EP0663201A1

EP0663201A1 - A bedpan for bedridden patients adapted to be mechanically washed

Info

Publication number: EP0663201A1
Application number: EP94119329A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Berto Vassilli
Original assignee: Vassilli SRL
Current assignee: Vassilli SRL
Priority date: 1993-12-16
Filing date: 1994-12-07
Publication date: 1995-07-19
Also published as: ITPD930154V0; ITPD930154U1; IT231198Y1

Abstract

A bedpan for bedridden patients provided with a wide upper extension for resting the lumbosacral area of the patient, which is adapted to be fully mechanically washed being free from regions that cannot be directly reached by the pressurized fluid jets.

Description

The present invention relates to bedpans for bedridden patients.
There are known bedpans for bedridden patients having a bowl or basin for collecting the excrements and provided with an upper portion for resting or supporting the lumbosacral area of the patient. The forward portion of the bedpan that is opposite to the handle has a wedge-shaped configuration. The wedge-shaped configuration makes easier the positioning of the bed pan under the bedridden patient while the portion superficially extending upwardly and delimiting the upper region of the bedpan allows a nearly-anatomical support to the patient.
In the known bedpans of the prior art, the flat bottom of the bowl extends up to the wedge-shaped portion for providing a firm rest of the outwardly flaring upper portion.
Although such design is satisfactory in respect of the static stability of the device, it has a significant drawback on the sanitary side. The recess extending from the bowl in the wedge-shaped portion has to be manually cleaned either directly or indirectly, due to its elongated and shallow configuration.
Besides the uncertain results of a manual cleaning, the duty of such manual operation could be undertaken in the past by the cleaner staff, but nowadays is to be categorically exluded as being refused by anyone.
In fact bedpan cleaning is actually carried out only through mechanical means, and the receding space cannot be properly reached by the pressured water jets and are not satisfactorily washed.
This is a severe sanitary drawback, since a lack of cleaning and disinfection in said receding area causes a propagation of different kinds of infections, with the areas not reached by the scour acting as a breeding ground for microbes and bacteria.
The object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned tecnical problem.
The above object is accomplished through a bedpan with the features recited in claim 1.
In accordance with the invention the recess in the bedpan is eliminated, without reducing the upper extension offering a lumbosacral support to the patient, without pregiudice for the wedge-shaped portion located on the opposite side of the handle which is required for an easy positioning of the bedpan under the patient.
The static support function previously accomplished by the vertical walls of the recess, is now achieved through a border peripherally formed around the upper rest surface and the end of said rest surface reaching the plane in which lies the bottom of the bowl.
Such original solution really implies an inventive step that deeply modifies a long-standing system affected by a drawback that appeared to be insurmountable before the invention.
The invention will be better understood through the following description considered together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of a bedpan according to the invention.
Figure 2 is a front view of the bedpan from the side opposite to the handle 3.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the bedpan.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of the bedpan of Figure 1 along line IV-IV.
Figure 5 is an axonometric view of the bedpan.

In the Figures, reference 1 indicates the bowl of the bedpan, 2 indicates the upper ring-shaped portion surrounding the bedpan 1 and extending on the side opposite to the handle 3. Reference 1 indicates the bowl and 2 indicates the wedge-shaped forward extending portion, 4 indicates the peripheral border surrounding the forward extending portion and the upper annular flap above the pan 1.
Reference 1 indicates the bowl, 3 indicates the handle, and 4 indicates a strengthening folded border along the forward extending portion 2.
Reference 1 indicates the pan, 3 indicates the handle and 2 indicates the anatomically designed forward extending portion for supporting the lumbosacral area of the bedridden patient.
It is to be noted that the portion on the right side of the axis of symmetry has a wedge-shaped configuration for rendering easier the positioning of the bedpan under the patient.
It is further pointed out that the flat bottom 6 of the bedpan and the end edge of the border 4 lie in the same plane. The surfaces blending or connecting with each other, such as: [the bottom 6 of the bowl 1 with the side wall 5); the ring-shaped outwardly widening 7 and the upper portion 2 departing from the wall 5 of the bowl 1; the peripheral strengthening border 4 with the upper portion 2] do no form sharp edges, but properly blended zones. This way, when in use the internal and external joints are not prone to cause bruises to the patient, nor create areas that are difficult to be cleaned when the bedpan is being washed.
In view of the above, it should be evident that the internal and external surfaces of the bedpan have no recesses, cavities, hollows, and sags that are difficult to be reached by fluid jets impinging at a substantial angle for a completely mechanical washing of the bedpan.

Claims

A bedpan for bedridden patients, comprising a basin or bowl (1) with a flat bottom (6) and a side wall (5) for collecting excrements, a handle (3) and a wedge-shaped forward extending portion (2) on the side opposite to said handle (3), characterized in that said bedpan is provided with an upper portion (7) for resting the lumbosacral area of the patient having a peripheral strengthening border (4) formed around said upper rest surface, and in that the lying of said outwardly extending portion (2) is slanted downwardly so as to form a wedge-shaped configuration with the plane of the bedpan rest surface, and in that the flat bottom (6) of the bowl and the end edge of the border (4) lie in the same plane.
A bedpan as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the top of said bowl (1) for collecting excrements is provided with an outwardly extending portion having a first half surrounding the bowl as a ring-shaped wide flap and the other half projecting with an elongated triangular-shaped configuration and a rounded vertex.
A bedpan as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is designed as a wedge-shaped bedpan comprising a bowl for collecting excrements and an outwardly extending portion for resting the lumbosacral area of the bedridden patient, and in that every internal and external surface thereof can be directly reached by fluid jets for a mechanical washing.
A bedpan as claimed in the preceding claims characterized in that said bowl (1) for collecting excrements is shaped as a pan having a bottom and a side wall jointed together and not communicating with any other recess, so that the bedpan is adapted to be mechanically washed by means of fluid jets.