Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a supply column for birth pools and constitutes, together with the birth pool, a system to be used by parturient women, said supply column having a height, a width and depth and comprising a frame and an outer envelope mounted thereon in the form of a bottom wall, a top wall and a side wall connecting the top and bottom walls, wherein water pipes or hoses, mixing battery, valves, controller and other units for the use of the system are provided inside the envelope, and wherein controls for controlling the water supply and water drainage as well as other functions for using the birth pool are provided inside the envelope, as well as connections for hoses or pipes for water supply and water drainage to and from the birth pool.

Background of the invention It has long been known that staying in hot water has a pain-relieving effect. Previously, staying in hot water was used during the dilation phase to relax and relieve the parturient woman. Recent experience shows that by letting the woman complete the entire birth in water, the following is achieved:

- a much more comfortable birthing situation; - pain relief;

- fewer ruptures; and

- quicker births.

It has been documented that childbirth in water is as safe as giving birth in a traditional birthing bed.

Previously, midwives used large food vessels, bathtubs and various shower devices to achieve the relieving and relaxing effect. The problem with these was that it was diffi cult for specialist staff to control and support the parturient, and the ergonomics for both staff and the parturient were problematic. The staff would have to get down on their knees or bend over the parturient at the risk of dangerous loads on knees, feet and back. Relaxing and pain-relieving using water was therefore difficult to practice for many midwives who were physically unable to assist in several water births during a working day.

However, these bathtubs and the like have been replaced by a more modern birth pool, which is flexible and ergonomically correct, both for the parturient and the midwives. This birth pool has been marketed for several years.

However, the birth pool of the prior art has a number of weaknesses. The birth pool is associated with a number of disadvantages in controlling the supply and drainage of water, as well as disadvantages regarding hygiene conditions.

The bottom drain and overflow of the birth pool are difficult to clean. It is desirable for the bottom drains and overflow from birth pools to be arranged to ensure the minimum possibility that secretions, blood threads and the like may be ‘hidden’ in drains and piping, and that these are difficult to remove.

The supply of hot water takes place continuously while the birth is in progress, just as there is continuous drainage to achieve a replacement of the water.

The water supply is controlled with a valve operated using a handle. The replacement must be controlled so that the water temperature is maintained at a desired level, just as the water level must be maintained at a desired level.

Replacement may take place by continuously draining water via the overflow of the birth pool while the birth is in progress. There is a risk that secretions, blood threads and the like will clog the overflow so that water spills out onto the floor. This is obvi ously undesirable, partly for hygienic reasons and partly for safety reasons, since a wet floor may be very slippery.

The birth pool is emptied by removing a bottom plug from the bottom drain, when the woman has left the birth pool after the birth. The bottom plug may be difficult to re move. It may be wholly or partially covered by secretions, blood threads and the like. At the same time, there will be a significant water level in the birth pool, even after the woman has left the birth pool. It may therefore be difficult to reach the bottom plug without the person getting wet, and for hygienic reasons, the person may even be forced to change clothes.

After use, the birth pool and drainage system must be cleaned with disinfectants. These cleaning agents must typically stay in the pipes for 20-30 minutes to achieve full effect. Especially the overflow and overflow pipes may be difficult to clean.

There has therefore been a desire to find new solutions which meet hygiene require ments as well as requirements for safe and effective management of the supply and drainage of water.

This was established with the birth pool disclosed in DK 201400163 U9. This has proved to work satisfactorily, and the birth pool has gained ground in many countries. The birth pool in question is connected to a so-called supply column, thus constituting an overall system.

Thus, a birth pool for use with the supply column may be of a type comprising a con tainer part designed so that a parturient woman may be located therein, said container part comprising a drain opening which allows for continuous drainage of water.

This system also comprises a water supply with means for regulating the water supply. The water supply connected to the supply column may, for example, comprise a flexible hose with a hand shower. The shower may be handheld or be arranged for hanging on the edge of the birth pool.

