GB2508938A - Transfer device for moving a patient between supine and prone positions - Google Patents

Abstract

A moving and handling device used for transferring/turning/rolling/moving a patient between a supine and prone position consists of consists of two detachably connected semi-tubular mattresses; the first mattress (1, Fig 4) is inflatable and is placed beneath the patient lying supine, the second mattress 2 is made of hard moulded foam with a memory foam base 7 and is placed on top of the patient. The two mattresses are joined together by webbed vinyl joining straps 5 and anchor points (4, 6, Fig 4) located on the two mattresses. Guide straps (8, Fig 5) are also provided. The first mattress may be inflated within an electric pump and when the first mattress is in its inflated position the device can be used, with the aid of carers, to transfer/roll/turn the patient between the supine and prone positions, the patient lying on top of the second mattress in the prone position.

Description

Written Description

Introduction

My work as a manual handling instructor has given me a lot of insight into problematic areas of moving and handling. One problematic area of patient handling has consistently come up in training sessions -that of turning a person into the prone nnctinn nnrtIr'ilnrl, nfl,,nrnnvrinh,c neronn or g np,-vnn who Ic r---------unable to help themselves due to physical disability.

Rationale for Device When placing a patient in the prone position It currently requires complex hands on manoeuvring with a recommended number of six people who have to manhandle a person from supine to prone, usually onto another surface ( eg transfer from ti-ni lp'y fo nnr,th,c ttnhle\ ,icinq, rnn-,nlcrntpd tnnnneinrrpc r -----Sometimes a person needs to be turned into a prone position on the same surface they are lying on. This is once again a very difficult and potentially hazardous moving and handling situation for the person being moved and the carers as it requires complicated, precise timing and teamwork Once the person has been placed onto a prone mattress on another surface for surgery, for example, it then requires further adjustment to ensure that the patent is correctly positioned onto the prone mattress with a chestlabdomen aperture so that their breathing is not compromised during the procedure. This means further manual handling of the patient.

These manual handling procedures can potentially cause injury to the patient and also to those persons carrying out the difficult manoeuvre from one surface to another.

The task is very labour intensive raueiir injuries may inciude: Impingement of shoulders during turning process Misalignment of spine during the turning process Friction and Shearing of skin/underlying tissues during manoeuvres Patient falling through gap in between surfaces during turning procedure.

Staff Injuries may include: Back Injuries Shoulder Injuries Neck Injuries

Written Description of Pro-Pos Device

The Pro-Pos has been designed to alleviate these moving and handling risks by the use of a safe, simple, cost effective and easy to use piece of equipment.

The Pro Pos is an apparatus for turning persons between the supine and prone positions. More specifically the invention relates to patients who need to be in a prone position prior to surgery, and after being anaesthetised, although it can also be used for persons who are unable to move themselves into a prone position for other reasons.

The Pro-Pos has the advantage of being able to be used with less people (minimum of three people) to achieve a safe transfer and change of position of a person from supine to prone.

A further advantage of the invention is that the assembled cylindrical Pro-Pos device encompasses the person being moved and ensures correct spine alignment. Their limbs are kept in a safe position throughout the manoeuvre.

The Pro-Pos invention allows the anaesthetist to intubate the persons airway whilst the patient is in the Pro-Pos and to manage their airway safely whilst the manoeuvre to prone the patient takes place, and throughout the procedure. It also allows fnr onfA trnncfer hnrlr tn the c,lnine w,e t;nn nt lnternl nnvittnn after the procedure is finished.

The Pro-Pos consists of an inflatable semi-tubular mattress which the person lies on in the supine position. This mattress l._..t:__:.

CA.tCIlUb 110tH LIIC pauciit bIIUUIUCIS LU IJICII hut! LhuIh1 QJ11⁄41 lb under the patient, When the patient is lying supine on top of the mattress it is inflated by the use of an electric pump. Two wedges are inserted beneath the inflatable semi-tubular mattress on inflation/deflation to achieve stability until the Pro-Pnc de,re c.ccemhled nd the nntipnt c rends, tn he tiin,etl -.

The Pro-Pos also has a moulded hard foam aperture mattress which is placed on top of the person lying supine on the inflatable semi-tubular mattress and the two mattresses are t..._..I_....I_..al f.,: , ...,:....s...1_1 JUIIICU LUCL11CI uy IIIC USC Ut L%.1CU, 4ujuSauicjviiiiii tIapS attached to the aperture mattress and rigid loops on the inflatable semi-tubular mattress, creating a complete stable cylinder around the person to enable them to be rolled into the prone position safely and easily.

The Pro-Pos aperture mattress has a curved memory foam base which completes the formation of the cylinder shape of the Pro-Pos.

The Pro-Pos has four tethering points on the aperture mattress where webbed vinyl coated guide straps can be attached, and used by the operators to guide the rolling of the person when they are in the Pro-Pos.

As the person is rolled into the prone position, the memory foam at the base of the aperture mattress will flatten under the weight of the person lying prone upon it to create a firm, fiat

stable base.

Standard prone head supports and leg supports can be used as necessary once the person has been placed into the prone position.

When the person needs to be rolled back into the supine or lateral position, the inflatable semi-tubular mattress can be reattached and the tethering straps can be used to roll the patient onto the required surface. The two foam wedges can be re-inserted beneath the semi-tubular inflatable mattress for deflation of the device.

The Pro-Pos invention will now be described more frilly, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings

and descriptions.

