Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-10
2001-05-29
Lewis, Kim M. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
C604S348000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238378
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to sanitary apparel adapted for automated removal of bodily wastes from non-ambulatory, immobile or substantially immobile patients. More particularly, the invention pertains to an apparatus and method for automatically detecting the presence of solid and/or liquid waste that has been excreted by a patient, activating a vacuum removal system, cleansing the patient with warm water or other conditioned fluid, and then drying the patient with diffused air.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many patients who are committed to bed for short or extended periods of time are unable to make use of ordinary restroom facilities. This is particularly true for persons that are comatose or unconscious for longer periods of time. All of these patients are often diapered and are typically wholly reliant upon family members or other care givers for assistance with their basic sanitary needs, including relieving themselves.
In these situations, it is not only important that the waste be removed from about the patient, but it must be removed promptly so that it does not foster other health problems such as rashes and infection. To assure the these undesirable results are minimized, waste that does contact the patient must be washed away and the skin dried. These cleansing steps help minimize skin irritation and infection of the patient.
In addition to the health concerns associated with the patient's inability to deal with their own waste, there are also more aesthetic concerns such as cleanliness of clothing and bedding, and odors that are often associated therewith. Still further, the patient may also suffer emotional discomfort and other embarrassment because such situations cause their dependence on others for such intimate matters associated with their bodily functions.
It is therefore a fundamental object of the present invention to overcome the limitations of the prior art by providing a method and apparatus by which a patient may be kept clean, odors minimized, and embarrassing or uncomfortable situations reduced for the patient and care giver, alike.
It is a further object to provide an apparatus easily affixed about a patient in an adjustable manner and which is adaptable to a wide variety of patients, as well as being flexible in use. The invention should also be comfortable against a patient's skin and not cause irritation or prevent the complete removal of waste therefrom.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system that is small, lightweight, and portable for use in hospital, residential, and less refined and protected environments.
In view of the above described deficiencies associated with the use of known waste evacuation systems, the present invention has been developed to alleviate these drawbacks and provide further benefits to the user. These enhancements and benefits are described in greater detail hereinbelow with respect to several alternative embodiments of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention in its several disclosed embodiments alleviates the drawbacks described above with respect to waste evacuation systems and incorporates several additionally beneficial features.
The beneficial effects described above apply generally to each of the exemplary devices and mechanisms disclosed herein of the waste evacuation system. The specific structures through which these benefits are delivered will be described in detail hereinbelow.
This invention finds primary application in the care and attendance of patients confined to a bed for extended periods, and especially unconscious patients, regardless of the duration of the disability. This may include patients in various conditions, but definitely includes those patients that are comatose, or those that have suffer head injuries and suffer from deep concussions that cause them to be unconscious or semi-conscious for long periods of time during which they are confined to a bed. Obviously, these patients continue to produce waste that can cause severe heath risks if not promptly removed. This invention provides a means by which this removal can be accomplished promptly, and without the need for personal attendance from another person.
The benefits associated with the present invention stem from the fact that waste is essentially intercepted by the apparatus and immediately diverted away from the patient at the time it is excreted. This prevents the waste from being spread about the patient and soiling both the patient and the immediate surroundings, including clothing, bedding and other medical devices and machinery being used upon the patient. This is particularly important with regard to clothing and bedding which must be changed, not merely cleaned in-place when a patient soils them. By using the waste removal system of the present invention, there will also be a dramatic downstream environmental benefit through laundering reductions.
Because the invention negates the requirement of another person to attend to the removal of the patient's waste, medical personnel are freed for more productive duties that require their attention and expertise. In this same vain, the present invention positively affects care givers in that it eliminates one of their more offensive duties; the same being the removal of human waste and the subsequent cleansing of the patient's body that is presently required. More importantly, it minimizes contact between the care provider and the human waste. This is important because such waste may be infectious and potentially harmful or lethal to the contacting person.
It is important to appreciate that utilization of the waste removal system of the present invention is not limited to hospital settings. It may find similar application in convalescence homes, nursing homes, physical therapy facilities, institutions, and private residences.
It is contemplated that the invention may be constructed in at least two embodiments. One embodiment is of a more permanent nature and is expected to remain in a particular facility, even though it is portable to the extent that it may be moved from room-to-room and patient-to-patient. A second embodiment is self-contained in that it carries its own powering system in the form of a battery pack. Furthermore, because of its compact and lightweight construction, the entire unit of this embodiment may be manually carried between different locations. Because of its entirely self-contained nature, it finds particular utility in remote locations and in those situations where conventional power may not be readily available. These situations may be experienced in lesser developed areas and in emergency and rescue circumstances.
It is expected that the mobile unit will find particular utility in lesser and under developed countries where medical facilities and equipment are greatly needed, but often unavailable or unsupportable because of local conditions. By being self-contained, the present invention performs equally well in the most industrialized cities and the most remote out-backs.
In accordance with those objects outlined herein above, the present invention generally comprises a bodily waste evacuation system generally comprising a pair of specially adapted, flexibly applied shorts having a plurality of removably attachable connecting tubes in operable and fluid communication with a urine and feces collection and storage unit. The unit generally allows for the separate extraction of urine and feces, the cleansing of the patient after urination or a bowel movement, and the drying of the patient after these processes. As facets of the automatic characteristics of the invention, timing and control means are provided to ensure maximally efficient operation of the apparatus of the invention and to ensure effective cleansing of the patient.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1399676 (1921-12-01), Waggoner
patent: 2223566 (1940-12-01), Koch
patent: 2331226 (1943-10-01), Pritchard
patent: 2366059 (1944-12-01), Schunk
patent: 2491799 (1949-12-01), Clarke
patent: 2778362 (1957-01-01),
Lewis Kim M.
Royston, Rayzor, Vickery, Novak & Druce, L.L.P.
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