GB2156211A - Bedpan - Google Patents

Abstract

A urinary bedpan for a female patient is generally kite shaped in plan, being tapered, as viewed from above, towards its front and towards its rear, the angle of taper at the rear 15A being smaller than at the front, a laterally symmetrically disposed inlet opening 11 in a cover 13 extending to closely adjacent the rear of the bedpan. A discharge zone 20 at the forward part of the bedpan is provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bedpan The present invention relates to bedpans and in particularto a urinary bedpan for a female patient.

Bedpans include the so called "perfection" type which are usually made of stainless steel, plastic, enamelled steel or paper pulp design for use with a plastic support. All these designs are generally similar, but have small variations. There is a further inflatable rubbertype which is circular in shape and inflated by air once in position underthe user. There is a fracture orslippertypewhich generally wedge shaped with a shallowtip for use for bed bound women and limited to urine collection.

Otherthan bedpans,there are a furtherfour different type of dish containers for urine collection which are usually made in plastic, for use when semi-recliningorstanding. Finally there are female urine bottles made in plastic for use when lying on the side or standing and which are similarto male urine bottles, with a specially adapted shaping at the opening.

None ofthese constructions is fully satisfactory for all female patients for urine collection particularly if the patient is acutely ill or severely disabled. Further problems can arise with existing urine collecting bedpansfrom the point of view of complete emptying and cleanliness.

It is now proposed, according to the present invention, to provide a urinary bedpan for a female patient, comprising a base, an upstanding peripheral sidewall extending aroundthefull peripheryofthe base, a cover portion connected around at least a major part of its periphery to the side wall, the bedpan being generally kite shaped in plan, being tapered, as viewed from above, towards its front and towards its rear, the angle of taper at the rear being smallerthan that at the front, a laterally symmetrically disposed inlet opening in the cover extending to closely adjacent the rear of the bedpan and a discharge zone attheforward partofthe bedpan.The cover may have an open pa rt at its forward end, which may, if desired, be connectedtothe opening and may thus define a spout similarto that of a jug, which forms the discharge zone. However, in a preferred construction the cover portion is connected to the side wall around its full periphery and a discharge pipe extends forwardly from the front of the side wall, which blends smoothly into the base, the cover and the discharge pipe, sothatthere are no dead drainage zones in which urine couid collect during discharge and means to close the discharge pipe during use.

Such a construction can be made so that it is comfortabie even for severely handicapped and acutely ill patients and yet it can be made so that it can be readily emptied and cleaned. It is also suitable for patients with a variety of symtoms such as lack of balance, restricted movement and a susceptibility to pressure sores. The emptying can befurtherimproved ifthe base is inclined upwardly and the cover inclined downwardly towards the discharge pipe, which pre ferably extends forwardly approximately parallel to the plane ofthe base a; a height approximately mid way between the base and the cover. This arrange mentalsoenablesthe discharge pipe to be used ass handleto facilitate insertion and removal under a patient.

The width ofthe bedpan, as viewed from above, is preferably approximately equal to the length, i.e.

within about 20%, so that the base can contain a large volumewithoutspillageandthecovercan provide a large area ofsupportforthe patient.

The angle oftaperatthe rearis advantageously 90't 1050 that it is easy to insert the bedpan under a patient, when reclining, and yetthe area of support at the rear is adequate for comfort. At the rear, the sidewalls are preferably inclined downwardly and inwardly. This arrangement may be used to assist in inserting the bedpan underthepatientfromthefront using a lever action.

The inlet opening is desirably generally oval, being wider atthefrontthan the rear, to facilitatethe taking of a mid-stream sample. The opening may be bounded buy a peripheral downturnedflangeto prevent spillage and this is preferably inclined at an acute angle downwardly and towards the centre of the opening to make cleaning ofthe bedpan easier.

Aroundthefrontandthefront portion of the sides of the inlet aperture, a raised ridge may be formed on the cover, this being higheratthefrontand gradually reducing in height around the sides. The portions round the sides servetofill the space belowtheglutius maximus, which is formed when the leg of the patient is extended, to increase comfort. The front part assists a patient in removing the bedpan herself by pushing on the ridge, and helps to maintain the thighs correctly positioned.

A recess may be formed in the cover, behind the rear of the inlet opening and communicating therewith, to improve comfort around the patient's coccyx.

The cover is preferably inclined laterally downwardlyfrom the centre towards the side, to facilitate the positioning of a patient who may be rolled from one side onto the bedpan. In this case the upper surface of the cover may be convexly curved which assists in the comfort ofthe patient and in improving the overall strength ofthe bedpan. The sidewalls are preferably inclined downwardly and inwardly from the cover to the base to prevent pinching of the skin.

The general shape of the bedpan of the invention is such as to enable it readily to be formed in one piece, for example by blow moulding.

The means for closing the outlet can be in theform of a stopper or cap and it is sometimes advantageous for this to be provided with a flexible outlet tube for connecting to an external container, particularly if the patient has frequency of micturition or urinary incontinence, with reduced mobility and thus dependent yet has little assistance generally available.

In orderthatthe present invention may more readily be understood, the following description is given merely by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa plan view of one embodiment of a bedpan according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation in section on line ll-ll of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a section taken along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1.

The pan 10 illustrated inthe drawings comprises a base 11 having a peripheral sidewall 12 and a cover 13. Figure 1 showsthatthe bedpan is ofa generally kite shape and has the peripheral side wall having two portions 14 and 15 adjacent to the rear 15A ofthe pan angled at approximately 90 to one another and radiussed slightly towards the rear, these two side wall portions being connected to two forward side wall portions 16and 17 byradiussed outermostparts 18 and 19. The forward side wall portions 16 and 17 are angled at a greateranglethan the sidewall portions 14 and 15 in this instance an angle of approximately 140 .

