Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02777157 2016-04-05
PATIENT POSITIONING DEVICE
BACKOROUND OF THE INVENTION
The transfer of a patient from one support platform to another is a difficult
procedure
for hospital staff. In a hospital setting, patients are constantly being
moved, For example, a
patient entering the hospital via ambulance is moved from the medical
stretcher or ambulance
gurney to a hospital gurney, a fixed hospital bed, an examination table, or an
operating table.
Also, patients already in a hospital need to be moved as well. For example, a
patient having
surgery may be moved from a fixed hospital bed to a hospital gurney then to an
operating
table and finally back to a fixed hospital bed. Each time a patient is moved a
sliding or lateral
movement of the patient from one support surface to another is required.
Difficulties for patients and hospital staff may arise from this lateral
transferring of
patients. Typically, the hospital staff acting in concert is responsible to
position and move the
patient to the new support surface by means of lifting, sliding or dragging.
This action may
cause injury to the patient if the patient accidently slides off of the
support surface or if the
patient is dropped. Also the hospital staff may be injured from the act of
lifting, sliding or
dragging a heavy patient.
For most surgical procedures, the patient is placed on the operating table
with the
patient's arms positioned at the patient's sides. The surgeon will typically
stand adjacent to
the patient's side and lean over the patient thus unintentionally leaning on
the patient's arm.
Many surgeries last several hours and the pressure of the surgeon's body on
the patient's arm
may cause damage to the patient's arm, wrist or hand.
Furthermore, leaning on the arm or hand of a patient for a long surgery may
cause a
restriction in blood flow as well as pressure on muscles and nerve tissue.
Consequently,
patients may awake from the procedure with sustained permanent damage to the
muscles
and/or nerves of the arm, hand, or wrist. Even if the surgeon doesn't lean on
the patient's
arm, the patient is at risk for ulnar nerve damage which may be caused from
resting the arms
on a surface for extended periods of time.
The prior art teaches various systems designed to move patients without
actually
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lifting. These systems employ air rollers, pull straps and inflation as a
means to drag patients
to and from support surfaces. Many of these systems are intended for single-
patient/single-
use application, such that the devices stays with the patient from the
hospital bed to the
operating room table.
It is known in the art that patients in a hospital setting may be agitated,
intoxicated or
confused (such as when emerging from anesthesia), and may cause unintentional
self-harm
such as rubbing eyes or pulling out the intravenous lines. The prior art
teaches arm protector
devices used during surgeries but these designs are constructed of rigid
materials and are not
secured to the support surface.
Finally, the prior art teaches a patient mounted intravenous protector. This
device
employs a means to secure intravenous needles in a patient's arm from
accidental or patient
initiated removal. Although this device provides structural support about a
patient's arm, its
application is not desirable for surgical operations due to its bulk.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Described herein is a patient positioning device used to position, protect and
secure a
patient on a support surface for transfer to another support surface or for
preparation for
surgery. The positioning device includes a sheet with a first and second
flexible substrate
coupled to the sheet's top surface. The first and second flexible substrates
may be padded.
These substrates are capable of wrapping around an adjacent arm of the patient
creating a
wrapped engagement. This wrapped engagement may pad, protect, secure and
elevate the
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arms from injury caused by pressure imparted thereon during surgery or
transport. This
positioning device may be lifted or slid from one support surface to another.
Optionally, a
third and fourth flexible substrate capable of wrapping around an adjacent arm
of the patient
creating a second wrapped engagement may be used for additional securing.
