Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PORTABLE ORTHOPEDIC BED
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of inflatable devices and in particular to the field
of inflatable bed-like devices which simulate articulated hospital beds.
Background of the Invention
When a patient is in hospital, the adjustability of a hospital bed can help a great
deal in getting the patient into a comfortable position. Further, a lower limb injury may call for
elevation of the feet or knees for drainage, a breathing problem may be relieved best by head and
upper torso elevation, or a lower back problem may require lumbar or thoracic support or
elevation. Once the patient goes home, however, this adjustability is not inexpensively available.
Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable orthopedic bed
as a solution to this problem, and in particular to provide an inflatable mattress comprised of
several anatomically placed separate airtight compartments, including a separate lumbar support
compartment within a lower torso supporting compartment, where the configuration of the
2 o mattress can be altered by infl~ting or deflating any specific combination of compartments to
achieve the support in the exact parts of the body needed by the patient.
Thus it is a further object to provide a cost-effective alternative to a hospital bed
for homebound or adult home patients who would otherwise not have access to a hospital bed, or
2 5 to provide a support solution for someone who has a temporary injury to give them orthopedically
correct comfort while they are recuperating.
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Applicant is aware of three efforts in the prior art in the field of inflatable devices,
namely, United States Patent No. 5,31 1,625 which issued to Barker et al on May 17, 1994, for
a portable integrated, universally adjustable position control system, United States Patent No.
4,941,221 which issued to Kanzler on July 17, 1990, for a body supporting app~us, and United
States Patent No. 4,639,960 which issued to Quillen et al for a recliner for medical convalescence.
Applicant notes that the Barker device is a complex, heavy device incorporating metal framing
of doubtful portability having no lumbar support, no adequate leg elevation means, no heating
element means, and no lateral contour conformability so as to correspond to the shape of a human
body, as provided in the present invention.
Applicant notes that the Kanzler device is apparently designed for bedridden
patients, the device being very complex and including means for moving the patient from a supine
to a reclining position, as well as from side to side. What is not taught is adequate lower leg
elevation, lumbar support, heating pad means, nor portability as in the device of the present
invention.
Applicant notes that the Quillen recliner which is a portable recliner for supporting
a person in a supine position, adapted to be positioned on a bed, discloses a plurality of individual
wedge shaped air inflatable cushions where one of the wedge shaped cushions extends between
2 o the tailbone or coccyx and the top of the head of a user, and a second substantially triangular leg
and foot support ext~nding from the back and head support for elevation of the knee or popliteal
fossa, where the supports are comprised of vertical stacks of interconnected air inflatable cushions.
What is not taught is elevating the lower legs once the popliteal fossa is elevated, nor is adequate
elevation of the thighs disclosed, nor lumbar support disclosed, nor heating pad means. Further,
2 5 the complexity of construction suggests a somewhat heavier weight than the simple construction
of the present invention and also a bulky deflated volume which may defeat efforts to roll the
deflated device into a small package so as to fit into, for example, a suitcaseas in the present
invention.
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Summary of the Invention
The portable orthopedic bed of the present invention simulates articulated hospital-
like beds and exhibits a versatility which will assist in a large spectrum of medical conditions
common particularly in the older age group, namely:
(a) conditions requiring elevation of the upper body due to chronic obstructive
pulmonary diseases, circulatory problems, injuries, etc,
(b) lower back pain requiring a typical resting position of flexed hip and knee joints
and lumbar support,
(c) conditions of peripheral circulatory insufficiency, varicose veins, obstructive
arterial disease, injuries etc. requiring elevation of lower legs andlor feet so that the
lower legs may be elevated to a substantially horizontal position for medical
conditions requiring drainage of the lower legs.
The portable orthopedic bed of the present invention, due to its light weight,
approximately l O pounds, in a preferred embodiment, its portability, its simple operation, and its
2 o wide range of applications represents an alternative to heavy, stationary, and expensive hospital
beds. Its portability, in that it can be rolled into a small package for storage or carrying, makes
it useful to people with the above medical problems travelling in motor homes, trailers, campers,
or spending their vacations where the bed may be easily installed.
2 5 In summary, the portable orthopedic bed of the present invention for the correct
orthopedic support of a patient includes (a) a longitudinally adjacent array of laterally extending
air inflatable chambers wherein the array has a first set of chambers and an second set of
chambers, (b) the second set of chambers has a lower back supporting chamber adjacent a
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midpoint between the first and the second sets of chambers, the lower back chamber also adjacent
an upper back supporting chamber on an opposed side of the lower back supporting chamber from
the midpoint, an upper foundation chamber adjacent the upper back supporting chamber on an
opposed side of the upper back supporting chamber opposed to the lower back supporting
chamber, wherein the upper foundation chamber may be generally triangular in longitudinal cross
section to thereby provide a buttressing foundation for the upper back supporting chamber; (c) a
lumbar supporting chamber, independently inflatable from the lower back supporting chamber and
disposed generally adjacent the lower back supporting chamber beneath the lumbar area of a
patient lying on the portable orthopedic bed when the patient coccyx is located generally at the
midpoint; (d) the first set of chambers includes a thigh supporting chamber adjacent the midpoint
and extending between the midpoint and an adjacent lower foundation chamber on an opposing
side of the thigh supporting chamber to the midpoint; and (e) a lower leg elevating chamber
overlaying the lower foundation chamber.
Advantageously, the first set of chambers is pressurizable independently of the
second set of chambers, and the second set of chambers is cooperatively pressurizable.
Brief Description of the Drawings
2 o Figure 1 is, in plan view, the portable orthopedic bed of the present invention.
Figure 2 is, a cross-sectional view along line 2-2 in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is, the cross-sectional view of Figure 2 with the lumbar support chamber
2 5 inflated.
Figure 4 is, in side elevation view, the portable orthopedic bed of the present
invention with a patient lying thereon.
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Figure 5 is, a cross-sectional view along line 5-5 in Figure 1.
Figures 6-9 are views corresponding to Figures 1-4 in an alternative embodiment
of the portable orthopedic bed of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
The portable orthopedic bed is an inflatable flexible mattress composed of threeindependently inflated air-tight compartments providing desirable body positioning required by
0 medical indications. It serves as a substitute of a regular hospital adjustable bed for a multitude
of pathological conditions, as well as a resting accessory.
When inflated the portable orthopedic bed forms a contoured mattress m~ t~ g
a position of elevation of the upper body and/or legs to a desirable degree of height and/or
hardness.
The portable orthopedic bed of the present invention may be made of heavy gauge
plastic m~tçri~l and may form a rectangular mattress having the following dimensions: 72 inches
long, 30-40 inches wide, and 12 inches high (when fully inflated). It is composed, in longitudinal
2 o cross section, of six kiangular generally wedge-shaped chambers and one cylindrical chamber.
These chambers may be inflated to a desirable fullness or hardness according to needs, by mouth,
hand, or foot pump or by an electrical pump such as may be plugged into a cigarette lighter or
other power source. In a further embodiment these chambers may be connected to a compressor
activated by remote control, or may be inflated by a pump to present or adjustable settings
according to a programmable controller or like automotive inflation means. Thus, when a
comfortable setting is reached, the exact inflation pressure for each compartment could be saved
in memory and instantly repeated later after a setting change. Thus, one setting for lying on one's
back could be made differently for a side position setting.
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The external surface of the mattress may be covered by soft, pleasant to touch,
fabrics of attractive colours appealing to the aesthetic needs.
The dimensions of the bed may be of two or three different sizes to accommodate
all types of occupants including a pediatric unit.
In a ple~lled embodiment an electrical heating pad may be placed in the lumbar
area in proximity or mounted to the lumbar support chamber, specifically for people with chronic
lower back pain.
Referring now the figures, Figure 1 illustrates in plan view the parallel lateral
arrangement of inflatable supporting chambers 1-7. The chambers are arranged as a longitudinally
extending laterally parallel adjacent array. The interrelationship between the chambers provides
the correct orthopedic support of the present portable orthopedic bed, generally indicated by the
numeral 10.
In a preferred embodiment, chambers 1-3 are cooperatively interconnected, so as
to be inflatable and pneumatically adjustable from a single pneumatic valve 12, such as seen in
Figures 3 and 5 at the distal leg end of bed 10. Similarly, chambers 4-6 are cooperatively
2 o interconnected so as to inflatable and adjustable for pneumatic volume and pressure by means of
a single pneumatic valve 14, which, as seen in Figures 1, 3 and 5, may be at the distal head end
of bed 10. In an alternative embodiment, such as illustrated in figures 6-9, each chamber may
have its own valve for inflation or deflation of the corresponding chamber. Of course, the
illustrated placement of the valves are by way of example and not intended to be limiting, so long
2 5 as the legs of a patient 16 may be selectively elevated independently of selective elevation of the
torso and head, and independently of selective lumbar support by chamber 7, pneumatically
adjustable via valve 18.
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Figures 2-4 illustrate how a back and head supporting structure comprised of
interconnected chambers 4, 5, and 6, may be infl~te~l to support the lower back, torso, neck and
head of patient 16, and, if required, the lumbar area by infl~ting chamber 7.
The pneumatic cooperation between chambers 4-6 allows for a first pressure setting
to support the lower back, torso, neck and head while allowing a separate pressure setting to
support specifically the lumbar region via chamber 7. In an alternative embodiment, placing
chamber 7 may be placed within chamber 4 as depicted in Figures 7-9.
The leg supporting structure is comprised of chambers 1, 2, and 3, where chambers
2 and 3 are interconnected compartments which may be inflated to support not only the popliteal
fossa, but also to provide correct support for the thighs, whereas illustrated in Figures 2-4, in an
average embodiment, where the length between the coccyx and the popliteal fossa is 18 inches,
the hypotenuse of the triangle formed by the cross section of chamber 3 is approximately 18
inches long. In the alternate embodiment of Figures 6-9, chambers 1-3 are separate, independently
inflatable chambers so that chamber 3 may be inflated to a pressure which is different from that
of chamber 2 so as to softly or firmly support the back of the thigh. Chamber 2 may be firmly
infl~te~l to provide the supporting structure against which chamber 3 rests. Chamber 2 also
provides a supporting structure against which chamber 1 may be inflated if it is desirable to
2 o elevate the feet and lower legs so as to apply correct drainage, that is so as to elevate the feet so
that the lower legs are substantially horizontal, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. In the preferred
embodiment, where chambers 1-3 are interconnected, the effect of selective elevation for correct
drawings may be attained by equal pressurization of chambers 1-3.
2 5 The upper outer surface material of chambers 1, 3, 4, and 5is preferably of durable,
flexible material, in a preferred embodiment having slightly resilient qualities so as to allow for
pneumatic support while providing body contouring to alleviate pressure points. The upper outer
surface material of chambers 1, 3, 4 and 5 may be, but does not necessarily have to be, the same
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material of the side surfaces are formed. Membranes 20, which form the internal barriers between
chambers 1, 2, and 3, and between chambers 4, 5, and 6, may be of different material than either
the upper surface or sides, so long as flexible and durable. Pneumatic cooperation between
chambers 1-3 and between chambers 4-6 may be by apertures or the like in membranes 20.
In a further embodiment, heating pad 22 may be incorporated, for example,
mounted internally as illustrated in Figure 7, so that heating pad 22 may be brought into heating
engagement with the lower back of patient 16, for example, by infl~ting chamber 7, or heating pad
22 may be mounted on or beneath the upper surface of any of chambers 1, 3, 4, and 5.
The upper body support is composed of three interconnected chambers 4, 5 and 6,
acting as one independently inflated cushion of triangular shape. When fully inflated it brings the
upper body and the head to a comfortable elevation ~ of about 22 degrees inclination, which is the
most frequently used position for many medical conditions previously mentioned in summary of
the invention.
The lower body support is similarly composed of three interconnected chambers
1, 2 and 3 which when fully inflated elevate the legs to a resting position bringing the thighs to
an angulation a of about 33 degrees at the hip joints, with the upper body horizontally placed, and
2 o to about 50-55 degrees when the upper body is elevated. The angulation ~ between the lower and
the upper legs of about 35 degrees is achieved by the shape of the various chambers 1, 2 and 3.
This combined angulation of hip and knee joints is the most desirable resting position commonly
used by the orthopedic surgeons for low back pain caused by arthritic changes in the sacro-iliac
joints, or for sciatic nerve symptoms in intervertebral disc herniation etc.
The independently inflated optional lumbar support of chamber 7 is a frequently
helpful addition to the resting positioning of the body in low back pain condition and it can be
inflated to a desirable degree by the individual user.
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As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention
without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to
be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
