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 segmented bed having a main bed section and at least one reconfigurable bed section adjacent the main bed section, each bed section including a mattress; the at least one reconfigurable bed section having a lifting mechanism for raising the reconfigurable bed section 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 reconfigurable bed section mattress is substantially commensurate in height with the main bed section mattress; and a reconfigurable powered wheelchair including a frame structure, wheelchair locomotion components 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 region of predetermined width and height beneath the seat section that is free from structural obstacles; and wherein the seat section of the wheelchair is positionable over a standard toilet when the free space beneath the wheelchair is disposed around the toilet, and the seat section of the wheelchair is positionable over the mattress of the at least one reconfigurable bed section when the reconfigurable bed section is in its low height setting and disposed within the free space beneath the wheelchair.