Method of cleaning a patient support device for care, maintenance, and treatment of the patient
AssigneeHill-Rom, Inc.
InventorW. Layne Carruth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Patient support apparatus configured for one or more of the care, maintenance or treatment of a patient, have internal components that become soiled in use and must be cleaned and disinfected. The method performs this required cleansing and disinfecting using an all-automated and all hands-free, flushing module with the capability of performing an internal cleansing of internally soiled components of such a patient support apparatus. The method automatically goes through a flush cycle, a wash cycle and a rinse cycle.
Claims15
A method of cleansing a patient support device for care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the device having at least one external surface dedicated to supporting the patient thereon, the device further having one or more of internal hoses, valves, tanks, conduits, fittings, with internal surfaces that become exposed to contact with substances associated with the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- using a first predetermined volume of liquid to flush preselected ones of the internal surfaces of the device exposed to substances associated with the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient;
- thereafter circulating over preselected ones of said internal surfaces of the device for a preselected period of time, a turbulent flow of a second volume of liquid including a chemical solution;
- and
- thereafter using a third predetermined volume of liquid to rinse preselected ones of said internal surfaces of the device.
A method of cleansing a device for care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the device having one or more of internal hoses, valves, tanks, conduits, fittings, with internal surfaces that become exposed to contact with substances associated with the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- using a first predetermined volume of liquid to flush preselected ones of the surfaces of the device exposed to substances associated with the care, maintenance, and treatment of a patient;
- thereafter circulating over preselected ones of said internal surfaces of the device for a preselected period of time a turbulent flow of a second volume of liquid including a chemical solution, said chemical solution having a temperature, wherein said circulating step includes regulating the temperature of said chemical solution by using a mixing valve to mix a flow of hot water with a flow of tap water;
- and
- using a third predetermined volume of liquid to rinse preselected ones of said surfaces of the device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.