The birth pool comprises only one drain in the form of a bottom drain. A drain valve is provided in the bottom drain. In the wall of the birth pool or in the immediate vicinity hereof, a water level sensor is located for detecting the water level in the birth pool. The system comprises a controller, which may be placed in the supply column, and which is arranged to receive input signals from the water level sensor and which, on the basis of these input signals received, is arranged to send control signals to the drain valve to control the opening and closing of the drain valve. The supply column is thus connected to the birth pool via hoses for the supply of water to and draining of water from the birth pool. Operation of all functions is pooled in the supply column. The birth pool and supply column are movable and may be easily moved from room to room. This is an advantage over moving a parturient between different rooms.

Although a system comprising the birth pool and the supply column has been shown to work effectively, servicing and mounting have proven time-consuming, as have issues in attaching filters to the water supply while continuing to retain a system that is easy to maintain, service and clean, especially as it is a desire to retain a system, in which all functions are contained in the two units: the birth pool and the supply column.

There are therefore desires for improved possibilities for servicing and mounting of the supply column, as well as for equipping the supply column with easily replaceable fil ters.

Object of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide a new, improved supply column for use in a system, comprising the supply column and a birth pool and where the above desires are met.

Description of the invention

According to the present invention, this is achieved with a supply column which is novel in that the side wall is formed by a plane front panel and possibly a plane back panel extending in the width direction of the supply column, as well as two removable side panels extending in the depth direction of the supply column, and in that the side panels are U-shaped.

Since a supply column may be wall-mounted, there is no need for a rear panel. If the supply column is freestanding in a room, there will be both a front panel and a rear panel to cover the interior of the supply column. These panels will typically be fixed to the supply column frame. The removable side panels, which are U-shaped, create a large space for access to the interior of the supply column.

The side panels will typically be fixed with a single or a few screws to the frame carry ing the U-shaped side panels as well as the front panel and rear panel. Thus, by loosen ing a single screw, the side panels may be easily removed. Typically, this is done by lifting the side panels upwards after removing a screw, whereafter they may be swung out and removed from their position in the supply column.

Once the side panels have been removed, all elements of the interior of the supply col umn may be easily accessed. This makes it easy to service units located in the supply column, and mounting is also easy, as the installer will have plenty of space to mount elements in the frame part when the removable U-shaped side panels have not yet been mounted or have been removed. Thus, the U-shaped side panels may have a greater or lesser extension in the width direction of a supply column, thus creating more or less open access to the interior of the supply column.

In the supply column, a control panel for electrical switches will typically be located in a top wall or a top panel. Controls for water supply and temperature adjustment will typically be provided in the front panel. The front panel will also contain an electrical connector for external electricity supply as well as multi-connector for control of the functions of the birth pool. In the case of a wall-mounted model, a connection piece for emptying a birth pool will also be located in the front panel. Alternatively, the connec- tion piece may be located at the bottom of the supply column so that water may be fed into a floor drain in the maternity ward where the supply column is located.

The water supply typically takes place through the bottom of the supply column, as inside the supply column, pipes and hoses are provided, which are equipped with a fur ther connection piece that may be connected to an external water supply for hot and cold water.

A supply column intended to be freestanding may be equipped with wheels. The wheels of the supply column will typically be height-adjustable or elevatable so that they may be easily displaced up and down for transport between different maternity wards and be retracted, so that the supply column rests on legs when located in a maternity ward where it is to be used.

It is thus easy to place a supply column and a birth pool in a maternity ward, where only an external water supply for hot and cold water as well as a drainage option for the water and an electricity supply are provided.

This allows the combined supply column and birth pool to be easily used in several maternity wards, so that efficiency may be increased, rather than a location where the combination of supply column and birth pool is fixedly mounted in one maternity ward.

According to a further embodiment, the supply column according to the invention is distinctive in that the U-shaped side panels each extend over between 20 and 40%, pref erably between 30 and 35% of the total width of the supply column.

