FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] This application relates to sheets for repositioning patients and, more specifically, to inflatable patient repositioning sheets.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A patient repositioning sheet may be placed under a patient and used to facilitate repositioning a patient, for example, for boosting a patient in a hospital bed. Some patient repositioning sheets may be connectable to an air pump for pumping air into the sheet and inflating the sheet. Some of these inflatable sheets have small openings on a lower side thereof. The openings allow air to exit the sheet and create a partial air bearing between the sheet and the underlying surface, such as a hospital bed. The air bearing reduces frictional resistance to the sheet and the patient thereon from being shifted relative to the supporting surface(s), such as a hospital bed. After use, the inflatable patient transfer sheet may be deflated and removed from under the patient or may be left underneath the patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inflatable patient repositioning sheet illustrating a portion of the sheet cut away to show air delivery socks and internal walls of the inflatable sheet;

[0004] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the sheet of FIG. 1 showing handles on an underside of the sheet;

[0005] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 3-3 showing the sheet in a deflated configuration and a patient resting on the sheet;

[0006] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing the sheet in an inflated configuration;

[0007] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 5-5 in FIG. 1 showing the air delivery socks of the sheet in an initial, deflated configuration;

[0008] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing one of the air delivery socks inflated and compressing the other air delivery sock; [0009] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing a patient in a right lateral recumbent and the sheet folded;

[0010] FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing a patient rolled onto the sheet and positioned in a left lateral recumbent position;

[0011] FIG. 9 is a cross-section view similar to FIG. 7 showing the sheet unfolded and the patient turned to a supine position;

[0012] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing the patient on the inflated sheet and a wedge;

[0013] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 10 showing the sheet shifted on top of the wedge to reposition the patient;

[0014] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a port of the sheet of FIG. 1 with a closure strap in an open configuration;

[0015] FIG. 13 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 12 showing the closure strap pulled to constrict the port around the air hose;

[0016] FIG. 14 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 12 showing the closure strap in a closed position which secures the port around the air hose;

[0017] FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a portion of an inflatable patient

repositioning sheet and an air supply showing mating snaps of an air hose of the air supply and a closure strap of the sheet;

[0018] FIG. 16 is a schematic view of a portion of another inflatable patient repositioning sheet and an air hose showing mating snaps of the sheet and the air hose;

[0019] FIG. 17 is a bottom plan view of another inflatable patient repositioning sheet having handles extending laterally outward from the sheet;

[0020] FIG. 18 is a bottom plan view of another inflatable patient repositioning sheet showing handles having storage positions within an outer periphery of the sheet and gripping positions outward from the outer periphery of the sheet; and

[0021] FIG. 19 is a side perspective view of another inflatable patient repositioning sheet showing handles that are movable relative to longitudinal sides of the sheet

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] With reference to FIG. 1, a patient repositioning system 10 is provided the system 10 includes an inflatable patient repositioning sheet 12 and an air supply 14, such as an air pump 16 having a hose 18. The sheet 12 has ports 20, 22 at opposite lateral sides 24, 26 that may each receive the hose 18. The ports 20, 22 each have a closure member, such as a strap 30, which may be manually adjusted constrict the ports 20, 22 about the hose 18 and manipulated to secure the ports 20, 22 about the hose 18. In FIG. 1, the hose 18 is shown secured in the port 22. The air pump 16 may be turned on to provide air through the port 22 and into the sheet 12. In one form, the air pump 16 is capable of providing air at a pressure in the range of approximately five to

approximately 20 pounds per square inch to inflate the sheet 12. The air from the air pump 16 inflates the sheet 12 and lifts the patient upward.

