Bed bath system for bedridden patients

Abstract

The HIGISIS project was previously supported by the SENAI innovation award for technical-scientific feasibility studies, nominated Phase I-SENAI, and has even generated a patent deposit to protect the invention in the country. As there are design changes in some parts of the project, it will be necessary to deposit a new national patent. Considering the unprecedented nature of the project, its high applicability, and that no similar patent was found abroad, we are also requesting the support for filing a patent abroad, including with the PCT. Justification - Hospital infections are responsible for complications and deaths in hospital admissions. The sanitize of bedridden patients constitute essential procedures for the comfort and recovery of patients. It is also a challenge for the Nursing staff in hospitals, especially in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), due to the risks of infection. The quality and safety of these procedures ensure that there is no cross-infection during the baths of patients bedridden in ICU and in normal beds, a fact that would multiply by 100 the hospitalization costs, in addition to raising the death rates. The few national manufacturers offer very limited bedding systems, always requiring the use of conventional towels. The development of the present sanitizing system provides for bed bathing in order to wash the patient without draining any amount of liquid, keeping the patient's and bed's clothes dry, helping to reduce hospital infection rates and increase Comfort and well-being of patients during long periods of hospitalization. Objective - To develop an Innovative System to sanitize Bedridden Patients-HIGISIS, in order to allow bed bath while keeping the patient's clothes and dry. Methodology - The system will be developed based on the results obtained in Phase I-SENAI in which the electronic / mechanical / hydraulic systems controlled by a microcontroller were implemented. Each one of the subsystems has been leaktight tested. At the same time, the "head" was developed using the additive manufacturing technique. The "head" is the main innovation of the system which allows to apply water over the patient's skin and to suck up the residual water without it being spilled over patient's body. Several innovation items have been integrated into the "head" as for example: the use of a remote system ensures that the hydraulic system of the "head" only starts when in contact with the skin and switches off when it loses contact. A vacuostat assists in the control of the suction pressure so that the vacuum is efficient and ensures a comfortable bath without causing damage to the patient's skin. Aiming at comfort, the system uses a disposable sponge in the form of a ring that will be housed in the distal end of the "head", being replaced at each bath. There is also the use of an ozone generator, manufactured by Medical Systems that, at the end of a given bath cycle, acts on the hydraulic system to disinfect it, keeping it free of microorganisms. Electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic tests on the "head" have proven satisfactory, but require improvement. Phase II includes optimization of hardware and software, integration between subsystems and integration into a rack that will allow system portability inside hospital environment. Expected Results and Their Impacts - A new concept in Bedridden Patients that during the procedure keeps patient and bed clothes dry. This concept ensures greater patient comfort and reduces risk of infection. Its usability offers better ergonomic working conditions to the health professional reducing risks to their health. (AU)