Patient mobilizer

Details Patient mobilizer Patient mobilizer

2000-02-22

2001-03-06

Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3733)

Surgery

Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants

Restrainers and immobilizers

C128S872000, C005S089100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06196229

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
(Not Applicable)
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
(Not Applicable)
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a patient mobilizing device, and more particularly to a patient mobilizer having a support sheet and strap arrangement enabling a single attendant to move and lift a disabled person situated in a lying position without additional human or mechanical assistance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Patient moving devices can be very helpful in providing care for disabled patients at home, especially if one individual handles the patient's basic care. Depending on the patient's disability and the relative sizes of the patient and care giver, some aspects of the patient's care such as changing clothes, moving the patient for bathing, positioning the patient for eating, and moving the patient around the home, can be physically demanding, particularly when the patient is unable to sit up without assistance. In those cases where the patient cannot sit up, he generally cannot assist his care giver with the lifting process nor position himself for movement and transport. Under these circumstances, lifting and moving the patient within the home, or even moving the patient on a bed for cleaning or changing clothes, can be a physically awkward process as the care giver attempts to leverage the weight and body position of the patient. These physical challenges can be especially problematic for those who lack the strength to safely undertake some aspects of the patient's care. For example, the care giver may carry or lift the patient in a less balanced posture, or move the patient within a bed with a series of nudges, pushes, and pulls instead of a more gentle, continuous motion. This type of handling can be potentially dangerous for both parties.
Current patient moving devices typically include a patient harness for attachment to a mechanical lifting apparatus, or a sling with hand engageable handles for manually lifting the patient. For example, Mitro (U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,010) discloses a lifting harness which can be placed around the torso of a disabled person and then attached to a separate lifting device for moving the patient. Smith (U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,327) and Weeks (U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,821) both disclose a flexible body sling with handles disposed around the perimeter of the sling for manually lifting a patient. As is apparent from these manual deigns, it would be difficult or impossible for one person to support these slings around their perimeters and thereby retain the disabled person in a stable position. Moreover, manual lifting devices generally require great arm strength to lift a patient because the sling handles are the primary means for supporting the sling and patient. For instance, Shaw (U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,057) discloses a sling which can be lifted by one person; however, the attendant must lift the patient by grasping the sling handles, the patient must be seated upright within the sling, and the patient must assist the care giver in maintaining a balanced posture by holding onto, or leaning into, the care giver.
In view of the above considerations, it is apparent that a need exists for a patient moving device which allows one person to lift and move a disabled patient without undue physical strain, hazard, or additional assistance. Consequently, one object of the present invention is to provide a patient mobilizing device that one person can readily operate for lifting a disabled patient from a prone position. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a patient mobilizing device which stabilizes the patient during transport. Another object of the invention is to provide a device for rolling and moving a patient on a supported surface as the patient is lying down. Still another object of the invention is to secure the patient to the patient mobilizing device as the patient is rolled or shifted in a lying position. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent throughout the description thereof which now follows.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a patient mobilizer which includes a flexible sheet for placement against the back of a patient lying face up on a supported surface. The sheet is sized to extend from an upper neck location to a lower buttock location on the patient and preferably has a perimeter edge which is shaped to match the lateral contours of a human torso. The sheet also has a plurality of hand engageable handles disposed around the perimeter of the sheet for moving, rolling, and repositioning the patient as the patient is lying down on the patient mobilizer. The patient mobilizer also has a pair of releasable and length adjustable shoulder straps attached to the sheet. In one usage, the shoulder straps secure the patient to the sheet as the patient is rolled or shifted on a bed or similar supported surface. In another usage, a care giver may wrap the shoulder straps around the patient's shoulders and his own shoulders as patient and care giver face each other chest to chest, and then lift the patient using the shoulder straps and handles. As is thus evident, the shoulder straps and handles allow one person to lift the patient in a stable manner without additional mechanical or human assistance. In addition, the shoulder straps secure the patient in a stable position within the patient mobilizer as the care giver manipulates the handles for rolling and shifting the patient on a supported surface.


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