[0023] The sheet 12 includes an inflatable body 34 having an upper layer 36 with a high friction surface for resisting slipping of the patient relative to the upper layer 36. The inflatable body 34 includes a lower layer 38 having a plurality of air exit holes 40 formed therein. The air within the sheet 12 may exit through the air exit holes 40 (see FIG. 2) and create at least a partial air bearing between an underlying surface 42 and the sheet 12 (see FIG. 4). With the patient transfer sheet 12 inflated, the weight of the patient 31 is distributed over a larger area of the surface 42 than if the patient 31 were lying directly on the surface 42. The air bearing formed by the air exiting through the air exit holes 40 and the distribution of the weight of the patient 31 over a greater surface area reduces frictional resistance to movement of the sheet 12 and patient thereon. In this manner, the sheet 12 and the patient 31 may be easily shifted in a lateral direction 44 (see FIG. 4), such as from the surface 42 onto a nearby surface. The sheet 12 may be used to reposition the patient 31 in many applications, such as boosting, relocating on a surface, and lateral transfers, all of which are generally deemed to constitute

repositioning. For example, the inflated patient transfer sheet 12 may be used to transfer the patient 31 from the surface 42 of a hospital bed to a surface of a gurney.

[0024] Returning to FIG. 1, the inflatable body 34 includes a plurality of inner channels in the form of tubes 50 that extend longitudinally along the sheet 12, including lateral tubes 52, 54 and central tubes 56. The sheet 12 may have one layer of tubes 50 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. In other forms, the sheet 12 may have two or more layers of tubes 50. The tubes 50 may each be formed by portions of the upper and lower layers 36, 38 and baffles or walls 116 extending longitudinally along the sheet 12. [0025] The central tubes 56 may have upper portions 70 that are sized to be smaller than upper portions 66 of the lateral tubes 52 to provide a recessed patient-receiving region 60. With reference to FIG. 4, the patient 31 is positioned in the patient-receiving region 60. The lateral tubes 52, 54 have upper portions 66 that extend for a distance 68 above the upper portions 70 of the central tubes 56. These taller upper portions 66 of the lateral tubes 52, 54 resist lateral movement of the patient 31 in directions 72, 74 out of the patient-receiving region 60.

[0026] With reference to FIG. 1, the sheet 12 includes air delivery socks 80, 82 that each receive air from one of the ports 20, 22. When the air hose 18 is coupled to the port 22, the air delivery sock 82 receives air from the hose 18 while the air delivery sock 80 generally does not. Conversely, when the air hose 18 is coupled to the port 22, the air delivery sock 80 receives air from the hose 18 while the air delivery sock 82 generally does not. It is possible in some embodiments for an air supply to be connected to each port simultaneously. The socks 80, 82 have one or more openings 84, 86, such as three openings 84, 86 in each sock 80, 82, which direct air flow generally in directions 90, 92 into the tubes 50. The socks 80, 82 inflate from a flattened, tubular shape to an expanded, tubular shape in response to socks 80, 82 receiving air from the air supply 14. The air from the air supply 14 travels through the socks 80, 82, out the openings 84, 86, and into the tubes 50. In one form, the socks 80, 82 have openings 84, 86 aligned with each of the tubes 50. The socks 80, 82 may have a straight configuration as shown in FIG. 1. In other forms, the socks 80, 82 may have non-linear shapes such as an L-shape.

[0027] With reference to FIG. 2, the sheet 12 includes handle straps 100, 102 that are secured, such as by stitches 104, to the lower layer 38. The handles alternately may be stitched to the upper layer 36 or to an edge wall of the sheet 12. The stitches 104 define intermediate handle portions 106 that are spaced from the lower layer 38. In this manner, a person may insert their fingers into the space between the handle portions 106 and the lower layer 38 and wrap his fingers around the handle portion 106 to grasp the handle portion 106. As shown, two hands 107 are grasping two of the handle portions 106 in order to pull the inflated sheet 12 and the patient 31 thereon in the direction 44.

[0028] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the sheet 12 is shown in FIG. 3 in the initial, deflated configuration. The upper layer 36 may include an upper, high friction layer 110, which may include a microfiber fabric. The upper layer 36 may also include a substrate layer 112 that may be include, for example, plastic or nylon. The lower layer 38 may be include, for example, plastic or nylon. It is believed that the lower layer material may have a kinetic friction force ranging from about 10-70 lbf over a cotton hospital bedsheet, this force being the force required to continue moving a 200 lb. object placed over the material and bedsheet at a constant rate after initiating motion of the object. The upper surface of the high friction layer 110 may create a higher frictional force with the patient than the lower surface of the lower layer 38 creates with the support surface 42. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the walls 116 connect the substrate layer 112 and the lower layer 38. The walls 116 may be joined to the substrate layer 112 and the lower layer 38 by, for example, stitching or adhesive. In one form, the walls 116 are folded when the sheet 12 is in the deflated configuration and are substantially planar when the sheet is in the inflated configuration.

[0029] With reference to FIG. 4, the air supply 14 is providing air to the tubes 50 of the sheet 12 which inflates the sheet 12. With the sheet 12 inflated, the walls 116 separate interiors 120, 122 of the tubes 50. As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet 12 includes opposite lateral side walls 126, 128 that extend longitudinally between front and rear walls 130, 132 (see FIG. 2) that extend laterally. The lateral side walls 126, 128 may be longer than the front and rear walls 130, 132. The inflating of the sheet 12 jacks or lifts the patient 31 to an elevated distance 134 above the surface 42.

[0030] The substrate layer 112 and the lower layer 38 may be joined together at a seal 140 that connects outer portions 142, 144 thereof. The upper, high friction layer 110 may also be joined at an outer portion 146 thereof to the outer portion 142.

[0031] With reference to FIG. 5, the socks 80, 82 of the sheet 12 are shown prior to the hose 18 being inserted to the port 22. The ports 20, 22 include openings 150, 152 sized to receive the hose 18. The socks 80, 82 are shown in a flattened or deflated configuration and each have a generally tubular side wall 154 and an end wall 156. In the deflated configuration, the side wall 154 includes wall portions 156, 158 separated by an initial distance 160.

[0032] With reference to FIG. 6, the hose 18 has been inserted into the port opening 152 and air is being directed in direction 164 through the sock 82. This expands the sock 82 so that the wall portions 156, 158 of the sidewall 154 now have an expanded distance 166 therebetween. The expansion of the sock 82 in response to receiving the air from the hose 18 causes the side wall 154 of the sock 82 to contact the side wall 154 of the sock 80 and hold side wall portions 170, 172 together. In this manner, the sock 80 is held in the deflated configuration when not in use, which flattens out the openings 86 and makes it difficult for air in the sheet 12 to travel through the openings 86 and out from the port 20. Further, the sock 82 pushes the sock 80 out of the way to resist the sock 80 from inverting, i.e., traveling outward in direction 176 through the opening 150 as air is supplied to the sock 82. Conversely, if the air hose 18 were inserted into opening 150 and used to provide air to the sock 80, the sock 80 would expand and compress the sock 82 and keeps the sock 82 from inverting.

[0033] Another feature that keeps the socks 80, 82 from inverting outward in directions 176, 178 through the respective openings 150, 152 is at least one anchor member, such as stitched connectors 180, 182. The connectors 180, 182 connect end portions 184, 186 of the socks 80, 82 to the lateral sidewalls 128, 126. In addition to or instead of the connectors 180, 182, the sheet 12 may have an anchor member, such as a stitched connector 190, connecting the end portions 184, 186. The stitched connector 190 resists the end portions 184, 186 from travelling too far in, respectively, directions 178, 176 and inverting.

[0034] With reference to FIG. 5, the socks 80, 82 may have an elongate, generally tubular shape with end portions 200, 202 stitched or otherwise secured to the lateral sidewalls 126, 128. The socks 80, 82 overlap in the lateral direction so that one of the socks 80, 82 may compress the other sock 80, 82 in response to being connected to the air supply 14. Further, the sock 82 may be positioned above the sock 80. In this manner, expansion of the sock 82 causes the sock sidewall portion 156 to contact an interior of the substrate layer 112 and the sidewall portion 158 to press the sock 80 downward against an interior of the lower layer 38.

[0035] A log-rolling approach may be used to position the patient 31 resting on a surface 42 onto the sheet 12. With reference to FIG. 7, initially the sheet 12 is positioned on the support surface 42 with a portion 210 of the sheet 12 folded onto itself. A fold 212 of the sheet 12 is positioned near the back of the patient 31 and the patient is positioned in the recumbent position shown in FIG. 7 with a side 220 of the patient 31 on the surface 42. Next, the patient 31 is rolled in direction 222 over the sheet portion 210 and onto the opposing recumbent position on the sheet 12 as shown in FIG. 8 with the other side 221 of the patient 31 on the sheet 12. The sheet portion 210 is then unfolded in direction 224 onto the support surface 42 and the patient 31 is then rolled in direction 224 to a supine position, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. With the patient 31 positioned on their back on the sheet 12, the operator may inflate the sheet 12 using the air supply 14.

