GB2428195A

GB2428195A - Patient stability aid

Info

Publication number: GB2428195A
Application number: GB0514234A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jane R E Bailey
Original assignee: University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Current assignee: University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Priority date: 2005-07-11
Filing date: 2005-07-11
Publication date: 2007-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-11
Also published as: GB0514234D0; GB2428195B

Abstract

A patient stability aid comprises a support portion (34) comprising at least one handhold (36), and an engagement portion (32) in the form of an open bag for reception therein of an end region (22) of a patient table (2). The aid assists the patient in sitting up. The handholds may be straps or reinforced holes. The aid may be made of canvas or reinforced plastics.

Description

PATIENT STABILITY AID

The present invention relates to a stability aid for patients, and in particular to a stability aid which assists patients in moving into a sitting position.

Background of the Invention

Equipment such as radiotherapy machines, CT scanners and MRI scanners are essential to the diagnosis and treatment of many illnesses. Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows an example of a radiotherapy machine. The machine includes a table 2, and a machine head 4. A patient is placed on the table 2, which is usually a narrow, flat surface, or a narrow concave surface. The head 4 of the machine moves around a circular path 6 in order to direct radiation at a required angle from the source to the patient. A therapy radiographer places the patient in a precise position, so that the required dose of radiation is applied to the correct area of the body.

Figure 2 illustrates an example of the table 2 upon which a patient may lie during diagnosis or treatment. The table 2 is narrow and may have rails 8 running along each side. Typically, the rails 8 are slightly below the level of the table 2, and so patients do not find these of assistance when sitting up. The table 2 is mounted on a table base 10, which can be compressed such that the table 2 is lowered, or extended such that the table 2 is raised. The table 2 can move across the table base 10 in a lengthwise direction, such that the table base 10 supports any region of the table 2, for example at one end or in the centre. The lengthwise movement of the table 2 allows for accurate positioning of the patient with respect to the head 4 of the machine.

Currently, in order for a patient to get to a sitting position after treatment, a radiographer has to assist the patient. Many patients undergoing radiotherapy are and are suffering from sickness and are physically unable to sit up after treatment. The radiographer can assist by placing hands on the patient's back and shoulders, and lifting through straightening bent knees. Many patients may have to be assisted in this way every day, and the repetitive movement can cause injury to the radiographer.

Furthermore, if, for example, a patient feels unsafe on the narrow table or is disorientated after treatment, they may reach out and hold onto the radiographer who is assisting them. Such action can cause injury to the radiographer.

It is well documented that radiographers sustain injuries when assisting patients in this manner, and many radiographers are forced leave the job or change departments because of injuries sustained.

There are some devices currently available to help patients into a sitting position.

Some examples of these are hoists, which attach to the ceiling, trolleys which are wheeled to the patient's side, and rails which are place either side of the patient.

However, there are various factors that make the use of these existing aids impractical in the situation described above. Radiotherapy (linear accelerator, Linac) machines, CT Scanners and MRI Scanners are typically situated in small rooms with little extra space. A radiotherapy machine has to be kept in a room with long, zigzagging corridor leading up to the entrance in order to prevent radiation produced in the room from passing into other parts of the building, and affecting personnel. Such corridors make it difficult to get large pieces of equipment, such as trolleys or rails, into the room.

Furthermore, radiotherapy and scanning equipment are set up extremely precisely, and the manufacturers of the machines do not allow anything to be permanently attached to the table since this could cause undesirable interference.

Hoists for attachment to the ceiling are also unsuitable because the equipment typically uses laser beams for accurate positioning around the room, and it is important that these are not obstructed in any way.

The tables themselves are very narrow and there is little to which an aid can be attached. Also, some types of equipment are very sensitive to certain materials (such as ferromagnetic materials) being brought into the room, as these can interfere with the working of the equipment. Another important consideration is that the radiographer has very little time to get each patient out of the room before the next patient arrives, and therefore does not have time to set up complex patient aids or collect cumbersome rails or trolleys.

Currently, radiographers often choose not to use existing aids due to these problems, and continue to assist patients by lifting.

There is therefore a need for an aid that is quick and easy for radiographers to use.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a patient stability aid comprising a support portion comprising at least one handhold, and an engagement portion in the form of an open bag for reception therein of an end region of a patient table.

It will be appreciated that although the description refers to a radiographer, a person assisting the patient could be any suitable person, such as a radiographer, a nurse or a doctor.

