CA2178678C

CA2178678C - Sickbed

Info

Publication number: CA2178678C
Application number: CA002178678A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Ching-Shan Chuang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-06-10
Filing date: 1996-06-10
Publication date: 2000-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2016-06-10
Also published as: CA2178678A1

Abstract

A sickbed, comprising: a first bed frame, provided with a plurality of fixed bed planks of mutual distance to support the patient's body and allow him to sit up or lift the legs, thus changing his posture; a second bed frame, vertically movably mounted below the first bed frame; a plurality of movable bed planks, which are mounted on said second bed frame, at a suitable height above said second bed frame, keeping certain distances from each other and being placed in gaps between said fixed bed planks; a first driving device to drive the second bed frame's movement up and down; and a second driving device to drive the first bed frame. Its improved parts include two lateral turning frames to help the patient to turn around, each further comprising a shaft and a plurality of parallel support planks of mutual distance, which are mounted on said shaft, placed in gaps between the fixed bed planks and the movable bed planks, and are movable in a rotary movement as driven by said shaft. The movable bed planks protrude from the fixed bed planks or sink below them, changing the parts of the patient's body exposed to pressure. The lateral turning frames help to turn around the patient's body and to change the patient's lying posture.

Description

67~
~IC~BED
Technical l~leld ~his invention relates to a sickbed, particularly to a sickbed for persons having lo~.g-term.~ diseases or for disabled sick persons.
Background Art In beds o~ comm.on peDple, mostly a mattress is placed on a frame and in turn covered by ~edclothes. I~ith an arrangement like this, the area o~ the skin in direct contact with the bed will some time after going to bed su~fer ~rom. inhibited blood circulation or damp heat.
People then ~eel uncomfortable and need to turn around.
At times, when the we~ther is hot, it becomes even impossible ~or the whole night to ~all asleep. ~his is uncomfortable for ordinary persons I but becomes more troublesome for sick p~rsons. A lightly sic~s person ~till can turn around by himself, severely sick persons, however, like those aI'fected ~y bone fractures, spine injuries, concussions of the brain or those being in a vegetative state, have no way o~ turning around by themselves. ~hen they lie on the bed without ventilation, with their skin and the bed in contact for a long time, the blood circulation is inhibited, a~ter some time the ~;kln becomes red and swollen, and in serious cases ec~emas or ulcers develop. ~o, to prevent this from hapFening, relatives or clinic personnel have to turn around, massage or wash the ~ody. ~hus human and material La~v~ cG :re u::d up, ~rld the psychologlc:l bu~ len l:

