U.S. patent number 3,818,516 [Application Number 05/321,022] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-25 for mobile hospital bed to facilitate x-ray examinations.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Centinela Hospital Association, d/b/a Centinela Valley Community Hospital. Invention is credited to Paul J. Hopper, Jack D. Kleinpeter, Dominic C. Milano.
United States Patent |
3,818,516 |
Hopper , et al. |
June 25, 1974 |
MOBILE HOSPITAL BED TO FACILITATE X-RAY EXAMINATIONS
Abstract
The hospital bed is adjustable as usual for height, tilt,
elevated back r and elevated knees, and is also mounted on wheels
for use to transport the patient. In addition, the upper bed
section that carries the mattress is slidable longitudinally to
carry the upper part of a reclining patient forward beyond the rest
of the bed structure to an extended position which affords ample
clearance for special X-ray equipment, both above and below the
extended section of the bed. The extended portion of the bed
section is transparent to X-rays to permit X-ray examination of the
upper part of the reclining patient's body without the necessity of
handling or disturbing the reclining patient. A releasable latch
normally retains the extendable bed section at its retracted
position.
Inventors: |
Hopper; Paul J. (Cerritos,
CA), Kleinpeter; Jack D. (Hawthorne, CA), Milano; Dominic
C. (Los Angeles, CA) |
Assignee: |
Centinela Hospital Association,
d/b/a Centinela Valley Community Hospital (Inglewood,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
23248838 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/321,022 |
Filed: |
January 4, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/611; 5/618;
378/209; 5/607; 378/198 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
6/04 (20130101); A61G 7/002 (20130101); A61G
2203/723 (20130101); A61G 2210/50 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61G
7/002 (20060101); A61B 6/04 (20060101); A61g
007/10 (); G03b 041/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/11,62,63,66-69,317,280,92 ;248/345.1 ;250/445-448 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nunberg; Casmir A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Smyth, Roston & Pavitt
Claims
We claim:
1. In a hospital bed wherein the bed has an upper bed section to
support a reclining patient, said bed section being mounted in
spaced relation to a base frame member,
the improvement to facilitate X-ray examination of the upper part
of the reclining patient's body with minimum disturbance of the
reclining patient, comprising:
means forming an intermediate frame positioned between said bed
section and said base frame member,
means cooperating with said intermediate frame and said bed section
for controlled longitudinal movement of said upper bed section with
respect to said intermediate frame member whereby
said upper bed section is extendible forwardly from the rest of the
bed structure to permit two components of X-ray apparatus to
straddle the forward portion of the upper bed section and the upper
part of the patient's body thereon, and
the extended portion of the upper bed section being transparent to
X-rays to avoid blocking the X-rays.
2. In a mobile device for normal use as a hospital bed for a
reclining patient and for optional use to transport the reclining
patient to X-ray apparatus for X-ray inspection of the upper part
of the patient's body, the combination of:
a mobile base frame;
a support frame above the base frame carried by the base frame and
variable in height relative to the base frame;
an upper bed section to support the reclining patient, an end
portion of the bed section corresponding to the upper portion of
the patient's body being transparent to X-rays passing both through
the patient's body and the upper bed section, and
means cooperating with said upper bed section to effect controlled
longitudinal movement of said upper bed section relative to the
support frame from a normal position to an alternate forward
position extending beyond the forward end of the support frame with
ample space both above and below the extended bed section for the
X-ray apparatus.
3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 which includes a latch
mechanism to releasably hold the carriage frame at its normal
retracted position.
4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said latch
mechanism includes cooperating parts on the bed section and the
support frame respectively;
in which the latch mechanism is biased to latching position;
and in which said cooperating parts of the latch mechanism are
shaped with cam surfaces for cooperation to automatically latch the
upper bed section in response to return of the upper bed section to
its normal retracted position.
5. A combination as set forth in claim 3 which includes a latch
component carried by one of said support frame and said bed section
and a rotary latch member carried by the other of said support
frame and said bed section, said rotary latch member having one
portion for engagement with said latch component and having a
second portion to serve as stop means for said component.
6. A combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said latch
mechanism includes a rotary latch member that is biased to latching
position and which includes manual means to rotate the latch member
to its release position in opposition to its bias.
7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 which includes a pull rod
operable to rotate the latch member to release position, said pull
rod being accessible at the foot end of the mobile device.
8. A combination as set forth in claim 3, in which said latch
mechanism includes a rotary latch member with a lateral projection
for use in rotating the latch member to a release position;
and which includes means cooperative with said lateral projection
to limit release rotation of the latch member.