It will also be appreciated that although the description refers to a table of a diagnosis or treatment machine, the invention could equally apply to a hospital bed or other like surface, and so the term "table" should be construed appropriately

Brief description of the Drawings

Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates an example of a radiotherapy machine; Figure 2 illustrates an example of the table and base of a radiotherapy machine; Figures 3A and 3B illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention; Figures 4A and 4B illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates an alternative of a feature shown in Figures 3B and 4B; Figure 6 illustrates another alternative of a feature shown in Figures 3B and 4B; Figure 7 illustrates another alternative of a feature shown in Figures 3B and 4B; Figures 8A and 8B illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 illustrates an alternative of a feature of the third embodiment; Figure 10 illustrates an alternative of a feature of the third embodiment; Figure 11 illustrates an alternative of a feature of the third embodiment; Figure 12 illustrates an alternative of a feature of the third embodiment; and Figure 13 illustrates an alternative of a feature of the third embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The stability aid of the present invention comprises an engagement portion and a support portion. The engagement portion consists of an open bag. The radiographer is able to slip the open end of the bag over the feet of a patient and over a first end of a table on which the patient is lying, and pull a support portion of the stability aid up towards the patient's waist. In one example, the length of the support portion can be variable depending upon various factors such as the height of the patient and the position of the patient on the table. The support portion includes at least one hand hold. When the stability aid is in position, a patient is able to reach to a handhold on the stability aid, and pull themselves from a lying position to a sitting position using the handhold(s). If the support portion comprises more than one handhold, the patient can use each handhold in the way that rungs on a ladder are used. When the patient begins to pull on the handholds, the aid is pulled firmly against the first end of the table, providing a secure engagement. The aid therefore help the patient to sit up from a lying position. Three related embodiments of the invention will now be discussed.

A first embodiment is illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B; Figure 3A shows a side view and Figure 3B shows a plan view. In this example, the stability aid 30 includes an engagement portion 32 which comprises an open bag, and a support portion 34 attached to the engagement portion 32. The stability aid 30 is placed over a first end 22 of a table 2 in use, such that the engagement portion 32 engages a first end 22 of the table 2. The support portion 34 of the stability aid 30 extends from the engagement portion 32 towards a second end 24 of the table 2, over part of patient 7. The length of the support portion 34 can be variable. Handholds 36 are provided by the support portion 34. In the example shown in Figure 3B, the handholds are provided on an upper surface of the support portion. The handholds 36 extend substantially perpendicularly to the length of the support portion 34, and could be pieces of flexible or substantially rigid material, where each end of the material is attached to the support portion 34 as shown in Figure 3B, such that the handholds 36 extend across the whole breadth of the support portion 34.

In order to sit up, the patient 7 grabs onto the handholds 36, which pulls the engagement portion 32 of the stability aid 30 firmly against the first end 22 of the table 2, providing a secure engagement. The patient 7 can use one or more of the handholds 36 provided on the support portion 34 to lift themselves into a sitting position. When the patient 7 is in a sitting position, the stability aid can be removed.

A second embodiment is illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B; Figure 4A shows a side view and Figure 4B shows a plan view from above. In this embodiment, the shape of the stability aid 30 is comparable to that of a sleeping bag. The radiographer can adjust the table 2 about the base 10 (as described in relation to Figure 2) so that the base does not obstruct the use of the stability aid 30. Again, an engagement portion 32 is in the form of an open bag. A stability portion 34 extends from the engagement portion 32 over the top of the table 2 and part of the patient 7, and an extended portion 31 extends under the table in a similar way. The engagement portion 32, the stability portion 34 and the extended portion 31 combine to form a large bag-like stability aid 30.

When the aid 30 is in use, the patient 7 is enclosed by the stability aid 30, preferably from the waist down. The distance to which the stability aid 30 extends underneath the table 2 can be the same as the distance to which it extends above the table 2, or the underneath and above portions can be of different lengths. Handholds 36 are provided, as before, and can be formed from flexible or substantially rigid material. In this example, each end of each handhold 36 is attached to the support portion 34 as shown in Figure 4B, such that each handhold 36 extends across the whole breadth of the support portion 34. In order to sit up, the patient grabs onto the handholds, which pulls the engagement portion 32 of the stability aid firmly against the first end 22 of the table 2, providing a secure engagement. The patient 7 can use one or more of the handholds 36 provided on the support portion 34 to lift themselves into a sitting position. When the patient 7 is in a sitting position, stability aid can be removed.

Figures 5-7 illustrate, in plan view, alternative handholds that can be used on the support portion 34 in the first and second embodiments. It should be appreciated that the handholds 36 could be in situated in various positions on the support portion 34, and that the number of handholds can be varied. The handholds could also be made of a variety of different types of materials.

The handholds of Figure 5 are comparable to those shown in Figures 3B and 4B, but do not extend completely across the support portion 34.

Figure 6 illustrates the alternative of using reinforced holes in the stability aid 30, or a layer of the stability aid 30, as handholds 36. Holes are made in the support portion 34, and then reinforced so that they are strong enough for a patient to use in pulling themselves up to a sitting position.

Figure 7 illustrates the alternative of using substantially rigid bars attached to the support portion as handholds.

