New bariatric bed

Jun 9 2011

Twenty-percent of the adult U.S. population is obese, including approximately five percent that are considered morbidly obese. The direct health issues, related complications and safety challenges affecting this population are far reaching and well documented. VitalGo, Inc., a provider of advanced technology-based solutions for medical staff safety, patient safety and home care, has announced the immediate availability of the new bariatric version of its Total Lift Bed™ (TLB) which addresses a wide variety of care, treatment and safety issues for patients weighing up to 1,000 lbs.

The original TLB is the world’s only bed that can raise a patient from a lying to a fully standing position – with zero manual lifting. The revolutionary TLB addresses the epidemic rise in injuries to caregivers and patients, related to manual lifting and transfers to and from bed.  Now, the Total Lift Bariatric Bed^TM (TLBB) brings enhanced mobility and a new level of care, dignity and safety to positioning the obese and morbidly obese.

The TLBB will enable a caregiver, with just the press of a button, to bring a 1,000-lb patient to any position from lying down to fully standing or various chair positions. As with the original TLB, the TLBB accomplishes this with zero manual lifting. The TLBB allows the patient, when raised to the fully standing position, to step out of bed with maximum safety and dignity – and without risk of injury to caregivers. The home version of the TLBB allows the user or an at-home caregiver to operate all bed functions with equal ease.

Addressing Daily and Long-Term Challenges

For the obese and morbidly obese the most basic daily tasks can be extremely difficult. Their weight affects breathing and tolerance to movement, as well as the risk of falling and sustaining injury. Furthermore, they are at higher risk of a wide range of health problems including cardiovascular disease; respiratory failure; incontinence and pressure ulcers, to name a few. Caregivers and family members are also faced with unique challenges including special training and equipment required to assist in mobility and positioning.

“The TLBB is perfect for medical applications, including mobility therapy, post-orthopedic surgery care and physical therapy but it also meets the day-to-day challenges of the obese, morbidly obese and their caregivers,” says VitalGo Vice President of Sales, Jarett Armstrong. He points out that there are significant health benefits to improving an obese person’s mobility and the ability to lift and transfer a bariatric patient without any manual lifting allows caregivers to provide that assistance safely. Armstrong also notes that the TLBB can be combined with existing lifting and transferring devices for special needs, making those devices easier to use.

“We feel there is no question that the TLBB is the best solution for bariatric mobility, safe patient handling and safe lifting,” says Armstrong.

Specially Designed Features for Patients of All Sizes

Designed for hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and long term acute care hospitals as well as in-home use, The TLBB incorporates multiple, patented technologies to provide its wide range of benefits.

An Expandable Solution

To accommodate the obese patient the TLBB is designed to expend from a width of 36” to 48” and a length of 80” to 86”. The bed is available with optional built-in powered and non-powered support surfaces, including alternating or rotating low air-loss mattresses that fit the full extended size of the TLBB.

From Lying Down to Standing

When, with the push of a button on the remote control, the tilting function is initiated it allows the patient to go from a lying to a fully standing position. First, the TLBB’s Foot Lifter™ moves towards the feet of the patient/user. Once the Foot Lifter makes contact with the feet, the bed starts tilting, thus preventing any danger of sliding in bed. While the TLBB tilts, the Foot Lifter gradually moves down so when the bed is in the fully standing position the patient can then simply walk out of the bed - independently or with any assisting device normally used.

Integrated Foot Lifter Scale

The TLBB also features an additional scale integrated with the Foot Lifter that continuously shows the amount of pressure imposed on the feet and legs as the patient is tilted. This one-of-a-kind, true weight-bearing control is extremely important in that it allows caregivers to raise patients, incrementally and progressively, based on their ability to bear their own weight. In addition to being safer, this new tool, for the first time, gives physicians and therapists a better method of evaluation and the ability to develop individualized, optimal therapy programs.

Supported Chair Positioning

Chair positioning is also possible with the TLBB. The back and legs can be positioned independently for optimal individual patient/user comfort. Once again the Foot Lifter plays an important role here adjusting to provide support.

Comfort Straps

The TLBB’s optional comfort straps provided added safety in various positions as well as assistance for certain therapies.

About VitalGo, Inc.

VitalGo, Inc, is dedicated to developing new ideas that enhance the ability to administer medical treatment while helping prevent caregiver and patient injuries. The company’s advanced technology-based solutions are also designed to improve safety and quality of life for people at home who have difficulty performing daily activities, such as getting in and out of bed. VitalGo’s line of Total Lift Beds, offers healthcare facilities and patients the only solution that addresses: safe, zero-lift patient handling; caregiver safety and injury prevention; early ambulation; assistance to immobile patients and Long Term Care needs and provides many other medical benefits for different applications.

www.vitalgosys.com