WO2014114367A1

WO2014114367A1 - Intensive care movable bed

Info

Publication number: WO2014114367A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/064688
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mohammad AL NATOUR
Original assignee: Vernipoll S.R.L.; Brain Tools Llc
Priority date: 2013-01-28
Filing date: 2013-07-11
Publication date: 2014-07-31
Also published as: ITAN20130117U1

Abstract

Intensive care movable bed (100) comprising: a bearing frame (1), two longitudinal rods (3) connected to the bearing frame, back section (5) and thigh section (7) connected to the longitudinal rods (3) by articulated joints (50,70), leg-rest (9) connected to the thigh-rest (7) by hinges (90), actuators (6, 8, 91) to operate the back-rest (5), the thigh-rests (7) and the leg-rests (9). The actuators (6, 8, 91) are positioned on the left and right end side of the bed, external to the longitudinal rods (3), leaving an empty space between and below said longitudinal rods (3) in order to make it possible to carry out X-ray examination on all and any part of a patient's body while the patient is lying on the bed.

Description

Intensive care movable bed.

This patent application for an industrial invention relates to a movable bed for intensive care units, such as physiotherapy, orthopaedic radiography, and the like.

Intensive care movable beds are well know, particularly in the medical and therapeutic field. They generally comprise a frame on wheels for easy transport. Four substantially rectangular sections are mounted on the frame: the back section, the seat section, the thigh section and the leg section.

While the seat section is generally fixed to the frame, the other three sections - back, thigh and leg sections - are movable relative to the frame and to each other. The bed can thus be used in a variety of positions according to needs and type of therapy.

In order to operate the three movable sections, actuators and drive mechanisms are placed central to the frame, under the thigh and leg sections.

These type of intensive care beds, as we know them, do have some drawbacks.

In fact, we must consider that for an X-ray examination we normally use an X-ray generator that has to placed over the part of the patient body to be examined and a film cassette, which is positioned below, in correspondence of the X-ray generator.

Usually, the film holder cassette is made of stainless steel or any other material which can absorb X-rays so that the image will be impressed only on the film and will not show any other object placed under the slab - for example: it will not show the motors located under the deck, the base structure, etc. All joints are de facto isolated from the image thanks to the film cassette which slides along the lying deck in correspondence of the patient's body part to be X-ray scanned. Beds are currently supplied with fully or partially radio-transparent decks, which is highly convenient when using a film cassette. However, if the bed has been designed to assume a chair position, it is not possible to have the film cassette sliding all along the deck. On the contrary, if the film cassette can slide all along the deck - from head to foot - the bed cannot assume a chair position. This is, obviously, a limit.

When using an X-ray image intensifier (C-Arm), we must make sure that the interested area below the lying deck is free from any object, since the intensifier employs a transmitter-receiver system and the bed deck is right in the middle of these two points.

The beds currently available on the market only permit to carry out an X-ray examination with an image intensifier on the upper part (from the waist upward) of the patient body. In some exceptional cases they may feature a radio transparent seat section, too. But never a transparent thigh or leg section. For this purpose, the back section is made of material transparent to X-rays and the quick-return mechanisms are placed laterally below the backrest as to connect the actuators that operate it, while not interfering with the radiography. It goes without saying that this type of bed cannot be used when carrying out an X-ray examination on the lower (from the waist downward) part of the patient body, since the actuators and drive mechanisms located central to the thigh and foot sections would interfere with the radiography. If this is the case, then the patient is forced to leave the bed and be seated somewhere else.

It is to be noted that there are no beds that combine the chair position with a fully radio transparent deck.

Moreover, the leg section is made of a single rectangular slab supporting both legs, which means that the patient cannot position one leg differently from the other to undergo therapy, as may be required.

Another drawback of the beds currently used is that they cannot sustain the weight of bariatric (obese) patients, who need specially reinforced beds.

The aim of our invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the available technology by designing an intensive care movable bed which is simultaneously versatile, practical and reliable. This kind of bed has been designed, in compliance with the invention, according to the characteristics specified in the independent claim 1 hereto annexed. The advantages are pointed out in the dependant claims..

The movable intensive care bed according to the invention comprises of:

- a supporting frame,

- two longitudinal rods connected to the supporting frame and placed parallel to the left and right side of the bed,

- back and thigh section supports connected to the above mentioned rods via articulation joints,

- leg supports connected to the thigh section by hinges,

- actuators to operate the back, thigh and leg supports, and

- a radio transparent bed deck with a high maximum weight capacity. The actuators are placed on both sides of the bed, external to the two longitudinal rods in such a way as to leave an empty space between and below said rods. This allows to X-ray scan any part of the patient body, while the patient is lying on the bed.

Furthermore, the motors are located at the deck ends to facilitate maintenance. Therefore it is possible to repair or replace the motors without having to modify the structure of the bed.

The advantages of this bed, according to the invention are self-evident, since it allows to carry out X-ray tests on any part of the patient body without moving the patient, it features the chair position and can hold obese patients.

Additional characteristics will be further clarified through the following detailed description with reference to the enclosed drawings, by way of illustration and not limitation, where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bed frame according to the invention, in the chair position showing the various actuators and kinematic mechanisms;

Figures 1 A and 1 B represent two enlarged details of Figure 1 , showing the junctions for the inclination of the bed deck - in order to reach the Trendelemburg and Anti-Trendelemburg position - and transversally to facilitate the resuscitation operations;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bed according to the invention in which various panels (bed deck sections and mattress positioning) have been added to the frame of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a side view of the frame of Figure 1 ;

Figures 4 and 5, like Figures 1 and 2 show the frame and bed in the chair position with the left leg section raised with respect to the right leg section;

Figures 6 and 7, like Figures 1 and 2, show the frame and bed in an inclined position relative to a horizontal plane, with the side borders parallel to a horizontal axis;

Figures 8 and 9, like Figures 1 and 2 , show the frame and bed in an inclined position - on the right, assuming the patient is lying supine on the bed - with respect to a horizontal plane while the side borders are oblique relative to a horizontal axis. The bed can be inclined on the right or on the left.

The bed, according to the invention is described with the aid of the drawings and is altogether indicated by reference number (100).

With reference to Figure 1 , the bed (100) now consists of a bearing rectangular frame (1 ) which is made of two longitudinal and two transverse profiles forming four angles. Twin swivel castors (not shown in the drawings) are fitted to the frame legs in order to allow easy transport.

Four linear actuators (2) are connected to the four angles of the bearing frame (1 ) at a vertical axis. Each actuator (2) is made of a sleeve or cylinder (20) which is fixed to the frame (1 ) and a piston (21 ) which slides vertically inside the cylinder and sticks out of it (20). Despite the sleeve being referred to as cylinder later on in this text, it is evident that said sleeve may also have a parallelepiped shape, as shown in the drawings.

As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the actuators (2) are telescopic, which is particularly advantageous. Each actuator can also be provided with an intermediate piston (25) sliding within the cylinder (20). Therefore the piston (21 ) slides within the intermediate cylinder (25).

The bed comprises two longitudinal rods (3) placed above the bearing frame (1 ) which are substantially on the same vertical plane with respect to the longitudinal profiles of the bearing frame (1 ), and parallel to the left and right sides of the bed. These longitudinal rods (3) protrude slightly outwards relative to the vertical axis of the actuators (2). The actuators (2) are connected to the longitudinal rods (3) by junctions (4, 4'). The longitudinal rods (3) are a little longer than the average distance between the knee and head of a person.

Each longitudinal rod (3) is connected to the upper end of two pistons (21 ) by a first junction (4) and a second junction (3'). Both junctions (4, 4') consist of articulated joints in order to have the rod (3) rotate around a longitudinal first axis and a second transverse one.

