Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
Apparatus to facilitate turning a patient lying on his back in a bed onto one side while maintaining the opposite leg in a desired orientation with respect to the patient's body, the desired orientation including a chosen degree of abduction, a chosen degree of rotation, and a minimal degree of flexion, said apparatus comprising in combination: a splint for supporting the opposite leg of the patient in the desired orientation with respect to the patient's body; and, elevating means attached to said splint for elevating the opposite leg of the patient by constraining said splint to move along an arcuate path from an initial position on the bed to an elevated position as the patient is being turned onto his side.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus to facilitate turning a patient lying on his back in a bed onto one side while maintaining the opposite leg in a desired orientation with respect to the patient's body, the desired orientation including a chosen degree of abduction, a chosen degree of rotation, and a minimal degree of flexion, said apparatus comprising in combination: a splint for supporting the opposite leg of the patient in the desired orientation with respect to the patient's body; and, elevating means attached to said splint for elevating the opposite leg of the patient by constraining said splint to move along an arcuate path from an initial position on the bed to an elevated position as the patient is being turned onto his side.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 furthe comprising splint adjustment means for attaching said splint to said elevating means at an orientation chosen to maintain the opposite leg of the patient at a chosen degree of rotation as the patient is being turned onto his side.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elevating means further includes abduction adjustment means for adjusting the orientation of said splint means to an orientation chosen to maintain the opposite leg of the patient at a chosen degree of abduction as the patient is being turned onto his side.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elevating means further include support means for adjustably supporting said elevating means at any of a plurality of elevated positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising cage means connected to said elevating means for restraining the other leg of the patient to lie in a particular position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said splint further comprises two elongated arched shells connected by a hinge whose axis extends generally in the direction of elongation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The splint of claim 6 wherein each of said two elongated arched shells includes a handle for use in lifting a body member to which the splint has been applied.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
222 words
Apparatus to facilitate turning a patient lying on his back in a bed onto one side while maintaining the opposite leg in a chosen degree of abduction, a chosen degree of rotation, and a minimal degree of flexion, said apparatus comprising in combination: a splint for supporting the opposite leg of the patient, said splint including two elongated arched shells connected by a hinge, the axis of the hinge extending generally in the direction of elongation; elevating means attached to said splint for elevating the opposite leg of the patient by constraining said splint to move along an arcuate path from an initial position on the bed to an elevated position as the patient is being turned onto his side, said elevating means including abduction adjustment means for adjusting the orientation of said splint to an orientation chosen to maintain the opposite leg of the patient at a chosen degree of abduction as the patient is being turned onto his side, said elevating means further including support means for adjustably supporting said elevating means at any of a plurality of elevated positions; and, splint adjustment means for adjustably affixing said splint to said elevating means at an orientation chosen to maintain the opposite leg of the patient at a chosen degree of rotation as the patient is being turned onto his side.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
222 words
Apparatus to facilitate turning a patient lying on his back in a bed onto one side while maintaining the opposite leg in a chosen degree of abduction, a chosen degree of rotation, and a minimal degree of flexion, said apparatus comprising in combination: a splint for supporting the opposite leg of the patient, said splint including two elongated arched shells connected by a hinge, the axis of the hinge extending generally in the direction of elongation; elevating means attached to said splint for elevating the opposite leg of the patient by constraining said splint to move along an arcuate path from an initial position on the bed to an elevated position as the patient is being turned onto his side, said elevating means including abduction adjustment means for adjusting the orientation of said splint to an orientation chosen to maintain the opposite leg of the patient at a chosen degree of abduction as the patient is being turned onto his side, said elevating means further including support means for adjustably supporting said elevating means at any of a plurality of elevated positions; and, splint adjustment means for adjustably affixing said splint to said elevating means at an orientation chosen to maintain the opposite leg of the patient at a chosen degree of rotation as the patient is being turned onto his side.