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

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;
• and
• 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 coplanar with said support surface, said second portion supporting means being a separate element from said support surface, and
• ii) means for catching the waste associated with the patient,
• A) said catching means being supported by said second portion supporting means between the patient and said second portion supporting means.

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;
• and
• 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 coplanar with said support surface,
• ii) means for catching the waste associated with the patient,
• A) said catching means being supported by said second portion supporting means between the patient and said second portion supporting means, and
• iii) means for removing the waste from said catching means, said removing means being disposed in communication with said catching means, wherein:
• said removing means includes a holding reservoir and a vacuum blower being connected in communication with said holding reservoir;
• and
• e) said removing means further includes a vacuum wand selectively connected in communication with said holding reservoir wherein said vacuum blower can create a suction force in said vacuum wand.

A low air loss 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;
• and
• 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 coplanar with said low air loss support surface of said sacks, and
• ii) means for catching the waste associated with the patient,
• A) said catching means being supported by said second portion supporting means between the patient and said second portion supporting means.

A low air loss 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;
• and
• 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 coplanar with said low air loss support surface of said sacks, and
• ii) means for catching the waste associated with the patient,
• A) said catching means being supported by said second portion supporting means between the patient and said second portion supporting means, wherein:
• B) at least a portion of said catching means being permeable to liquids.

Apparatus for managing waste from the care and/or treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a rinse liquid container;
• b) a rinse liquid nozzle;
• c) a heat exchanger;
• d) a means for carrying liquid between said container and said nozzle via said heat exchanger;
• and
• e) a means for controlling the flow of liquid provided to said nozzle.

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 first portion of the patient's body, wherein said first portion supporting means includes:
• i) a support member configured to contain pressurized air,
• ii) said support member defining a plurality of discrete elongated cylindrical support fingers disposed adjacent to each other and separated from each other along their lengths thereof, 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 first portion of the patient's body;
• and
• b) means for catching waste, said waste catching means being carried by said first portion supporting means and wherein said catching means includes:
• i) a liquid impermeable basin member,
• ii) said basin member being configured to conform to and receive said support fingers,
• iii) said basin member being further configured with a floor disposed beneath the upward-most level of said patient support surfaces when said basin member is fitted over said support fingers and receives said support fingers,
• iv) said basin member being further configured with at least one drain opening defined through said floor, and
• v) said floor being configured so as to slope toward said at least one drain opening.