With reference to Figures 1 A and 3, the first junction (4) comprises a crank (40), consisting of a first horizontal pin (41 pivoted to a flange (22) integral to the piston (21 ) and a second horizontal pin (43) pivoted to a flange (30) integral to the longitudinal rod (3). The first horizontal pin (41 ) has a longitudinal axis, that is, its axis is parallel to the longitudinal rod (3) axis; on the contrary the second pin (43) has a transverse axis, that is, its axis is orthogonal relative to the axis of the second horizontal pin (43).

The flanges (22, 30) feature respective slots (23, 31 ) where the crank pins (41 , 43) turn allowing the translation of the pins in the respective slots (23, 31 ) in order to adjust the position of the longitudinal rods (3).

When the bed deck is tilted into a position where the backrest is lower than the leg section or vice-versa, the second pin (43) slides inside the slot (31 ) of the longitudinal rod flange. On the contrary, when the deck is tilted to the side - right or left - the first pin (41 ) moves inside the slot (23) of the actuator flange.

Figure 1 B shows the second junction (4') which is fundamentally similar to the first junction (4). The second junction (4') differs from the first one (4) because it lacks the longitudinal slot (31 ) in the longitudinal rod (3) flange.

The first junction (4) (Figure 1 A) and the second junction (4') (Figure 1 B) must exist simultaneously in order to ensure the necessary deck inclinations, that is the longitudinal tilt (to reach the Trendelemburg and Anti- Trendelembur positions) and the transversal tilt (to facilitate the resuscitation operations).

Back to Figure 1 , the bed consists of a back rest (5) made of a substantially inverted "U" shape tubular structure, supplied with two end flanges (51 ). The back rest (5) is connected to the two longitudinal rods (3) by the respective articulated junctions (50) which allow it to roto-translate relative to the longitudinal rods (3).

With reference to Figure 3, the articulated junctions (50) of the back rest comprise a first lever (52) and a second lever (53). Each lever (52, 53) is pivoted to the longitudinal rod (3) and at the back rest flange (51 ) so as to form an articulated quadrilateral which allows the back support (5) to roto- translate relative to the longitudinal rods (3).

The back rest (5) is moved by two linear actuators (6). The back support actuators (6) are positioned laterally toward the outside relative to the longitudinal rods (3). Each linear actuator (6) comprises a cylinder (60) which is fixed to the stem (21 ) of a vertical axis actuator (2) or to the longitudinal rod (3), and a piston (61 ) which slides inside the cylinder. A "L" shaped crank (62) is connected to one of the ends of the piston (61 ) and pivoted to the back rest flange (51 ) in order to move the back rest (5).

Back to Figure 1 , the bed comprises two seat supports (33) which are fixed to the two longitudinal rods (3) and protrude laterally toward the outside of the longitudinal rods (3).

Furthermore, the bed comprises two thigh supports (7) positioned laterally toward the outside relative to the longitudinal rods (3). The thigh supports (7) are connected to the longitudinal rods (3) by articulated junctions (70) which allow them to roto-translate relative to the respective longitudinal rod (3).

With reference to Figure 3, the thigh support articulated junctions (70) comprise a first lever (71 ) and a second lever. Each lever (71 , 72) is pivoted to the longitudinal rod (3) and to the thigh support (7), so as to form an articulated quadrilateral that allows the thigh support (7) to roto-translate relative to the respective longitudinal rod.

Two linear actuators (8) move the relative thigh supports (7). The thigh support actuators (8) are positioned laterally towards the outside relative to the longitudinal rods (3). Each actuator (8) comprises a cylinder (80) which is fixed to the longitudinal rod (3) and a piston (81 ) which slides inside the cylinder. A crank (81 ) is pivoted to the thigh support (7) in order to move it.

Back to Figure 1 , the bed comprises two leg supports (9) made of two section bars connected to the thigh supports (7) by hinges (90) so that the leg supports can rotate around the hinge axis (90).

