WO2023037148A1

WO2023037148A1 - Two-part bedpan equipped with systems for patient cleansing, smell-collector, aroma-diffuser, seat massaging and seat warmer

Info

Publication number: WO2023037148A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/058283
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mahmoudreza FARSHCHIAN
Original assignee: Farshchian Mahmoudreza
Priority date: 2021-09-12
Filing date: 2021-09-12
Publication date: 2023-03-16

Abstract

This disclosure is an ergonomic sanitary bedpan for increasing the safety, hygiene, and also comfort of patients who have to use bedpans and at the same time, to help caregivers and facilitate their tasks. It comprises two main parts: a horseshoe shape seat (Chassis) and an ovate shape receptacle as a waste material container (Feces-Receptacle). This apparatus is equipped with: a bidet for rinsing patient`s underside after defecation/urination; an air-drying system, a smell-collector for decreasing the emission of the volatile gases of patient`s digestive system, an adjustable seat-warming and a seat-massaging system (vibrating seat) plus an electrical aroma-diffuser for refreshing the atmosphere around. All of the electrical options are built-in and work with 9V rechargeable DC batteries and can be operated either by a switch.

Description

Two-part bedpan equipped with systems for patient cleansing, smell-collector, aroma-diffuser, seat massaging and seat warmer

Bed-pans, urinals, or other sanitary devices for bed-ridden persons; Cleaning devices therefor, e.g. combined with toilet-urinals (A61G 9/00)

Background

Old bedpans used to be more round or elliptical in shape like simple vases and were made of primary materials such as brass, potter's clay or even wood. Nowadays, bedpans are more ergonomic and have creative designs (e.g. GB 2464494, etc.) they are also constructed of modern materials such as stainless steel, different kinds of plastic and disposable recycled materials (e.g. US 20170165140). Steel is durable and easy to clean but it is heavy, uncomfortable and rather expensive, more ever it feels cold and unpleasant (its Specific Heat Capacity is as low as 490 J.Kg^-1.K^-1). Plastic is lighter and cheaper than steel and its Specific Heat Capacity is higher (about 1500-1700 J.Kg^-1.K^-1) but it is difficult to be sterilized and may become a reservoir for microorganisms and viruses. Single-use bedpans which have been recently used in some hospitals decrease the risk of cross-contamination and obviate the task of emptying, washing and sterilizing, but not many patients feel comfort with them.

Despite of improvement in making bedpans both in appearance and in material, they are still very incomplete and provide no facilities, yet. In fact, today`s bedpans are not fundamentally and functionally much different from their traditional versions in the 18th century or even earlier!

Combined patient bed and defecation device

WO2009151283A2

The invention relates to a defecation device for patients. It includes a bedpan arranged on a defecation unit installed on a bed, a defecation container connected to the bedpan via a feces/urine suction hose, a suction mean having a plurality of first and second vacuum suction pumps for providing suction force to the defecation container, a water supply mean for discharging feces or urine from the bedpan and washing the bedpan after defecation or urination, and a sterilizing mean for sterilizing the bedpan and private parts of patients by using the water supplied by the water supply means. It is claimed that the defecation device for patients in the mentioned invention has a simple structure and can relieve nursing personnel of the burden of disposing of wastes which may be a major difficulty for nurses.

It is obvious that in spite of vast and increasing application of bedpan in the world, the technology of this apparatus is very basic and is not in proportional with the advanced technology of medical devices. There are many new capacities to be employed to have capable and facilitating bedpans which are portable, light and easy to use and also helpful for patients and caregivers

SUMMARY

This invention is a two-part plastic bedpan equipped with a self-cleaning mechanism (a bidet) for automatic rinsing the lower parts of the body of patient after defecation. Also people who have to wash their pubic and anus/genitals with detergents and other liquids according to a doctor recommendation (e.g. because of childbirth, surgery, etc.) can use this bedpan instead of sitting in a basin containing of detergent. It has also a small but capable air-blower for drying wet parts of patients` body after using the bidet. This bedpan includes a miniature exhaust fan to absorb harmful and foul-smelling gases from the excrement material and an odor-diffuser to spread aromatic scents instead. It has also a massager and a warmer under its seat to be used in demand for increasing the blood stream in pelvic area and more relaxation.

Many factors such as old age, injuries, stroke and various other debilitating diseases can confine an individual to bed and necessitate them to use a bedpan. People who are routinely engaged with weakness, immobility and pain are depended on others for their very basic biological affairs including evacuating their bladder and intestines and bedpan is the only and the last choice for them but using a bedpan is very problematic because design of ordinary bedpans mostly date back to about 100 years ago and is obsolescence and inefficient. Regular bedpans are in fact just a kind of flat receptacle and cannot meet the users` needs and concerns.