NB all following numbers in brackets refer to the Key to Figures 1-5 Figure 1 (Perspective View) Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the person (who may be able to position themselves) supine on the Pro-Pos inflatable semi-tubular mattress (1); their torso is situated on the inflatable semi-tubular mattress from shoulder to mid thigh.

Alternatively the deflated Pro-Pos inflatable semi-tubular mattress may have to be inserted into the correct position beneath the patient by standard moving and handling procedures.

The Pro-Pos inflatable semi-tubular mattress (1) consists of a mniilderl cet-ni-tnhiilnr weiaht henrino,inv1 h,flnt2hIp mI-treg ---------..-,----.--.._-o-------.----o _---J----with non return air valves (10) to which an electric air pump attaches. The air valves will allow inflation and deflation to occur in a regulated fashion by use of the air pump. The Pro-Pos inflatable semi-tubular mattress will be made of non porous vinyl for easy cleaning. It will have heat welded seams. The Pro-Pos inflatable semi-tubular mattress also has six rigid plastic safety D' loops (6) moulded onto the mattress.

Once the patient is lying in the supine position on top of the deflated Pro Pos inflatable semi-tubular mattress it is inflated using an electric air pump. This mattress should run from the patients shoulders to their mid thigh and they should have their arms placed down by their sides, so that the arms remain inside the derire when it hqv been nflnted Txrn ctqhi1cina,a,1.,e (11) will be inserted at this point until the Pro-Pos device has been assembled and the patient is ready to be rolled.

The Pro Pos moulded hard foam aperture mattress(2) has six 1 L_I.J:..._t.I fC\_.4I_ WCLJUCU vinyi waLcU auJuLauicjuunng iL1ap1IJ) WILII itg.u plastic safety buekles(4) to join and tighten the moulded hard foam aperture mattress to the Pro-pos inflatable semi-tubular mattress, securing the Pro-Pos device prior to rolling the patient. The Pro-Pos moulded hard foam aperture mattress is placed on the front of the patient's torso with the aperture side of the mattress aligned to the patient's chest and abdomen areas. The inflatable tube mattress and the aperture mattresses are secured together by the use of the six webbed vinyl coated joining straps(s) which are each looped through the corresponding rigid plastic D' safely loops(6) on the inflatable mnftrecc nntl rptiirnegl tn thrpnrl tbrni,cyh the riot-1 nlnctr vnfe1-,

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buckles(4) on the aperture mattress The Pro-Pos moulded hard foam aperture mattress(2) consists of a rigid foam aperture mattress, covered in non porous vinyl ti__A l.i._.i 1' I -TA.: ___.__..A.

flu' ucaL wc'ucu sca'ti lot cay LlcdltIIIB. IL iIflAJlUld.C a curved memory foam rolling/stabilising base(7) which flattens once patient is rolled into prone position forming a flat, stable resting base. The Pro-Pos moulded hard foam aperture mattress has six rigid plastic safely buckles(4), with vinyl coated webbed adjustable joining straps(S) to join the moulded hard foam aperture mattress and inflatable semi-tubular mattress prior to rolling the patient.

The six webbed, vinyl coated joining straps(5) are looped through the D' loops(6) on the inflatable semi-tubular mattress and are then pulled back on themselves and threaded through the rigid plastic safety buckles(4) and the two mattresses are tightened up together to form a 360 degree protective rolling r,Iinder mgfrrpvq whirl, xril1 nn,x, he vurrnnn,4int, the ncitient' ---..--torso.

Up to four webbed vinyl coated guide straps(8) can now be clipped to any of thesix rigid plastic safety D' loops(6) to aid Li ii: __-., -C..__ JET UIC 101111% h0k#C dliii AvOiti CAICIISIVC 101 WaIt. IICAII% Vi carer's back on carrying out procedure.

If the person is going to be laterally transferred from one surface to another, a Pat' slide is positioned partly under the Pro Pos inflatable semi-tubular mattress and the patients trolley/bed is wheeled to the receiving surface Itheatre table.

The two bed surfaces need to be adjusted so that they are as close as possible and at the same height. The pat slide is used to bridge any gaps between two surfaces: in line with the normal safety procedure for all lateral transfers.

The Pro-Pos webbed, vinyl coated guide straps(8) may be utilised to control the roll from the present resting surface to the rnea.Trlnn ei.rce,-c cf-W tb. ..nt,an+ Figure 2 -Perspective View Once the patient has been rolled onto the receiving surface they will be in the Prone position and already be in the correct position on the Pro-Pos moulded hard foam aperture mattress(2). Once the Pro-Pos has rolled into prone position the Prn..Pnc memnn, fnnm rnllin&cthi1idnr, hce (7\ nt the ---J -.---t-.---base of the aperture mattress will flatten out forming a stable base for the aperture mattress to rest on. The patient will have been automatically positioned prone on top of the aperture mattress which they will stay on for the course of the operation/procedure.

Once the memory foam base(7) has flattened and the base of the aperture mattress is stable, the webbed vinyl coated guide straps(S) can be removed and the Pro-Pos inflatable semi-tubular mattress( 1) can be removed in its thflated state for use later to return the patient to the desired position after the operation/procedure.

The assembled Pro-Pos device can be used to roll the person back onto another surface by repeating the rolling procedure as described, or it may be used to turn a patient into either prone or supine position on the same surface by placing slide sheets under the Pro-Pos and using them to adjust positioning whilst keennrv the nntient nn the cnn,e c,irfgre

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Figure 3 Diagram of Pro-Pos moulded hard foam aperture mattress Figure 4 Diagram of Pro-Pos inflatable semi-tubular mattress and wedges.

rigure D Diagram of webbed, vinyl coated guide straps and clips