2 t 78~
large .
~ummary of the Inventior.
~he ~.ain objective of this invention consists in providing a sickbed, which permanently changes the pressure points on the patient's body, increases ventilation and, by massaging the ~ody, furthers blood circulation to prevent bedsore.
A further objective of this invention consists in providing a s1c~s~ed, which helps the patient to change the body position to increase the patient's comfort and ~hich ~ muscular atrophy.
A ~urther objective of this invention consists in providing a sickbed, ~hich supports nursing e~forts.
~hese obiectives as s~ll as further advantages will become apparent by the follo~ing description and claims, taken in con~unction hTith the accompanying drawings.
Brief l~escription of the 13ra~ings Fig. l is a three-dimensional view of a first r(t of this invention.
Fig. 2 is a three-dimensional view to show the lateral turnlng frame of this invention's sic~sbed in an elevated state.
Fig. ~ is a schematic elevational vie~ of this invention's sickbed to sho~ the connection o~ all pa~ts of this invention and the ~ U~I_UlC: of the first driving device .
Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of this invention's sic1sbed system ~o sho~ the construction of a ~ 2 1 78678 guiding device used to guide the se&ond bed frame of this i nvention ' 5 5 ickoed .
Fig. 5 and 6 are schematic illustrations to show the of this invention's second bed frame and movable bed planks.
Fig. 7 is a schematic elevational view, leaving out the first driving device, to show the :~LU~:l.U't~ of the ~econd driving device used to drive the first ~ed frame as well as the v ~ of the f irst bed fra~.e .
Fig. ~ is a schematic cross-sectional view to show the ~L~u~;~u~-: o~ this invention's lateral turning frame.
Fig. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view to show the move~ent of this invention's lateral turning fra~.e.
Fig. 10 is a schematic elevational view of a second ~ hoA~ nt of this invention's sickbed to show the SU~;~UL~ of the driving devices ~or the bed fra~es in another embodiment.
~est Mode for Carrying out the Invention 2G As shown in all ~igures, this invention's sick~ed automatically regulates the patient's posture, letting him sit up or turn around. It massages the patient's body and furthers his blood circulation. So this invention's sickbed does not allow bedsore to develop easily, it 2~ moves the patient's body parts and ~_~V~ muscular atrophy .
As shown in fig. 1 and 2, this invention's sickbed in the ~ir5t e7n~oA; " mainly compr~ses: a base fra~.e 1;
a first bed frame 10, which is mounted on the ~ase frame and can regulate the patient's posture: a second bed ~ 2 1 78~78 frame 20, which i5 mounted below the first bed frame 10, while being movable up and do~n: two lateral turning frames 30 and 40 to have the patient's body turned: a first driving device 50 to drive the second bed frame 20:
and a second driving device 60 to drive the f irst bed frame 10 .
As ~hown in fig. 1 and 3, this invention's first bed frame 10 has a central part 11, which is fastened to base frame 1, and two movable parts 12 and 13, which are hingedly mounted on the front end and the back end of the central part 11. The first movable part 1~ serves as a rest for the patient's head and back. When undergoing a push from the second driving device 60 it tilts upwards to a certain angle and lifts the patientfs upper part of the body to let him lie inclined or sit up. The second movable part 13 serves as a rest for the patient's lower half of the body. When undergoing a push from the second driving device 60 it tilts upwards to a certain angle and lifts the patient's legs.
~he central part 11 of the first bed frame 10 and - the ~irst and second movable part 1~ and 13 esffentially for~; a rectangle. On it, many transversal, parallel fixed bed planks 1~ are mounted keeping certain mutual distances. In a normal state, this bed fram.e ~ ~L~:', the patient.
~he second bed frame ~0 is movable vertically upwards and downwards, a3 driven by the first driving device 5~. On this movable bed frame ~0 ~any movable bed planks 21 are mounted. All movable bed planks ~1 are mounted keeping certain mutual distances. Each of them is ~ 2~7~t~78 placed in one of the gaps left by the fixed bed planks 14. The fixed bed planks 14 and the movable bed planks 21 maintain suitable distances to a te the lateral turning frames 30 and 40 ~see below~ and to allow for ventilation. A ventilator may be installed below the bed to increase the ventilation effect.
The sscond bed fra~.e 20 stays at a suitable position below the first bed frame 10. On both sides of it several supports 22 are mounted separately to support the movable bed planks 21. In a reguiar ~tate, the movable bed planks 21, supported by the supports 22, stay below the f ixed bed planks 14, and the first bed frame 10 carries the patient. When the movable bed planks 27 are vertically moved, they will be elevated to a suitable level and take 1~ over carrying the patient's ~eight. It should be noted here that the elevation of the movable bed plank~ 21 must exceed the thickness of the fixed bed planks 14 to let the movable bed planks 21 protruae from the fixed bed planks 14 at the time of the vertical l::~Vt~
In order to avoid any jamming of the mova~le bed planks 21 due to a hori~ontal displacement when they move up and down, several guiding devices 70 are mounted on both sides o~ the first ~ed frame 10 and on the second bed frame 20. As shown in fig. 4, a guiding device 2~ comprises a guiding sleeve 71, which is fastened to both sides of the first bed frame 10, and a guiding rod 72, which is fastened to the second bed frame 20 and which is movable up and down within the guiding sleeve 71. ~o ~hen the second bed frame 20 moves up and dowr., it will not be displaced hori~ontally and block the planks.

