PERSONAL HYGIENE APPARATUS FOR PATIENTS WITH REDUCED MOBILITY

Abstract

An apparatus for personal hygiene of patients with reduced mobility is presented. The apparatus includes a support casing, a housing for accommodating a removable tank, a grippable washing head, a pump, a hydraulic circuit, and a valve assembly. A working operation mode and a standby operation mode are provided. In the working operation mode, the valve assembly determines in the hydraulic circuit a water supply path from the tank, to the pump, to the washing head and finally out of the delivery mouth. In the stand-by operation mode, the valve assembly determines in the hydraulic circuit a water recirculation path from the tank, to the pump, to the washing head and finally back to the tank, without water flowing out of the delivery mouth.

Claims

1. A personal hygiene apparatus for patients with reduced mobility, comprising: a support casing, a removable tank for washing water, a housing formed on the casing, the housing accommodating the removable tank, a grippable washing head comprising at least one delivery mouth, a pump, a hydraulic circuit connecting the tank, the pump and the washing head with each other, and a valve assembly in the hydraulic circuit; wherein the apparatus provides for a working operation mode and a standby operation mode, wherein the valve assembly: in the working operation mode, determines in the hydraulic circuit a water supply path from the tank, to the pump, to the washing head and finally out of the delivery mouth; and in the standby operation mode, determines in the hydraulic circuit a water recirculation path from the tank, to the pump, to the washing head and finally back to the tank, without water flowing out of the delivery mouth.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the valve assembly comprises a first three-way valve and a second three-way valve operating together.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the hydraulic circuit comprises: an intake duct, between the tank and the pump, a feed duct, between the pump and the first valve, a connection duct, between the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve, a recovery duct between the second three-way valve and the tank, a recirculation duct between the first three-way valve and the washing head, and a delivery duct between the second valve and the washing head.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the delivery duct is part of both the supply path and the recirculation path.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the water supply path comprises the intake duct, the feed duct, the connection duct and the delivery duct.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the water recirculation path comprises the intake duct, the feed duct, the recirculation duct, the delivery duct and the recovery duct.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a one-way valve in the intake duct.

8. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an expansion vessel in the feed duct.

9. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a pressure reducer in the recirculation duct.

10. The apparatus according to claim 3, comprising a flow alternating chamber for alternating flows in the washing head, connected to the delivery duct, the recirculation duct and the delivery mouth.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a minimum pressure valve in the washing head, between the flow alternating chamber and the delivery mouth.

12. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the intake duct and the recovery duct are connected to the tank by a two-way quick-connect connector mounted on the tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, made with reference to the appended drawings. In such drawings:

[0040] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 2 shows the washing head of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0042] FIG. 3 is a partially interrupted perspective view of the tank of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0043] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the internal components of the washing head of FIG. 2;

[0044] FIG. 5 is a functional diagram of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] In the figures, 1 generally indicates an apparatus for the personal hygiene of patients with a reduced mobility; in particular, the apparatus 1 allows the washing of a patient by an operator. The apparatus 1 comprises a support casing 10, a washing head 30 and a flexible cord 50, which connects the washing head 30 to the casing 10.

[0046] On the casing 10, a housing 12 is formed which is suitable for accommodating a removable tank 40 made of a plastic material, provided with a removable cap 41 for filling, with a handle 42 for carrying and with an opening 43 in which a two-way quick-connect connector 44 is housed; in use, the tank 40 is filled with washing water, taken elsewhere (for example from a tap in a toilet) at the temperature suitable for washing a patient. The housing 12 is formed by a rest surface which is lowered with respect to raised edges, so that the tank 40 can rest on it and be kept retained there by the raised edges during the displacements of the apparatus 1.

[0047] The apparatus 1 further comprises a pump 14, housed in the casing 10 and electrically powered by cables (not shown in the figures); it should be noted that the pump 14—as well as other components of the apparatus 1—is not visible in FIG. 1, but is schematically represented in FIG. 5.

[0048] The casing 10 further comprises handles 15 for ease of carrying, a compartment 16 for housing the cord 50 when not in use and a switch 19 for the electrical power supply; the power cables and circuits (conventional per se) are not shown. The compartment 16 can optionally be provided with a cover if necessary (not shown in the figures).

[0049] The apparatus 1 further comprises a hydraulic circuit, collectively referred to as 2, which connects the tank 40, the pump 14 and the washing head 30 together. The hydraulic circuit comprises a valve assembly housed in the casing 10, formed by two valves 17 and 18, in particular two three-way solenoid valves, each with a first mouth 17a, 18a, a second mouth 17b, 18b, and a third mouth 17c, 18c; as for the pump 14, the power cables of the valves 17 and 18 are not shown in the figures, and the valves 17 and 18 themselves are shown only schematically in FIG. 5. The valve 17 can assume two positions: a first position in which the first mouth 17a is connected to the second mouth 17b while the third mouth 17c is isolated from the other mouths 17a and 17b, and a second position in which the first mouth 17a is connected to the third mouth 17c while the second mouth 17b is isolated from the other mouths 17a and 17c. Similarly, the valve 18 can assume two positions: a first position in which the first mouth 18a is connected to the second mouth 18b while the third mouth 18c is isolated from the other mouths 18a and 18b, and a second position in which the first mouth 18a is connected to the third mouth 18c while the second mouth 18b is isolated from the other mouths 18a and 18c.

[0050] The washing head 30, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, comprises a grippable body 31 within which an elongated, substantially cylindrical chamber 32 is housed to manage the alternation of the flows. The washing head 30 has a first inlet mouth 33 and a second inlet mouth 34, arranged side by side and both facing the chamber 32, as well as a delivery mouth 35, substantially opposite the inlet mouths 33 and 34. At the delivery mouth 35, a minimum pressure valve 36, inside the chamber 32, as well as a spray nozzle 37, outside the chamber 32, are provided.

[0051] The hydraulic circuit 2 also comprises a plurality of ducts, in particular: [0052] an intake duct 21, which at one end is connected to the two-way connector 44 and at the other end is connected to the pump 14, to one of its intake mouths; [0053] a feed duct 22, which at one end is connected to the pump 14, to one of its feed mouths, and at the other end is connected to the first mouth 17a of the first valve 17; [0054] a connection duct 23, which at one end is connected to the second mouth 17b of the first valve 17 and at the other end is connected to the second mouth 18b of the second valve 18; [0055] a recovery duct 24, which at one end is connected to the third mouth 18c of the second valve 18 and at the other end is connected to the two-way connector 44; [0056] a recirculation duct 25, which at one end is connected to the third mouth 17c of the first valve 17 and at the other end is connected to the second inlet mouth 34 of the washing head 30; [0057] a delivery duct 26, which at one end is connected to the first mouth 18a of the second valve 18 and at the other end is connected to the first inlet mouth 33 of the washing head 30.

[0058] The two-way connector 44 comprises two quick-connect parts: a fixed part 45, stably mounted on the opening 43, and a movable part 46, to which the intake duct 21 and the recovery duct 24 are connected. More precisely, the movable part 46 has a first mouth to which the intake duct 21 is connected and a second mouth to which the recovery duct 24 is connected; the fixed part 45 has a first mouth to which a drawing duct 47 is connected and which reaches as far as the bottom of the tank 40 and a second mouth to which a discharge duct 48 is connected. When the movable part 46 is coupled to the fixed part 45, the respective first mouths are hydraulically connected to each other, just as the respective second mouths are hydraulically connected to each other; consequently, the intake duct 21 is connected to the drawing duct 47, while the recovery duct 24 is connected to the discharge duct 48.

[0059] The intake 21, feed 22, connection 23 and recovery 24 ducts are partially housed in the casing 10: the sections of the intake 21 and recovery 24 ducts which reach the two-way connector 44 are external. The recirculation 25 and delivery 26 ducts are mainly housed in the cord 50.

[0060] The hydraulic circuit 2 further comprises a one-way valve 27 in the intake duct 21, an expansion vessel 28 in the feed duct 22 and a pressure reducer 29 in the recirculation duct 25.

