FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical sector of devices for persons confined to bed or patients, more in particular it refers to devices for washing persons confined to be or wounds.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

As is known, persons confined to bed are obliged to remain there fore long periods of time, generally due to precarious physical conditions, disabilities, chronic diseases, etc. In this situation the person confined to bed must however be guaranteed cleanliness and personal hygiene, without being moved and being required to make tiring exertions.

A heavy and prolonged pressure of the body on the mattress can further lead to the developing of bedsores, i.e. lesions of the skin tissue caused by localised stricture of the blood vessels.

To plan for washing persons confined to bed or wounds (for example bedsores), a waterproof sheet is usually positioned, generally made of a non- woven textile, interposed between the sheet and the person confined to bed, and subsequently fixed to predetermined structures, so that the sheet is practically a bathtub-shaped containing structure.

After having fashioned the bathtub shape from the waterproof sheet, the operator can wash the patient and any wounds with a shower, then draining the water from the tub in which the person confined to bed is positioned, and proceed to drying the person. When the person has been dried, the waterproof sheet is removed from the bed and the person confined to bed is freed of it.

In the majority of cases the washing shower for the patient is supplied from the general water supply, which is often a carrier of a bacterial load. This can lead to clinical complications for patients confined to bed having a plurality of wounds or sores.

Following the washing of the patient, the evacuated water is bacteriologically polluted and must be eliminated in an appropriate way in order to avoid contamination of environments or other patients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-described drawbacks by providing a device for a washing a person confined to bed or a wound, which device is able to prevent any bacteriological contamination of the supply water and the waste water.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a washing device able to supply water free of bacterial load and to confine the waste water in an optimal way, without contaminating environments or other patients.

The above-described aims are attained by a device for washing a person confined to bed or a wound, comprising: a first tank comprising a first recipient and a first closing cover; a first bag positionable removably internally of the first tank and containing sterile washing liquid; first means for connecting the first bag to a dispensing group provided by an external system for washing the person confined to bed, or the wound; a first actuator group enabling supply of the sterile washing liquid contained in the first bag to the dispensing group of the external system for washing, via the first means for connecting; a second tank comprising a second recipient and a second closing cover; a second bag, preferably empty, positionable removably internally of the second tank and predisposed for containing waste liquid; second means for connecting the second bag to the external system for washing the person confined to bed, or the wound; a second actuator group enabling discharge of the waste liquid from the external system for washing into the second bag, via the second means for connecting.

In particular embodiments, the device for washing a person confined to bed or a wound of the invention comprises one or more of the following characteristics, considered singly or in combination:

• the first actuator group comprises a first pump group interposed between the first bag and the dispensing group of the external system for washing, and the second actuator group can comprise a second pump group interposed between the external system for washing and the second bag;

• the first actuator group can comprise a compression group predisposed, via a first conduit for placing the first tank and/or the internal volume of the first bag contained in the first tank in overpressure, so as to enable supply of the sterile washing liquid contained in the first bag to the dispensing group of the external system for washing;

• the compression group can be positioned upstream of the first tank, so as not to be involved with the sterile liquid contained in the first bag;

• the second actuator group can comprise an aspirating group predisposed, via a respective second conduit and third conduit, for placing the internal volume of the second bag and the volume of the second tank comprised between the second bag and the internal surface of the second tank in depression, so as to enable aspiration of the waste liquid from the external system for washing internally of the second bag;

• the aspirating group can be positioned downstream of the second tank, so as not to be involved with the waste liquid contained in the second bag;

• the first bag is of an open-mouth type and is adherent to the internal surface of the first tank, and the second bag is of an open-mouth type and is adherent to the internal surface of the second tank;

• a maximum level sensor can be included, positioned in the upper part of the second tank, able to interact with the second actuator group for preventing leakage from the second tank of the waste liquid contained in the open- mouthed second bag;

