Self assistance commode support apparatus and methods

Abstract

A support structure is provided that includes a pair of spaced slanted side hand-arm rails, a commode between the slanted side hand-arm rails each of which are securely fastened to a common, portable, non-slip platform. The Self-Assist Rehab Commode Support is designed so the patient could utilize more of their core strength, to help lift, lower and balance their body weight, for the purpose of assisting the caregiver, during transfers, and when using a commode.

Description

37 C.F.R. § 1.71(e) AUTHORIZATION[0001]A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the US Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS IF ANY[0002]This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 557,949, filed Sep. 13, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0003]Not applicable.REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX, IF ANY[0004]Not applicable.BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention[0005]The present invention relates, generally, to health care, support and exercise systems, devices and methods. More particularly, the invention relates to a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a commode assistance apparatus and method that are practical, reliable, safe, and efficient. The support structure includes appropriately positioned slant rails and slanted hand-arm rails secured to a platform to take advantage of the patient's core strength. The slant rails and slanted hand-arm rails allow the patient to safely and independently use a commode without the risk of falling. The support structure is designed to minimize the patient's work load and reduce the work load on the caregiver. It can be utilized by family members at home, assisted living community or nursing homes looking for independent living equipment. The support structure is positioned outside of the normal scope of a toilet frame and functions to enable the patient to use their whole arm(s) at a contact point on the structure close to the core of their body to support their body weight when they rise and lower from the commode. The advantage over other commodes is that the patient's entire arm controls their descent, giving them more strength to support their body weight to complete the lift slowly on to the commode.

Problems solved by technology

Educational transfer videos exist to guide caregivers in proper technique to transfer patients to and from the commode, because transfers may cause back injuries and workman compensation issues.

However excessive assistance will accelerate the patient's muscle atrophy making the patient more dependent, ultimately requiring patients to use a catheter earlier, requiring more sedative drugs, and bed cleaning which makes the patient give up and lose their dignity.

Existing systems, apparatus, methods, technology are believed to have significant limitations and shortcomings.

Support devices in the prior art have not taken into consideration body mechanics and lifting techniques when designed.

Using only your hands puts unnecessary strain on the patient's wrist, elbow and shoulder joints.

Reaching extends their hands from their body, creating a distance from their hands to the core of their body which weakens their arm strength.

So a user using only their hands will limit their strength to lift and lower their body weight.

Problems occur when pushing down on these horizontal support bars from a seated dip position because the user's hands are in a fixed position while their body moves up and forward.

This concentrates their body weight to the thumb side of their weak arthritic wrists making it difficult for the user to move their body weight up and forward far enough over their legs so that their legs can complete the standing movement.

Otherwise these support bars can't be used, as they were designed to be used, by anyone to stand.

Specifically, if a support bar frame was positioned higher than the toilet tank, the user, from a seated dip position, would find it impossible to raise their elbows and hands high enough to grab these higher support bars.

This higher support bar position would make these support bars useless because they can't be reached from a seated dip position.

The problem occurs when the user slowly pushes down and their arms straighten behind their body, they do not have enough forward momentum to get their body weight far enough forward over their legs so their legs can complete the standing movement, so they sit back down.

However, most users need their arms to support their weak knees, hips, back, and to balance or they might fall.

A very difficult and weak elbow and leg position to push down from, a lifting design flaw.

When user's use prior patent support bars they lose energy through the entire arm because they are required to push down with their hands through the length of their whole arm, weaker wrist, and weaker elbow joints with the weaker triceps muscles to lift their body weight from a seated dip position.

However caregivers run the risk of potential injury when the user only has their weaker triceps muscles to assist the caregiver when lifting their body weight.

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