These blend smoothly into a forwardly extending discharge pipe 20 which is disposed, as can be seen in Figure 2, generally parallel to the base 11 to extend slightly upwardly, and disposed with its centre line between tk; plane ofthe base and the plane of the cover. Again there is a radiussing at 21,22 as viewed in plan and the cover is inclined dowri;eirdfy at 23 and the base is inclined upwardly at 24to blend smoothly into the discharge pipe 20. It will be seen thatthe side wall is radiussed both where it is connected to the base and where it is connected to the cover.

The cover is provided with a laterally symetrically centrally disposed oval inlet opening 25 which is defined buy a downturned peripheral flange which is inclined downwardly and inwardly towards the centre ofthe opening. The rear end ofthis opening is closely adjacentto the rear of the bedpan and the cover portion is recessed at30 behind this rear end ofthe opening to accommodate comfortably the coccyx of the patient.

It will be appreciated thatthe cover provides a wide and a large area distributing the weight of the patient comfortably and the radiussing at the edges ensures no "biting" into the patient's skin. In front of the opening, the cover is provided with a rounded ridge 32 which is higheratthefrontthan the portion which extends around the sides. The purpose ofthe side portions of this is to fill the gaps which areformed in front ofthe patient's glutius maxim us when the patient's legs are extended. The front portion of the ridge facilitates the pushing ofthe bedpan forwardly by the patient herself. It will be seen that the inlet opening is relatively wide at the front and this prevents any spillage and enables a mid-stream sample to be taken which is sometimes medically important.

The downturned flange is designed to prevent spillage and it is angled so astofacilitatecleaning.

A stopper35 may be inserted in the discharge pipe and for certain patients who are chairor bedbound or require the bedpan to be positioned for extended periods, a flexible tube may be connected to the stopper so that urine may be emptied into an external collecting vessel.

The general construction is such asto give the patient comfort both in the reclining and sitting position, to facilitate insertion and to ensure that the pan can be emptied quickly and easily without there being any dead spots formed in which, during drainage, urine could be collected. The discharge pipe can be made sufficiently small in diameter to facilitate insertion into a sample bottle.

Thewhole structure is so designed also that it can readily be formed in one piece for example by blow moulding. The design is stable, comfortable and easy to insert and remove. The upper surface of the cover is downwarly inclined towards the sides and maybe convexed and this facilities the positioning of a severely handicapped patient for example by the patient being rolled from one side onto the bed pan.

Alternatively the proximity of the rear ofthe inlet opening to the rea r of the bed panfacilitiesthe insertion underthe patient.

Claims (20)

1. Aurinary bedpan for a female patient, said bedpan comprising a base, an upstanding peripheral sidewall extending aroundthefull peripheryofthe base, a cover portion connected around at least a major part of its periphery to the side wall, the bedpan being generally kite shaped in plan, being tapered, as viewed from above, towards its front and towards its rear, the angle oftaper at the rear being smallerthan at the front, a laterally symmetrically disposed inlet opening in the cover extending to closely adjacent the rear of the bedpan and a discharge zone attheforward partofthe bedpan.

2. A bedpan according to claim 1, wherein the coverhas an open partatitsforward end.

3. A bedpan according to claim 2, wherein the cover is connected to the opening to define a spout similarto that of the jug which forms the discharge zone.

4. Abedpan according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion is connected to the wall around its full periphery and a discharge pipe extendsforwardly from the front ofthe side wall, which blends smoothly into the base, the cover and the discharge pipe, so that there are no dead drainage zones in which urine could collect during discharge and meanstoclosethe discharge pipe during use.

5. A bedpan according to any preceding claim, wherein the base is inclined upwardly and the cover inclined downwardly towards the discharge pipe.

6. A bedpan according to claim 5,wherein the discharge pipe extends forwardly approximately parallel to the plane ofthe base at a height approximately mid way between the base and the cover.

7. A bedpan according to any preceding claim, wherein the width of the bedpan, as viewed from above, is within 20% of the length, sa that the base can contain a large volume without spiltage and the cover can provide a large area supportforthe patient.

8. A bedpan according to any preceding claim, wherein the angle of taper at the rear is advantageously 90"+109

9. A bedpan according to any preceding claim wherein the side walls are inclined downwardly and inwardly.

10. A bedpan according to any preceding claims, wherein the inlet opening is generally oval, being wider atthefrontthan the rear.

11. A bedpan according to any preceding claim, wherein the opening is bounded by a peripheral downturnedflangeto prevent spillage.

12. A bedpan according to claim 11 wherein the downturned flange is inclined at an acute angle downwardly and towards the centre of the opening.

13. A bedpan according to any preceding claim, wherein a raised ridge isformed on the cover around the front and the front portion of the sides of the inlet aperture,this ridge being higher at the front and gradually reducing in height around the sides.

14. A bedpan according to any preceding claim, wherein a recess is formed in the cover behind the rear ofthe inlet opening and communicating therewith.

15. A bedpan according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover is inclined laterally downwardly from the centre towards the sides.

16. Abedpan according to claim 15, wherein the upper surface ofthe cover is convexly curved.

17. A bedpan according to any preceding claim, wherein the side wails are inclined downwardly and inwardlyfrom the cover to the base.

18. A bedpan according to any preceding claim, wherein the meansfor closing the outlet are in the form of a stopper or cap.

19. Abedpan according to claim 18,whereinthe stoppper or cap is provided with a flexible outlet tube connected to an external container.

20. A u ri nary bedpan for a female patient said bedpan being substantiallly as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.