9. A combination as set forth in claim 2 which includes track means
on one of said support frame and said bed section and which
includes rollers on the other of said support frame and said bed
section to traverse said track means.
10. A combination as set forth in claim 9;
in which the track means is on the support frame;
in which the track means comprises a pair of tracks;
in which each track is an inverted channel member with the open
side of the channel member downward;
and in which the two longitudinal sides of each inverted channel
member has inwardly directed flanges on which said rollers
ride.
11. A combination as set forth in claim 10;
which includes roller assemblies on the opposite sides of the bed
section to cooperate with the two inverted channel tracks;
in which each of said roller assemblies includes a carriage
attached to the bed section and extending upwardly through the
lower open side of the corresponding track;
and in which said carriage is provided with rollers on each of its
opposite sides to ride on the corresponding inwardly turned flanges
of the corresponding rack.
12. A combination as set forth in claim 9 which includes a latch
component on one of said tracks and means on said bed section
cooperative with the latch component to releasably engage the latch
component to retain the bed section at its normal retracted
position.
13. A combination as set forth in claim 9 which includes a latch
component on one of said tracks;
and which includes a rotary latch member on the bed section to
engage said latch component to hold the bed section at its normal
retracted position, said rotary latch member having a hook portion
for engagement with said latch component and having a portion in
the path of said component to tend to rotate the latch member to
latching position in response to pressure from the latch
component.
14. A combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes a support
element for the extended bed section and resilient bumper means on
the leading end of the support element.
15. A combination as set forth in claim 1, in which said bed
section comprises a carriage frame longitudinally movable on said
intermediate frame and an articulated mattress frame fixedly
mounted on the upper side of the carriage frame.
16. A combination as set forth in claim 1, in which said bed
section has a forward panel on its leading end to support the upper
portion of the body of a reclining patient and in which said panel
has a body-support plate made of material that is transparent to
X-rays.
17. A combination as set forth in claim 16 in which said forward
panel is swingable upward to support the patient in sitting
position.
18. A combination as set forth in claim 16, which includes a
mattress overlying said body-support plate, said mattress being
made of material that is transparent to X-rays.
19. A combination as set forth in claim 16 in which the structure
of the extendible bed section is open below said body-support plate
to avoid blocking X-rays.
20. A combination as set forth in claim 1, in which said extendible
bed section has a headboard that is removable to avoid interference
with the X-ray apparatus.
21. An improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upper bed
section includes a carriage frame means,
said carriage frame means supporting an articulated mattress
frame,
first linkage means interconnecting said carriage frame and said
mattress frame to effect movement the latter with respect to said
carriage frame,
second linkage means cooperating with said intermediate frame to
effect movement of said carriage frame independently of said first
linkage means whereby said carriage frame may be moved vertically
with respect to said base frame and said articulated mattress frame
may be adjusted independently of said carriage frame while
permitting longitudinal movement of said carriage frame means
relative to said intermediate frame means.
22. An improvement as set forth in claim 21 wherein said base frame
member is provided with roller means for movement of said hospital
bed from one location to another.
23. An improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein
said upper bed section includs means supporting an articulated
mattress frame, and
linkage means operative to effect independent movement of each of
said mattress frame and said intermediate frame.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Beds for hospitalized patients are commonly adjustable to make a
reclining patient comfortable as well as to facilitate various
medical procedures. Thus, a hospital bed may be raised and lowered
and may be tilted either forwardly or rearwardly. The head end may
be swung upward through a range of angles to elevate the head and
back of the patient and the patient's knees may be raised to
various degrees.
If it is necessary to move a reclining patient to an X-ray facility
of the hospital for examination or treatment, the patient must be
lifted and manuevered from the bed to a mobile structure for
transportation and upon arrival at the special facility, the
patient must be again lifted and maneuvered onto an X-ray table.
For example, when an artificial pacemaker is to be placed in the
body of a cardiac patient, the installation procedure must be
monitored by X-rays, and upon arrival of the patient at the X-ray
room, it is necessary not only to lift the reclining patient from
the mobile stretcher but the patient must also be handled bodily
for correct positioning relative to the X-ray equipment. Afterward
the patient must be lifted back onto the mobile structure and
finally must be lifted from the mobile structure onto his customary
hospital bed.