As mentioned above, access to both mounting and servicing of elements in the supply column is facilitated when the U-shaped side panels constitute a larger part of the total width of the supply column. It is thus preferred that each of the U-shaped side panels has an extension that may be between 20 and 40% of the total width of the supply col umn.

The U-shaped side panels need not be symmetrical, and thus one of the branches of the U-shaped side panels may have a longer extension than the other side branch. This, for example, may facilitate access to a front of the supply column. This is particularly ad vantageous in the case of a wall-mounted model where access to servicing from the front and sides of the supply column is particularly important.

According to a further embodiment, the supply column according to the invention is distinctive in that exchangeable filter units are built into the supply column, said filter units being located in the U-shaped side panels, being mounted on opposite sides of the frame.

As servicing is easy, it is possible to build exchangeable filter units into the supply column. The location of the filter units in the space covered by the U-shaped side panels makes it particularly simple to install filter units when desired, and this also facilitates servicing of the filter units. Filter units are typically equipped with an inlet connection and an outlet connection for flushing after a defined operating period or a defined change in measurable parameters, such as pressure drop over the filter unit. As this has to be carried out on a regular basis, it is particularly advantageous to be able to remove the U-shaped side panels of a supply column equipped with filter units.

Filter units may be placed exclusively on a cold or hot water inlet, but will typically be located both at the hot water and cold water inlet. This allows a filter unit to be located in each of the U-shaped side panels placed at opposite sides of the supply column frame. The filter units may be attached directly to water supply piping or may alternatively also be supported on the supply column frame and be attached to the water supply and mix ing battery for water supply to the birth pool via hoses.

According to a further embodiment, the supply column according to the invention is distinctive in that cold and hot water inlets to the mixing battery are connected to inlet pipes which have an extension in each of the U-shaped side panels, said inlet pipes being equipped with first coupling means cooperating with corresponding first coupling means on the filter units, which, via second coupling means, are connected to corre sponding second coupling means on supply pipes for hot and cold water, so that water supplied to the mixing battery is filtered.

As mentioned above, the inlet pipe for hot and cold water may be mounted in each of the U-shaped side panels. When said inlet pipes are equipped with coupling means co operating with corresponding coupling means on the filter units, a supply column may be adapted very easily to either be equipped with filter units or equipped with piping connecting supply pipes to the supply for hot and cold water of the mixing battery.

It is preferable that the filter unit is located so that hot and cold water supplied to the mixing battery is filtered. Alternatively, it is possible to locate a filter unit after the mixing battery so that the mixed and temperate water is fed through a single filter.

According to a further embodiment, the supply column according to the invention is distinctive in that the filter unit is a salmonella filter. Different filter units may be used in the supply column. However, for the sake of the quality of the water in the birth pool, salmonella filters will typically be used in the filter units.

According to a further embodiment, the supply column according to the invention is distinctive in that the coupling means are quick couplings that may be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools.

If the coupling means located between the filters and/or pipe sections inserted between the mixing battery and the supply pipes for hot and cold water, are constituted by quick couplings, it will be possible to make a quick installation, and simple servicing is also possible as no tools are needed when installing filter units or when servicing filter units.

According to a further embodiment, the supply column according to the invention is distinctive in that the filter units are equipped with pressure sensors for pressure drop detection over the filter unit or other types of sensors for detecting other operating modes in the filter, and in that the sensors are connected to the controller in order to be able to automatically clean/rinse filters when predetermined threshold values are de tected.

The filter units may be serviced by flushing and/or replacing content at regular intervals or based on a volume flow. A volume meter may thus be provided above the filters. Alternatively, pressure sensors may be provided, as the filter units are typically serviced when the flow is reduced.

A reduced flow may be detected in a simple way using a pressure sensor which measures the pressure drop over the filter unit. As sensors either for pressure drop de tection or detection of other operating modes in the filter are connected to the controller, it is possible to automatically clean/rinse the filters when predetermined threshold val- ues are detected. Thus, it is possible for the controller to set shutoff valves or the like on either side of the filter unit, after which an automatic activation of flushing may be carried out. According to a further embodiment, the supply column according to the invention is distinctive in that the controller is connected to two upper water level sensors for de tecting an upper water level in the birth pool, and in that the controller is arranged so that it only establishes a control signal for opening the drain valve when signalled by both upper water level sensors.

