System and method for rotating a patient

Abstract

A patient rotation system for rotating the body of a patient comprises an air inflatable cushion having two elastic exterior surfaces, e.g. of stretch material, wherein one of said two elastic surfaces of said cushion forms the top surface, and the other one forms the bottom surface. In deflated state the cushion has a flat shape and in inflated state the two elastic surfaces bulge away from each other, such that inflation of the cushion causes the cushion to assume a wedge shape thereby rotating the body around said rotation axis. The cushion is embodied as a unitary, semi-rigid, portable board when in its deflated state, which enables the sliding of the deflated cushion in between the body of the patient and a horizontal surface, on which the body is lying in supine position, until its posterior support points are being supported by the cushion at its top elastic surface.

Claims

1. A patient rotation system configured for rotating the body of a patient lying on a horizontal surface around a rotation axis, which body has posterior support points that are formed by the points on the posterior surface thereof that are located under the hips and shoulder blades, which rotation axis is defined by the hip joint and shoulder joint at a common lateral side of the body of the patient, the system comprising: an air inflatable cushion having two elastic exterior surfaces circumferentially joined together to form multiple edges, extending over their common circumference, wherein one of said two elastic surfaces of said cushion forms a top surface, and the other one forms a bottom surface, said air inflatable cushion comprising an inflatable volume and having a deflated state, wherein the two elastic surfaces are substantially parallel, such that the air inflatable cushion has a flat shape, and wherein the elastic surfaces have dimensions such that when the body of the patient is lying on the top elastic surface in supine position prior to rotation, said top elastic surface is configured to provide support of the posterior support points of the body of the patient, wherein a longitudinal axis of said air inflatable cushion extends parallel to a medial axis of the body, and a lateral axis of said air inflatable cushion extends parallel to a lateral axis of the body, said air inflatable cushion further having an inflated state, wherein the two elastic surfaces bulge away from each other, such that inflation of the air inflatable cushion causes the air inflatable cushion to assume a wedge shape configured for rotating the body around said rotation axis, and wherein the system comprises one or more semi-rigidising elements, and wherein said air inflatable cushion is embodied as a unitary, semi-rigid, portable board when in its deflated state, which semi-rigidity of the board is sufficient to enable the sliding of the deflated cushion in between the body of the patient and said horizontal surface, on which said body is lying in supine position, until its posterior support points are being supported by the air inflatable cushion at its top elastic surface, wherein, in said deflated state, a spacing between the two elastic exterior surfaces is defined by one or more layers and/or elements of a spacer material in the interior of said cushion, which spacer material contributes to said semi-rigidity of said portable board-like cushion when in deflated state, wherein a first layer of spacer material is connected to the top elastic surface and a second layer of spacer material to the bottom elastic surface, and wherein said layers are each of elastically stretchable spacer fabric allowing said layers to stretch together with said top elastic surface and bottom elastic surface, wherein said layers of elastically stretchable spacer fabric are configured to cause the tendency for the two elastic surfaces of the cushion to move towards each other, thereby creating the tendency for the cushion to return to its deflated state upon inflation.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable volume has an upper portion adapted to support a thoracic and shoulder region of the body, a central portion adapted to support the abdominal region of the body, and a lower portion adapted to the pelvic region of the body.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the spacer material is elastically compressible in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the elastic surfaces, such that the cushion is compressible and that pressure resulting from the weight of the body of the patient being supported by the cushion is distributed over a contact area in between the top surface of the cushion and the posterior surface of the body of the patient.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable volume has an upper portion adapted to support a thoracic and shoulder region of the body, a central portion adapted to support the abdominal region of the body, and a lower portion adapted to the pelvic region of the body, wherein—seen in plan view onto the cushion—along at least one longitudinal edge of the cushion each of said upper, central, and lower portions of the inflatable volume defines a section of a turning edge, wherein said turning edge section of the central portion is indented or offset towards a center line of the cushion relative to said turning edge sections of said upper and lower portions of the inflatable volume.

5. The system according to claim 1, in which the cushion is embodied to be maximally inflated and deflated at least 50 times before failure.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cushion further comprises a rigid or semi-rigid frame that forms an outer contour of the cushion in the plane of the elastic surfaces, which frame contributes to the semi-rigidity of the cushion in deflated state, thereby enhancing the sliding of the deflated cushion in between the body of the patient and said horizontal surface, on which said body is lying in supine position, until its posterior support points are being supported by the cushion at its top elastic surface.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the frame is provided with one or more handles to facilitate convenient manual exertion of a pushing force on the cushion by a single user while sliding the cushion in between the body of the patient and the horizontal surface on which the body of the patient is lying in supine position, and/or convenient manual positioning thereof by a single user of the system, during transport and handling of the cushion.

8. The system according to any of the preceding claims, the cushion further comprising a pressure relief valve such that the pressure relief valve prevents the cushion from being overinflated.

9. The system according to claim 1, in which the cushion is dimensioned such that when in maximum inflated state, it supports the body of the patient while it is at an angle of between 45° and 75° with respect to the horizontal surface.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable volume of the cushion in inflated state is minimized by at least minimizing the ratio between the inflatable volume and the surface area of the elastic surfaces of the cushion in inflated state and/or by minimizing the surface area of the elastic surfaces.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein surface friction between the top elastic surface of the cushion with the posterior surface of the body of the patient, and between the bottom elastic surface of the cushion with the horizontal surface, encountered while the cushion is being slid in between said body and said horizontal surface, is minimized by one or more of minimizing the thickness of the cushion in deflated state, minimizing the weight of the cushion, minimizing the surface area of the elastic surfaces, minimizing the surface roughness of the elastic surfaces, or by maximizing the flatness of the elastic surfaces.

12. The system according to claim 1, the system further comprising a side flap connected to the cushion at a lateral side thereof, which is adapted to support the hip joint and/or the shoulder joint which define(s) the rotation axis at said lateral side, while the body of the patient is being rotated around the rotation axis and/or while lying on the cushion in its inflated state at an angle relative to the horizontal.

13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting element, which is adapted to mount or store the deflated cushion at a fixed location.

14. A method for rotating the body of a patient around the rotation axis, from a first position in which said body is lying on a first horizontal surface, the posterior support points being supported thereby, into a second position in which the body is lying in a stable, supine position at an angle relative to the first horizontal surface, in which method use is made of a patient rotation system according to claim 1, which method comprises the following steps: (a) sliding the cushion in its deflated state wherein said cushion acts as a unitary, semi-rigid, portable board, in between the body of the patient lying on said first horizontal surface and the posterior surface of the body, which is in its first position, (b) inflating the cushion so that it assumes a wedge shape thereby rotating the body around a rotation axis, the angle of said body with the first horizontal surface being increased, until said body is in its second position; and (c) stopping the inflation of the cushion.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the second position is further specified in that the angle of the body with the first horizontal surface therein is between 45° and 75°.

16. The method according to claim 14, in which the body of the patient is manually rotated around the rotation axis from its second position into a third position after step (c) has been finished, in which third position the body is lying in a prone position on a second horizontal surface, the anterior surface of the body being supported by the second horizontal surface, which second horizontal surface and said first horizontal surface are juxtaposed, the second horizontal surface being located laterally from the body of the patient at the side proximal to the rotation axis, said method further comprising the following steps: (d) rotating the body over the rotation axis while exerting manual force thereon, such that the angle thereof with the first horizontal surface is being increased, and the angle thereof with the second horizontal surface is simultaneously being decreased by the same rate, until it is in a prone position on the second horizontal surface, and (e) stopping the manual rotation of the body, such that it assumes its third position.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second horizontal surface is an extension of the first horizontal surface.

18. The method according to any of claim 14, which includes transportation of the cushion in its deflated state from a remote storage location to a position above or on the first horizontal surface, laterally from the body of the patient already lying on said first horizontal surface, followed by said sliding step.

19. A method for rotating the body of a patient around the rotation axis, in which method use is made of a patient rotation system according to claim 1, in which method the system is applied for rotating the body of the patient around the rotation axis, from a first position in which said body is lying on a first horizontal surface, in prone position, the anterior surface being supported thereby, into a second position in which the body is lying in a stable, prone position at an angle from the first horizontal surface, which method comprises the following steps: (a) sliding the cushion in its deflated state wherein said cushion acts as a unitary, semi-rigid, portable board, in between the body of the patient lying on said first horizontal surface and the anterior surface of the body, which is in its first position, (b) inflating the cushion so that it assumes a wedge shape thereby rotating the body around a rotation axis, the angle of said body with the first horizontal surface being increased, until said body is in its second position; and (c) stopping the inflation of the cushion.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the body of the patient is manually rotated from its second position into a third position after step (c) has been finished, in which the body is lying in a supine position on a second horizontal surface, the posterior surface of the body being supported by the second horizontal surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective top view of an exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention, the cushion being in deflated state.

(3) FIG. 2A shows in perspective top view the body of the patient in the first position on the mattress of a wheeled nursing bed, that is, lying in a supine position on its top surface, an operating table placed immediately next thereto.

(4) FIG. 2B shows the setting of FIG. 2A in the same view, with in addition the system of FIG. 1 in deflated state being positioned underneath the body, which is lying thereon in supine position.

(5) FIG. 2C shows the setting of FIG. 2B in the same view, advanced therefrom in that the body is now in the second position, that is, at an angle with the surface of the mattress and being supported by the cushion in inflated state.

(6) FIG. 2D shows the setting of FIG. 2C in the same view, advanced therefrom in that the body is now in the third position, that is, lying in a prone position on the operating table, the cushion still being supported on the mattress of the nursing bed in its inflated state.

(7) FIG. 2E shows the setting of FIG. 2D in the same view, advanced therefrom in that the cushion is now in its deflated state.

(8) FIG. 3 shows a close up view of an example layer of spacer material.

(9) FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an exemplary embodiment, the cushion being in deflated state.

(10) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a patient rotation system 1 according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) The system 1 comprises an air inflatable cushion 2 having two elastic exterior surfaces 3a, 3b, e.g. of air impermeable stretch material. The elastic surfaces are mutually spaced apart, and circumferentially joined together to form multiple edges 4a-4e, extending over their common circumference 5, such that said elastic surfaces enclose an inflatable volume. One of said two elastic surfaces 3a, 3b of said cushion 2 forms the top surface 3a, and the other one forms the bottom surface 3b.

(12) The cushion 2 is shown in its deflated state, such that the top elastic surface 3a is parallel to the bottom elastic surface 3b, so that the cushion 2 has a flat shape.

(13) FIG. 2A shows a body 6 lying on a horizontal surface 12, namely, the mattress of a nursing bed 13. The body 6 has posterior support points 7a-7d, indicated in FIG. 2D, that are formed by the points on the posterior surface 14 thereof, located posteriorly from the hips and shoulder blades.

(14) As illustrated in FIG. 2C, the elastic surfaces 3a, 3b of the embodiment of system 1 have dimensions such that when the body of the patient 6 is lying on the top elastic surface 3a in supine position prior to rotation, said top elastic surface 3a provides support of the posterior support points 7a-7d of the body of the patient 6; the support points being indicated in FIG. 2D. When positioned under the patient prior to rotation, as illustrated in FIGS. 2C and 2D a longitudinal axis 8 of the cushion 2 of the shown system 1 extends parallel to the medial axis 9 of the body 6, and a lateral axis 10 extends parallel to the lateral axis 11 of the body 6.

(15) FIGS. 2D and 2E show the cushion 2 of the shown system 1 in an inflated state. As illustrated, in this state the two elastic surfaces 3a, 3b bulge away from each other, such that inflation of the cushion 2 causes the cushion 2 to assume a wedge shape. Thereby, it rotates the body 6 around the rotation axis 15. This rotation axis 15 is defined by the hip and shoulder joint at a common lateral side of the body of the patient 6.

(16) The cushion 2 is embodied as a unitary, semi-rigid, portable board when in its deflated state, shown in FIGS. 1, 2B and 2E which enables the sliding of the deflated cushion 2 in between the body of the patient 6 and the horizontal surface 12. That is, the advancement from the setting shown in FIG. 2A, in which the body 6 is lying in supine position on the horizontal surface 12, to that in FIG. 2B, in which its posterior support points 7a-7d are being supported by the cushion 2 at its top elastic surface 3a. As preferred, the deflated cushion 2 of the embodiment has a rigidity so as to allow for the exertion of a pushing force on one of its multiple edges 4a-4e during the sliding of the cushion 2 in between the body of the patient 6 and the horizontal surface 12.

(17) In embodiments, the one or more semi-rigidising elements, e.g. spacer material, or rigid frame, when present, of the cushion are more rigid than the elastic surfaces.

(18) In the embodiment of the system 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2B-2E, each of the elastic surfaces has a center line 16a, 16b that extends in the longitudinal direction of the cushion 2, such that it evenly divides the lateral distance between the longitudinally extending edges 4a, 4c. The elastic surfaces 3a, 3b moreover each have a midline 17a, 17b that extends in the longitudinal direction of the cushion 2, such that it evenly divides the surface area thereby defined. The shape of at least one of the elastic surfaces 3a, 3b of the cushion 2 is laterally asymmetric, such that when the cushion 2 is in deflated state, the midline of each elastic surface is laterally shifted with respect to the respective center line. This causes the rotation of the body 6 resulting from inflating the cushion 2 being directed around the rotation axis 15.

(19) As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2E, in the shown system 1 the lateral asymmetry of at least one of the elastic surfaces 3a, 3b of the cushion 2 is embodied by having a turning edge 4c of the cushion 2 comprise an indent 4e, which is directed towards the center line of the elastic surfaces.

(20) In deflated state, the spacing between the two elastic exterior surfaces 3a, 3b of the shown system 1 is defined by one or more layers of a spacer material 18 in the interior of said cushion 2. An example of its embodiment is shown in FIG. 3, in which the spacer material 18 is, as preferred, made out of elastically stretchable spacer fabric. The spacer material 18 contributes to the semi-rigidity of the portable board when in deflated state. In the shown embodiment, the spacer material 18 is elastically compressible in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the elastic surfaces 3a, 3b, that is, over the thickness of the cushion 2. This contributes to the cushion 2 being compressible, and that pressure resulting from the weight of the body of the patient 6 being supported by the cushion 2, like shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, is distributed over a contact area in between the top surface 3a of the cushion 2 and the posterior surface 14 of the body of the patient 6.

(21) In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2B-2E, a first layer of spacer material 18 is connected to the top elastic surface 3a and second layer of spacer material 18 to bottom elastic surface 3b. The layers of spacer material 18 are, as preferred, each made out of the elastically stretchable spacer fabric shown in FIG. 3, allowing them to stretch together with the top elastic surface 3a and the bottom elastic surface 3b, particularly during inflation, when advancing from the setting in FIG. 2B to 2C. The layers of spacer material 18 are, as preferred, configured to cause the tendency for the two elastic surfaces 3a, 3b of the cushion 2 to move towards each other. Thereby it creates the tendency for the cushion 2 to return to its deflated state upon inflation, thereby advancing from the setting in FIG. 2D to 2E. The spacer material 18 of the embodiment allows the cushion 2 to self-deflate immediately after inflation is stopped.

(22) The embodiment of the system 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2B-2E is embodied to be maximally inflated and deflated at least 50 times before failure. Herein, failure is considered any loss of shape and/or self-deflating property, so that the 50 times of maximally in- and deflating of the cushion 2 is possible before undue loss of elastic property of any spacer material 18, or layer thereof.

(23) The cushion 2 of the shown system 1 further comprises a rigid or semi-rigid frame 19, that forms an outer contour of the cushion 2 in the plane of the elastic surfaces 3a, 3b, and thereby forms its outer edges 4a-4e. The frame contributes to the semi-rigidity of the cushion 2 in deflated state, thereby enhancing the sliding of the deflated cushion 2 in between the body of the patient 6 and the horizontal surface 12. That is, while advancing from the setting of FIG. 2A, in which the body 6 is lying in supine position on the horizontal surface 12, to the setting in FIG. 2B, in which its posterior support points 7a-7d are being supported by the cushion 2 at its top elastic surface 3a.

(24) In the shown system 1, the frame 19 is provided with two handles 20a, 20b, in the form of two hand grip openings with an I shape that fits a hand, to form handles along a longitudinal edge 4a of the cushion 2. This longitudinal edge 4a is located opposite to the edge 4c that is these two edges 4a, 4c located most proximal to the rotation axis when positioned under the patient as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C. The handles 20a, 20b are mutually spaced apart by between 0.5 m and 0.8 m. In this way, the handles 20a, 20b for example facilitate convenient manual exertion of a pushing force on the cushion 2 by a single user while sliding the cushion 2 in between the body of the patient 6 and the horizontal surface 12. That is, while advancing from the setting of FIG. 2A in which the body of the patient 6 is lying in supine position on the horizontal surface 12, to the setting of FIG. 2B in which its posterior support points 7a-7d are being supported by the cushion 2 at its top elastic surface 3a. Moreover, the handles 20a, 20b of the shown system 1 for example contribute to convenient manual positioning of the cushion 2 by a single user of the system 1, during transport and handling of the cushion 2.

(25) The shown system 1 further comprises a pressure relief valve 21, e.g. which avoids overpressurization of the cushion 2. According to an exemplary embodiment, it automatically releases any amount of air that would result in the air pressure within the inflatable volume exceeding a predetermined value that corresponds to the air pressure in the inflatable volume when the cushion 2 is in its maximum inflated state. In this way, the pressure relief valve 21 prevents the cushion 2 from being overinflated.

(26) In the shown system 1, the cushion is dimensioned such that when in maximum inflated state, illustrated in FIG. 2B, it supports the body of the patient 6 while it is at an angle of between 45° to 75° with the horizontal surface 12.

(27) Furthermore, the inflatable volume of the cushion 2 of the shown system 1 in inflated state is minimized by minimizing the ratio between the inflatable volume and the surface area of the elastic surfaces 3a, 3b of the cushion 2 in inflated state, according to an exemplary embodiment by minimizing the length of the multiple edges 4a-4e, and by minimizing the surface area of the elastic surfaces 3a, 3b, by minimizing their longitudinal and lateral extension.

(28) In the shown system 1 moreover the surface friction between the top elastic surface 3a of the cushion with the posterior surface 14 of the body of the patient 6, and between the bottom elastic surface 3b of the cushion 2 with the horizontal surface 12 is minimized. This friction is encountered while the cushion 2 is being slid in between the body 6 and said horizontal surface 12, thus by advancing from the setting in FIG. 2A to that in FIG. 2B. This is accomplished by minimizing the thickness of the cushion 2 in deflated state, namely by dematerialization, and by minimizing the weight of the cushion 2, namely by dematerialization and making up of parts by materials with minimal density, and by minimizing the surface area of the elastic surfaces 3a, 3b, namely by minimizing their longitudinal and lateral extension, and by minimizing the surface roughness of the elastic surfaces 3a, 3b, namely by providing them with a smooth coating, and by maximizing the flatness of the elastic surfaces 3a, 3b, namely by providing a tight span thereof, and minimizing variations in thickness of the cushion 2.

(29) As shown in FIG. 4, system 1 further comprises a side flap 2a connected to the cushion at a lateral side thereof, which is adapted to support the hip joint and/or the shoulder joint which define(s) the rotation axis at said lateral side, while the body of the patient is being rotated around the rotation axis and/or while lying on the cushion in its inflated state at an angle relative to the horizontal. In particular, the side flap is provided at the lateral side of the indent 4e and extends from the edge 4c in a lateral direction. The system 1 shown in FIG. 4 further comprises one or more mounting elements 2b, which are adapted to mount or store, e.g. suspended along a wall, the deflated cushion at a fixed location, e.g. in a surgery room. Here, the one or more mounting elements 2b thereto comprise two bores, by means of which the system 1 may be suspended from one or two protruding wall mountings, e.g. nail(s), pin(s) or screw(s).

(30) The advancement between steps in a possible execution of the method according to the invention are shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, for rotating the body of a patient 6 around the rotation axis 15, making use of a patient rotation system according to the shown system 1 of the system according the invention.

(31) In FIG. 2A, the first position in the execution of the method is illustrated in which the body 6 is lying on a first horizontal surface 12, namely the top surface of the mattress of a wheeled nursing bed 13, in supine position, the posterior support points 7a-7d being supported thereby. FIG. 2C illustrates the second position in which the body 6 is lying in a stable, supine position at an angle 25 relative to the first horizontal surface 12.

(32) The advancement from the setting of FIG. 2A to that in FIG. 2C is accomplished by executing at least following steps according to the method of the invention, in which the advancement from the setting illustrated in FIG. 2A to that in FIG. 2B is accomplished by step (a), and from the setting in FIG. 2B to that in FIG. 2C by step (b) and possibly (c).

(33) (a) Sliding the cushion 2 in its deflated state in between the body of the patient 6 lying on the first horizontal surface 12, and the posterior surface 14 of the body 6, which is in its first position, as shown in FIG. 2A. Herein, the cushion 2 acts as a unitary, semi-rigid, portable board. The sliding for example involves manually exerting a horizontal pushing force on one of its edges 4a, so as to push the cushion 2 underneath the body 6.

(34) (b) Inflating the cushion 2 so that it assumes a wedge shape, thereby rotating the body 6 around the rotation axis 15. Therewith the angle 25 of the body 6 with the first horizontal surface 12 is being increased, until the body 6 is in its second position, depicted in FIG. 2C.

(35) (c) Stopping the inflation of the cushion 2.

(36) In the execution of the method, the second position depicted in FIG. 2C is as preferred, further specified in that the angle 25 of the body 6 with the first horizontal surface 12 therein is between 45° and 75°.

(37) The further advancement between steps in a possible execution of the method according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 2C to 2E, wherein the body of the patient is manually rotated around the rotation axis 15 from its second position, shown in FIG. 2C, into a third position, shown in 2D after step (c) has been finished. In the execution of the method, in the third position the body 6 is lying in a prone position on a second horizontal surface 22, namely the top surface of an operating table 23. The anterior surface 24 of the body 6 is therein being supported by the second horizontal surface 22. As illustrated in FIGS. 2B to 2E, the second horizontal surface 22 and the first horizontal surface 12 are juxtaposed, the second horizontal surface 22 being located laterally from the body of the patient 6 at the side proximal to the rotation axis 15.

(38) The advancement from the setting of FIG. 2C to that in FIG. 2E is accomplished by executing at least following steps according to the method of the invention, in which the advancement from the setting of FIG. 2C to that in FIG. 2D is accomplished by step (d) and (e). The advancement from the setting in FIG. 2D to that in FIG. 2E can take place after, or simultaneous to (e).

(39) (d) Rotating the body 6 over the rotation axis 15 while exerting manual force thereon, such that the angle thereof with the first horizontal surface 12 is being increased, and the angle thereof with the second horizontal surface 22 is simultaneously being decreased by the same rate, until the body 6 is in a prone position on the second horizontal surface 22.

(40) (e) Stopping the manual rotation of the body 6, such that it assumes its third position, depicted in FIG. 2E.