Such repeated handling of the patient is not only fatiguing to a
seriously ill patient, but is also undesirable in exciting and
stimulating a reclining patient at a time when he should rest with
as little disturbance as possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the invention is to avoid disturbing a
reclining patient when it is necessary for X-ray examination or
treatment. For example, if a surgeon is to place an artificial
pacemaker in a patient with the aid of X-ray equipment monitored by
a cathode ray tube or a television unit, this object is carried out
in accord with the present invention by using a special adjustable
mobile hospital bed on which the patient normally rests instead of
using the usual mobile structure to transport the patient to the
X-ray room. At the X-ray room or in the patient's room, the height
of the bed is adjusted as required and the upper mattress-bearing
section of the bed with the reclining patient thereon is shifted
longitudinally forward from the rest of the bed to an extended
position for X-ray examination. There is ample space both above and
below the extended upper section of the bed and with the extended
bed section including the mattress transparent to X-rays, there is
ample freedom for X-ray examination of the upper part of the
reclining patient's body without at all disturbing the patient.
Subsequently, the extended upper bed section may be retracted
longitudinally to its normal position and then the mobile bed may
be moved on its wheels to return the reclining patient for normal
use of the mobile bed in his hospital room.
Another object of the invention is to prevent inadvertent extension
of the upper bed section and especially to prevent such extension
by gravity when the bed is adjusted to a forwardly tilted position.
For this purpose a manually releasable latch immobilizes the upper
bed section, the latch automatically engaging in response to return
of the upper bed section to its normal retracted position.
Preferably the upper bed-section is mounted by rollers on a pair of
longitudinal channel-shaped tracks and a further object of the
invention is to insure that the tracks are kept clear of debris. In
this respect, a feature of the invention is the inversion of the
channel-shaped tracks to turn the open sides of the tracks
downward, the longitudinal sides of the inverted channel members
being flanged inwardly to provide support surfaces for rollers on
the underside of the upper bed section. By virute of this
arrangement, the inverted track members act as their own shields
and any foreign material that finds its way into the channel-shaped
tracks eventually drops out instead of accumulating.
The features and advantages of the invention may be understood from
the following detailed description and the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, which are merely illustrative:
Fig. 1 is a simplified side elevational view of the hospital bed,
with the hospital bed at its lowest elevation;
FIG. 2 is a similar view with the hospital bed elevated;
FIG. 3 is a similar view of the elevated hospital bed with the
upper mattress-bearing section of the bed extended longitudinally
forward beyond the forward end of the rest of the bed structure for
the purpose of carrying out X-ray examination;
FIG. 4 is a front end elevation of the bed as seen along the line 4
- 4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing how the forward panel of
the mattress-bearing section may be swung upward for the purpose of
X-ray examination of the patient in sitting position;
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing how the hospital bed may
be tilted forwardly;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view on an enlarged scale
showing how a manually releasable latch normally retains the upper
extendable bed section at its retracted position;
FIG. 8 is an elevational view as seen along the line 8 -- 8 of FIG.
7;
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with parts shown in phantom and
with the latch in engagement with the retracted upper bed
section;
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the latch in its
released position;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the upper extendable section
of the hospital bed with the mattress removed to show a forward
panel of the bed that is transparent to X-rays;
FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly
broken away, showing how the extendible upper section of the bed is
mounted on rollers for longitudinal displacement relative to the
rest of the bed structure; and
Fig. 13 is a fragmentary end elevational view as seen along the
line 13 -- 13 of FIG. 12.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Much of the structure of the hospital bed that is shown in the
drawings is found in the prior art. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary
description of well-known hospital bed components, the Pruim, et al
U.S. Pat. No. 3,222,693 is hereby incorporated into the present
disclosure by reference.
Referring to FIGS. 1 - 3, the major parts of the illustrated
embodiment of the invention include: a mobile base frame 20,
provided with suitable wheels or casters 22; an intermediate
support frame, generally designated 24, which is carried by the
base frame and is adjustable in height relative to the base frame;
and an upper bed section, generally designated 25 which is
longitudinally movable on the support frame 24. The upper bed
section 25 includes a carriage frame 26 which is longitudinally
slidable on the support frame 24 and further includes an
articulated mattress frame, generally designated 28, mounted on the
upper side of the carriage frame. The mattress frame 28 is partly
made of perforated sheet metal 29 (FIG. 11) and carries a mattress
30 of suitable material, such as foamed rubber that is transparent
to X-rays. The upper bed section 25 is normally positioned on the
support frame 24 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but may be displaced
longitudinally forwardly from the support frame to the extended
position shown in FIG. 3.
The carriage frame 26 of the upper bed section 25 has the usual
detachable headboard 32 and detachable footboard 34 and preferably
the front end of the frame 24 is provided with a suitable resilient
bumper 35 to cushion any inadvertent impacts to X-ray equipment
that may occur during the maneuvering of the X-ray head.
