US 5,269,030 A · Apparatus and method for managing waste from patient care, maintenance, and treatment

Abstract

An apparatus and method for managing waste from patient care, maintenance, and/or treatment includes an inflatable bladder member disposed to support at least a first portion of the body of the patient. A flexible basin member is fitted over the bladder and receives waste materials, and a filter sheet is disposed atop the basin member. The basin member is connected to a holding reservoir and a vacuum blower. A liquid waste pump is connected to the holding reservoir to transfer liquid waste to a waste jug. A vacuum wand provides rinsing liquid from a rinse liquid jug via a rinse liquid pump and provides suction via the vacuum blower. Liquid levels in each of the rinse liquid jug, the waste jug, and the holding reservoir, are monitored by liquid level sensing devices which supply signals to a microprocessor which controls various functions of the apparatus. Special inflatable sacks are provided to assist turning the patient to facilitate cleansing of the patient. Inflatable cushions receive the inflatable bladder member and dispose it to become coextensive with the support of the rest of the patient in a patient support apparatus, if desired.

Claims72

Dependent claims

An apparatus for managing waste arising from at least one of the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a) means for supporting at least a portion of the patient's body;
b) means for catching waste, said waste catching means being carried by said supporting means;
c) a vacuum blower disposed for sucking the wastes from said catching means;
d) a holding reservoir disposed in communication with said catching means and said vacuum blower to receive the waste sucked from said catching means by said vacuum blower, wherein:
e) said supporting means includes:
i) a support member configured to contain pressurized air,
ii) said support member defining a plurality of discrete support fingers disposed adjacent to each other and separated from each other, and
iii) each said support finger having a free end defining a patient support surface, said patient support surfaces being disposed to support the weight of the second portion of the patient's body, wherein said supporting means further includes:
iv) an air permeable foam member disposed inside said support member and beneath said plurality of discrete support fingers.

6 more elements

An apparatus for managing waste from the treatment and/or care and maintenance of a patient who is supported at least as to a first portion of the patient's body on a support surface of a patient support system, the apparatus comprising:

a) means for supporting at least a second portion of the body of the patient, said second patient body portion supporting means defining an inflatable first surface configured and disposed substantially coextensive with the support surface of the patient support system;
and
b) means for catching waste,
i) said waste catching means being supported by said second patient body portion supporting means so as to be disposed between the patient and said second patient body portion supporting means;
c) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means;
and
d) means for collecting the waste removed from said catching means by said removing means, said collecting means being disposed in communication with said removing means,
wherein said collecting means includes:
i) a collection container connected in communication with said removing means, and
ii) said collection container having an opening configured so as to be removably securable to the patient support system and automatically open when secured to the patient support system and automatically sealed when unsecured to the patient support system.

7 more elements

a) means for supporting at least a second portion of the body of the patient, said second patient body portion supporting means defining an inflatable first surface configured and disposed substantially coextensive with the support surface of the patient support system;
b) means for catching waste,
i) said waste catching means being supported by said second patient body portion supporting means so as to be disposed between the patient and said second patient body portion supporting means;
c) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means;
d) means for collecting the waste removed from said catching means by said removing means, said collecting means being disposed in communication with said removing means, said collecting means including:
i) a collection container connected in communication with said removing means, and
ii) said collection container having an opening configured so as to be removably securable to the patient support system and automatically open when secured to the patient support system and automatically sealed when unsecured to the patient support system;
e) means for detecting a predetermined level of liquid waste inside said waste collection container and providing a signal upon detecting same, said liquid waste level detecting means including:
i) a liquid sensor element having a portion disposed for detecting a predetermined level of liquid inside said waste collection container, and
ii) a means for emitting a signal in response to said sensor detecting said predetermined level of liquid in said collection container;
and
f) a second housing configured for receiving said waste collection container,
i) said second housing including a means for connecting said collection container in communication with said holding reservoir,
ii) wherein said connecting means is automatically engagable with said collection container when said second housing receives said collection container,
iii) wherein said connecting means is configured to prevent waste from escaping when said connecting means is disengaged from said collection container,
iv) said second housing further including a means for coupling said liquid level sensor element in communication with said signal emitting means, and
v) wherein said coupling means is automatically engagable when said second housing receives said collection container.

14 more elements

a) means for supporting at least a second portion of the body of the patient, said second patient body portion supporting means defining an inflatable first surface configured and disposed substantially coextensive with the support surface of the patient support system;
b) means for catching waste,
i) said waste catching means being supported by said second patient body portion supporting means so as to be disposed between the patient and said second patient body portion supporting means;
c) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means, said removing means including:
i) at least one waste removal conduit connected in communication with said catching means,
ii) a holding reservoir connected to said waste removal conduit, and
iii) a vacuum blower disposed for creating a suction force in said waste removal conduit,
iv) said vacuum blower being connected in communication with said holding reservoir;
and
v) a vacuum wand selectively connected in communication with said holding reservoir wherein said vacuum blower can create a suction force in said vacuum wand.

