Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR TURNING AND POSITIONING A PATIENT tv
DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, system, and
method for
turning and positioning a person supine on a bed or the like, and, more
particularly, to a
system that includes one or more of a base sheet, a glide sheet, an absorbent
pad, and/or a
wedge, as well as methods including one or more of such apparatuses.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Nurses and other caregivers at hospitals, assisted living
facilities, and other
locations often care for bedridden patients that have limited or no mobility,
many of whom
are critically ill or injured. These immobile patients are at risk for forming
pressure ulcers
(bed sores). Pressure ulcers are typically formed by one or more of several
factors. Pressure
on a patient's skin, particularly for extended periods of time and in areas
where bone or
cartilage protrudes close to the surface of the skin, can cause pressure
ulcers. Frictional
forces and shearing forces from the patient's skin rubbing or pulling against
a resting surface
can also cause pressure ulcers. Excessive heat and moisture can cause the skin
to be more
fragile and increase the risk for pressure ulcers. One area in which pressure
ulcers frequently
form is on the sacrum, because a patient lying on his/her back puts constant
pressure on the
sacrum, and sliding of the patient in a bed can also cause friction and
shearing at the sacrum.
Additionally, some patients need to rest with their heads inclined for
pulmonary reasons,
which can cause patients to slip downward in the bed and cause further
friction or shearing at
the sacrum and other areas. Existing devices and methods often do not
adequately protect
against pressure ulcers in bedridden patients, particularly pressure ulcers in
the sacral region.
[0003] One effective way to combat sacral pressure ulcers is frequent
turning of the
patient, so that the patient is resting on one side or the other, and pressure
is taken off of the
sacrum. Pillows that are stuffed partially under the patient are often used to
support the
patient's body in resting on their left or right sides. A protocol is often
used for scheduled
turning of bedridden patients, and dictates that patients should be turned Q2,
or every two
hours, either from resting at a 300 angle on one side to a 300 angle on the
other side, or from
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300 on one side to 0 /supine (lying on his/her back) to 30 on the other side.
However,
turning patients is difficult and time consuming, typically requiring two or
more caregivers,
and can result in injury to caregivers from pushing and pulling the patient's
weight during
such turning. As a result, ensuring compliance with turning protocols, Q2 or
otherwise, is
often difficult. Additionally, the pillows used in turning and supporting the
patient are non-
uniform and can pose difficulties in achieving consistent turning angles, as
well as
occasionally slipping out from underneath the patient.
[0004] Care of patients having large size and/or weight can involve many of
the same
problems and issues described above, and may also present further difficulty
due to the larger
size and/or weight of the patients. This can result in greater strain on both
equipment and
caregivers, as well as increased difficulty in properly positioning the
patient. Additionally,
sometimes large patients require use of specialized beds that are wider and
have a higher
weight capacity.
[0005] The present invention seeks to overcome certain of these limitations
and other
drawbacks of existing devices, systems, and methods, and to provide new
features not
heretofore available.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention relates generally to systems for turning and
positioning
persons in a supine position, such as a patient in a hospital bed. Aspects of
the invention
relate to a device or system for use with a bed having a frame and a
supporting surface
supported by the frame, the system including a base sheet having a bottom
surface adapted to
be placed above the supporting surface of the bed and a top surface opposite
the bottom
surface, the top and bottom surfaces being defined by peripheral edges of the
sheet. The base
sheet has a piece of releasable connecting material (e.g. hook-and-loop) that
is connected to
the top surface of the base sheet and is spaced inwardly from one of the
peripheral edges of
the base sheet. The base sheet also has a flap positioned proximate the piece
of releasable
connecting material and having a fixed end connected to the top surface of the
base sheet, in
an area located between the connecting material and the first peripheral edge
of the base
sheet, and a free end opposite the fixed end. The free end of the flap can be
folded over the
piece so that the flap at least partially covers the connecting material. In
one embodiment,
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the flap may have sufficient size such that the free end can be folded over to
completely
cover the connecting material.
[0007] According to one aspect, the sheet has another piece of releasable
connecting
material connected to the top surface of the sheet and spaced inwardly from a
second of the
peripheral edges of the sheet opposite the first edge, and also has a second
flap positioned
proximate the second piece of releasable connecting material. The second piece
of
connecting material and the corresponding second flap are configured in the
same way as the
first piece of connecting material and the corresponding flap described above.
In one
embodiment, the pieces of connecting material are both elongated along
directions
substantially parallel to the respective adjacent peripheral edges of the
sheet, with each
having two opposed elongated edges. The flaps each have their fixed ends
connected to the
top surface of the sheet along one of the elongated edges of the corresponding
piece of
connecting material that is most proximate to the respective adjacent
peripheral edge of the
sheet. The flaps may be rectangular and elongated along the direction
substantially parallel
to the respective adjacent peripheral edge of the sheet.
[0008] According to another aspect, the sheet further includes a plurality
of fasteners
located around the peripheral edges of the sheet. The fasteners are configured
to releasably
fasten the sheet to the bed. The fasteners may include connection straps
extending from the
peripheral edges and configured for releasably fastening the sheet to the bed,
such that at least
some of the connection straps have complementary connectors (e.g. buckles,
snaps, etc.) for
connection to each other to releasably fasten the sheet to the bed. The sheet
may also include
a tether strap connected to the sheet and extending from the sheet, such that
the tether strap is
configured to be releasably connected to a glide sheet placed over the top
surface of the sheet.
[0009] Additional aspects of the invention relate to a system that includes
a base sheet
having a bottom surface adapted to be placed above the supporting surface of
the bed and a
top surface opposite the bottom surface, and a glide sheet positioned above
the top surface of
the base sheet. The base sheet has a plurality of fasteners located around the
peripheral
edges, where the fasteners are configured to releasably fasten the base sheet
to the bed. A
first tether strap is connected to the base sheet and extends from the base
sheet, and a second
tether strap is connected to the glide sheet and extending from the glide
sheet. The first tether
strap and the second tether strap have complementary connecting structures,
such that the
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first strap is configured to be connected to the second strap to hold the
glide sheet in position
relative to the base sheet. Additionally, at least one of the tether straps
includes an elastic
portion forming at least a portion of a length thereof.
[0010] According to one aspect, the first tether strap and the second
tether strap have
complementary releasable connecting structures, such as a hook-and-loop
connecting
structure.
[0011] According to another aspect, the system also includes a wedge having
a base wall,
a ramp surface, an apex formed by the base wall and the ramp surface, and a
back wall
opposite the apex, with the ramp surface being positioned at an angle to the
base wall. The
wedge is configured to be positioned between the base sheet and the glide
sheet, such that the
base wall confronts the top surface of the base sheet and the ramp surface
confronts a bottom
surface of the glide sheet. The system may also include a piece of releasable
connecting
material connected to the top surface of the base sheet and a flap positioned
proximate the
first piece, as described above. The system may further include another piece
of releasable
connecting material connected to the base wall of the wedge, where the
releasable connecting
materials of the first and second pieces are complementary. In this
configuration, the wedge
and the base sheet are configured such that, upon insertion of the wedge
between the base
sheet and the glide sheet from the adjacent peripheral edge of the base sheet,
the apex of the
wedge pushes the flap away from the first peripheral edge to cover the piece
of connecting
material, and a subsequent force exerted on the wedge toward the peripheral
edge causes the
flap to be pushed toward the first peripheral edge to expose at least a
portion of the
connecting material, causing the second piece to become connected to an
exposed portion of
the connecting material to resist further movement of the wedge toward the
first peripheral
edge. Still further, the bottom surface of the glide sheet and the back wall
of the wedge may
include complementary releasable connecting materials, such that when the apex
of the
wedge is fully inserted between the base sheet and the glide sheet, a portion
of the glide sheet
including the connecting material drapes over the back wall of the wedge and
the connecting
materials can be connected to resist movement of the wedge and the glide sheet
relative to
each other.
[0012] According to a further aspect, the bottom surface of the glide sheet
has a low
friction surface forming at least a portion of the bottom surface, and the top
surface has a high
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friction surface forming at least a portion of the top surface, such that the
top surface provides
greater slipping resistance than the bottom surface. In one embodiment, the
top surface of the
base sheet has a low friction surface forming at least a portion of the top
surface, such that the
low friction surface of the base sheet and the low friction surface of the
glide sheet are
formed by the same low friction material.
[0013] Further aspects of the invention relate to a system that includes a
base sheet
having a bottom surface adapted to be placed above the supporting surface of
the bed and a
top surface opposite the bottom surface and a wedge that includes a base wall,
a ramp
surface, an apex formed by the base wall and the ramp surface, and a back wall
opposite the
apex, with the ramp surface being positioned at an angle to the base wall. The
base sheet has
a piece of releasable connecting material connected to the top surface and
spaced inwardly
from one of the peripheral edges, and the wedge has a complementary piece of
releasable
connecting material connected to the base wall. The wedge is configured to be
positioned
over the base sheet, such that the base wall confronts the top surface of the
base sheet. Upon
placement of the wedge over the base sheet proximate the peripheral edge of
the base sheet,
the connecting material of the wedge becomes connected to the connecting
material of the
base sheet to resist movement of the wedge toward the peripheral edge.
[0014] According to one aspect, the base sheet includes a flap positioned
proximate the
connecting material, which can be folded over to cover the connecting material
of the base
sheet, as described above. Upon placement of the wedge over the base sheet by
sliding the
wedge from the peripheral edge of the base sheet, the apex of the wedge pushes
the flap away
from the first peripheral edge to cover the first piece. A subsequent force
exerted on the
wedge toward the peripheral edge causes the flap to be pushed toward the
peripheral edge to
expose at least a portion of the first piece, causing the second piece to
become connected to
the exposed portion of the first piece to resist further movement of the wedge
toward the first
peripheral edge.
[0015] According to another aspect, the system also includes a glide sheet
positioned
above the top surface of the base sheet. The wedge is configured to be placed
between the
base sheet and the glide sheet. The glide sheet may include another piece of
releasable
connecting material connected to a bottom surface, and the wedge may have a
complementary piece of releasable connecting material connected to the back
wall. As
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described above, a portion of the glide sheet may drape over the back wall of
the wedge so
that the complementary connecting materials become connected to resist
movement of the
wedge and the glide sheet relative to each other.
[0016] According to a further aspect, the wedge is formed of a body made
from a
compressible foam material defining the base wall, the ramp surface, the apex,
and the back
wall. The connecting material of the wedge is connected to the body, and the
wedge further
includes a low-friction material connected to the body and forming at least a
portion of the
ramp surface.
[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from
the
following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a system
for use in
turning and positioning a patient, according to aspects of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base sheet, a glide sheet, and a
wedge of the
system of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base sheet and the wedge of FIG.
1;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the base sheet and the glide sheet
of FIG. 1 resting
on a supporting surface of a bed, with a potential position of a patient
illustrated in broken
lines;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of a head of the bed of FIG. 4,
along with
portions of the base sheet and glide sheet;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the glide sheet of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wedge of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the wedge of FIG. 7;
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[0026] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1 connected to a
bed, with a
patient lying on the bed, illustrating the insertion of two wedges to support
the patient;
[0027] FIGS. 10-15 are a chronological series of cross-sectional views,
illustrating
placement of a wedge between the base sheet and the glide sheet of FIG. 9; and
[0028] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 9 after
successful placement
of the wedges to support the patient.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different
forms, there
are shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, preferred
embodiments of
the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be
considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to
limit the broad
aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated and described.
[0030] In general, the invention relates to one or more apparatuses or
devices, including a
base sheet configured for connection to a bed, a glide sheet having a high
friction or gripping
surface and/or a low friction or slipping surface, an absorbent body pad
configured to be
placed over the glide sheet, and one or more wedges configured to be placed
underneath the
sheet to support the patient in an angled position, as well as systems
including one or more of
such devices and methods utilizing one or more of such systems and/or devices.
Various
embodiments of the invention are described below.
[0031] Referring now to the figures, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, there is
shown an
exemplary embodiment of a system 10 for use in turning and positioning a
person in a supine
position, such as a patient lying on a hospital bed. As shown in FIG. 1, the
system 10
includes a base sheet 80, a glide sheet 20 positioned over the base sheet 80,
an absorbent
body pad 40 configured to be placed over the glide sheet 20, and one or more
wedges 50
configured to be placed under the glide sheet 20, such as between the glide
sheet 20 and the
base sheet 80. The patient can be positioned on top of the body pad 40, with
the body pad 40
lying on the glide sheet 20 and the glide sheet 20 lying on the base sheet 80,
and with one or
more wedges 50 optionally positioned between the glide sheet 20 and the base
sheet 80.
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[0032] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 16, the system 10 is configured to be placed
on a bed 12
or other support apparatus for supporting a person 70 in a supine position.
The bed 12
generally includes a frame 14 and a supporting surface 16 supported by the
frame 14, as
shown in FIGS. 4-5. The supporting surface 16 can be provided by a mattress 18
or similar
structure, and in various embodiments, the mattress 18 can incorporate air
pressure support,
alternating air pressure support and/or low-air-loss (LAL) technology. These
technologies
are known in the art, and utilize a pump motor or motors (not shown) to
effectuate airflow
into, over and/or through the mattress 18. The air aids in supporting the
patient, and the top
of the mattress 18 may be breathable so that the airflow can pull heat and
moisture vapor
away from the patient. The bed 12 may also include a bed sheet (not shown)
such as a fitted
sheet or flat sheet, as well as pillows, blankets, additional sheets, and
other components
known in the art. Further, the bed 12 may be an adjustable bed, such as a
typical hospital-
type bed, where the head 13 (or other parts) of the bed 12 can be raised and
lowered, such as
to incline the patient's upper body. It is understood that the system 10 and
the components
thereof can be used with other types of beds 12 as well. For patients of
larger sizes, larger
beds may be used. For example, a standard hospital-type bed is typically 35-36
inches wide,
and for larger patients, a bed that is 40-50 inches wide may be used.
[0033] An example embodiment of the base sheet 80 is shown in greater
detail in FIGS.
2-4. In general, the base sheet 80 is flexible and foldable, and has a top
surface 81 and a
bottom surface 82 defined by a plurality of peripheral edges 83. As seen in
FIGS. 1-4, the
base sheet 80 in this embodiment is rectangular, having four peripheral edges
83, but could
have a different shape in other embodiments. The base sheet 80 is configured
to be
positioned on the bed 12 so that the bottom surface 82 is above the supporting
surface 16 of
the bed 12 and faces or confronts the supporting surface 16, and is supported
by the
supporting surface 16. As used herein, "above," "below," "over," and "under"
do not imply
direct contact or engagement. For example, the bottom surface 82 being above
the
supporting surface 16 means that that the bottom surface 82 may be in contact
with the
supporting surface 16, or may face or confront the supporting surface 16
and/or be supported
by the supporting surface 16 with one or more structures located between the
bottom surface
22 and the supporting surface 16, such as a bed sheet as described above.
Likewise, "facing"
or "confronting" does not imply direct contact or engagement, and may include
one or more
structures located between the surface and the structure it is confronting or
facing. In one
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embodiment, the base sheet 80 may be configured for use with larger beds, such
as beds that
are 40-50 inches wide, and may have a width of approximately 58 inches. In
this
configuration, the 58-inch base sheet 80 would overlap the sides of a 50-inch
mattress by 4
inches on each side.
100341 In this embodiment, the base sheet 80 is formed primarily of a low-
friction or
sliding material, which may include polyester and/or nylon (polyamide), as
similarly
described below with respect to the glide sheet 20. The low friction material
may
additionally or alternately be formed of other materials. At least a portion
of the top surface
81 and at least a portion of the bottom surface 82 of the base sheet 80 are
formed of the low
friction material in this embodiment, and the base sheet may be made
substantially entirely of
the low friction material, with other materials connected to the low friction
material. In other
embodiments, the base sheet 80 may not include the low friction material on
one or both
surfaces 81, 82, and/or may contain a smaller or larger proportion of the low
friction material.
[0035] The base sheet 80 in this embodiment has a fastening assembly that
includes a
plurality of fasteners 84 around the peripheral edges 83, configured for
releasably fastening
the base sheet 80 to the bed 12. As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the fasteners 84 are
in the form of a
plurality of straps that extend from the edges 83 of the base sheet 80. Some
of the straps 84
in this embodiment have buckles 85 for connecting to themselves, connecting to
a portion of
the bed 12 (such as another strap connected to the bed 12) or for connecting
to other straps,
and may be configured for wrapping around portions of the bed 12, including
portions of the
frame 14 and/or mattress 18. Two straps 84 proximate the top edge 83 of the
base sheet 80
have ends 84A that are close to the centerline of the base sheet 80, which is
described in
greater detail below. Some other straps 84 may not include buckles 85, such as
the corner
straps 84B, which are made from an elastic material and are designed to be
stretched
underneath corners of the mattress 18. In other embodiments, different types
of fasteners 84
or a different type of fastening assembly may be utilized, which may contain
different
fastening or connecting structures. For example, in one embodiment, a
drawstring or other
tightening apparatus connected around the edges 83 of the base sheet 80, which
can be
tightened or cinched around the perimeter of the mattress 18 and/or another
part of the bed
12, may function as a fastening assembly.
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[0036] The base sheet 80 may also contain positioning markers 86A-B, as in
the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5. In this embodiment, two positioning markers 86A
indicate
where the top peripheral edge 23 of the glide sheet 20 should be aligned when
the glide sheet
20 is placed on top of the base sheet 80, as described below. Additionally,
another
positioning marker 86B indicates approximately where the base sheet 80 should
be aligned
with the head 13 of the bed 12 when placed over the supporting surface 16.
[0037] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, the base sheet 80 also
includes pieces of a
releasable connecting material 87, such as a hook-and-loop connecting
material, connected to
the top surface 81 (e.g. by stitching). The pieces of the releasable
connecting material 87 are
shown in the form of elongated strips 87 of hook-and-loop connecting material
connected to
the top surface 81 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,
the strips 87
are spaced inwardly from the two opposed left and right peripheral edges 83 of
the base sheet
80, and have elongated edges 87A forming a direction of elongation that runs
substantially
parallel to the respective peripheral edges 83. In other embodiments, the
pieces of connecting
material 87 may have different forms, structures, and/or configurations, such
as being in the
form of intermittent patches of the connecting material, or other
configurations. Further,
other types of connecting materials may be utilized as part or all of the
connecting material
87 and other connecting materials described herein. Such connecting materials
may include
other releasable connecting structures, and may also include materials that
limit movement of
the structures in one or more directions. For example, the connecting material
may include a
material that resists movement in at least one direction or along at least one
axis, while
allowing movement in at least one other direction or along at least one other
axis. Such
directionally-oriented materials may include complementary materials that
cooperate to limit
movement in one or more directions.
[0038] The embodiment of the base sheet 80 in FIGS. 1-5 also has flaps 88
connected to
the top surface 81, which are configured for covering part or all of the
pieces of connecting
material 87. In this embodiment, each of the two pieces of connecting material
87 has an
adjacent flap 88. Each flap 88 is flexible and has a fixed end or edge 88A
connected to the
top surface 81 of the base sheet 80 (e.g. by stitching) and a free end or edge
88B that is
moveable to allow the flap 88 to fold over upon itself. As shown in greater
detail in FIG. 3,
the flaps 88 each have the fixed end 88A positioned adjacent and substantially
parallel to one
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of the elongated edges 87A of the strips 87, between the respective strip 87
and the most
proximate peripheral edge 83 (i.e. left or right edge 83) of the base sheet
80. The flaps 88 are
foldable, such that the free ends 88B can be folded over the adjacent strips
87 to cover at least
a portion of each of the strips 87. In the embodiment shown, the flaps 88 have
sufficient size
(elongated length and/or width measured transverse to the length) so that when
the free ends
8813 are folded over, the flaps 88 completely cover the strips of connecting
material 87.
Additionally, the flaps 88 are each elongated in the same direction as the
strips 87 in the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5. The flaps 88 may also have reinforcing material
89
positioned around the edges, which can add stiffness / structural
reinforcement, as well as
increasing durability. The reinforcing material 89 may additionally or
alternately provide a
surface to enhance gripping of the flap 88, to allow the wedge 50 to push the
flap 88 over the
connecting material 87 or to pull the flap 88 backward to expose a portion of
the connecting
material 87, as described below. In one embodiment, the reinforcing material
89 is connected
around at least a portion of the free end 88B of the flap 88, and may be
connected around the
entire free end 88B, as well as the sides extending between the free end 88B
and the fixed
end 88A. The reinforcing material 89 may be nylon or other woven material, and
may be the
same material as the handles 28 of the glide sheet 20, described below. The
flaps 88 may be
made primarily from the same material as the base sheet 80, such as the low
friction material
described herein, or may be formed of a different material. In other
embodiments, the flaps
88 may have a different configuration. For example, the flaps 88 may have
fixed ends 88A
that are spaced farther from the edges 87A of the strips 87, and may be larger
in size to
permit the flaps 88 to completely cover the strips 87. Other configurations
are possible.
[0039] The base sheet 80 and the glide sheet 20 each contain connecting
members that
have connecting structures that are configured for complementary connection to
each other,
such as complementary releasable connecting materials (e.g. hook-and-loop
connection).
The base sheet 80 has a connecting member in the form of a tether strap 90
that is positioned
at the top peripheral edge 83 of the base sheet 80, which is configured to be
positioned at the
head 13 of the bed 12. The strap 90 may be made from a single piece or
multiple pieces. In
the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, the strap 90 is formed from a single piece of
substantially non-
elastic material that has little to no stretchability, and has a fixed end
connected to the base
sheet 80 and a free end opposite the fixed end. In another embodiment, the
strap 90 may
include at least a portion made from an elastic material, such as a variable
force elastic
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material that allows initial stretching for a distance (e.g. 2-3 inches) and
then provides
increased resistance to stretching. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the strap 90 is
stitched to the base
sheet 80 at the fixed end and is formed of a material that is able to
constitute a loop structure
for hook-and-loop connection, allowing the strap 90 to be connected with
complementary
hook-and-loop connections. As described in greater detail below, the
connecting member
(e.g. strap 90) of the base sheet 80 is configured for connection to a
connecting member of
the glide sheet 20, using complementary releasable connecting materials (e.g.
hook-and-loop
connection). As described below, the connecting member of the glide sheet 20
may be in the
form of a tether strap 30. In another embodiment, only one of the base sheet
80 and the glide
sheet 20 may contain a tether strap 30, 90, and the other one of the sheets
20, 80 may include
a different type of connecting member, such as a patch of connecting material
(e.g. a patch of
hook-and-loop material) that is configured for connection to the tether strap
30, 90. In a
further embodiment, both the base sheet 80 and the glide sheet 20 may include
different types
of connecting members.
[0040] An example
embodiment of the glide sheet 20 is shown in greater detail in FIGS.
2 and 6. In general, the glide sheet 20 is flexible and foldable, and has a
top surface 21 and a
bottom surface 22 defined by a plurality of peripheral edges 23. As seen in
FIGS. 1-2 and 4-
6, the glide sheet 20 in this embodiment is rectangular, having four
peripheral edges 23, but
could be a different shape in other embodiments. The top surface 21 has at
least a portion
formed of a high-friction or gripping material 24, and the bottom surface 22
has at least a
portion formed of a low-friction or sliding material 25. In this embodiment,
the sheet
includes a first piece 26 of sheet material that is formed partially or
entirely of the low-
friction material 25, with a second piece 27 of sheet material that is formed
partially or
entirely of the high-friction material 24, with the second piece 27 connected
to the first piece
26 in a surface-to-surface, confronting relation to form a layered structure.
As illustrated in
FIGS. 1-2 and 4-6, the first piece 26 is larger than the second piece 27, so
that the first piece
26 forms the entire bottom surface 22 of the sheet 20, and the second piece 27
forms at least a
majority portion of the top surface 21, with the edges of the second piece 27
being recessed
from the edges 23 of the sheet 20. In other words, in this embodiment, the
glide sheet 20 is
primarily formed by the first piece 26, with the second piece 27 connected to
the first piece
26 to form at least a part of the top surface 21. In another embodiment, the
first piece 26
forms at least a majority portion of the bottom surface 22, and the second
piece 27 forms at
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least a majority portion of the top surface 21. The pieces 26, 27 are
connected by stitching in
one embodiment, but may have additional or alternate connections in other
embodiments,
including adhesives, sonic welding, heat welding and other techniques,
including techniques
familiar to those skilled in the art. Additionally, the low-friction material
25 and/or the high-
friction material 24 may be formed by multiple pieces in other embodiments.
For example,
the first piece 26 made of the low-friction material 25 may have a plurality
of strips or
patches of the high-friction material 24 connected on the top surface 21 in
one embodiment.
In a further embodiment, the high friction material 24 may be or include a
coating applied to
the low friction piece 26, such as a spray coating. As described in greater
detail below, the
low-friction material 25 permits sliding of the glide sheet 20 in contact with
the base sheet
80, and the high-friction material 24 provides increased resistance to
slipping or sliding of the
patient and/or the body pad 40 on which the patient may be lying, in contact
with the glide
sheet 20.
100411 As shown in the embodiment in FIGS. 1-2, the first piece 26 is made
substantially
entirely of the low-friction material 25. In one embodiment, the low-friction
material 25 is at
least partially made from polyester and/or nylon (polyamide), although other
materials can be
used in addition to or instead of these materials. In one embodiment, the high
friction
material 24 is a warp knit tricot material that may be brushed, napped, and/or
sanded to raise
its pile, which can enhance comfort, and may be made of polyester and/or
another suitable
material. The material 24 can then be treated with a high friction substance,
such as a hot
melt adhesive or appropriate plastic, which can be applied as a discontinuous
coating to
promote breathability. The material 24 can also be treated with a water
repellant, such as
PTFE. In other embodiments, the high-friction material 24 may include any
combination of
these components, and may contain other components in addition to or instead
of these
components. Additionally, both the first and second pieces 26, 27 may be
breathable in one
embodiment, to allow passage of air, heat, and moisture vapor away from the
patient.
[0042] Generally, the high friction material 24 has a coefficient of
friction that is higher
than the coefficient of friction of the low friction material 25. In one
embodiment, the
coefficient of friction for the high friction material 24 is about 8-10 times
higher than the
coefficient of friction of the low friction material 25. In another
embodiment, the coefficient
of friction for the high friction material 24 is between 5 and 10 times
higher, or at least 5
13
times higher, than the coefficient of friction of the low friction material
25. The coefficient of
friction, as defined herein, can be measured as a direct proportion to the
pull force necessary to
move either of the materials 24, 25 in surface-to-surface contact with the
same third material,
with the same normal force loading. Thus, in the embodiments above, if the
pull force for the
high friction material 24 is about 8-10 times greater than the pull force for
the low friction
material 25, with the same contact material and normal loading, the
coefficients of friction will
also be 8-10 times different. It is understood that the coefficient of
friction may vary by the
direction of the pull force, and that the coefficient of friction measured may
be measured in a
single direction. For example, in one embodiment, the above differentials in
the coefficients of
friction of the high friction material 24 and the low friction material 25 may
be measured as the
coefficient of friction of the low friction material 25 based on a pull force
normal to the side
edges 23 (i.e. proximate the handles 28) and the coefficient of friction of
the high friction
material 24 based on a pull force normal to the top and bottom edges 23 (i.e.
parallel to the side
edges 23).
[0043] Additionally, the coefficient of friction of the interface between the
high-friction material
24 and the pad 40 is greater than the coefficient of friction of the interface
between the low
friction material 25 and base sheet 80 or the supporting surface 16. It is
understood that the
coefficients of friction for the interfaces may also be measured in a
directional orientation, as
described above. In one embodiment, the coefficient of friction for the
interface of the high
friction material 24 is about 8-10 times higher than the coefficient of
friction of the interface of
the low friction material 25. In another embodiment, the coefficient of
friction for the interface
of the high friction material 24 is between 5 and 10 times higher, or at least
5 times higher, than
the coefficient of friction of the interface of the low friction material 25,
It is understood that the
coefficient of friction for the interface could be modified to at least some
degree by modifying
factors other than the glide sheet 20. For example, a high-friction substance
or surface treatment
may be applied to the bottom surface 44 of the pad 40, to increase the
coefficient of friction of
the interface. Examples of comparisons of the coefficients of friction for
these surfaces and
interfaces are shown in U.S. Patent Applications Nos. 13/014,497 and
13/014,500, filed January
26,2011.
14
CA 2779725 2019-03-19
CA 02779725 2012-06-08
[0044] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 15, the glide sheet 20 also has a plurality
of pieces of
connecting material 38 on the bottom surface 22. In this embodiment, the
pieces of
connecting material 38 are in the form of rectangular patches 38 formed by a
plurality of
strips positioned in a row, and may be connected to the bottom surface 22 of
the glide sheet
20 by stitching or another technique. The function of the pieces of connecting
material 38 is
described in greater detail below. In another embodiment, the bottom surface
22 may include
pieces of connecting material 38 that are different in number, size,
configuration, location,
etc., or may contain no pieces of connecting material 38.
[0045] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the glide sheet 20 also includes a
connecting
member in the form of an elongated tether strap 30 connected to the glide
sheet 20 and
extending from the glide sheet 20 to connect to the base sheet 80 to secure
the glide sheet 20
in place. As shown in FIGS. 4-5, the tether strap 30 is connected to the top
edge 23 of the
glide sheet 20 and extends to connect the strap 30 to the top edge 83 of the
base sheet 80,
such as by connection to the tether strap 90 of the base sheet 80. The tether
strap 90 of the
base sheet 80 may be connectable to the strap 30 of the glide sheet 20 by a
releasable
connecting structure, such as a hook-and-loop connection (e.g. Velcro). In the
embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the strap 30 of the glide sheet 20 has a piece of
hook-type connecting
material 32, and the strap 90 of the base sheet 80 is formed wholly or
partially of a material
that can function as a loop-type connecting material, allowing for connection
of the two
straps 30, 90. In another embodiment, the strap 30 may be connected to the
tether strap 90 or
other part of the base sheet 80 by a different configuration, including ties,
snaps, buckles,
adhesives, or other releasable or non-releasable fastener configurations. As
described above,
in a further embodiment, one or both of the glide sheet 20 and the base sheet
80 may include
a different type of connecting member other than a tether strap 30, 90, such
as a patch of
releasable connecting material connected directly to the sheet 20, 80.
[0046] The strap 30 may be made from a single piece or multiple pieces. In
the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the strap 30 is formed from an elastic material that
is flexible and
stretchable, such as a variable force elastic material that allows initial
stretching for a distance
(e.g. 2-3 inches) and then provides increased resistance to stretching. Once
connected to the
bed 12, the strap 30 resists or prevents the sheet 20 from sliding downward,
particularly when
the head 13 of the bed 12 is inclined. The elastic material provides for
slight freedom of
CA 02779725 2012-06-08
movement in this situation, and in one embodiment, allows for approximately 2-
3 inches of
stretching and 2-3 inches of resultant movement of the glide sheet 20. The
tether strap 90 of
the base sheet 80 provides a secure anchor for the glide sheet 20, as the base
sheet 80 is
securely strapped to the bed 12 using the fasteners 84. The two fasteners 84
having ends 84A
proximate the tether strap 90 provide secure support for the tether strap 90,
to resist
movement or tearing of the base sheet 80 that may occur due to forces exerted
by the strap 90
after connection to the glide sheet 20. Further, the releasable connection
between the strap 30
of the glide sheet 20 and the strap 90 of the base sheet 80 permits easier
disconnection of the
straps 30, 90, such as for circumstances in which it is necessary to
disconnect the strap 30 to
move or reposition the patient. In other embodiments, the strap 30 may contain
multiple
pieces, such as an elastic portion and a non-elastic portion, and may have a
different
configuration or be connected to a different part of the glide sheet 20. In a
further
embodiment, the glide sheet 20 may have multiple tether straps 30 connected
thereto, which
can provide more secure connection to the base sheet 80 and/or greater options
for
connection.
[0047] The glide sheet 20 may also include one or more handles 28 to
facilitate pulling,
lifting, and moving the glide sheet 20. As shown in FIG. 6, the glide sheet 20
has handles 28
formed by strips 29 of a strong material that are stitched in periodic fashion
to the bottom
surface 22 at or around opposite edges 23 of the glide sheet 20. The non-
stitched portions
can be separated slightly from the glide sheet 20 to allow a user's hands to
slip underneath,
and thereby form the handles 28, as shown in FIG. 6. Other types of handles
may be utilized
in other embodiments.
100481 In further embodiments, the glide sheet 20 and the components
thereof may have
different configurations, such as being made of different materials or having
different shapes
and relative sizes. For example, in one embodiment, the low-friction material
25 and the
high-friction material 24 may be made out of pieces of the same size. In
another
embodiment, the low-friction material 25 and the high-friction material 24 may
be part of a
single piece that has a portion that is processed or treated to create a
surface with a different
coefficient of friction. As an example, a single sheet of material could be
treated with a non-
stick coating or other low-friction coating or surface treatment on one side,
and/or an
16
CA 02779725 2012-06-08
adhesive or other high-friction coating or surface treatment on the other
side. Still other
embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the invention.
100491 In an alternate embodiment, the glide sheet 20 may not utilize a
high friction
surface, and instead may utilize a releasable connection to secure the pad 40
in place with
respect to the glide sheet 20. For example, the glide sheet 20 and pad 40 may
include
complementary connections, such as hook-and-loop connectors, buttons, snaps,
or other
connectors. In another alternate embodiment, the glide sheet 20 may not
utilize a strap 30,
and may resist sliding in another way. In a further embodiment, the glide
sheet 20 may be
used without a pad 40, with the patient directly in contact with the top
surface 21 of the sheet,
and the high-friction material 24 can still resist sliding of the patient on
the glide sheet 20.
[0050] The body pad 40 is typically made from a different material than the
glide sheet
20 and the base sheet 80 and contains an absorbent material, along with
possibly other
materials as well. The pad 40 provides a resting surface for the patient, and
can absorb
fluids that may be generated by the patient. The pad 40 may also be a low-lint
pad, for less
risk of wound contamination, and is typically disposable and replaceable, such
as when
soiled. The top and bottom surfaces 42, 44 may have the same or different
coefficients of
friction. Additionally, the pad 40 illustrated in the embodiments of FIGS. 1,
9, and 16 is
approximately the same size as the glide sheet 20, but may be a different size
in other
embodiments. It is understood that the body pad 40 may not be illustrated in
all drawing
figures for the sake of simplicity and illustration, such as in FIGS. 4 and 10-
15, and this
should not be interpreted as an indication that the body pad 40 would or
should not be present
in such illustrated configurations.
[0051] In one embodiment, the pad 40 may form an effective barrier to fluid
passage on
one side, in order to prevent the glide sheet 20 and the base sheet 80 from
being soiled, and
may also be breathable, in order to permit flow of air, heat, and moisture
vapor away from the
patient and lessen the risk of pressure ulcers (bed sores). The glide sheet 20
and/or the base
sheet 80 may also be breathable to perform the same function, as described
above. A
breathable glide sheet 20 and base sheet 80, used in conjunction with a
breathable pad 40, can
also benefit from use with a LAL bed 12, to allow air, heat, and moisture
vapor to flow away
from the patient more effectively, and to enable creation of an optimal
microclimate around
the patient, as described in U.S. Patent Applications Nos. 13/014,497 and
13/014,500. The
17
CA 02779725 2012-06-08
pad 40 may have differently configured top and bottom surfaces 42, 44, with
the top surface
42 being configured for contact with the patient and the bottom surface 44
being configured
for contact with the glide sheet 20.
[0052] The system 10 may include one or more wedges 50 that can be
positioned under
the glide sheet 20 to provide a ramp and support to slide and position the
patient slightly on
his/her side, as described below. FIGS. 7-8 illustrate an example embodiment
of a wedge 50
that can be used in conjunction with the system 10. The wedge 50 has a body 56
that can be
triangular in shape, having a base wall or base surface 51, a ramp surface 52
that is positioned
at an oblique angle to the base wall 51, a back wall 53, and side walls 54. In
this
embodiment, the base wall 51 and the ramp surface 52 meet at an oblique angle
to form an
apex 55, and the back wall 53 is positioned opposite the apex 55 and
approximately
perpendicular to the ramp surface 52. The side walls 54 in this embodiment are
triangular in
shape and join at approximately perpendicular angles to the base wall 51, the
ramp surface
52, and the back wall 53. In this embodiment, the surfaces 51, 52, 53, 54 of
the wedge body
56 are all approximately planar when not subjected to stress, but in other
embodiments, one
or more of the surfaces 51, 52, 53, 54 may be curved or rounded. Any of the
edges between
the surfaces 51, 52, 53, 54 of the wedge body 56 may likewise be curved or
rounded,
including the apex 55.
100531 The wedge body 56 in this embodiment is at least somewhat
compressible, in
order to provide greater patient comfort and ease of use. Any appropriate
compressible
material may be used for the wedge body 56, including various polymer foam
materials, such
as a polyethylene and/or polyether foam. A particular compressible material
may be selected
for its specific firmness and/or compressibility, and in one embodiment, the
wedge body 56 is
made of a foam that has relatively uniform compressibility.
[0054] The wedge 50 is configured to be positioned under the glide sheet 20
and the
patient, and between the glide sheet 20 and the base sheet 80, to position the
patient at an
angle, as described in greater detail below. In this position, the base wall
51 of the wedge 50
faces downward and engages or confronts the top surface 81 of the base sheet
80, and the
ramp surface 52 faces toward the glide sheet 20 such that the wedge 50
supports at least a
portion of the weight of the patient. The angle of the apex 55 between the
base wall 51 and
the ramp surface 52 influences the angle at which the patient is positioned
when the wedge 50
18
CA 02779725 2012-06-08
is used. In one embodiment, the angle between the base wall 51 and the ramp
surface 52 may
be up to 45 , or between 15 and 35 in another embodiment, or about 30 in a
further
embodiment. Positioning a patient at an angle of approximately 30 is
clinically
recommended, and thus, a wedge 50 having an angle of approximately 30 may be
the most
effective for use in positioning most immobile patients. The wedge 50 may be
constructed
with a different angle as desired in other embodiments. It is understood that
the glide sheet
20 and/or the base sheet 80 may be usable without the wedges 50, or with
another type of
wedge or other structure that can function as a wedge. For example, the glide
sheet 20 and/or
the base sheet 80 may be usable with a single wedge 50 having a greater
length, or a number
of smaller wedges 50, rather than two wedges 50, in one embodiment. As another
example,
two wedges 50 may be connected together by a narrow bridge section or similar
structure in
another embodiment. It is also understood that the wedge(s) 50 may have
utility for
positioning a patient independently and apart from the glide sheet 20, the
base sheet 80, or
other components of the system 10, and may be used in different positions and
locations than
those described and illustrated herein.
[0055] In the
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 7-8, 9, 15 and 16, the wedge 50 has one
or more pieces of connecting material 59, such as a hook-and-loop material,
connected to the
base wall 51 (e.g. by adhesive) and one or more additional pieces of
connecting material 59
connected to the back wall 53. The base wall 51 in this embodiment has two
pieces of
connecting material 59 in the form of two strips 59 of complementary
releasable connecting
material (e.g. hook-and-loop) that are elongated and oriented to extend in a
direction of
elongation that extends from the apex 55 to the back wall 53. The back wall 53
has another
strip 59 of complementary releasable connecting material. As described below,
the pieces of
connecting material 59 on the base wall 51 are complementary and configured
for connection
with the pieces of connecting material 87 on the top surface 81 of the base
sheet 80. For
example, where the connecting material 59 on the wedge 50 may be a hook-type
structure of
a hook-and-loop connecting material, as described above, and the connecting
material 87 on
the base sheet 80 may be a complementary loop-type structure. Likewise, the
connecting
material 59 on the back wall 53 of the wedge 50 is complementary and
configured for
connection with the pieces of connecting material 38 on the bottom surface 22
of the base
sheet 20. Other types and configurations of connecting material 59 can be used
in other
19
CA 02779725 2012-06-08
embodiments, and in some embodiments, either or both of the base wall 51 and
the back wall
53 may have no pieces of connecting material 59.
[0056] The wedge 50 in this embodiment also has a low-friction or sliding
material 58
positioned on the ramp surface 52. The low-friction material 58 may be any
material
described above with respect to the sheet 20, and in one embodiment, the low-
friction
material 58 of the wedge 50 may be the same as the low-friction material 25 of
the glide sheet
20. The material 58 is connected to the wedge body 56 using an adhesive in the
embodiment
shown in FIGS. 7-8, and other connection techniques can be used in other
embodiments. In
this embodiment, the wedge 50 may also include a high-friction material 57 on
the base wall
51 to resist sliding of the wedge 50 along the supporting surface 16 of the
bed 12 once in
position under the patient. The low-friction material 58 eases insertion of
the wedge under
the glide sheet 20 and the patient, and over the base sheet 80, and eases
movement of the
patient up the ramp surface 52 as described below. As shown in FIGS. 7-8, the
low-friction
material 58 is wrapped partially around the apex 55 in this embodiment, in
order to ease
insertion of the wedge 50 and resist separation or delamination of the
material 58 from the
wedge body 56 upon inserting the wedge 50. In another embodiment, the wedge(s)
50 may
not contain the low-friction material 58 and may or may not include the high-
friction material
57.
[0057] All or some of the components of the system 10 can be provided in a
kit, which
may be in a pre-packaged arrangement. For example, the glide sheet 20 and the
pad 40 may
be provided in a pre-folded arrangement or assembly, such that the pre-folded
glide sheet 20
and pad 40 can then be unfolded together on the bed 12. The base sheet 80 may
also be
folded together or separately with the glide sheet 20 and the pad 40.
Additionally, the base
sheet 80, the glide sheet 20, the pad 40, and the wedges 50 may be packaged
together by
wrapping with a packaging material to form a package. It is understood that
certain
components may be separately wrapped even within a single package, such as the
wedges.
Various wrapping configurations that may be used in connection with the system
10, as well
as methods for unfolding or otherwise unpackaging the packaged system 10, are
illustrated in
U.S. Patent Applications Nos. 13/014,497 and 13/014,500. Further, the base
sheet 80 may be
configured so that the flaps 88 at least partially cover the strips of
connecting material 87
when packaged. For example, the flaps 88 may be temporarily and/or weakly
bound to the
CA 02779725 2012-06-08
connecting material 87, such as by thin, easily frangible threads or small
dots of releasable
adhesive. This permits the base sheet 80 to be more easily configured for use
immediately
after unwrapping. Still further, multiple types of kits can be provided, with
different sizes of
glide sheets 20 and/or pads 40 for use with different bed sizes. For example,
in one
embodiment, a narrower glide sheet 20 may be provided for use with beds 12
that are closer
to 40 inches wide, and a wider glide sheet 20 may be provided for use with
beds 12 that are
closer to 50 inches wide.
[0058] Exemplary embodiments of methods for utilizing the system 10 in
connection
with a patient 70 are illustrated in FIGS. 9-16. In one embodiment, the base
sheet 80 can be
placed on the bed 12 before the patient is placed on the bed 12. The base
sheet 80 is
positioned with the bottom side 82 engaging and/or confronting the supporting
surface 16 of
the bed 12, with the tether strap 90 at the head 13 of the bed 12. The
positioning marker 86B
may assist with placing the base sheet 80 on the bed 12, to indicate
approximately where the
base sheet 80 should be aligned with the head 13 of the bed 12. Additionally,
the base sheet
80 should be positioned so that the strips of connecting material 87 are
approximately
centered across the width of the bed 12. The fasteners 84 can then be used to
connect the
base sheet 80 securely to the bed 12, which may include wrapping some of the
fasteners 84
around portions of the frame 14 and/or mattress 18, and which may also include
fastening
complementary buckles 85 together.
100591 After the base sheet 80 is in position, the glide sheet 20 (and
optionally the pad 40
as well) can be placed over the base sheet 80, such that the bottom surface 22
of the glide
sheet 20 engages or confronts the top surface 81 of the base sheet 80. The
glide sheet 20 and
the pad 40 can be inserted on top of the base sheet 80 before placing the
patient 70 on the bed
12. Alternately, the glide sheet 20 and the pad 40 may be inserted underneath
the patient 70
after placing the patient 70 on the bed 12, using a method similar to those
described in U.S.
Patent Applications Nos. 13/014,497 and 13/014,500. For example, the patient
70 can be
rolled to one side to permit one half of the glide sheet 20 and/or the pad 40
to be unfolded,
and then the patient 70 can be rolled to the other side to permit the other
half of the glide
sheet 20 and/or the pad 40 to be unfolded, whereupon the patient 70 can be
rolled back to
his/her back. The positioning markers 86A indicate where the top peripheral
edge 23 of the
glide sheet 20 should be aligned when the glide sheet 20 is placed on top of
the base sheet 80,
21
CA 02779725 2012-06-08
as described below. The tether straps 30, 90 of the glide sheet 20 and the
base sheet 80 can
be connected together after the glide sheet 20 is placed on top of the base
sheet 80. This
connection helps to resist unwanted slipping of the glide sheet 20 on the base
sheet 80,
particularly downward slipping caused by raising the head 13 of the bed 12.
The elasticity of
the strap 30 of the glide sheet 20 permits some degree of movement freedom, in
this
embodiment. If the head 13 of the bed 12 is desired to be raised, then the
straps 30, 90 can be
connected after raising the head 13 of the bed 12, to allow for proper
positioning of the
patient before connecting the straps 30. 90. In another embodiment, the straps
30, 90 can be
connected before raising the head 13 of the bed 12. The patient 70 may be
moved slightly to
ensure proper positioning before connecting the straps 30, 90, such as moving
the patient 70
upward or toward the head of the bed 12, which can be accomplished by sliding
the sheet 20
using the handles 28. The method illustrated in FIGS. 9-16 typically requires
two or more
caregivers for performance, but is less physically stressful and time
consuming for the
caregivers than existing methods.
100601 The pad 40 can also be removed and replaced from underneath the
patient using
methods similar to those described in U.S. Patent Applications Nos. 13/014,497
and
13/014,500. For example, the patient can be rolled to one side to permit one
half of the pad
40 to be folded up, and then the patient can be rolled to the other side to
permit the other half
of the pad 40 to be folded up, whereupon the pad 40 can be removed and
replaced with a
different pad 40. The new pad 40 can be partially unfolded while the patient
is still rolled to
the second side, and then the patient can be rolled back to the first side to
permit the other
half of the new pad 40 to be unfolded. It is understood that other methods for
placing the
base sheet 80, the glide sheet 20, and/or the pad 40 on the bed 12 can be used
in other
embodiments.
100611 FIGS. 9-16 illustrate an example embodiment of a method for placing
the patient
in an angled resting position by placing two wedges 50 under the patient 70.
The method is
used with a patient 70 lying on a bed 12 as described above, having a bed
sheet (not shown)
on the supporting surface 16 and the base sheet 80 on top of the bed sheet,
with the glide
sheet 20 and the pad 40 of the system 10 lying on top of the base sheet 80 and
the patient 70
lying on the pad 40. In this embodiment, the wedges 50 are positioned under
the glide sheet
20, so that the glide sheet 20 is between the ramp surfaces 52 of the wedges
50 and the
22
CA 02779725 2012-06-08
patient 70, and the base walls 51 of the wedges 50 are in contact with the
base sheet 80. In
another embodiment, the wedges 50 may be positioned directly under the base
sheet 80 and
over the bed sheet 15, or underneath the bed sheet 15. As shown in FIGS. 9-13,
the edge 23
of the glide sheet 20 is lifted, and the wedges 50 are inserted from the side
of the bed 12 and
from the left/right peripheral edge 83 of the base sheet 80, between the glide
sheet 20 and the
base sheet 80, and toward the flap 88 and toward the patient 70. At this
point, a portion of
the wedge 50, such as the apex 55, may engage the flap 88 and force the flap
88 to be flipped
over to cover the connecting material 87, if the flap 88 is not already
covering the connecting
material 87. As described above, in one embodiment, the flap 88 completely
covers the
connecting material 87. The wedge 50 can be moved farther toward the patient
70 so that at
least the apex 55 of the wedge 50 may be pushed toward, next to, or at least
partially under
the patient 70. The low friction material 58 of the wedge 50 can facilitate
such insertion. A
second wedge 50 can also be inserted from the same side of the bed 12 and the
same
peripheral edge 83 of the base sheet 80 in a similar manner. In one
embodiment, the wedges
50 should be aligned so that the wedges are spaced apart with one wedge 50
positioned at the
upper body of the patient 70 and the other wedge 50 positioned at the lower
body of the
patient 70, with the patient's sacral area positioned in the space between the
wedges 50. It
has been shown that positioning the wedges 50 in this arrangement can result
in lower
pressure in the sacral area, which can reduce the occurrence of pressure
ulcers in the patient
70. In one embodiment, the wedges 50 are positioned approximately 10cm apart.
[0062] Once the
wedges 50 have been inserted, the user (not shown), such as a caregiver,
can pull the patient 70 toward the wedge 70 and toward the user, such as by
gripping the
handles 28 on the glide sheet 20, as similarly described in U.S. Patent
Applications Nos.
13/014,497 and 13/014,500. The arrows in FIG. 14 illustrate this movement.
This moves the
proximate edge 23 of the glide sheet 20 toward the back walls 53 of the wedges
50, toward
the adjacent peripheral edge 83 of the base sheet 80, and toward the user, and
slides the
patient 70 and at least a portion of the glide sheet 20 up the ramp surface
52, such that the
ramp surface 52 partially supports the patient 70 to cause the patient 70 to
lie in an angled
position. During this pulling motion, the low friction materials 25, 58 on the
glide sheet 20
and the wedges 50, as well as the low friction material of the base sheet 80,
provide ease of
motion, and the high friction surface 24 of the glide sheet 20 resists
movement of the pad 40
23
CA 02779725 2012-06-08
and/or the patient 70 with respect to the sheet 20. Additionally, the elastic
portion 32 of the
strap 30 permits some freedom of movement of the glide sheet 20.
[0063] When the glide sheet 20 is pulled toward the user, the wedges 50 may
be forced
backward, toward the adjacent peripheral edge 83 of the base sheet 80. Due to
this motion,
the flap 88 may be forced backward to expose at least a portion 91 of the
connecting material
87. It is understood that the exposed portion 91 may constitute all or
substantially all of the
connecting material 87 in some circumstances, and additionally, in a situation
where the flap
88 does not initially cover the connecting material 87 completely, that the
exposed portion 91
may be a portion that was not previously exposed. As described above, the
engagement
between the reinforcing material 89 of the flap 88 and the base wall 51 and/or
the connecting
material 59 of the wedge 50 can assist in moving the flap 88 in this manner.
The connecting
material 59 on the base wall 51 of the wedge 50 then engages the exposed
portion 91 of the
connecting material 87 on the base sheet 80 to resist further movement of the
wedge 50
toward the adjacent peripheral edge 83 of the base sheet 80. This resistance
to further
movement 50 can assist in keeping the wedge(s) 50 in position and in
stabilizing the patient
70, and may be further supported by the high friction material 57 that may be
connected to
the base wall 51 of the wedge 50. Advantageously, the placement of the wedges
50 and the
movement of the patient 70 onto the wedges 50 may be done without rolling the
patient 70
onto his/her side in some embodiments. This can provide particular advantage
with large
patients, who may be more difficult to move and roll. It is understood that
the glide sheet 20
may be pulled slightly away from the edge of the bed 12 prior to insertion of
the wedges 50,
in order to provide room for insertion, such as by pulling on the handles 28
on the opposite
side of the glide sheet 20. In another embodiment, the patient 70 may be
rolled to his/her side
for at least some of this positioning, such as described in U.S. Patent
Applications Nos.
13/014,497 and 13/014,500. Additionally, part of the glide sheet 20 can be
wrapped or
draped over the top of the wedge 50 so that the connecting material 38 on the
bottom surface
22 of the glide sheet 20 is connected to the connecting material 59 on the
back wall 53 of the
wedge 50. This can assist in securing the glide sheet 20 against slipping
downward, keeping
the wedges 50 securely positioned underneath the patient 70.
[0064] When the patient 70 is to be returned to lying on his/her back, the
wedge(s) 50 can
be removed from under the patient 70, which may include pulling the wedge(s)
50 so that the
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CA 02779725 2012-06-08
connecting materials 59 of the wedge 50 become disconnected from the
connecting material
38 of the glide sheet 20 and the connecting material 87 of the base sheet 80.
The sheet 20
may be pulled in the opposite direction in order to facilitate removal of the
wedges 50 and/or
position the patient 70 closer to the center of the bed 12. The patient can be
turned in the
opposite direction by inserting the wedges 50 under the opposite side of the
glide sheet 20,
from the opposite peripheral edge 83 of the base sheet 80, and pulling the
glide sheet 20 in
the opposite direction to move the patient 70 up the ramp surfaces 52 of the
wedges 50, in the
same manner described above.
100651 As described
above, in some embodiments, the wedges 50 may have an angle of
up to approximately 45 , or from approximately 15-35 , or approximately 30 .
Thus, when
these embodiments of wedges 50 are used in connection with the method as shown
in FIGS.
9-16, the patient 70 need not be rotated or angled more than 45 , 35 , or 30 ,
depending on
the wedge 50 configuration. The degree of rotation can be determined by the
rotation or
angle from the horizontal (supine) position of a line extending through the
shoulders of the
patient 70. Existing methods of turning and positioning patients to relieve
sacral pressure
often require rolling a patient to 90 or more to insert pillows or other
supporting devices
underneath. Rolling patients to these great angles can cause stress and
destabilize some
patients, particularly in patients with critical illnesses or injuries, and
some critical patients
cannot be rolled to such great angles, making turning of the patient
difficult. Additionally,
large patients can be even more difficult to turn, causing additional strain
and risk of injury
for caregivers. Accordingly, the system 10 and method described above can have
a positive
effect on the health and comfort of both patients and caregivers. Further, the
angled nature of
the wedges 50 can allow for more accurate positioning of the patient 70 to a
given resting
angle, as compared to existing, imprecise techniques such as using pillows for
support. For
example, the recommended resting angle of 30 can be more successfully
achieved with a
wedge 50 that has an angle of approximately 30 . The engagement of the
connecting
materials 59 of the wedge 50 with the connecting materials 87, 38 of the base
sheet 80 and
the glide sheet 20 resists sliding of the wedge 50 and the glide sheet 20, and
aids in
maintaining the same turning angle. Pillows, as currently used, provide
inconsistent support
and can slip out from underneath a patient more easily.
CA 02779725 2012-06-08
[0066] In various other embodiments, certain components and features of the
system 10
can be added, duplicated, and/or changed to a different size or location,
including transposing
a feature to be located on a different component. For example, the connecting
materials 38,
59, 87 may be illustrated and described as being hook-type or loop-type
connecting materials
38, 59, 87, but any pair of complementary hook or loop-type materials can be
transposed. In
one embodiment, the wedge 50 may have one or more pieces of loop-type
connecting
material 59 thereon, and the base sheet 80 and/or the glide sheet 20 may have
hook-type
connecting materials 38, 87. As another example, the flaps 88 may be relocated
from the top
surface 81 of the base sheet 80 to the base wall 51 of the wedge 50 in one
embodiment. In
this configuration, the flaps 88 may still be able to fulfill the function of
at least partially
separating the connecting materials 59, 87 of the wedge 50 and the base sheet
80. As a
further example, the configurations of the tether straps 30, 90 of the glide
sheet 20 and the
base sheet 80 may be transposed. Still other examples exist and are
recognizable to those
skilled in the art.
[0067] The use of the system 10 and methods described above can result in a
significantly
decreased number of pressure ulcers in patients. The system 10 reduces
pressure ulcers in a
variety of manners, including reducing pressure on sensitive areas, reducing
shearing and
friction on the patient's skin, and managing heat and moisture at the
patient's skin. The
system 10 can reduce pressure on the patient's skin by facilitating frequent
turning of the
patient and providing consistent support for accurate resting angles for the
patient upon
turning. The system 10 can reduce friction and shearing on the patient's skin
by resisting
sliding of the patient along the bed 12, including resisting sliding of the
patient downward
after the head 13 of the bed 12 is inclined, as well as by permitting the
patient to be moved by
sliding the sheet 20 against the bed 12 instead of sliding the patient. The
system 10 can
provide effective heat and moisture management for the patient by the use of
the absorbent
body pad. The breathable properties of the sheet 20 and pad 40, are
particularly beneficial
when used in conjunction with an LAL bed system. When used properly, pressure
ulcers can
be further reduced or eliminated.
100681 The use of the system 10 and methods described above can also have
beneficial
effects for nurses or other caregivers who turn and position patients. Such
caregivers
frequently report injuries to the hands, wrists, shoulders, back, and other
areas that are
26
CA 02779725 2012-06-08
incurred due to the weight of patients they are moving. This problem can be
particularly
pervasive in the case of large patients. Use of the system 10, including the
glide sheet 20, the
base sheet 80, and the wedges 50, can reduce the strain on caregivers when
turning and
positioning patients. For example, existing methods for turning and
positioning a patient 70,
such as methods including the use of a folded-up bed sheet for moving the
patient 70,
typically utilize lifting and rolling to move the patient 70, rather than
sliding. Protocols for
these existing techniques encourage lifting to move the patient and actively
discourage
sliding the patient, as sliding the patient 70 using existing systems and
apparatuses can cause
friction and shearing on the patient's skin. The ease of motion and reduction
in shearing and
friction forces on the patient 70 provided by the system 10 allows sliding of
the patient 70,
which greatly reduces stress and fatigue on caregivers. In one embodiment, the
system 10
can be used with patients up to 400 lbs. and also patients that exceed 400
lbs. in weight.
100691 As another example, the act of pulling and sliding the sheet 20 and
patient 70
toward the caregiver to turn the patient 70 to an angled position creates an
ergonomically
favorable position for movement, which does not put excessive stress on the
caregiver. In
particular, the caregiver does not need to lift the patient 70 at all, and may
turn the patient 70
simply by pulling on the handles 28 to allow the mechanical advantage of the
ramp surface
52 to turn the patient 70. Additionally, it allows the patient 70 to be turned
between the
angled and non-angled positions (e.g. 30 -0 -30 ) by only a single caregiver.
Prior methods
often require two or more caregivers. Caregivers may also comply more closely
with Q2
turning protocols when using the glide sheet 20, the base sheet 80, and wedges
50 as
described above and shown in FIGS. 9-16.
100701 As further examples, the low friction material 25 on the bottom
surface 22 of the
glide sheet 20, alone or in combination with the low friction material of the
base sheet 80,
facilitates all movement of the patient 70 on the bed 12. Additionally, the
high friction
material 24 on the sheet 20 reduces movement of the patient 70 and the use of
the tether
straps 30, 90 reduces or eliminates sliding of the patient 70 when the bed is
inclined, thereby
reducing the necessity for the caregiver to reposition the patient 70.
Further, the engagement
of the connecting materials 59 of the wedge 50 with the connecting material 38
of the glide
sheet 20 and the connecting material 87 of the base sheet 80 help keep the
wedges 50 and the
patient 70 in position once the patient 70 has been turned. Still other
benefits and advantages
27
CA 02779725 2012-06-08
over existing technology are provided by the system 10 and methods described
herein, and
those skilled in the art will recognize such benefits and advantages.
[00711 Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and
illustrated herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the
features of the
individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the
components. A
person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the
embodiments could
be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. It
is
understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without
departing
from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and
embodiments,
therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not
restrictive, and the
invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. The terms "first,"
"second," "top,"
"bottom," etc., as used herein, are intended for illustrative purposes only
and do not limit the
embodiments in any way. Additionally, the term "plurality," as used herein,
indicates any
number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary,
up to an infinite
number. Further, "providing" an article or apparatus, as used herein, refers
broadly to
making the article available or accessible for future actions to be performed
on the article,
and does not connote that the party providing the article has manufactured,
produced, or
supplied the article or that the party providing the article has ownership or
control of the
article. Accordingly, while specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described,
numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the
spirit of the
invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the
accompanying
Claims.
28