2 ~ 78678 As shown in fig. 3, the first driving device 50 mainly comprises: at least two toggle link5 51 and 52, each being with a pivot attached to the base frame 1; a link shaft 53, connecting to the toggle links 51 and 52;
and a power device 54, which i5 mounted on the base frame 1 and drives the link shaft 53 and the toggle links 51 ~nd 52 back and forth. On the toggle links 51 and 52, at the ends that are pivoted to the base frame 1, two links 55 and 5b are attached, respectively, maintaining a fixed angle w~th the toggle links 51 and 52. A plurality of link rods 57 and 5~3 connect the other end of the links 55 and 5b, respectively, to the second bed ~rame 20.
In tl-.e above em~odiment, the power device 54 works by co~pressed air o~ oil pressure, driving the toggle links 51 and 52 along with the links 55 and 5~ back and forth, thereby driving the link rods 57 and 5~ up and down. ~o it causes the second bed frame ~0 and with it the ~ov~ble ~ed planks 21 to shift up and down.
As 6howr. in fig. 5, when the movable bed planks ~1 ~0 protrude from the fixed bed planks 14, the weight of the patient is carried by the movable bed planks ~l. As shown in fig. b, when the movable bed planks 21 return to a low position, the weight of the patient is again carried by the fixed ~ed planks 14. I~y shifting the second bed frame with the movable bed planks 21 by means of the f irst driving device 50 up and down, the patientrs body parts on the fixed bed planks 14 and on the movable bed planks 21 are alternatingly exposed to pressure. So the patient ' g body parts that are in contact with the bed interch~nge, not allowing certain body parts to be b ~ 2~ 78678 exposed to pressure ~or long. A gap is also left ~or ventilation, therefore the patient's blood circulation is furthered, and bedsore is prevented.
As shown in fig. 7, the second driving device 60, which is used to drive the first bed frame 10 is, similarly to the first driving device 50, provided with toggle links 61 and 62, links 65 and ~6, a link shaft 63, and a power device ~4. As shown in fig. 7, on the back end of the links 65 and 6~ two link rods 67 and 68 are used, respectively, to connect to the first and the second movable part 12 and 13 of the first bed frame 10, respectively. So, when the power device &4 drives toggle links 61 and 62, the first and the second movable part 12 and 13 of the first ~ed frame 10 will by way of link rods 67 and 68 ~e ~rought up to an incllned Gtate, changing the posture of the patient or letting the patient sit up.
~he main characteristic of this invention &onsists in two lateral turning frames, which are additionally provided. As shown in ~ig. 2 and 8, the t~o lateral turning franes 30 and 40 are each provided with: a shaft 31 or 41, respectively, which is installed parallel to the longitu.dinal axis o~ the base frame 1: a plurality of support planks 32 or 42, respectively, which are mounted on the top of the shafts 31 and 41, ~eing parallel to each other: and two driving devices 33 and 43, which are used to Geparately drive the rotary motion of the shafts 31 and 41.
The support planks 32 and 42 are with a ~.utual distance arranged in gaps left by the ~ixed bed planks 14 30 z ~ e zovable bed p~ s Z~. Az :ho~n in f~ , when ~ ~ 1 786~8 the patient shall turn, a rotary motion of shaft 31 or sha~t 41 will be driven by means of driving device 33 or 43. ~hen support planks 32 or 42 will move with 6haft 31 or 41 as a rotational axis and be elevated by a certain angle. ~hereby support planks 32 or 42 will turn the patient's body to the le~t or to the right.
The driving devices 33 and 43, used to drive the latera~ turning frames 30 and 40, respectively, mainly comprise two levers 34 and 44, ~hich are attached to 6haft 31 and shaft 41, respectively; and two ~e~ L~d li~uid/gas vessels 3 and 45, the one end of each being linked to the ba6e frame 1 and the other end being linked to the free end of lever 34 and 44, respectively. As pressuri~ed li~uid~gas vessel 35 or 45 drives lever 34 or 1~ 44, shaft 31 or 41 ~ill rotate, elevating support planks 32 or 42 to an inclined state to turn the patient.
Thi6 inventionrs fixed bed planks 14, movable bed planks 21 and support planks 32 and 42 are all covered with a btrip-like so~t mattress to allow the patient to lie comfortably. Moreover, a strip-like soft mattress ~ill cover the whole area of the fixed bed planks 14, the movable bed planks 21 and the support planks 32 and 42 continuously .
This invention's 6ickbed takes advantage of the movable ~ed planks 21 to avoid certain parts of the patients body to ~e pressed ~or too long, to increase ventilation and to further blood circulation in the patient's body. With the second driving device ~0 driving the movable part6 12 and 13 of the ~irst bed frame 10, ~0 the p~tient'~ ppstgre will ~ ph~ng~d, he will ~it up or ~ 2 ~ 78678 lie inclined. Finally, the lateral turning ~rames 30 and 40 change a flat-lying state of the patient into a turned-left or turnea-right state. So the parts o~ the patient's body undergoing ~ Ul~: will be constantly chansed.
The combination of this inventionfs devices will effectively prevent bedsore. Furthermore it can help the patient to sit up and to turn around, thus changing the patient's posture. There ~ill be some degree of motion, preventing m.uscular atrophy. This is advantageous for the nursing efforts on the patient.
What is more, all devices of this invention operate automatically. So nurses and relatives taking care of the patient can easily pursue their efforts. Additionally, this invention's driving devices 50, G0 and the driving devices 33 and 43 work together as a single automatically controlled system. ~y means of the single automatically controlled system, every driving device uses its o~n time-scale to drive automaticalLy the first driving device 10, the second driving device 20, and the lateral turning frames 30 an~ 40, preventing the e~ects of a possible negligience ~y the nursing personnel. The automatic control system even co-ordinates the single .,f ~ of each system to attain the states of lying in an inclined position, raising the legs, tarning and massaging in a row and thus to move the patient's body parts. When the patient sleeps, the first driving device 10 will stay ~ixed, and the time cycle of the second driving device 20 and the lateral turning frames 30 and ~p will b~ 12n th~n~d to l~v~ th~ p~tl~nt co~ort:bl~.