Main problems of typical bedpans and their correlated reasons could be summarized as below:

The most critical problem is cleaning the patient after defecation. At present, the usual method is manually wiping the dirty area with a toilet paper, but access to this part of body is difficult and disgusting for caregiver, the risk of cross contamination with stool is high, the method is not accurate and the remnants of fecal particles provide a suitable condition for growth of fungal, bacteria, etc. especially when bathing of these people due to their immobility, is always associated with many challenges and could happen with week(s) of interval.

The seat place of a bedpan is the weight supporting area. In ordinary bedpans this part is too narrow so inserts intense pressure to the back and pelvis and would be uncomfortable and even dangerous because frequent excess pressure in prolong, causes irritation and increase contusion in typically fragile tissues and weak muscles of chronic patients and could result in getting bedsore, especially for aged and/or heavy patients.

(Note: deficient hygiene and excess pressure due to narrow seats are two synergistic risk factors which seriously raise the feasibility of catching bedsore).

Common bedpans usually have designing bugs, such as turned edges facing the interior space of bedpan and also excretory points which by acting as a shelter for stool particles are obstacle for emptying, washing and sanitizing. They also do not have capable handles, accordingly it would be difficult for caregivers to work with them (e.g. to carry, put and fix under the patients` body and take it away, evacuate, wash and sterilize the bedpan).

The possibility of spillage and contamination the bed during removing a full bedpan is always a cause of anxiety, as well.

Existing bedpans cannot prevent spreading of unpleasant odors.

Facing with these problems would be really grueling in long term especially when it is unavoidable and every single day repeats.

To solve all the problems of common bedpans at once, an innovative method other than what has been done so far should be applied but limitations in dimensions and weight of the device must be regarded too.

My invention is a bedpan with regular size and weight (almost like ordinary bedpans). It consists of two parts and includes a built-in bidet for rinsing the anus and pubic after defecation plus an air-dryer to be used after bidet (patient cleansing system), and a smell-collector plus an aroma-diffuser. For increasing blood circulation in back and buttocks and also to beget more comfort and relaxation it has a vibrating system for massaging and a warmer; meanwhile it is portable and does not need to be installed to the bed.

In this invention a new ergonomic design in addition to a bunch of novel facilities has been applied to eliminate the mentioned inconveniences and decrease the dependency of patient. The purpose of my invention is to make the whole process of using a bedpan efficiently easier, both for the patient and the health care provider. The most important issues about bedpans are safety, hygiene and comfort. This disclosure provides a large weight supporting surface (a big seat) to provide more safety and more comfort for patient; it has a bidet an air-drying system and a smell-collector to raise the hygienic level and it has an aroma-diffuser, a seat-massager and a seat-warmer for more comfort. To ease the caregivers` task, this invention is consisted of two parts with large handles which join together and serve as a unit device; the catch points in ordinary bedpans which unwillingly hold stool particles have been completely removed, as well.

The two separate parts of this invention are: a horseshoe shape seat naming “Chassis” and an oval shape receptacle naming “Feces-Receptacle”. These two pieces plus the built-in electrical parts fit into each other and provide the functions of this disclosure as a unit and uniform apparatus.

Chassis is the seat place of bedpan and supports the patient's weight. It has a special space to locate the Feces-Receptacle into it. A built-in seat-massager and a seat-warmer and a rechargeable 9V battery are under the seat place of Chassis.

Feces-Receptacle is a container for waste material. It has a large handle and a water tank with capacity of 900cc. The bidet, smell-collector and aroma-diffuser plus a rechargeable 9V battery and switch are all assembled in a cap which covers the water tank. The bidet consists of a small submersible water pump and a nozzle. A 5 mm flexible silicone tube directly connects the output of the pump to a nozzle located in the center and above of the Feces-Receptacle and provides the water flow for rinsing the patients` lower parts.

The smell-collector is a miniature exhaust fan which sucks the air inside the waste container (or Feces-Receptacle) and the aroma-diffuser is a small metal plate (e.g. 3*3 cm) which warms up to 45 C if aromatic oil drops on it, it would gently vaporize and release its scent.

After defecation and rinsing by bidet, the Feces-Receptacle is taken aside and patient can dry their wet parts by the built-in air-blower system in the Chassis.

This disclosure is made of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). This material is light, durable, easy to clean and very popular in medical devices.