7 more elements

An apparatus for supporting a patient in the presence of at least one liquid associated with the treatment and/or care and maintenance of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a) a support member configured to contain pressurized air,
i) said support member defining a plurality of discrete, elongated, cylindrical support fingers disposed adjacent to each other and separated from each other,
ii) each said support finger having a free end defining a patient support surface, said patient support surfaces being disposed to support the weight of at least a portion of the patient's body;
and
b) a liquid impermeable basin member,
i) said basin member being configured to conform to and receive a plurality of at least said free ends of said support fingers of said support member,
ii) said basin member being further configured with a floor disposed beneath the level of said support surfaces of said support fingers when said basin member is fitted over said support member and receives said support fingers,
iii) said basin member being further configured with at least one drain opening defined through said floor, and
iv) said floor being configured so as to slope toward said at least one drain opening.

6 more elements

A patient support apparatus comprising:

a) a frame;
b) a support surface conforming to at least a first portion of the patient's body for supporting the patient above said frame;
c) means for managing waste associated with a patient who is supported at least in part on said support surface, said waste managing means being carried by said frame and including:
i) means for supporting at least a second portion of the patient coextensive with said support surface, and
ii) means for catching the waste associated with the patient, said catching means being supported by said second portion supporting means between the patient and said second portion supporting means,
iii) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means, said removing means including a holding reservoir and a vacuum blower, said vacuum blower being connected in communication with said holding reservoir, said removing means including a vacuum wand selectively connected in communication with said holding reservoir wherein said vacuum blower can create a suction force in said vacuum wand, said removing means including a rinse solution conduit having one end carried by said vacuum wand, said removing means including a rinse solution container configured to be removably securable to said frame and connected for communicating with said rinse solution conduit, and said removing means including a rinse pump connected for pumping rinse solution from said rinse solution container through said rinse solution conduit to be dispensed via said vacuum wand;
d) means for detecting a predetermined level of liquid in said rinse solution container and providing a signal upon detecting same, said rinse solution level detecting means including:
i) a liquid sensor element having a portion disposed for detecting a predetermined level of rinse liquid inside said rinse solution container, and
ii) a means for emitting a signal in response to said sensor element detecting said predetermined level of liquid in said rinse solution container;
e) a first housing configured for receiving said rinse solution container,
i) said first housing including a means for connecting said rinse solution container in communication with said vacuum wand,
ii) wherein said connecting means is automatically engagable with said rinse solution container when said first housing receives said rinse solution container,
iii) wherein said connecting means is configured to prevent rinse solution from escaping when said connecting means is disengaged from said rinse solution container,
iv) said first housing further including a means for coupling said liquid level sensor element in communication with said signal emitting means, and
v) wherein said coupling means is automatically engagable when said first housing receives said rinse solution container.

12 more elements

A patient support apparatus, comprising:

a frame;
a support surface conforming to at least a first portion of the patient's body for supporting the patient above said frame;
and
means for managing waste associated with a patient who is supported at least in part on said support surface, said waste managing means being carried by said frame and including:
i) means for supporting at least a second portion of the patient coextensive with said support surface,
ii) means for catching the waste associated with the patient, said catching means being supported by said second portion supporting means between the patient and said second portion supporting means,
iii) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means, and
iv) means for collecting the waste removed from said catching means by said removing means, said waste collecting means being disposed in communication with said removing means.

5 more elements

A patient support apparatus, comprising:

a) a frame;
b) a plurality of low air loss sacks,
i) said sacks being carried by said frame,
ii) said sacks being configured to be connected in communication with a source of pressurized gas and configured to be inflatable with pressurized gas, and
iii) said sacks being configured to define a low air loss support surface conforming to at least a first portion of the patient's body for supporting the patient above said frame when said sacks are inflated with pressurized gas;
c) means for managing waste associated with a patient who is supported at least in part on said low air loss support surface, said waste managing means including:
i) means for supporting at least a second portion of the patient coextensive with said low air loss support surface of said sacks, and
ii) means for catching the waste associated with the patient,
said catching means being supported by said second portion supporting means between the patient and said second portion supporting means;
and
d) means for adapting said waste managing means to be carried by said frame, said adapting means being supported by said frame and configured for receiving said second portion supporting means, wherein said adapting means includes:
i) an adaptor shell, said adaptor shell defining:
A) a bottom surface configured for being carried by said frame, and
B) a generally centrally located receiving opening, said receiving opening being defined with a configuration for securingly receiving said waste managing means such that said second portion supporting means is disposed substantially coplanar with said low air loss support surface defined by said sacks.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for managing waste from patient care, maintenance, and treatment

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for managing waste from patient care, maintenance, and treatment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims72