Patient turning device

Abstract

 A patient turner includes two members (4, 6) joined by a rounded section (12), one of said members (4) being insertable under the patient to be turned the other acting as a lever to pivot the turner with the patient thereon about the rounded section 12 to bring the other section (6) down against the surface on which the patient is resting, the turner being thereafter removed from under the patient by sliding out said other section (6).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a patient turning device, particularly but not exclusively for use in turning a bed-ridden patient.

[0002] Bed-ridden patients often require turning over for changing of clothing or bedding, washing, or examination. People caring for such bed-ridden patients often encounter difficulties in turning a bed-ridden patient, especially when that patient is heavy, or has a degree of spasticity.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for easing the task of turning a bed-ridden patient over.

[0004] According to the present invention there is provided A patient turning device characterised in that it comprises two mutually inclined members connected at respective ends thereof by a rounded section, whereby when one of said members is inserted under a patient and the device rotated about said rounded section by pulling on said other member, the patient is turned.

[0005] Preferably said members are arranged at an angle of between 70° and 90° to each other.

[0006] Preferably said members and said rounded section are integrally formed from a fibre reinforced plastics material.

[0007] Preferably one of said members is longer than the other member, providing leverage for turning a patient and in that said members are wide enought to provide simultaneous support for a patient's shoulders and buttocks.

[0008] Preferably said members are curved along their longitudinal axes.

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a patient turning device; and

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section on the line II-II of Fig. 1.

[0010] Referring to the drawings, a patient turning device comprises a shaped arrangement 2 of rigid plastics material including a first member 4 and a second member 6 connected together at respective first ends 8, 10 by a rounded section 12 such that they are mutually inclined at an angle slightly less than 90°. The first member 4 has a second curved end 14 and is of substantially constant width throughout its length whilst the second member 6 tapers slightly towards its second end 16. The members are each slightly curved along their longitudinal axes the first member 4 is 400mm long, the second member 6 is 600mm long, and the rounded section and first member are 600mm wide.

[0011] Conveniently the arrangement is formed by a wet lay-up process from glass fibre reinforced synthetic resinous material and to provide increased strength two stiffening ribs 18 are formed into the arrangement the ribs being concave. The region 20 of the arrangement between the ribs are concave as can best be seen in Fig. 2, the most rearmost point of the concave region 20 lying on an imaginary line joining the rearmost points on the ribs 18, especially in the region of the rounded section 12.

[0012] In use the first member 4 is slid underneath a bed-ridden patient to lie underneath the patient's shoulders and buttocks until the second member abuts the patient. The person turning the patient applies a rotational force to the second end 16 of the second member away from the patient, and the device and patient thereon rotate about the rounded section 12 until the second member 6 comes to rest on the bed with the patient thereon in a turned position. The device can then be slid from underneath the patient in the same side to that from which it was inserted below the patient.

[0013] To assist in the handling of the arrangement it is provided at its ends 14, 16 with webbing loops 22, 24 forming handles. The webbing of the handles passes through slots (not shown) through the members 4 and 6.

[0014] The fact that the second member 6 is longer than the first member 4 means that due to the leverage provided a patient can be turned over with a small force than would otherwise be necessary, and allows the patient to be turned as slowly and gently as may be required.

[0015] Various modifications can be made without departing from the invention. For example the device may be made to different dimensions, perhaps smaller for children, or with a larger second member for turning very heavy people over. The device may be made of material other than glass reinforced plastics material, for example, it may be pressed from sheet steel, aluminium or any suitable metal or fibre reinforced material. The reinforcing ribs may be omitted and it may be collapsible about the rounded section for ease of storage. To facilitate grasping the device after it has been inserted under a patient to be turned hand slots may be provided at the end of the first member remote from the rounded section 12, in place of the webbing loop 24. The other webbing loop 22 may also be replaced by a hand hole. In a further modification two spaced webbing loops 22 may be provided at the end of member 4.

Claims

1. A patient turning device characterised in that it comprises two mutually inclined members (4, 6) connected at respective ends (8, 10) thereof by a rounded section (12), whereby when one of said members (4) is inserted under a patient and the device rotated about said rounded section (12), by pulling on said other member (6), the patient is turned.

2. A patient turner as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said members (4, 6) are arranged at an angle of between 70° and 90° to each other.

3. A patient turner as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that said members (4, 6) and said rounded section (12) are integrally formed from a fibre reinforced plastics material.

4. A patient turner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that one of said members (6) is longer than the other member (4), providing leverage for turning a patient and in that said members (4, 6) are wide enough to provide simultaneous support for a patient's shoulders and buttocks.

5. A patient turner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said members (4, 6) are curved along their longitudinal axes.

6. A patient turner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that continuous strengthening ribs 18 are formed integrally in said members (4, 6) and said rounded section (12).

7. A patient turner as claimed in claim 6, character­ised in that, the region (20) between said ribs is concave.

8. A patient turner as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that handles (22, 24) are provided at the end of each member (4, 6).

Drawing