[0061] The washing head 30 comprises a button 38 for controlling the valves 17 and 18, so that they can be set to their first or second position, at the choice of the operator. Electric cables between the button 38 and the valves 17 and 18 pass through the cord 50, but are not shown in the drawings.

[0062] The operation of the apparatus 1 will now be described.

[0063] When an operator is about to wash a patient, he sets up the apparatus 1 by placing the tank 40, previously filled with warm water at the desired temperature, in the housing 12. The tank is then connected to the hydraulic circuit 2 by simply engaging the movable part 46 on the fixed part 45 of the two-way connector 44. Once the patient has been prepared for washing, e.g. by setting up the bed with a waterproof sheet, the apparatus 1—which has been brought close to the patient—is switched on, by means of the switch 19, and automatically switches to its stand-by operation mode; this puts the pump 14 into operation and the valves 17 and 18 each move into their second position.

[0064] The warm water is thus circulated in the hydraulic circuit 2 according to the recirculation path. It is taken from the tank 40 through the drawing duct 47, flows into the intake duct 21 passing through the one-way valve 27, and reaches the pump 14. The water that has exited the pump 14 then flows into the feed duct 22, enters the first valve 17 from its first mouth 17a, exits the third mouth 17c of the first valve 17, flows into the recirculation duct 25 through the pressure reducer 29, and enters the chamber 32 from its second inlet mouth 34.

[0065] The water pressure in the chamber 32 is not sufficient to open the minimum pressure valve 36 and therefore the water does not exit from the delivery mouth 35, but from the first inlet mouth 33, which is free.

[0066] From the first inlet mouth 33 of the chamber 32, the water flows into the delivery duct 26 and reaches the second valve 18, entering it from its first mouth 18a and exiting it from its third mouth 18c; it then flows into the recovery duct 24 and returns to the tank 40 through the discharge duct 48.

[0067] As can be seen, in this stand-by operation mode, warm water is present in the chamber 32 on the washing head 30, as well as in all the ducts with the only exception of the connection duct 23 between the two valves 17 and 18; the connection duct 23 is of minimum length, i.e. the second mouth 17b of the first valve 17 is connected directly to the second mouth 18b of the second valve 18.

[0068] When the operator wants to start washing, he grips the washing head 30 and—by means of the button 38—he activates the working operation mode: while the pump 14 remains in operation, the valves 17 and 18 move to their first position.

[0069] The warm water is thus circulated in the hydraulic circuit 2 according to the delivery path. It is taken from the tank 40 through the drawing duct 47, flows into the intake duct 21 passing through the one-way valve 27, and reaches the pump 14. The water that has exited the pump 14 then flows into the feed duct 22, enters the first valve 17 from its first mouth 17a, exits the second mouth 17b of the first valve 17, flows into the connection duct 23, enters the second valve 18 from its second mouth 18b, exits the first mouth 18a of the second valve 18, flows into the delivery duct 26, and enters the chamber 32 from its first inlet mouth 33.

[0070] The water pressure in the chamber 32 is now high, sufficient to open the minimum pressure valve 36; therefore, the water exits the delivery mouth 35 and through the nozzle 37 is directed towards the patient. It should be noted that the first water to reach the patient is the water that was already in chamber 32, and therefore already has the desired temperature; this temperature is then maintained approximately constant, since the water continues to be supplied from the tank 40. Naturally, both in the tank 40 and in all the ducts, the water will tend to cool down, but gradually, without therefore subjecting the patient to unpleasant changes in temperature; obviously, both the tank 40 and the ducts are preferably made of a plastic material with low thermal conductivity, so that the water temperature can be kept adequately warm for the time it takes to empty the tank 40.

[0071] While the patient is being washed, the operator can interrupt the delivery of water from the washing head 30 as many times as he wants, by acting on the button 38, so as to activate the stand-by operation mode; again by acting on the button 38, the operator can then resume the delivery of water from the washing head 30. Even though the water delivery is intermittent, the temperature of the water delivered remains essentially constant, which is a great advantage for the comfort and health of the patient.