• the first bag is of a closed type, preferably sealed, and is freely contained internally of the first tank, the second bag being of a closed type, preferably sealed, and being freely contained internally of the second tank; the internal regions of the first bag and the second bag being accessible by cutting corresponding connecting sections projecting superiorly from the respective bags. Further, a bag is described for a device for washing a person confined to bed or a wound, comprising: a sealed and closed wrapping; a first connecting section projecting superiorly from the external surface of the wrapping; a second connecting section projecting superiorly from the external surface of the wrapping and internally connected to an internal drawing tubing which opens in proximity of the bottom of the wrapping; the first connecting section and the second connecting section being normally closed and cuttable so as to enable connection between the external environment and the internal region of the wrapping; the sealed wrapping being able to contain sterile washing liquid or being empty. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the invention are specified in the following with particular reference to some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments, with reference to the accompanying tables of drawings, in which:

- figure 1 is a plan diagram of a first embodiment of the device for washing a person confined to bed, or a wound;

- figure 2 is a like plan diagram of a variant of the device for washing a person confined to bed as indicated in figure 1 ;

- figure 3 is a like plan diagram of a second embodiment of the device for washing a person confined to bed; - figure 4 is a like plan diagram of a variant of the device for washing a person confined to bed as indicated in figure 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the above tables, reference numeral 1 denotes in its entirety a device for washing a person confined to bed or a wound. In a novel way the device 1 for washing comprises:

- a first tank (2) comprising a first recipient and a first closing cover;

- a first bag (20) positionable removably internally of the first tank (2) and containing sterile washing liquid;

- first means (3) for connecting the first bag (20) to a dispensing group (40) provided by an external system (4) for washing the person confined to bed, or the wound;

- a first actuator group (10, 1 10) enabling supply of the sterile washing liquid contained in the first bag (20) to the dispensing group (40) of the external system (4) for washing, via the first means (3) for connecting;

- a second tank (5) comprising a second recipient and a second closing cover;

- a second bag (50), preferably empty, positionable removably internally of the second tank (5) and predisposed for containing waste liquid;

- second means (30) for connecting the second bag (50) to the external system (4) for washing the person confined to bed, or the wound;

- a second actuator group (11 , 1 11) enabling discharge of the waste liquid from the external system (4) for washing into the second bag (50), via the second means 30 for connecting.

The first bag (20) and the second bag (50) are realised with the same structure; in particular each comprises:

- a sealed and closed wrapping;

- a first connecting section (21 , 51) projecting superiorly from the external surface of the wrapping;

- a second connecting section (22, 52) projecting superiorly from the external surface of the wrapping and internally connected to an drawing tubing (25) which opens in proximity of the bottom of the wrapping.

The first connecting section (21 , 51) and the second connecting section (22, 52) are normally closed and cuttable so as to enable connection between the external environment and the internal region of the wrapping, when necessary.

The sealed wrapping is able to contain sterile washing liquid (first bag (20)) or can be empty (second bag (50)).

The first bag (20) and the second bag (50) are preferably of the single-use type. The external system (4) for washing can comprise, in general terms, a bath (49) in which the person confined to bed or the limb bearing the wound is positioned, and to which a dispensing group (40) of sterile water is associated, for example a small shower.

In a first embodiment of the device (1) for washing, illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the first actuator group comprises a compression group (1 10) predisposed, via a first conduit (9), for placing the first tank (2) and/or the internal volume of the first bag (20) contained in the first tank (2) in overpressure, so as to enable supply of the sterile washing liquid contained in the first bag (20) to the dispensing group (40) of the external system (4) for washing. The second actuator group advantageously comprises an aspirating group (11 1) predisposed, via a respective second conduit (7) and third conduit (8), for placing the internal volume of the second bag (50) and the volume of the second tank (5) comprised between the second bag (50) and the internal surface of the second tank (5) in depression, so as to enable aspiration of the waste liquid from the external system (4) for washing internally of the second bag (50).

The second conduit (7) places the internal volume of the second bag (50) under depression, while the third conduit (8) places (at the same value) the internal volume of the second tank (5) comprised between the second bag (50) and the internal surface of the second tank (5) under depression.