[0036] With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the sheet 12 may also be used with a wedge 240 to reposition the patient 31. For example, the sheet 12 and the wedge 240 may be used to reposition the patient 31 from a supine positon shown in FIG. 10 to a partially recumbent position shown in FIG. 11. The patient should be log-rolled in direction 242 and the wedge placed underneath them. The wedge 240 may have a high friction material on the inclined surface 244 and a base 246 may have a high friction material to resist movement of the wedge 240 along the support surface 42.

[0037] In another embodiment, the sheet 12 and the wedge 240 may be used to reposition the patient 31 from a supine positon shown in FIG. 10 to a partially recumbent position shown in FIG. 11. The inflated transfer sheet 12 may be shifted in direction 242 up an upper inclined surface 244 of the wedge 240. The wedge 240 may have a low friction material on the inclined surface 244 to permit the sheet 12 to readily slide up the surface 244 and a base 246 and may have a high friction material to resist movement of the wedge 240 along the support surface 42. With reference to FIG. 11, the sheet has been pulled up along the wedge so that a portion 250 of the sheet 12 is inclined relative to another portion 252. As shown in FIG. 11, the shifting of the sheet 12 along the wedge 240 bends the sheet 12 so that walls 116A, 116B extend

transversely to one another. This repositioning of the walls 116A, 116B is permitted by bending of a portion 252 of the upper layer 36.

[0038] In one approach, the wedge 240 and the sheet 12 may be used to reposition the patient 31 when the sheet 12 is in the deflated state. For example, a portion of the patient 31 may be lifted up using the deflated sheet 12 and one or more wedges 240 may be positioned below the deflated sheet 12. The one or more wedges 240 would then support the patent 31 in the new position. In one form, the upper inclined surface 244 and the base 246 both have high friction material to resist movement of the sheet 12 relative to the wedge 240, and to resist movement of the wedge 240 relative to the surface 42. [0039] With reference to FIG. 12, the port 22 will be discussed in detail. The port 20 is substantially identical to the port 22 so that the following description applies to port 20 as well. The port 22 includes the opening 152 sized to receive the air hose 18. The port 22 includes a sleeve 260 extending about the opening 152 that may be constricted about the air hose 18 to resist exit of air through the opening 152 during inflation of the sheet 12. In one form, the sleeve 260 includes portions of the substrate sheet 112 and the lower sheet 38. The strap 30 includes an end 262 secured to the upper sheet 36 such as by stitching. The strap 30 includes securement portions such as a hook and loop fastener arrangement to releasably secure the strap 30 to itself. In one approach, the strap 30 includes loops 264 that releasably engage hooks 266 of the strap 30 when the strap 30 has been moved to a closed position. The strap 30 extends from the end 262, through an opening 268 in the upper sheet 36, and through a portion of the sleeve 260. As shown in FIG. 12, a portion 270 of the strap 30 extends within the sleeve 260. The strap 30 exits the sleeve 260 through an opening 272 of the upper sheet 36. The strap 30 includes a free end 274 that may be grasped and used to manipulate the strap 30. In one form, the strap 30 includes a single substrate 271 and the loops 264 and hooks 266 are secured to the single substrate 271. The single substrate 271 is a single, uninterrupted length of material extending from the end 262 to the end 274. As one example, the single substrate 271 is a strip of woven polymer material and the strap 30 has patches of the loops 264 and hooks 266 sewn onto the strip of material.

[0040] With reference to FIG. 13, the air hose 18 has been advanced in direction 280 into the opening 152 of the port 22. The end portion 274 of the strap 30 has been pulled over in direction 282 which draws a portion 284 of the strap 30 upward in direction 286 through the opening 272. Because the strap end 262 is secured to the upper sheet 36, drawing the portion 284 outward from the sleeve 260 constricts the sleeve 260 about the air hose 18. With reference to FIG. 2, a lower portion 290 of the sleeve 260 is shown bunched up in response to the strap 30 having been used to constrict the sleeve 260.

[0041] With reference to FIG. 14 the strap 30 has been fully pivoted in direction 282 to the closed position to engage the loops 264 and the hooks 266. The engagement between the loops 264 and the hooks 266 maintains the strap 30 in the closed configuration and holds the sleeve 260 in the constricted configuration about the air hose 18 so that the sleeve 260 resists air from exiting the opening 152 around the air hose 18.

[0042] With reference to FIG. 15, another inflatable patient transfer sheet 400 includes a port 402 having an opening 404 and a strap 406 extending about the opening. The strap 406 includes hooks 408 and loops 410 that may be used to releasably secure the strap 406 in a closed positon and constrict the opening 404. In FIG. 15, an air pump 420 is provided that includes an air hose 422. The air hose 422 is sized to fit into the opening 404 of the sheet 400. The inflatable hose 422 includes a pair of snap fastener portions 424 that mate with corresponding snap fastener positions 426 of the strap 406. The mating engagement between the snap fastener portions 424, 426 retains the air hose 422 in the opening 404.

[0043] With reference to FIG. 16, another inflatable patient transfer sheet 500 includes a port 502 having an opening 504. An air hose 506 is sized to be inserted in the opening 504. The air hose 506 includes snap fastener portions 508 that releasably engage snap fastener portions 510 of the port 502. In the embodiment of FIG. 16, the inflatable sheet 500 does not include a strap for constricting the opening 504.

[0044] With reference to FIG. 17, another inflatable patient transfer sheet 600 includes a lower layer 602 having air exit openings 604. The inflatable patient transfer sheet 600 includes handle straps 606 that are secured to a support 608 of the sheet 600. The handle straps 606 may be of flexible material and include a handle portion 610 with an opening 612.

[0045] With reference to FIG. 18, another inflatable patient transfer sheet 700 includes a lower layer 702 with air exit openings 704 and an outer periphery 706. The sheet 700 includes handles 710 (one of which is specifically labeled as 71 OA) having a storage positon 712 within the outer periphery 706 and an operating or gripping position 714 outward from the outer periphery 706. To reposition the handle 710 from the storage position 712 to the gripping position 714, a user may grasp the handle 710 and pull in direction 716. The inflatable patient transfer sheet 700 may include a resilient member, such as an elastic band 718 (shown as elastically extended for handle 71 OA), which returns the handle 710 in direction 720 after the user releases the handle 710. The elastic band 718 thereby keeps the handle 710 within the outer periphery 706 when not in use. The sheet 700 may include pockets 724 and each elastic band 718 may be anchored to the sheet 700 in an associated pocket 724 so that the elastic band 718 retracts into the pocket 724 when the associated handle 710 is not in use.

[0046] With reference to FIG. 19, another inflatable patient transfer sheet 800 includes an inflatable body 802 having longitudinal sides 804 and handles 806

connected to the longitudinal sides 804. The handles 806 are connected to the

longitudinal sides 804 by an elastic member 808, such as a strap or nylon string. The elastic member 808 has ends 810, 812 secured to the longitudinal sides 804. Portions 814, 816 of the elastic member 808 may extend within sleeves 820 of the longitudinal sides 804. The handle 806A is shown in a retracted or storage position 822 and the handle 806B is shown in an operating or gripping position 824. By having an extended gripping position 824, a user can move the handle(s) 806 closer to their body so that the user has a better mechanical advantage before using the handle(s) 806 to reposition the sheet 800.

[0047] It is thus seen that a patient repositioning sheet is provided.

[0048] Uses of singular terms such as "a," "an," are intended to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms. Any description of certain embodiments as "preferred" embodiments, and other recitation of embodiments, features, or ranges as being preferred, or suggestion that such are preferred, is not deemed to be limiting. The invention is deemed to encompass embodiments that are presently deemed to be less preferred and that may be described herein as such. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended to illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention. Any statement herein as to the nature or benefits of the invention or of the preferred embodiments is not intended to be limiting. This invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited herein as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. No unclaimed language should be deemed to limit the invention in scope. Any statements or suggestions herein that certain features constitute a component of the claimed invention are not intended to be limiting unless reflected in the appended claims. Neither the marking of the patent number on any product nor the identification of the patent number in connection with any service should be deemed a representation that all embodiments described herein are incorporated into such product or service.