The articulated mattress frame 28 is divided into the following
sections: a seat section 36 that is fixedly mounted on the carriage
frame 26 by connecting structure 38; a forward panel 40 to support
the torso of a reclining patient; an upper knee panel 42; and a
lower knee panel 44. The forward panel 40 is pivotally connected to
the fixed seat panel 36 by a hinge 45 and may be adjustably
elevated through a range of angles by power-actuated means
including swingable arms 46 on opposite sides of the panel that
incline upward from the carriage frame 26 and have rollers 48 at
their upper ends to bear against the under side of the panel. Upper
knee panel 42 is hingedly connected to the fixed seat section 36 by
a hinge 50 and is hingedly connected to the lower knee panel 44 by
a second hinge 52. The free end of the lower knee panel 44 is
provided with rollers 54 in rolling contact with the carriage frame
26, and a pair of power-actuated arms 55 having rollers 56 in
rolling contact with the upper knee panel 42 may be swung upward in
a well known manner to elevate the two knee panels in the region of
the hinge 52 with the rollers 54 shifting along the carriage frame
26 to accommodate the movement.
The support frame 24 has rigid downwardly extending brackets 58 on
each of its opposite sides and a pair of corresponding lifting arms
60 on a power-actuated transverse shaft 62 are connected by pivots
63 to the brackets 58. The transverse shaft 62 is journaled on the
base frame 20 and may be actuated as desired to adjust the height
of the front end of the support frame relative to the base frame
20. In like manner a pair of lifting arms 64 on a second
power-actuated transverse shaft 65 are pivotally connected to rear
brackets 58 of the support frame 24 and may be actuated to
adjustably elevate the rear end of the support frame.
The forward pair of lifting arms 60 and the rearward pair of
lifting arms 64 may be actuated simultaneously to change the level
of the support frame 24, or may be actuated selectively to tilt the
support frame and the upper bed section 25 rearwardly or to tilt
the support frame forwardly as shown in FIG. 6. A plurality of foot
pedals 66 at the rear end of the base frame 20 serve as convenient
controls for the pairs of arms 60 and 64.
The support frame 24 comprises essentially a pair of parallel
longitudinal tracks 68 which are of the construction shown in FIGS.
7 - 10, 12 and 13. As shown in FIG. 12, the rigid downwardly
extending brackets 58 of the support frame 24 are unitary with the
tracks 68. Each pair of the brackets 58 is rigidly interconnected
by a transverse tube 70 which, as shown in FIG. 13, rests on the
base frame 20 of the bed when the pair of brackets are at their
lowest positions. FIG. 13 also shows, how the forward pair of lift
arms 60 rotatably embrace the forward transverse tube 70.
Each of the two tracks 68 is of the configuration of an inverted
channel member having a horizontal top web 72 and two vertical
opposite side webs 74 which have inward curved flanges 75. The
carriage frame 26 is supported by rollers 76 that ride on the edges
of the curved flanges 75, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 13.
On opposite sides of the forward portion of the carriage frame 26
and again on opposite sides of the rearward portion, the carriage
frame is equipped with roller assemblies the construction of which
is best shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Each of the four roller
assemblies includes a miniature carriage 78 of U-shaped cross
section which carries two transverse axles 80 with rollers 76 on
the opposite ends of each axle. The miniature carriage 78 extends
upward through the open bottom side of the track 68 and is mounted
by bolts 82 on the lower flange of a C-shaped housing 84. The upper
flange of the C-shaped housing 84 of each of the two forward roller
assemblies is secured to a forward transverse tubular frame member
85 on the carriage frame 26, and in like manner the C-shaped
housings 84 of the two rearward roller assemblies are secured to a
second rearward transverse tubular frame member 85 (not shown).
In the construction shown, each of the C-shaped housings 84 is
secured to the corresponding tubular frame member 85 by a yoke 86
that straddles the tubular frame member and is formed with a pair
of flanges 88 that engage the upper flange of the C-shaped housing
84. United with the yoke 86 is an upper clip 90 that overhangs the
tubular frame member 85 and is provided with a set screw 92 that is
tightened against the tubular frame member to make the assembly
rigid.
To releasably secure the carriage frame 26 at its retracted
position, a latch mechanism is provided at one of the two rear
corners of the bed structure and FIGS. 7, 9 and 10 show the latch
mechanism as viewed from the left side of the bed structure along
the line 7 -- 7 of FIG. 4.