~ 2 1 78678 A manually operated sy5tem to fix the first bed frame in a certain state, when visitors come, can ~e additionally installed .
Fig. 10 shows this invention's ~su-;~use in a second embodiment. In the second ~rho~irn~t the first and second driving devices for the second and first bed frame have been changed into several ~L~u~ized liquid~gas vessels 70 and 80, ~Thich are mounted on the bottom side of the second and the first bed frame, respectively, and directly drive the second and the first ~ed frame. The biggest advan~age o~ this embodiment is that no sys~em of toggle links are needed, simplifying the sickbed's construction and avoiding noise during the m~ v~ of the ~ rra

Claims

1. A sickbed comprising;
a base frame, a first bed frame mounted on said base frame, said first bed frame includes a plurality of fixed bed planks, said fixed bed planks are deployed in positions perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said first bed frame, a second bed frame that is movable up and down, said second bed frame is mounted below said first bed frame, said second bed frame includes a plurality of movable bed planks, said movable bed planks are deployed in positions perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said second bed frame, said movable bed planks are interspersed between said fixed bed planks, a first driving device to control up and down movement of said second bed frame, two lateral turning frames adapted to help turn a body of patient, each paid lateral turning frame comprises a shaft mounted parallel to a longitudinal axis of said base frame and a plurality of support planks, said support planks are deployed in positions perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said lateral turning frame, said support planks being interspersed between said fixed bed planks, and a second driving device to control raising of outer ends of said support planks of said lateral turning frames so as to create a plane inclined from a center of said sickbed to urge said body of said patient to roll toward said center of said sickbed;
wherein said movable bed planks raise above or drop below a plane of said fixed bed planks to form alternate planes of support for said patient's body, thereby changing the areas of said patient's body subjected to pressure, and said outer ends of said support planks raise to urge said patient's body toward said center of said sickbed.

2. The sickbed as claimed in claim i wherein:
said first driving device further comprises a toggle link to control said up and down movement of said second bed frame and a power device to drive said toggle link.

3. The sickbed as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
said first driving device comprises a plurality of pressurized fluid vessels mounted on a bottom side of said second bed frame.

4. The sickbed as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
said first bed frame further comprises;
a central part fixed on said base frame, a first movable part hingedly mounted on a front end of said central part so as to support said patient's upper body and to incline said patient's upper body as a distal end of said first movable part is raised, and a second movable part which is hingedly mounted on a back end of said central part so as to support said patient's lower body and so as to raise said patient's lower body as a distal end of said second movable part is raised.

5. The sickbed as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
said second driving device comprises a lever attached to said shaft of each said lateral turning frame and a pressurized fluid vessel to drive said lever.

6. The sickbed as claimed in claim 4 wherein:
a third driving device raises and lowers said first and said second movable parts.

7. The sickbed as claimed in claim 6 wherein:
said third driving device comprises a toggle link to control the raising of said first and said second movable parts and a power device to drive said toggle link.

8. The sickbed as claimed in claim 7 wherein:
said third driving device comprises a plurality of pressurized fluid vessels mounted on a bottom side of said first bed frame.