Impaired person care system and method

摘要

An impaired person care system which includes a reconfigurable powered wheelchair operating in conjunction with a segmented bed having a main bed section and multiple reconfigurable bed sections. The wheelchair has back, seat and leg sections configurable to an upright sitting position or a horizontal lying-down bed resting position. In the sitting position the wheelchair is positionable over a regular commode; in the lying-down position the wheelchair is positionable on the multiple reconfigurable bed sections and movable vertically in response to corresponding movement of the reconfigurable bed sections to the level of the main bed section. The wheelchair also has an opening in the seat section with allowing unobstructed passage of fecal waste from bowel movements when the wheelchair is positioned over the commode.

主权项

1. An impaired person care system comprising:
a bed having a main bed section and a set of reconfigurable bed sections adjacent the main bed section, wherein the main bed section includes a mattress and the set of reconfigurable bed sections comprises a middle reconfigurable bed section having a mattress, a bottom frame, and a lifting mechanism between the mattress and the bottom frame for raising the mattress from a low height setting in which the mattress is below the main bed section mattress to a high height setting in which the mattress is substantially commensurate in height with the main bed section mattress; and a powered wheelchair reconfigurable from an upright sitting position to a horizontal lying-down resting position, the wheelchair including a frame structure, wheelchair locomotion components including wheels, and a patient support area comprising at least a seat section with a toilet access aperture defined therethrough; the locomotion components and the seat section being supported by the frame structure; wherein the frame structure is configured to provide a space of predetermined width and height beneath the seat section and between the wheels that is free from structural obstacles; wherein the mattress, lifting mechanism and bottom frame of the middle reconfigurable bed section are configured to fit within said free space; wherein, in the upright sitting position of the wheelchair, the seat section of the wheelchair is positionable over a standard toilet when said free space is disposed around the toilet, and wherein, in the upright sitting position of the wheelchair, the seat section is positionable over the mattress, lifting mechanism, and bottom frame of the middle reconfigurable bed section when the middle reconfigurable bed section is in its low height setting and disposed within said free space so that the mattress of the middle reconfigurable bed section may be raised into engagement with the seat section upon activation of the lifting mechanism.