Variable geometry therapeutic bed turning and centralising an immobile patient for the prevention of pressure wounds with associated method
View Patent ↗Device and method for turning a bedridden and immobile patient from left to right and vice-versa. It lessens the risk pressure wounds (bed wound, pressure sore). The device comprises a support surface having a variable geometry to create concave surfaces along the bed. The lowermost zone is formed to the left or to the right of the spine of the patient. Under the effect of gravity, the patient is turned towards the lowermost zone, softly. Once turned, the device also allows the centralisation of the patient towards the middle of the frame. The device may also laterally extend to give more space to a turned patient. By combining the shape change with a timer system, corporal pressure zones of the patient are cyclically displaced. It allows the turning of the patient based on current standards of care.
1 . A variable geometry device for turning and centralizing a patient, the device comprising:
a frame;
a longitudinal central panel, the longitudinal central panel being rotatable around a rotation point and translatable along a predetermined path;
two longitudinal side panels, the central and the two side panels being attached to the frame and forming a variable geometry surface, the central and a first of the side longitudinal panels being movable to vary the shape of the variable geometry surface into a concave surface, the concave surface comprising a lowermost zone being adapted to be under and between the spine and an end of the width of the patient;
a rotational assembly comprising a curved gear attached to the longitudinal central panel, the curved gear being supported by supporting wheels and being actuated by a movement control system, the shape of the curved gear defining trajectory of the longitudinal central panel.
2 . The device of claim 1 , the variable geometry surface being repositionable at a horizontal stable equilibrium position.
3 . The device of claim 1 , the device further comprising a mattress on the variable geometry surface, the mattress having an adaptable width to adapt to the variation of the side panel on which the patient is turned.
4 . A method for turning and centering a patient, the method comprising:
moving a central panel of a bed frame along a trajectory defined by a shape of a rotational assembly;
transforming an initial horizontal support surface of the central panel and at least one longitudinal side panel into a concave surface, the concave surface comprising a lowermost zone located under and between the spine and an end of the width of the patient;
upon moving the longitudinal panels, turning the patient to a side in the lowermost zone of the formed concave surface under the effect of gravity;
re-centering the patient toward a medial line of the frame; and
increasing the width of the support surface on the side that the patient is turned.
5 . The method of claim 4 further comprising moving the central panel and the longitudinal side panel to move the patient towards the median line of a frame supporting the supporting surface during the turning of the patient.