Two linear actuators (91 ) move the relative leg supports (9). The leg support actuators (91 ) are positioned laterally toward the outside relative to the longitudinal rod (3). Each actuator (91 ) comprises a cylinder (92) and a piston (93) which slides inside the cylinder. The cylinder (92) is pivoted to one of the leg support flanges (94) while the piston (93) is pivoted to the thigh support (7). In this way, each actuator (91 ) independently controls the movement of the respective leg support (9) relative to the respective thigh support (7).

It should be noted that all the actuators (6, 8, 91 ) and all the articulated junctions (50, 70, 90) that operate the respective back, thigh, and leg supports (5, 7, 9) are positioned externally to the bed frame bulk (1 ) and longitudinal rods (3), leaving a empty space between and below the two longitudinal rods (3).

Moreover, even when the two leg supports (9) are raised - up to 30° maximum, as shown in Figure 5 for the left leg rest - the space between and below the leg rests (9) remains empty, allowing to perform X-ray tests on the patient's legs.

This position permits to use this bed (100) to carry out X-ray exams on all and any part of the patient body.

With reference to Figure 2, a back rest (101 ) is fixed to the back support (5), a seat (102) is fixed to the seat supports (33), the two thigh rests (103) are fixed to the respective thigh supports (7) and the two leg rests (104) are fixed to the respective leg supports (9). The back (101 ), the seat (102), the two thigh (103) sections and the two leg (104) sections form the bed deck. The back rest (101 ), the seat (102), the two thigh sections (103), and the two leg sections (104), are made of advanced composite material panels or slabs, transparent to X-rays and having the required technical characteristics to withstand a 600 kg lifting capacity - deck, relative motors, and junctions excluded -, up to 450 kg patient load, and up to 300 kg maximum load concentration - concentrated point of maximum capacity.

When subject to the maximum load capacity on a concentrated point, the bed begins to flex at 304 kg, springing then back to its original shape without any deformation or rupture. Since the patient's weight is distributed on the deck and is not concentrated on a single point - as during the loading capacity test

- the bed can withstand patients weighing up to 450 kg.

In particular, it should be noted that the thigh sections (103) and the leg sections (104) are cantilevered relative to their respective rod shaped supports (7, 9).

This is why we had to find a material with a mechanical resilience higher than the plastic laminate used in the prior technique. An obvious choice would have been to use carbon fibre slabs. However this would have strongly weighted upon costs, since carbon fibre is extremely expensive.

In addition, the tests carried out showed that plastic laminate can have but a limited use in case of bariatric patients, due to the maximum load capacity it can withstand.

According to the invention, the slabs used are made of glass laminate having at least eight layers of glass for a total thickness between 5 and 6 mm.

The glass laminate comprises precisely:

ten structural layers of composite material made of PW 600 gram glass fibre, pre-impregnated with (37%) epoxy resin - about 9.5 kg total weight per sq.m. - 0-90° fibre orientation (item code number VV600S DT120

PW 37%); and

- a protective layer of composite material made of PW 0.50 gram glass fibre, pre-impregnated with (37%) epoxy resin, which is applied on the surface of the slabs to avoid the material porosity, protect from scratching and facilitate cleaning procedures.

The glass laminate is placed between two aluminium plates to ensure the surface is flat on both sides, it is secured in place by a vacuum treatment and undergoes an autoclave firing cycle at a temperature of 120°C. and 6 bar pressure for 3 hours. The aluminium plates form the baking glass fibre mold. The aluminium plates are then removed and the glass fibre slab is cut into the desired shape and dimensions using water jet devises.

Thanks to the material specifications, the end panels thus obtained can be placed, together with the entire bed structure, in a bed-washer for general cleaning and disinfection up to a 80 °C. temperature, with low pressure water jets.