The latch mechanism includes an angular clip 94 mounted on the top
side of one of the tracks 68 by a pair of screws 95, and further
includes a rotary latch member 96 that is mounted on a transverse
pivot 98 inside a curved housing 100. As shown in FIG. 8 the curved
housing 100 is unitary with a C-shaped housing 84 of one of the
four roller assemblies. The latch clip 94 has an upright flange
which is bent forwardly adjacent its upper edge as indicated at 102
in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10.
The rotary latch member 96 has three arms, namely: a forwardly
extending hook arm 105 that has a rounded nose 106 and is shaped
for hook engagement with the latch clip 94; an upwardly extending
release arm 108; and a downwardly extending stop arm 110 which
serves as a stop in the path of movement of the latch clip 94 and
which tends to rotate the latch member to its latching position in
response to pressure from the latch clip. Suitable means is
provided to bias the rotary latch member 96 towards its latching
position. In the construction shown, a concealed spring 112 urges a
small plastic body 114 downward and a toggle member 115 has its
upper end seated in a notch 115 of the plastic body and has its
lower end seated in a notch 118 of the rotary latch member 96.
Any suitable means may be provided for manual release of the latch
member 96. In the construction shown in FIGS. 7 -- 10, the release
mechanism includes: a release pin 120 that is mounted on the
release arm 108 of the latch member 96 and extends laterally from
the release arm through a circular aperture 122 in the side of the
curved housing 100; a trip lever 124 pivoted on a stud 125 on the
side of the curved housing 100, the trip lever having an upper arm
126 to swing against the release pin 120 and having a lower
operating arm 128; a rearwardly extending pull rod 130 that extends
through a rear wall 132 of the carriage frame 26; a clevis 134 that
pivotally connects the pull rod to the lower operating arm 128 of
the trip lever; and a knob 135 that serves as a handle on the outer
end of the pull rod. The circular aperture 122 cooperates with the
release pin 120 to limit release rotation of the rotary latch
member 96.
When the carriage frame 26 is at its forward extended position
shown in FIG. 3, the rotary latch member 96 is in its latching
position in the absence of the latch clip 94. When the carriage
frame 26 is moved rearward from its forward extended position the
latch clip 94 approaches the curved nose 106 of the hook arm 105
and the bent flange 102 of the latch clip acts on the curved nose
of the hook arm of the latch member with the cam action to force
the latch member clockwise in opposition to the biasing spring 112
and as the latch clip 94 reaches the stop arm 110 of the rotary
latch member, the hook arm 105 snaps into engagement with the latch
clip. The latch mechanism may be caused to release the carriage
frame 26 when desired by operation of the pull rod 130 by means of
the knob 135.
The manner in which the described hospital bed serves its purpose
may be readily understood from the foregoing description. The
hospital bed normally serves as a conventional hospital bed that is
adjustable in the usual manner to make the reclining patient
comfortable and to facilitate various medical procedures. When it
is desired to transport the reclining patient to the X-ray room,
the hospital bed serves as a mobile transportation means. On
arrival at the X-ray room, the headboard 32 is removed, the height
of the upper bed section 25 is adjusted as required and then the
latch mechanism is released to permit the upper bed section 25 to
be extended, as shown in FIG. 3 for X-ray examination of the
patient. Subsequently the upper bed section 25 is retracted to its
normal latched position and the bed is again used for
transportation to return the reclining patient to his hospital
room.
As indicated in phantom in FIGS. 3 and 4, a conventional X-ray
apparatus consists of a pedestal 136 mounted on casters 138 and the
pedestal carries upper and lower arms 140 and 142 to straddle a
patient, the two arms carrying corresponding X-ray components 144
and 145. When the upper bed section 24 is extended for the purpose
of X-ray examination of the upper part of the patient's body, the
X-ray apparatus is maneuvered to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and
4 where the two arms 140 and 142 straddle the extended upper bed
section with ample clearance under the extended bed section for the
lower arm 142 and the lower X-ray component 145. An oscilloscope
146 may be connected to the X-ray apparatus, for example, to
monitor the installation of an artificial pacemaker in a patient's
body.
The carriage frame 26 is of open construction to avoid blocking the
X-rays and the forward panel 40 of the mattress frame includes a
body-support plate 150, best shown in FIG. 11, of suitable material
such as high impact "Masonite" that, like the mattress 30, is
transparent to X-rays.
FIG. 5 shows how the bed may be used to X-ray the upper portion of
the patient's body with the patient in sitting position, for
example to show the progress of ingested barium. The forward panel
40 of the mattress frame is elevated as shown and the X-ray
apparatus is adjusted for the two arms 140 and 142 to straddle the
patient and the elevated panel.
Our description in specific detail of the presently preferred
embodiment of the invention will suggest various changes,
substitutions and other departures from our disclosure within the
spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *