner. If the moving distance of the sheet is read off in some numerical representation, the body position in an oblique orientation can be easily selected with repeatability.

Figs. 6(A) and (B) are diagrams illustrating the basic circulation motion of the sheet.

As described in application to the stretcher of Fig. 3, if the two upper rotary rods 5a are movable up and down, the body enclosing endless sheet 1 2 may circulate while one support post 21 is lowered and the other support post 21 is erect (Fig. 4, Fig. 7), or when both support posts 21 are erect (Fig. 8), or when both support posts 21 are lowered (Fig. 9). In addition, if one support post 21 is erected and other support post 21 is lowered and the body-enclosing endless sheet 1 2 is caused to circulate, the body 23 moves laterally. By fixing a contacting transfer table to one side the body can be transferred read ily and safely.

Figs. 1 OA to F are diagrams illustrating various states of the body-enclosing endless sheet and the rotary rods. In Figs. 1 OA and 1 OB, if the sheet is moved the body is moved laterally and falls from the table. In Figs. 1 or, 1 0D and 1 0E the body is turned within the sheet. In (Fig. 10 f), since the sheet lacks tension and is loose the body slips away to one side and cannot be turned properly.

Fig. 4 shows the invention installed on a fluoroscopy table, Bucky table, a diagnosis table, a physiotherapy table or the like, already fixed horizontally. In Fig. 4, numeral 1 designates the table, and numeral 2 the human body turning device having a size nearly equal to that of the table 1. Two parallel rotary rods 5 are spaced at distance of 40-60 cm and detachably located between end frames 4 through the bearings 6. Each rotary rod 5 is made of rigid material such as iron or stainless steel, being about 200 cm in length and 20 50 mm in outer diameter. (The rotary rods 5 may also be formed with polygo nal or flat section.) One end of either rotary rod 5 may project suitably from the bearing 6 and the projecting part be provided with a rotation mechanism.The rotation mechanism is a crank 22 when the rotary rod 5 is manually rotated, or may be transmission gear in combination with a motor and a sprocket chain (not shown) when the rod 5 is rotated by means of electric power. The crank 22 may be accompanied by a detent, a brake, a ratchet mechanism or the like. The bodyenclosing sheet 1 2 serves to enclose the body, and is formed with the bed longitudinal dimension being about 180 cm (i.e slightly less than that of the rotary rods 5) and width being 200-3 cm. Opposite sides are fixed one to each of the two parallel rotary rods 5.

If a rotary rod 5 is rotated, the body-enclosing sheet 1 2 is rolled on to the rotary rod 5. The sheet rolling direction is such that the bodyenclosing sheet 1 2 first passes around upper part of a rotary rod 5, and hence to the outside, lower side and inside in sequence.

If the rotary rod 5 is detachable it may be removed so that the person to be inspected can easily get up on or descend from the table 1. This enables the fluoroscopy table to be used also in conventional methods. If the person to be inspected then lies on the fluoroscopy table 1 and over the body enclosing sheet 12, the rod 5 can be refitted to the bearing 6 and the crank 22 rotated so that the body enclosing sheet 1 2 is restored from a loose condition and stretched suitably. The person to be inspected is located between the two parallel rotary rods 5, enclosed, over about half of his body, by the body-enclosing sheet 1 2 and lies on the fluoroscopy table 1.

If the fluoroscopy table 1 is a Bucky table, a film-cassette receiving plate installed at the bottom surface of the fluoroscopy table 1 can be moved in and out without hindrance. If the fluoroscopy table 1 is not equipped with a Bucky grid, the bottom surface may be composed of two bottom plates so that the film cassette receiving plate can be conveniently inserted between the two bottom plates.

The basis of the turning of the human body according to the invention is the rotational movement of a rigid body, as shown in Fig.

5. The body-enclosing sheet can supply the large body with tangential force F by means of rotating action of the two bearings. If the force is F and the radius of rotational movement of the force is represented by F x r.

The principle of rolling of the body is utilized here.

The invention as shown has the following significant effects: (1) A person lying in bed can change his body position readily and safely without exertion of physical strength. A patient weakened seriously by pain, a physically-handicapped person, an old man or a child can change their body position (2) Repetition of the change in body-position in relation to the fluoroscopy table, as required in x-ray digestive tract inspection, can be performed readily and accurately without necessitating physical strength. The turning device has a simple structure and can be manufactured at very low cost in comparison to that of the equipment used exclusively for digestive tract inspection in the prior art.

(3) Since the person to be inspected is safely located within a transparent sheet and so can be observed from position remote from the bed, a helper can be shielded from x-ray radiation.

(4) Since positioning the body in an oblique state can be easily repeatable the invention can be effectively used in x-ray fluoroscopy, radiation therapy and various physical diagnosis and treatment where such a special body position is necessary.

(5) If the body-enclosing sheet is an endless loop the sheet can be circulated immediately to any direction from whatever position it is initially located. Return rolling of the sheet is not necessary. The danger that part of the person to be inspected, or part of his clothes are caught up in the rotation mechanism can be minimised.

(6) Plastic sheet material of poly vinyl chloride is usually used in the sheet moving mechanism. The device is thus simplified in structure and excellent in security and cleanliness as medical instrument. Such a sheet is not twisted or distorted during the circulation, and is still held in a concave curved form when the device is raised.

As above described, the invention has advantages of effectiveness, simplicity, security, accuracy and economy. Particularly, the invention is advantageous in the precision improvement of x-ray digestive tract inspection and its spread and thus assists in advancing cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Claims

1. Human body turning device characterised by having a body-enclosing sheet which (a) forms a concave curved shape at position above a bed surface and between parallel rotary support rods and (b) is moved by means of rotating action of one or more rotary drive rods.

2. Human body turning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body enclosing sheet is formed into an endless loop, and a plurality of said rotary rods is located within the loop.

3. Human body turning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a part of said body enclosing sheet is fixed to a said rotary drive rod whereby the body-enclosing sheet can be rolled over or released from the rotary drive rod by rotating thereof, the body enclosing sheet being lowerable at the body enclosing state so as to envelope a part of the body, whereby the body on the body enclosing sheet is turned by rolling the body enclosing sheet over the rotary drive rod.

4. Human body turning device as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein said body-enclosing sheet is of transparent material.

5. Human body turning device as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein contact surfaces between the body-enclosing sheet and the rotary drive rod circumferential surface comprise polyvinylchloride.

6. Human body turning device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein contact surfaces between the body-enclosing sheet and the rotary drive rod circumferential surface are of a composite polyvinylchloride sheet.

7. Human body turning device as claimed in any one of claimeds 1 to 4 wherein contact surfaces between the body-enclosing sheet and the rotary drive rod circumferential surface are of rubber.

8. Human body turning device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein contact surfaces between the body-enclosing sheet and the rotary drive rod circumferential surface are of a composite rubber sheet.