Thermotherapy device for newborn and premature infants

Abstract

A thermotherapy device (10), for new-born and premature babies, has a bed substructure (30) and an incubator chamber (20) with a positioning aid (50) in the incubator chamber (20). The positioning aid (50) is a flexible sheet fixed to a holding structure (60). The positioning aid (50) can be stretched out by the holding structure (60). The width to which the positioning aid (50) can be stretched out is adjustable by adjusting a width of the holding structure (60). The positioning aid (50) can be pulled and/or pivoted out of the incubator chamber (20) with the aid of the holding structure (60). The holding structure (60) is movably mounted in the bed substructure. The holding structure (60) has at least two pivotable holding arms (61). The two holding arms (61) form a holding arm pair.

Claims

1. A thermotherapy device for newborn and premature infants, the thermotherapy device comprising: a bed substructure; an incubator chamber; a supporting aid in the incubator chamber, the supporting aid comprising a flexible cloth; and a holding structure with fastening points, the supporting aid being fastened to the holding structure at the fastening points, the holding structure comprising supporting aid stretch adjustment means for adjusting and holding an extent of spacing of the fastening points relative to each other, whereby the flexible cloth is adjustably stretched by the holding structure and set at a defined stretched extent, wherein an extent to which the supporting aid is stretched is set by the holding structure, and the holding structure further comprising lateral adjustment means for moving and supporting the fastening points, with the supporting aid, laterally between a position above the bed substructure, and in the incubator chamber, to a position at least partially outside of the incubator chamber and at least partially laterally offset from the position above the bed substructure, whereby the supporting aid can be pulled out or pivoted out or both pulled out and pivoted out of the incubator chamber with the holding structure.

2. A thermotherapy device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lateral adjustment means of the holding structure comprises a moveably guided mount whereby the holding structure is mounted movably relative to the bed substructure.

3. A thermotherapy device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the stretch adjustment means of the holding structure comprises at least two pivotable holding arms.

4. A thermotherapy device in accordance with claim 3, wherein two holding arms each form a pair of holding arms.

5. A thermotherapy device in accordance with claim 4, wherein at least one of the fastening points is formed at each holding arm for the supporting aid.

6. A thermotherapy device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the stretch adjustment means of the holding structure comprises two pairs of holding arms.

7. A thermotherapy device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the holding structure has at least one mounting box for the holding arms.

8. A thermotherapy device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bed substructure has a four leg support structure.

9. A thermotherapy device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the holding structure has a drive mechanism.

10. A thermotherapy device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the supporting aid has a heater.

11. A thermotherapy device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the incubator chamber has at least one pivotable side wall.

12. A thermotherapy device for newborn and premature infants, the thermotherapy device comprising: a bed substructure; an incubator chamber; a supporting aid in the incubator chamber, the supporting aid comprising a flexible cloth; and a holding structure, the supporting aid being fastened to the holding structure with the holding structure being moveable whereby the supporting aid is stretched by the holding structure, wherein an extent to which the supporting aid is stretched is set by the holding structure, and the supporting aid can be pulled out or pivoted out or both pulled out and pivoted out of the incubator chamber with the holding structure, wherein the holding structure has at least two pivotable holding arms; the holding structure has at least one mounting box for the holding arms; and the at least one mounting box is guided telescopically in the bed substructure.

13. A thermotherapy device for newborn and premature infants, the thermotherapy device comprising: a bed substructure; incubator walls connected to the bed substructure to form a chamber; a flexible support sheet; a holding structure with fastening points, the flexible support sheet being connected to the holding structure at the fastening points, the holding structure being moveable to adjustably move the fastening points relative to each other to stretch and unstretch the flexible support sheet and the holding structure being moveably mounted on the bed substructure whereby the holding structure, with the flexible support sheet, may be moved in and out of the incubator chamber, wherein the holding structure comprises: a first pair of moveable holding arms having a first fastening point and a second fastening point, wherein the first fastening point and the second fastening point are moveable farther apart and closer together to respectively stretch and unstretch an end of the flexible support sheet; a second pair of moveable holding arms having a third fastening point and a fourth fastening point, wherein the third fastening point and the fourth fastening point are moveable farther apart and closer together to respectively stretch and unstretch another end of the flexible support sheet; a first mounting box supporting the first pair of holding arms and moveably mounted on the bed substructure to move the first pair of holding arms in and out of the incubator chamber; and a second mounting box supporting the second pair of holding arms and moveably mounted on the bed substructure to move the second pair of holding arms in and out of the incubator chamber.

14. A thermotherapy device in accordance with claim 13, wherein each of the first mounting box and the second mounting box is guided telescopically in the bed substructure.

15. A thermotherapy device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the bed substructure comprises a four leg support structure.

16. A thermotherapy device in accordance with claim 15, wherein the incubator walls forming the chamber comprise a pivotable side wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1a is a perspective view showing a thermotherapy device with the holding structure according to the present invention in the state in which it is pushed out of the incubator chamber;

(3) FIG. 1b is another perspective view showing the thermotherapy device shown in FIG. 1a;

(4) FIG. 2a is a perspective detail view showing the holding structure according to the present invention with holding arms fully pivoted upward;

(5) FIG. 2b is another perspective detail view showing the holding structure shown in FIG. 2a with the holding arms lowered;

(6) FIG. 2c is another perspective detail view showing the holding structure shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b with holding arms retracted in the mounting box;

(7) FIG. 3a is a perspective view showing the thermotherapy device from FIGS. 1a and 1b with the supporting aid located in the incubator chamber, wherein the supporting aid acts as a hammock;

(8) FIG. 3b is a perspective view showing the thermotherapy device from FIGS. 1a and 1b with the supporting aid located in the incubator chamber, wherein an obliquely positioned reclining surface is formed with the supporting aid;

(9) FIG. 3c is a perspective view showing the thermotherapy device from FIGS. 1a and 1b with the supporting aid located in the incubator chamber, wherein the supporting aid acts as a mattress;

(10) FIG. 3d is a perspective view showing the thermotherapy device from FIGS. 1a and 1b, wherein the supporting aid was removed and the infant is placed on an additionally present mattress, while the holding arms are retracted in the mounting boxes of the holding structure;

(11) FIG. 4a is an end view showing a thermotherapy device according to the present invention, in which the bed substructure has a table-like (four leg and upper surface) design;

(12) FIG. 4b is an end view showing a thermotherapy device according to the present invention, in which the bed substructure is formed with a lateral column; and

(13) FIG. 4c is an end view showing a thermotherapy device according to the present invention, in which the bed substructure has a central column.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(14) Identical reference numbers always designate identical components below in all figures. The thermotherapy device 10 shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b has a bed substructure 30 and an incubator cover comprising walls on the bed substructure 30 forming an incubator chamber 20. The bed substructure 30 has a first and a second support column 31. The support columns 31 are arranged each at the head end N and at the foot end S of the thermotherapy device 10. A foot bar 32 as well as rollers 33 are arranged at the support columns 31. The thermotherapy device 10 is both displaceable and is mounted in a stable manner in this way. The incubator chamber 20 is defined by a reclining surface 40, a ceiling 41 and side walls 21. The side walls 21 are pivotable in a vertical direction, so that the incubator chamber 20 can be opened. In the example being shown, the side wall 21 facing the nursing adult E is pivoted upward. A grip 22, by means of which the side wall 21 can be moved, is formed on the side wall 21. It is seen in FIG. 1b that a parallelogram linkage 23 is arranged at the head end 24 of the incubator chamber 20. The side wall 21 can be pivoted by means of this parallelogram linkage 23.

(15) The thermotherapy device 10 has, furthermore, a holding structure 60 and a supporting aid 50 fastened to the holding structure 60. In the example being shown, the holding structure 60 has two mounting boxes 62, in which a pair of holding arms 61 each is arranged. The supporting aid 50 is fastened to the holding arms 61. The holding arms 61 have fastening points 63 for this at their ends 611. A grip 64 is arranged on each mounting box 62. The holding structure 60 can be pulled out of the incubator chamber 20 by means of the grips 64.

(16) In the state shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, an infant B to be cared for is lying on the supporting aid 50. The incubator chamber 20 is opened and the supporting aid 50 has been pulled out of the incubator chamber 20 together with the infant B lying on it. An adult E is sitting, similarly to the way one sits at a table, in front of the thermotherapy device 10 and has optimal access to and contact with the infant B in this way.

(17) FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c show a detail view of a detail of the holding structure 60. Two holding arms 61 each form a pair of holding arms. The holding arms 61 are in the form of circular arc segments. Each holding arm 61 of the pair of holding arms has an outer end 611 and an inner end 612.

(18) A fastening point 63 each is formed at the outer ends 611 of the holding arms 61. The fastening point 63 is hook-shaped in the example being shown. The supporting aid 50 can be fastened to the holding structure 60 at these fastening points 63, as can be seen in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b as well as 4c.

(19) The inner end 612 of each holding arm 61 faces the other holding arm 61 of the pair of holding arms. The inner ends 612 of the holding arms 61 are located directly next to each other in the fully extended state of the pair of holding arms, as it is shown in FIG. 2a. It is seen that at least one section is designed as a toothed rack 65 on each holding arm 61. It is also conceivable, as an alternative, that a toothed rack 65 is mounted on each holding arm 61. A gear 66 is arranged between the holding arms 61. The gear 66 meshes with the toothed racks 65 of the holding arms 61. It is seen that the holding arms 61 can be pivoted by a rotation of the gear 66 in mutually opposite directions along the circular arc-shaped path K. The extent to which the supporting aid 50 is stretched can be set in this manner by means of the holding structure 60. It is seen, in particular, that the outer ends 611 of the holding arms 61 can be moved towards one another and away from one another by the pivoting of the holding arms 61 along the circular arc-shaped path K. At the same time, the height at which the fastening points 63 are located above the reclining surface 40 can be set in this way.

(20) The detail of the holding structure 60 shown in FIG. 2a can likewise be seen in FIGS. 2b and 2c. However, the holding arms 61 are retracted far into the mounting box 62 in FIG. 2b. The holding arms 61 are fully retracted in the mounting box 62 in FIG. 2c, just like in FIG. 3d.

(21) It can also be seen in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d that the supporting aid 50 is stretched by the holding structure 60 and that the extent to which the supporting aid 50 is stretched can be set by means of the holding structure 60. Thus, the holding arms 61 is extended to the greatest extent possible and the fastening points 63 are located in the highest position possible in FIG. 3a. All fastening points 63 of the holding arms 61 are positioned at the same height. The supporting aid 50 functions as a hammock, in which the infant B is lying.

(22) It is seen in FIG. 3b that the supporting aid 50 is positioned obliquely in such a way that the head of the infant B is located higher than his or her feet. The opposite of this, namely, the foot being higher than the head, is, or course, also possible. It is seen that the holding arms 61 arranged at the head end N, 24, are extended farther from the corresponding mounting box 62 than the holding arms 61 arranged at the foot end S. As a consequence, the fastening points 63, which are formed at the holding arms 61 at the head end N, 24, are in a higher position than the fastening points 63, which are formed at the holding arms at the foot end S.

(23) It is seen in FIG. 3c that the supporting aid 50 is tensioned nearly completely. The holding arms 61 are retracted, as is shown in FIG. 2b, into the mounting boxes 62 to the extent that only the fastening points 63 protrude from the mounting boxes 62. The infant is lying on the supporting aid 50 as on a mattress.

(24) As is shown in FIG. 2c, the holding arms 61 are fully retracted into the mounting boxes 62 in FIG. 3d. The supporting aid 50 is removed and the infant B is lying on the reclining surface 40 of the thermotherapy device 10. The reclining surface 40 may likewise be designed as a reclining surface that can be pulled out, as it is likewise seen in FIG. 3d.

(25) FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c show as examples different variants for the bed substructure 30. The bed substructure 30 has two support columns 31 in the example shown in FIG. 4a, which corresponds to the example from FIGS. 1a, 1b, 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d. The support columns 31 are arranged at the head end N and at the foot end S of the thermotherapy device 10. The bed substructure 31 has a four leg table configurationtable-likein FIG. 4a.

(26) In the alternative examples shown in FIGS. 4b and 4c, the bed substructure 30 has only one support column 31, which is arranged either at the head end N of the thermotherapy device 10, as in FIG. 4b, or centrally under the reclining surface 40 of the thermotherapy device 10, as in FIG. 4c. The foot bar 32 is designed as a chassis in both cases and has a plurality of rollers 33. In addition, the foot bar 32 may form a support for the adult caring for the infant and sitting at the device in the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 4b and 4c.

(27) All the features and advantages appearing from the specification and the drawings, including design details, arrangements in space and method steps, may be essential for the present invention both in themselves and in the many different combinations.

(28) In summary, it is seen that it is favorable in a thermotherapy device 10 for newborn and premature infants, wherein the thermotherapy device 10 has a bed substructure 30 and an incubator chamber 20, wherein a supporting aid 50 is provided in the incubator chamber 20 and wherein the supporting aid 50 is a flexible cloth, which is fastened to a holding structure 60, if the supporting aid 50 can be stretched by the holding structure 60, wherein the extent to which the supporting aid 50 is stretched can be set by the holding structure 60, and that the supporting aid 50 can be pulled out of and/or pivoted out of the incubator chamber 20 by means of the holding structure 60. It is advantageous in this connection if the holding structure 60 is mounted movably in the bed substructure 30. In addition, it is advantageous if the holding structure 60 has at least two pivotable holding arms 61, and two holding arms 61 each preferably form a pair of holding arms, and wherein the holding structure 60 especially preferably has two pairs of holding arms 61. At least one fastening point 63 is formed for the supporting aid 50 on each holding arm 6 and the holding structure 60 has at least one mounting box 62 for the holding arms 61. At least one mounting box 62 is preferably moveably guided telescopically in the bed substructure 30. On the whole, it is favorable if the bed substructure 30 is table-like, if the holding structure 60 has a drive mechanism, if the supporting aid 50 has a heater and if the incubator chamber 20 has at least one pivotable side wall 21.

(29) While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.