The way of using of this invention like any other bedpans obeys the nursing education instructions (e.g. Logan 2012, OSHA 2009, etc.):

The wide part of Chassis is aligned with patient's waist and its narrow part points towards feet. Caregiver takes Chassis by one hand and rolls patient on their shoulder by the other (patient`s buttocks is toward caregiver), sticks Chassis to the buttocks and helps patient to roll back upon it and then places Feces-Receptacle into Chassis (patient may bend knees to cooperate) or simply put Chassis and Feces-Receptacle together (i.e. Feces-Receptacle has been already placed into Chassis).

After defecating, bidet rinses patient’s anus/genitalia area with adequate amount of water. During defecation and rinsing the smell-collector sucks the air inside the stool container and collects the molecules that produce bad smells right after they release.

After rinsing, Feces-Receptacle is set aside and patient is dried by the air-drying system assembled beneath the seat of the Chassis, then Chassis is removed (Chassis and Feces-Receptacle could be removed simultaneously).
While using Chassis, the temperature of the seat place can be adjusted (up to 45 C) by a warmer and at the same time, patient can enjoy of a gentle massage by the Vibrating-System and also an electrical Aroma-Diffusor, upon request.
All the electrical facilities of this disclosure are optional and patient can use either of them upon request.

This disclosure provides various benefits for both patients and caregivers as listed in below:

Using b Bidet for rinsing with water after defecation and an air-blower for drying is more sanitary than using toilet papers and more efficiently decrease the risk of cross-contamination. It also facilitates the hard task of cleansing the patient after defecation by caregiver.

Meanwhile, WHO has announced that COVID-19 virus can endure and duplicate in stool¹. On the other hand, for more than one third of the world population, using water for rinsing anus right after defecation is more than a just hygienic practice routine, but it is a restrict religious obligation or an important cultural norm, so that using of ordinary bedpan in these societies would be extra problematic (e.g. 1.8 b Muslims, 1.2 b Hindus, about 0.5 b Buddhists etc. collectively more than 3.5 Billion²).
In addition to all hygienic concerns, touching the private sectors of a person would be very embarrassing for them. It hurts the patients` and the caregivers` dignity, both.

In this invention the seat is more than three times wider and significantly lessens the pressure to the patient`s body, so it would be more safe and comfortable and consequently would have preventable effects on getting bedsore.

The smell-collector reduces the emission of bad smells during defecation and rinsing.

This invention has two independent parts and large handles, so for caregivers it would be easier to work with it (i.e. to put/remove and carry it).

In this invention the stool container has elliptical shape without any stuck points, it has also glossy surface and a large handle, so it would be much easier to empty and wash it.

An electrical aroma-diffuser refreshes the atmosphere around while using the bedpan.

An adjustable seat-warmer warms the surface of the seat up to a desirable temperature (this option prevents from the unpleasant sense of sitting on a cold seat with bare skin and also helps to increase the bloodstream in that area).

It has an adjustable vibrating-system under the seat to gently massage the buttock muscles of patient (aside of being pleasant, this option reduces the contusion and fatigue and also helps to increase the blood circulation in that area).

People who are not immobile but have to wash their genitalia/anus with surfactants (i.e. new mothers or hemorrhoid patients) can use of this disclosure, as well.

For patients of one third of the world population (e.g. Muslims, Hindus, etc.)² rinsing after defecation is an important religious/cultural obligation which is solved by the built-in bidet of this disclosure.

Brief Description of Drawing

Description of the drawings may be better understood given the following explanations:

As used herein, the terms Two-part Bedpan, Apparatus and Invention mean the same and may refer to “this disclosure”.

As used herein, the term Chassis refers to “the part of bedpan which sustains the patients` weight as a seat and also places the Feces-Receptacle into it”.

As used herein, the term Feces-Receptacle refers to “a special elliptical receptacle as a container of stool, urine and drain water with a water tank and a handle”.

As used herein, the term Utility-Cap refers to “a special covering piece for the water tank which includes a built-in small water pump, a miniature air-suction exhaust fan, a small warming plate as an aroma-diffuser, a nozzle, a rechargeable 9V battery and charging port plus the relating wiring and connections”.

As used herein, the term Patient refers to “any individual who may use of this invention for mean of defecation, urination or washing their genitalia/anal area with water or other liquids (e.g. betadine, surfactants, etc.)”

As used herein, the term Caregiver refers to “a health care provider or any individual who may deliver, remove, empty and wash this disclosure and/or helps the Patient to use of this invention in any manner”.

Different parts, features and functions of this disclosure would be apparent through the appended drawings:

is a top view of Chassis

is a rare view of Chassis

is a perspective view of Chassis

schematically shows vibrating and air-drying systems in Chassis from top view

schematically shows seat-warming system in Chassis from top view

compares the seating-place areas of this disclosure and a typical ordinary bedpan

is a top view of Feces-Receptacle

is a perspective view of Feces-Receptacle

schematically shows all built-in electrical parts assembled into the Utility-Cap

is a side view of Utility-Cap when covers the water tank of Feces-Receptacle, schematically showing its electrical parts.

shows the top view of Feces-Receptacle placed into Chassis

shows the perspective view of Feces-Receptacle placed into Chassis

shows an embodiment of a patient is being rinsing by the bidet

shows an embodiment of a patient is being dried by the air-blower

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

to 6 are different views of the Chassis, wherein 1 is the weight sustaining area or the seating place; 2 shows lateral handles; 3 is a handgrip; 4 is the special space of the Feces-Receptacle.

is a top view of Chassis and schematically demonstrates the seat-massaging and air-drying systems, wherein: 1 shows the air-blower and 2 shows the related vents; 3 is vibrating motors and 4 is a 9V rechargeable DC battery.

schematically demonstrates the seat-warming elements in Chassis from top view.

compares the size of the sitting places of this disclosure 1 and a typical bedpan 2.

and 8 demonstrate top and perspective views of Feces-Receptacle wherein: 1 is waste material container; 2 is water tank (for bidet) and 3 is the handle.

Capacity of the waste material container 1 is about two liters. It has oval shape with glossy surface and no stuck points so it would be easy to empty and wash.
The capacity of water tank 2 is about 900 cc which is sufficient for twice use.
Feces-Receptacle fits into its special space between the two lateral handles of Chassis.

schematically demonstrates a longitudinal section view of Utility-Cap wherein: 1 is covering cap; 2 is body; 3 is a submersible water pump; 4 is an air suction fan (as the smell-collector); 5 is a warming metal plate (as the aroma-diffuser); 6 is DC 9V battery; 7 is nozzle.

shows side view of all sectors and parts of Utility-Cap when it covers the water tank of Feces-Receptacle (e.g. waste container 1; water tank 2; handle 3; and Utility-Cap 4; water pump 5;

miniature exhaust fan

6 and 7 nozzle).

and 12 show Feces-Receptacle 2 placed into the Chassis 1 when the Cap 3 covers the opening of water tank.

is the embodiment of a patient using the bidet after defecation.

is the embodiment of a patient using the air-blower to get dried after using the bidet

Examples

a bedpan seat and a stool container which fit together and form a unit apparatus, wherein: The bedpan seat (naming Chassis) is a horseshoe shape from the top view and has a weight supporting area as the seat to sustain the patient`s weight. It has two large lateral handles and a special space between the handles for placing the stool container. A built-in adjustable seat element (seat-warmer), an air-blower plus the related vents and a seat-vibrating motor, and a rechargeable 9V battery and required wirings are assembled beneath the seat of the Chassis. The stool container (naming Feces-Receptacle) is an almost elliptical shape from the top view. It is a waste material container (e.g. stool, urine, and drain water) with a water tank and a handle. A special cap (naming Utility-Cap) covers the opening of the water tank.

Use in patients with spinal cord amputation and the elderly

Use of the device for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and homes

Claims

This disclosure comprises of two separate parts: a bedpan seat and a stool container which fit together and form a unit apparatus, wherein:
The bedpan seat (naming Chassis) is horseshoe shape from top view and has a weight supporting area as the seat to sustain the patient`s weight. It has two large lateral handles and a special space between the handles for placing the stool container. A built-in adjustable seat-element (seat-warmer), an air-blower plus the related vents and a seat-vibrating motor and a rechargeable 9V battery and required wirings are assembled beneath the seat of Chassis.
The stool container (naming Feces-Receptacle) is almost elliptical shape from top view. It is a waste material container (e.g. stool, urine and drain water) with a water tank and a handle. A special cap (naming Utility-Cap) covers the opening of the water tank.
Utility-cap includes a built-in water pump, a nozzle, a miniature exhaust fan as the smell-collector and a small warming plate as the aroma-diffuser plus a switch and a rechargeable 9V battery.
According to claim 1b and 1c a built-in bidet rinses the patient`s anal/genitalia after defecation.
According to claim 1a, 1b and 1c a built-in air-blower dries the patient`s anal/genitalia after using the bidet.
According to claim 1b and 1c a built-in smell-collector in the Utility-Cap reduces emission of bad smells during defecation and rinsing.
According to claim 1a patient can use a built-in seat-warmer in the Chassis.
According to claim 1a patient can use a built-in vibrating-system in the Chassis to get a gentle massage while using this disclosure.
According to claim 1b and 1c, while patient is using of this disclosure, a built-in aroma-diffuser in the Utility-Cap refreshes the atmosphere around.