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The pressure sores prevention bed according to this invention consists of two parts, A (1) and B (2). Both parts are operated to move the bed upward and downward at the predetermined time by using a timer. The movements of the two parts result in the shifting of the patient's weight pressed against the bed. When Parts B moves downward below Parts A, the latter supports the patient's entire weight, and when Parts A moves downward below Parts B, the latter supports the patient's entire weight. The points where the weight is supported on Parts A and B are different depending on the cushion arrangements (in the xylophone track pattern or the chess pattern). The shifting of the weight supporting points allows the patient's skin and muscles to be relaxed. The appropriate time interval for each shifting is no more than 30 minutes. In addition, the head end of the bed can be inclined, and the head rest can be tilted at the angle of 10-15° with respect to the bed structure. Such features are especially useful for treating broken neck patients with the need of using the weight balls.
It is the main objective of this invention to prevent a patient from pressure sores which normally occurs to the patients who have to stay in bed and cannot move their body due to any serious damage to their brain, spine, or the whole body. The position of these patients needs to be changed every 1-2 hours, otherwise the pressure sores will occur approximately within 2-3 days. However, with the use of this invention, the pressure sores occurrence can be prevented without changing the patient's position.
Moreover, this invention helps reduce muscle ache, thus making the patient feel comfortable and recover more quickly after such operations as hip joint replacement, operations on the digestive system, operations on the cardiovascular system, or brain surgery. The inclinable head end also facilitates the process of administering food to the patient and the physical therapy. Since the head rest can also be tilted at the angle of 10-15° with respect to the bed structure, it is helpful for those patients who are under the treatment for broken neck.
The cost and time of the health care needed for the patient with pressure sores are high because the patient needs special care from the doctors and nurses at the hospital, and from the relatives after leaving the hospital. It is therefore the objective of this invention to reduce the time and money for both the hospital and the patient's relatives. In addition, the beds for the patient with pressure sores currently available on the market are not substantially efficient, and the efficient ones have to be imported from overseas at high price whereas the bed according to this invention is cheaper because the materials used are obtained domestically.
This invention relates to Medical Engineering.
Currently there are many types of beds designed for preventing pressure sores such as:
1. The Liquid Silicone Bed
This type of bed is made from liquid silicone material whose shape can be transformed according to the items placed on it. Therefore, when using this bed, the patient's weight will spread to the different body parts.
Disadvantage Although the silicone can help spread the body weight, there is still a certain level of pressure at every area of the body, especially at the heel due to its small size. The pressure at the heel is not changed without moving the body. Moreover, the air ventilation is not so good and can cause dampness. Thus, this type of bed cannot prevent pressure sores occurrence.
2. The Water Bed
The main features of this type of bed are similar to those of the liquid silicone bed except that the water circulation system makes the bed move all the time like the swinging movement of a hammock. Therefore, the weight distribution is better than the previous type of bed.
Disadvantage There is still a certain level of pressure at every area of the body, especially at the heel. There is no time for the skin and muscles to recover. Poor air ventilation of such bed also results in dampness and therefore it cannot prevent pressure sores occurrence.
3. The Air Bag Bed
This type of bed consists of cylinder-shaped air bags arranged in an alternated fashion to shift the supporting points of the patient's weight.
Disadvantage Since the air bags are flexible with respect to the patient's body weight, it is impossible to shift the weight supporting points as intended. It can only reduce some weight pressure but not enough to give the skin and muscles time to relax, and recover.
FIG. 1 is the top plan view of the pressure sores prevention bed with the rectangular-shaped cushions arranged in the xylophone track pattern.
FIG. 2 and 3 are the top plan views of the pressure sores prevention bed with the dice-shaped cushions arranged in the chess pattern.
FIG. 4 and 5 are the top plan views of the pressure sores prevention bed with the cylinder-shaped cushions arranged in the chess pattern.
FIG. 6 is the side view of the pressure sores prevention bed with Parts A moving downward.
FIG. 7 is the side view of the pressure sores prevention bed with Parts B moving downward.
FIG. 8 is the side view of the bed with the head rest of the bed tilted at the set angle.
FIG. 9 is the side view of the bed with the head end lifted up in an inclined position.
The special feature of this invention is that it provides weight shift for all parts of the patient's body to prevent the pressure sores occurrence. The head end of the bed can be inclined, and the head rest can be tilted at the angle of 10-15°.
The invention consists of two bed parts [A (1) and B (2) according to FIG. 1-5], arranged in an alternated fashion on the main structure of the bed. Parts A (1) and Parts B (2) are movable independently upward and downward. The bed is in the standard size with the cushions arranged in different patterns.
According to FIG. 1, the cushions are in the rectangular shape arranged in the xylophone track pattern with the width and height of about 2-5 inches, or preferably 2×2 inches. These cushions are made of injection-formed latex rubber.
According to FIG. 2, the cushions are in the dice shape arranged in the chess pattern with the width, height, and length of about 2-5 inches, or preferably 3×3×3 inches. These cushions are made of injection-formed latex rubber.
According to FIG. 3, the cushions are in the cylinder shape with the diameter and height of about 2-5 inches, or preferably 3×3 inches, and are made of injection-formed latex rubber.
Parts A (1) and Parts B (2) which are in the main bed structure are made from metal tracks of the same size bonded together but at alternated positions so that Parts A (1) and Parts B (2) can move independently upward and downward through the spaces between them. This metal track will support the cushions which have the same size and pattern as the above-described cushions, i.e. the xylophone track, dice, and cylinder patterns. Parts A (1) and Parts B (2) are attached to the lifting sets C (3), M (10), and F (6), N (11). The movements of Parts A (1) and B (2) are dependent on the lifting sets C (3), M (10), and F (6), N (11) [FIGS. 6 and 7]. The lifting sets C (3) and F (6) consist of two metal axes crossing each other with the rotating point at the center capable of moving close to or away from each other. Attached to one side of the axes are jacks E (5) and G (7) functioned to push or pull the axes away from or close to each other. When the said jacks push the metal axes away from each other, Parts A (1) and B (2) are lifted up. When the said jacks pull the metal axes close to each other, Parts A (1) and B (2) are lowered. The lifting sets M (10) and N (11) are acting as jacks for pushing Parts A (1) and B (2) directly at four corners. These jacks can be hydraulic jacks, electric jacks, or air pump jacks, but they must have sufficient strength to lift Parts A (1), Parts B (2), and the patient body upward and downward for 24 hours a day. The preferable lifting weight capacity is no less than 200 kg. The lifting sets C (3), M (10) and F (6), N (11) are controlled by the controlling set D (4) [FIGS. 6 and 7] which consists of a control switch that can be set for the operating time of 1 to 30 minutes. The circuit breaking set will also be included to prevent short circuiting.
The head rest tilting can be performed by using two beds of the present invention (the head rest part and the body part) whereby the length of the head rest part is 30-50% of the total length of both beds connected together by joints in such a way that it can be moved in a hinge-like manner. The hydraulic lifting set I (8) functions in lifting the top of the head rest part up while forcing the bottom thereof to split wide apart from the other part of the bed. The head end can also be inclined by using the hydraulic jack J (9) which is secured to the main structure at the head of the bed. When operating the said hydraulic jack, the entire bed will be lifted up at the head of the bed from the floor to an inclined position.
As described in the Detailed Description of the invention.