Optionally, an
inflatable support may be used with the device to aid when sliding or
translating the device 10
with the patient thereon.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
patient
positioning device, comprising: a planar sheet having first and second side
edges and first and
second end edges having a top surface; said sheet configured for positioning
of a patient
thereon in a first position, the patient being supported by said top surface
with said first and
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second side edges adjacent to arms of said patient; a first flexible substrate
separate from and
coupled to said sheet; a second flexible substrate separate from and coupled
to said sheet;
wherein said first and second substrates are capable of wrapping around an
adjacent arm of
the patient in the first position creating a wrapped engagement; wherein said
wrapped
engagement protects said arms from injury caused by pressure imparted thereon
during
surgery or transport; and wherein said patient laying on said planar sheet in
the first position
on a first support surface may be lifted by or slid with said planar sheet.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a method
for positioning a patient, comprising the steps of: laying a positioning
device on flat surface,
said positioning device including a sheet with a top surface, a first flexible
substrate separate
from and coupled to said planar sheet and a first strap coupled to said sheet;
placing said
patient on said top surface of said positioning device; wrapping said first
flexible substrate
substantially around a first arm of said patient; and engaging said first
strap to hold said first
arm of said patient against a respective side of said patient in a secured
position; wherein,
when said patient is in said secured position, said first arm of said patient
is in an elevated
position spaced above said planar sheet.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a method
for manufacturing a patient positioning device, comprising the steps of:
providing a planar
sheet having a first side edge, a second side edge and a top surface, said
planar sheet being
configured for positioning of a patient thereon in a first position; coupling
a first flexible
substrate to said planar sheet adjacent to said first side edge; and coupling
a second flexible
substrate to said planar sheet adjacent to said second side edge; wherein said
first and second
substrates are capable of wrapping around an adjacent arm of said patient in
the first position
creating a wrapped engagement; wherein said wrapped engagement protects said
arms from
injury caused by pressure imparted thereon during surgery or transport; and
wherein the
patient laying on said planar sheet in the first position may be lifted by or
slid with said planar
sheet.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a patient
positioning device, comprising: a planar sheet having first and second side
edges and first and
second end edges having a top surface; said sheet configured for positioning
of a patient
thereon, the patient being supported by said top surface with said first and
second side edges
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adjacent to arms of said patient; a first flexible substrate and a second
flexible substrate each
coupled to said sheet, wherein said first and second substrates wrap around an
adjacent arm of
said patient creating a wrapped engagement; a first overlap substrate and a
second overlap
substrate each oriented across said sheet and attached to said sheet only at a
centerline
thereof; wherein said wrapped engagement protects said arms from injury caused
by pressure
imparted thereon during surgery or transport; wherein said first and second
overlap substrates
wrap over and engage a respective said wrapped engagement and are configured
to tuck under
an underlying support surface to hold said arms in an elevated position above
said planar
sheet and said underlying support surface wherein said elevated position
prevents injury to
said arm from said planar sheet and said underlying support surface; and
wherein said patient
laying on said planar sheet is lifted by or slid with said planar sheet.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a method
for positioning a patient, comprising the steps of: laying a positioning
device on an underlying
support surface, said positioning device including a planar sheet with a top
surface, a first
flexible substrate coupled to said planar sheet, a first strap coupled to said
sheet, and a first
overlap substrate oriented across said sheet and attached to said sheet only
at a centerline
thereof; placing said patient on said top surface of said positioning device;
wrapping said first
flexible substrate substantially around a first arm of said patient; engaging
said first strap
around said first flexible substrate to hold said first arm of said patient
against a respective
side of said patient in a secured position; wrapping said first overlap
substrate over said first
flexible substrate and tucking said first overlap substrate under said
underlying support
surface; and wherein said first arm of said patient is in an elevated position
above said planar
sheet and said underlying support surface, wherein said elevated position
prevents injury to
said first arm from said planar sheet and said underlying support surface.
The present invention is better understood upon consideration of the detailed
description below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 depicts a patient positioning device.
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Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a mode of the device.
Figure 3 depicts an assembled view of the device also showing straps and foot
securement restraints and an optional non-slip pad.
Figure 4 illustrates an example the device in the as-used position with the
patient's
arms wrapped in the padded flexible substrates and lower legs secured.
Figure 5 shows the device with a foam pad removably engaged.
Figure 5a details a bottom view of the device with an optional inflation
support.
Figure 6 illustrates a cut through view of the device ready for a patient and
to be
placed in an as-used position.
Figure 7 depicts an end view of the as-used position of the device, prior to
engagement of the padded substrates.
Figure 8 shows the device in an as-used mode, with the padded substrates
engaged,
securing the patient's arms, while elevating the arms a distance "E" above the
support
surface.
Figure 9 shows the engagement of the overlap substrates which are wrapped over
the
patient's arms.
Figure 10 illustrates the device with the overlap substrates wrapped over the
patient's
arms and are tucked under the mattress pad.
Figure 11 depicts a top surface view of the device with optional inflatable
support.
Figure 12 shows the device with the padded substrates, overlap substrates, and
formed
inflated members.
Figure 13 shows the inflatable support with inflated tube members and section
line 14.
Figure 14 is sectional view 14-14 of the inflatable support device of Figure
13.
Figure 14a depicts an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 14 showing the
inflatable
support with member inflated.
Figure 15 is a bottom view of the device showing a cavity configured for
insertion of
the inflatable support member therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following description is presented to enable a person of ordinary skill in
the art to
make and use the invention. Descriptions of specific materials, techniques,
and applications
are provided only as examples. Various modifications to the examples described
herein will
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be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the general
principles defined
herein may be applied to other examples and applications without departing
from the spirit
and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be
limited to the
examples described and shown, but is to be accorded the scope consistent with
the appended
claims.
A patient positioning device is described that can be used for moving and
lifting a
patient from one surface to another surface in a hospital setting. Examples of
such a device
are described that are adapted for easy lifting of a patient, to and from an
operating table,
which offers ease of use for lifting the patient and protection of the
patient's arms and legs
during surgery and transport.
Items and/or techniques described herein may provide one or more of the
following
capabilities. Injuries to both patient and hospital staff during transition
between one support
surface and another can be reduced or avoided. Secure transition of a patient
during transfer
between support surfaces can be provided. A secure means is provided to grip a
patient
transfer device. Further, in order to help prevent injuries to the hospital
staff during such
transitions of a patient, a patient positioning device provides means to
evenly apportion an
amount of weight a person lifting a patient will bear. A patient positioning
device also
protects the patient from injury during a surgical procedure by protecting the
patient's arms
from lying too long upon an operating table, and protecting the patient's arms
from damage
should a surgeon or other hospital staff member lean upon the patient's arm
during the
surgery.
Examples of a patient positioning device provide secure lifting means to help
prevent
dropping of the patient during a transfer or transition, and means to easily
slide the patient to
and from surfaces to thereby limit the amount of weight any one person
supports during
lateral transfer of the patient. Patient positioning devices are provided that
are relatively
inexpensive to help insure widespread use so as to help prevent injuries to
all concerned.
Means are provided to protect a patient's arm from pressure damage while in
surgery,
as well as provide the choice of protection for either one or both arms. Means
are provided to
protect a patient's arm while in surgery with the means adapted to be employed
with existing
medical equipment, such as patient transfer systems. Means are provided to
attach a patient
transfer device using multiple straps, in the form of hook-and-loop fasteners
or a buckle,
along both sides of a central section to secure the sheet on a support
surface. Means are
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provided to restrain a patient's arm to the patient's body along with
protecting the patient's
arm while in surgery. Back and other injuries to the hospital staff from
lifting a patient may
be prevented by providing multiple handles for lifting and sliding a patient.
Figures 1 and 2 show the patient positioning device 10. A top surface 24 is
positioned
opposite the bottom surface 26. The top surface 24 and bottom surface 26 are
formed of
flexible fabric sheet and composed of center section 12, overhang sections 11,
outer edge of
center section 22 and outer edge of overhang sections 15. The center section
12 is of a
rectangular geometry and adapted in length and width to accommodate the size
and shape of a
human being. Further, the center section 12 is sized to be laid on an
operating room table
which varies between, for example, 20-24 inches, or a stretcher or gurney with
a width
between, for example, 22-27 inches. Overhang sections 11 extend from the sides
of center
section 12. These overhang sections may be tucked under the mattress or pad on
a gurney or
table providing a means for the device 10 to operate in place of a bed sheet
thus reducing
germs and cost. Outer edge of center section 22 is a point of attachment for
various
components described hereafter.
Handles 14 are attached to outer edge of overhang sections 15 which allow for
a safe
grip on the device when used for lifting and pulling the device after the
patient is secured.
The quantity and orientation of handles 14 is not limited by the drawing as
shown but is
merely simplified for illustrative purposes.
The top and bottom surface, 24 and 26 respectively, may be of different
material each
of which is adapted for a specific purpose. The top surface 24 may be made of
textile or
paper reinforced with textile fabric, or another woven or knitted fabric
adapted to the task of
supporting a patient thereon. The bottom surface 26 of the device may have a
surface
configured to have low friction when the device 10, with patient aboard, is
slid during a
transition. The bottom surface 26 is composed of material which is slippery or
has a low
coefficient of friction, so as to allow the medical staff a means to easily
slide the patient to
and from a support surface. One example for a top surface 24 is a paper cloth
or similar
woven or knitted textile surface. The bottom surface which is exposed, may be
formed of any
low friction material as would occur to those skilled in the art including but
not limited to one
or a combination of materials from a group including PTFE impregnated or
coated fabric,
spunbond or other fabric when woven or formed has a slippery surface, or
fabrics such as rip-
stop or micro fiber-based materials woven or knitted from woven nylon, or
polyester. The
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slippery bottom surface 26 may be sewn or laminated or coated to the device 10
or on the
opposite side of the material forming the top surface 24 of the center section
12.
Referring to Figure 1, straps 23 and pocket 21 are detailed. Straps 23 are
fastened to
top surface 24 at one end and contain hook and loop fasteners. Directly under
straps 23, and
coupled to top surface 24, is a group 42 of hook and loop fasteners. The
straps 23 are
fastened to group 42. Pocket 21 is coupled to top surface 24 having one open
end. Both
straps 23 and pocket 21 may be used to secure a medical device, an intravenous
tube, a
catheter tube and/or a piece of medical equipment that is attached directly to
the patient.
Figures 1 and 2 also show two disengaged padded substrates 16 which are
substantially planar. These padded substrates 16 are flexible and have an
inner edge 17 that
may be permanently fastened to center section 12 by sewing with durable thread
or another
suitable means, or temporarily fastened with a hook and loop fastener, such as
Velcro or
other such removable fasteners. In one embodiment, padded substrates 16 are
temporarily
removed from device 10 so they may be employed on pre-existing patient
transfer devices as
described in the prior art which lack protection for the patient's arms.
Padded substrates 16 are positioned with respect to the top edge of the
central area of
the center section12 at a distance comparable to the distance of a human arm,
between the
upper arm and hand, when placed to the side, to the human head. Preferably,
padded
substrates 16 have a layer of padding imbedded or engaged such that when
engaged around
the arm of a patient, a means to pad the arm is provided. This protects the
patient's arm from
any pressure forces imparted by the table or by a surgeon. Padded substrates
16 also are
configured to engage around the arms of the patient, and hold them against
their body and
slightly elevated from the underlying table or support surface. This helps
eliminate injury to
the patient's arm when it is supported on a hard table surface for a long
duration by placing a
gap between the table and arm.
Referring to Figure 3, padded substrates 16 are shown attached at inner edge
17 to the
center section 12. The back surface of padded substrates 16 have strips of
hook and loop
fasteners for securing. Straps 40 are also attached to the center section 12
at outer edge of
center section 22 at one end. The bottom side of straps 40 have hook and loop
fasteners for
securing to padded substrates 16 when padded substrates 16 are wrapped around
a patient's
arm.
Optionally, device 10 may employ a peinianent or removably engageable non-slip
pad
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28. The non-slip pad 28 will provide a means to prevent sliding when the
patient is
positioned on an angle. Also, in a one embodiment, foot securement restraint
13 is provided.
The foot securement restraint 13 is coupled to top surface 24 and is wrapped
around the legs
of the patient and may be held by hook and loop fasteners. This foot
securement restraint 13
enables the lower leg to remain positioned and secured during lifting or
sliding of device 10.
In use, padded substrates 16 are employed to encircle and support a patient's
arm
when a patient lays on the center section 12 surface. This arm wrapping by the
padded
substrates 16 provide protection against the patient's arm moving outside the
table area
during fatigue and a potential pressure injury from contact with the
underlying table or with a
leaning surgeon while on an operating table. Figure 4 illustrates the device
10 with the
patient 20 positioned with both arms encircled within padded substrates 16.
Patient 20 is
positioned on the patient positioning device 10 and straps 40 are employable
to hold the
flexible, padded substrates 16 in wrapped configuration around the patient's
arms and
maintain the arms close to their body and out of the way of the surgeon. The
patient's arms
may be held in this position by the straps 40 or using the overlap mode of the
device
(described hereafter, Figures 5 and 12). While arm is in said wrapped
engagement, minimal
movement of said arm is permitted. Foot securement restraint 13 is also
engaged. The
present invention positions and secures patient 20 during transfer preventing
injury to the
patient and hospital staff when dragging the device 10 by handles 14.
Furtherniore, the
patient is now more easily transferable between one support surface to
another, for example, a
gurney to an operating table. The handles 14, engaged around the perimeter of
the overhang
sections 11, provide personnel a secure grip while sliding or lifting a
patient from one surface
to another.
In an example embodiment of the invention, an overlap system may be employed
to
further secure and elevate the patient's arms. The overlap system employs
flexible,
rectangular overlap substrates 18 oriented lengthwise across the width of the
center section 12
and attached at the centerline 19 as depicted in Figures 5 and 12. The bottom
surface of the
overlap substrates 18 have strips of hook and loop fasteners 44 which fasten
to the hook and
loop fasteners on the padded substrates 16 when engaged. The overlap
substrates 18 provide
a secondary means to secure the patient's arms and as noted and shown in
Figures 9 and 10,
the overlap substrates 18 are tucked under a pad or mattress.
Figure 5 shows the device 10 as optionally having a soft, foam pad 34
removably
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engaged to the top surface 24. This foam pad 34 is strategically placed in the
buttock area to
prevent pressure ulcers that may occur when a patient remains in the same
position for an
extended period of time such as during a long surgery or when a patient is
confined to a
hospital bed. Engagement may be by peel and stick adhesive or hook and loop
fabric, or
other means for removable engagement.
Figure 5a shows a view of the bottom surface 26 of the device 10. Belt 29 has
connector 33 attached at the respective ends and is coupled to handles 14.
This belt 29 and
connector 33 secure device 10 to the support surface, for example, an
operating table or bed.
The quantity and orientation of belt 29 and connector 33 is not limited by the
drawing as
shown but is merely simplified for illustrative purposes.
The bottom surface 26 is constructed of a slippery fabric such as vinyl or
Teflon
coated fabric or another fabric which has a low coefficient of friction. The
slippery fabric
provides a means to aid in sliding the patient 20 in transitions. Also, a
dotted line outline is
depicted illustrating the position of an optional inflation support 30. This
inflation support 30
is sandwiched between the top surface 24 and bottom surface 26 surfaces and
when inflated,
allows for an easier sliding of the patient 20.
Figure 6 shows a cut through view of the device 10 ready for a patient 20 and
to be
placed in an as-used position as noted in the following figures, Figures 7-10.
Figure 7 depicts
an end view of the as-used position of an example of the device 10 prior to
engagement of the
padded arm restraints provided by the padded substrates 16. In use, the padded
substrates 16
encircle the arm of the patient 20, and are then secured by straps 40 having
hook and loop
fasteners or other means of engagement.
Referring to Figure 8, the padded substrates16 encircle the patient's arms and
are
secured by straps 40 which comfortably hold the patient's arms close to the
body.
Additionally, the arms are padded and protected from injury from laying on the
support
surface too long or from the pressure of the surgeon's weight. Also, with the
padded
substrates 16 so engaged, it provides a means to elevate the arms a distance
"E" above the
support surface. This helps prevent nerve damage and tissue damage caused by
an arm sitting
on a surface too long during surgery.
Figures 9-10 shows the engagement of overlap substrates 18 which may be
wrapped
over the patient's anus and tucked under the pad or mattress of the gurney or
operating table.
This provides secure positioning of the patient for surgery or transport.
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Figure 11 depicts a top surface view of the device with optional inflatable
support,
and Figure 12 shows the device with the padded substrates, overlap substrates,
and formed
inflated members. Figures 13, 14 and 14a detail the inflatable support 30.
Figure 13 shows
section line 14, Figure 14 details section 14-14 and Figure 14a depicts an
enlarged view of
Figure 14. Referring to these figures, an air supply 31 provides compressed
air to inflate the
inflatable support 30 which is composed of a plurality of flexible ribs formed
by inflated
channels 34 between sealed spaces 38. The inflated support 30 provides a
resilient support
against the back of patient 20 while laying on the top surface of the device
10.
Figure 15 shows a bottom perspective view of the device 10 having the bottom
surface 26 and a cavity 35 sized to surround the inflatable support 30 which
may be inserted
within the cavity 35 through an elongated aperture 37. The placement of the
cavity 35 allows
the device 10 to be used with or without the inflatable support 30. The
exterior of the cavity
35 would have the same slippery surface material thereon as the surrounding
bottom surface
26.
In one embodiment, the inflatable support 30 is fully inflated just before
moving
patient 20 from one support surface to another. The fully inflated inflatable
support 30 along
with the slippery material of the exterior of the cavity 35 and bottom surface
26 greatly aids
when sliding or translating the device 10 with the patient thereon due to
significant reduction
in friction. This means to ease sliding is provided by the placement of the
axis of the parallel
inflatable channels 34 running traverse to the position of the patient 20, on
the top of the
device 10. So positioned, members formed by the inflated channels 34 run the
same direction
as the sliding of the patient 20 from one surface to another and make such
sliding easier.
During surgery and after a lateral transfer, the inflatable support 30 should
be fully deflated.
In another embodiment, the inflatable support 30 can also be partially
inflated. In this
mode, the partially inflated inflatable support 30 helps redistribute the
weight of the patient
thus reducing the surface pressure on the patient's body during surgery. While
fundamental characteristics and features of devices have been shown and
described herein,
with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification,
various changes
and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be
apparent that in some
instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a
corresponding use of
other features without departing from the scope of the disclosure. It should
also be
understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be
made by those
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skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the
disclosure. Consequently,
all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within
the scope of the
disclosure including the following claims.
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