Figures 4 and 5 show the frame and the bed in a chair position where both the left thigh and leg section are raised with respect to the right thigh and leg sections. This position is not available in any of the beds currently manufactured since the thigh and leg sections are combined together in a single slab.

Figures 6 and 7 show the frame and bed in an inclined deck - relative to a horizontal plane - position, with the side borders of the panels (101 -104) parallel to a horizontal axis. In this position, the back, seat, thigh, and leg supports (5, 33, 7, 9) are aligned on each side of the bed. However the left side of the bed is higher than the right side. This position is possible thanks to the fact that the two left vertical axis actuators (2) have been equally elevated to a higher position than the two right vertical axis actuators(2).

Figures 8 and 9 show the frame and bed in an inclined - relative to a horizontal plane - position, with the side borders of the panels (101 -104) parallel to a horizontal axis. This position is possible thanks to the fact that the four vertical axis actuators (2) have been raised at different heights between them.

Equivalent amendments and modifications to the present embodiment of the invention can be carried out by a technician specialized in this field. However such amendments and/or modification shall fall with scope of the invention.

Claims

1 ) An intensive care movable bed (100) comprising:

- a bearing frame (1 ),

- two longitudinal rods (3) connected to said bearing frame, disposed on the right and left side of the bed;

- back supports (5) and thigh supports (7) connected to said longitudinal rods (3) by articulated junctions (50, 70),

- leg supports (9) connected to said thigh supports (7) by hinges (90),

- actuators (6, 8, 91 ) to move said back supports (5), thigh supports (7) and leg supports (9), and

- a lying deck (101 , 102, 103, 104) made of material transparent to X- rays,

characterized in that

said actuators (6, 8, 91 ) are disposed on the left and right side of the bed, external to the two longitudinal rods (3), in such a way as to leave an empty space between and below the two longitudinal rods (3), allowing to carry on X-ray tests on any part of the body of the patient lying on the bed.

2) The bed (100) of claim 1 , wherein said thigh supports (7) comprise two thigh supports (9) actuated by the respective independent actuators (8) supported by said longitudinal rods (3).

3) The bed (100) of claim 2, wherein said leg supports (9) comprise two leg supports (9), which are mutually independent, actuated by the respective independent actuators (91 ) connected to the thigh supports (7) and leg supports (9).

4) The bed (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said back support (5) comprises a substantial U-shaped tubular structure ending with two flanges (51 ) connected to two actuators (6) disposed on the left and right side of the bed.

5) The bed (100) of any one of the preceding claims, also comprising four vertical axis actuators (2) connecting the bearing frame (1 ) to the two longitudinal rods (3), the four vertical axis actuators (2) axis being mutually independent.

6) The bed (100) of claim 5, also comprising articulated junctions (4, 4') connecting each longitudinal rod (3) to the vertical axis actuators (2), the articulated junctions (4, 4') allow the longitudinal rods (3) to rotate around a first longitudinal axis and around a second transversal axis.

7) The bed (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said articulated junctions (50, 70) connecting the back support (5) and thigh supports (7) to said longitudinal rods (3) are articulated quadrilaterals that allow the back support (5) and the thigh supports (7) to rotate relative to the longitudinal rods (3).

8) The bed (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lying deck comprises a backrest (101 ) fixed to the back support, a seat (102) fixed to the seat supports (33) joined by the longitudinal rods (3), at least one thigh rest (103) fixed to the thigh supports (7) and at least one leg rest (104) fixed to the leg supports (9), wherein said backrest (101 ), seat (102), at least one thigh rest (103) and at least one leg rest (104) consists of panels or plates made of material transparent to X rays.

9) The bed (100) of claim 8, wherein said panels consist of laminated glass made of at least eight glass fibre layers for a total thickness from 5 to 6 mm.

10) The bed (100) of claim 8 or 9, is characterized in that each panel can support a lifting load of about 600 Kg, in order to use the bed for bariatric patients.