This is for preventing crushing of the second bag (50) inserted in the second tank (5).

In this way, the lateral walls of the second bag (50) are subjected to the same depression both internally and externally, and consequently tend to be kept stable in proximity of the internal surface of the second tank (5).

The compression group (1 10) is advantageously positioned upstream of the first tank (2), so as not to be involved with the sterile liquid contained in the first bag (20). Likewise, the aspirating group (1 11) is advantageously positioned downstream of the second tank (5), so as not to be involved with the waste liquid contained in the second bag (50).

In this way any bacterial contaminations, especially in the aspirating group (11 1), which may be attributable to previously-treated patients, are prevented. The first conduit (9) connected to the compression group (110) and the first means (3) for connecting, open internally of the first container (2) by means of mouths fashioned, for example, in the first cover of the first container (2).

Likewise, the second conduit (7) connected to the aspirating group (1 11) and the second means (30) for connecting, open internally of the second container (5) by means of mouths fashioned, for example, in the second cover of the second container (5).

The third conduit (8) opens internally of the second container (5) by means of mouths fashioned in the lateral surface of the second recipient of the second container (5). In a second preferred embodiment of the device (1) for washing, illustrated in figures 3 and 4, the first actuator group comprises a first pump group 10 interposed between the first bag (20) and the dispensing group (40) of the external system (4) for washing, and the second actuator group comprises a second pump group (11) interposed between the external system (4) for washing and the second bag (50).

The first pump group (10) is advantageously positioned in line with respect to the first means (3) for connecting the first bag (20) with the dispensing group (40) of the external system (4) for washing, and the second pump group (11) is positioned in line with respect to the second means (30) for connecting the second bag (50) with the external system (4) for washing.

The device for washing (1) of the invention can equally use bags (20, 50) of the open-mouth type or alternatively of the closed type, preferably sealed. In figures 1 and 3, the first bag (20) is of an open-mouth type and is adherent to the internal surface of the first tank (2), and likewise the second bag (50) is of an open-mouth type and is adherent to the internal surface of the second tank (5).

In this case the device for washing 1 can further comprise a maximum level sensor (6) positioned in the upper part of the second tank (5), able to interact with the second actuator group (1 1 , 11 1) for preventing leakage from the second tank (5) of the waste liquid contained in the second open-mouthed bag (50).

On the contrary, in figures 2 and 4 the first bag (20) is of a closed type, preferably sealed, and is freely contained internally of the first tank (2), and the second bag (50) is of a closed type, preferably sealed, and being freely contained internally of the second tank (5).

In this case the internal regions of the first bag (20) and the second bag (50) are accessible by cutting corresponding connecting sections (21 , 22, 51 , 52) projecting superiorly from the respective bags (20, 50).

On completion of the washing step of the person confined to bed or the wound, the second actuator group (11 , 1 11) is deactivated and the second bag (50), full of waste water with a high bacterial content, is removed from the second tank (5) and appropriately eliminated. In the case of the second open mouthed bag (50), first the second cover of the second tank (5) is removed and then the second bag (50) is sealed, with due care to avoid contaminations outside the second tank (5) and especially of the external system (4) for washing. In the case of the second bag (50), of the closed type, the corresponding connecting section (51 , 52) is decoupled from the respective mouths fashioned in the second cover of the second container (5) and the connecting section (51 , 52) is sealed.

On the basis of the above, it is clear that the device of the invention for washing a person confined to bed, or a wound, is able to prevent any bacteriological contamination of the supply water and the waste water.

This is fundamentally owing to the fact of preferably using single-use bags for both containing the sterile water supplied to the dispensing group of the external system for washing, and for segregating the waste water coming from the system for washing.

The above applies both to open-mouthed bags and sealed closed bags.

The washing device of the invention advantageously enables supplying water free of bacteria and confining the waste water in an optimal way, without contaminating environments or other patients. The device for washing of the invention is particularly effective both for washing a person confined to bed, who is often suffering from bedsores, and for washing any wound, for example a surgical wound.