A third embodiment is illustrated, in plan view, in Figure 8. In this embodiment, the engagement portion 32 comprises an open bag, to which a support portion 34 is attached. The stability aid 30 is placed over a first end 22 of the table 2, such that the engagement portion 32 engages the first end 22 of the table 2. The support portion 34 of the stability aid 30 extends from the engagement portion 32 towards the second end 24 of the table 2. In this embodiment, the support portion 32 is narrower than the engagement portion 32, and extends from a central region of the engagement portion 32. The support portion 34 may be situated such that it extends between the feet of the patient 7. Both the width and length of the support portion 34 are variable.

Handholds 36 are provided on the support portion 34. In order to sit up, the patient 7 grabs the handholds 36, which pulls the engagement portion 32 of the stability aid 30 firmly against the first end 22 of the table 2, providing a secure engagement. The patient 7 can use one or more of the handholds 36 provided on the support portion 34 to lift themselves into a sitting position. When the patient 7 is in a sitting position, the stability aid can be removed.

The handholds 36 shown in Figure 8B could be pieces of flexible material, where each end of the material is attached to the support portion 34, such that the handholds 36 extend across the whole breadth of the support portion 34.

Alternatives to this type of handhold are illustrated in Figures 9-13.

In Figure 9, the handholds are similar to those illustrated in Figure 8B, but do not extend across the entire breadth of the support portion 34. The handholds extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the support portion, and their length is variable.

Figure 10 illustrates the alternative of using reinforced holes in the stability aid 30, or a layer of the stability aid 30, as handholds 36. Holes are made in the support portion 34 which are reinforced so that they are strong enough for a patient to use in pulling themselves up to a sitting position.

Figure 11 illustrates the alternative of using substantially rigid bars attached to the support portion 34 as handholds.

Figure 12 illustrates the use of handholds along both sides of the support portion 34.

Alternatively, the handholds could be provided along one side only of the support portion 34.

Figure 13 illustrates the possibility of using a combination of two different types or placements of handholds. In the example shown, there are handholds placed along a central region and along both sides of the support portion 34.

A stability aid embodying this invention could be made from either a rigid material or a flexible material. The whole stability aid could be made from the same material, or different types of material could be used for different portions. For example, the handholds could be made from a rigid material while the remainder of the stability aid is made from a flexible material. Another possibility would be to make the engagement portion from an elastic material so that it could stretch according to the size of table or bed the stability aid is being used on. The aids could also be made to be disposable, or to be washable.

Preferably, the stability aid, including the handholds, is made from a strong, flexible material, such as canvas, or a reinforced plastics material.

The advantages of this invention are that the aid provides a way for patients to sit up safely, for both the patient and the assisting radiographer. In addition, a stability aid embodying the present invention is easy to store, and move, is quick to use, and is cheap to manufacture. Furthermore, depending upon the material chosen for manufacture of the aid, it is easy to clean, which is important for infection control.

Claims

Claims 1. A patient stability aid comprising a support portion comprising

at least one handhold, and an engagement portion in the form of an open bag for reception therein of an end region of a patient support device.
2. A patient stability aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support portion and the engagement portion are of the same width.
3. A patient stability aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support portion is narrower that the engagement portion.
4. A patient stability aid as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an extended portion for passing beneath a patient table.
5. A patient stability aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handholds extend across a breadth of the support portion.
6. A patient stability aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handholds extend across a section of the support portion.
7. A patient stability aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handholds comprise reinforced holes.
8. A patient stability aid as claimed in claim 3, wherein the handholds are positioned along either side of the support portion.
9. A patient stability aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engagement portion comprises upper and lower substantially planar portions having respective edge regions, the edge regions being joined together so as to form the open bag, which defines an opening for reception of a patient support device.
10. A patient stability aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the patient support device is selected from a group comprising a patient table, a bed, a table of a diagnosis machine, and a table of a treatment machine.

10. A patent stability aid as claimed In any one of the preceding claims, wherein the patient device is selected from a group compdsing a patent table, a bed, a table of a diagnosis machine, and a table of a treatment machine.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A patient stability aid comprising a support portion comprising at least one handhold, and an engagement portion in the form of an open bag for reception therein of an end region of a patient support device.

2. A patient stability aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support portion and the engagement portion are of the same width.

3. A patient stability aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support portion is narrower that the engagement portion.

4. A patient stability aid as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an extended portion for passing beneath a patient support device.

5. A patient stability aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, whren thp handholds extend across a breadth of the support portion.

6. A patient stability aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handholds extend across a section of the support portion.

7. A patient stability aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the haridholds comprise -einforced hoes.

8. A patient stability aid as claimed in claim 3, wherein the handholds are positioned along either side of the support portion.

9. A patient stability aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engagement portion comprises upper and lower substantially planar portions naving respective edge regions, the edge regions being joined together so as to form the open bag, which defines an opening for reception of a patient support device. tL