The controller of the supply column is typically connected to a water level sensor for detecting the water level in the birth pool. When two upper water level sensors are used, it will be possible in the controller of the supply column to detect a situation in which a person is sitting against the edge of the birth pool, so that only one water level sensor is activated. This would not result in an emptying of the pool to avoid overflow. Only in a situation where both upper water level sensors detect an upper water level will the controller signal the opening of a drain valve to avoid overflow from the birth pool.

According to a further embodiment, the supply column according to the invention is distinctive in that the supply column is equipped in its drain hose with a non-return valve which prevents rising sewer water from reaching the birth pool, and in that a fur ther non-return valve is preferably provided between the supply column and the birth pool drain.

Between the supply column and a floor drain in the room where the supply column is located, a non-return valve is provided in the drain hose so that any rising sewer water cannot be fed through the drain hose and reach the birth pool.

In order to achieve the best possible safety, an additional non-return valve will often be provided in the drain hose located between the supply column and the birth pool drain.

In this way, it is possible to completely seal off the birth pool from the sewer, thus ensuring that no contamination occurs of the water present in the birth pool.

According to a further embodiment, the supply column according to the invention is distinctive in that connection for hoses or pipes for water drainage from the birth pool is located in the plane front panel, and in that sockets for electricity supply wiring and control are also located in the plane front panel, and in that the frame is arranged for wall mounting.

If the supply column is located in a room where a wall mounting of the supply column can be established, connection of hoses or pipes for water drainage from the birth pool will be located in the plane front panel, and an electrical connector and multi-connector for control are also located in the plane front panel. The connection piece for draining from the supply column may be located in the plane front panel or may be mounted to pass through the bottom of the supply column towards a floor drain in the delivery ward.

According to a further embodiment, the supply column according to the invention is distinctive in that the mixing battery has two outlets connected to hoses for the supply of water to the birth pool.

The supply column will typically be used for the supply of water to the birth pool via a quick filler, which typically comprises a U-shaped bracket that may be suspended from the edge of the birth pool and establish a quick filling of the birth pool in the same way as is known from a faucet in a regular bathtub. Likewise, the supply column will be equipped with a hand shower, which is also known from a bathtub. Such a hand shower will typically be handheld and used for showering a woman present in the birth pool.

It is therefore advantageous that the mixing battery has two outlets, each connected to supply of water to the birth pool. The two outlets may be opened individually, allowing for simultaneous use of fast filling and showering or only one of the two options.

Description of the drawings

In the following, the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accom panying drawings, where

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a supply column connected to a birth pool;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a supply column according to another embodi ment than the one illustrated in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3-5 show different side views of the supply column shown in Fig. 2, seen from the front, side and back, respectively; and Fig. 6 shows a partial view of a supply column wherein the front panel and side panels are removed.

Detailed description of the invention In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to a spe cific embodiment, and in the schematic views, identical and similar elements are indi cated with the same reference designation. There will thus be no specific explanation in connection with each figure. Fig. 1 shows a supply column 1 and a birth pool 2.

The supply column 1 has an outer envelope 3 with a top wall 4, a bottom wall 5 and a side wall 6 connecting the top and bottom walls. The supply column is equipped with a hose 7 for quick filling of the birth pool, as well as a hose 8, which is connected to a shower 8’ for showering a person located in the birth pool. The hose 7 is connected to a hose bracket 7’, which is intended for attach ment to the edge of the birth pool 2. The birth pool has a drain 9, which is connected via a pipe connection 10 to a valve 11 operated by a controller 12. The valve 11 is connected to the supply column via an ad ditional hose 13. In the supply column, the hose 13 is connected via a non-return valve 14 to a drain pipe 15, which leads to a floor drain (not shown). Fig. 1 illustrates the supply column schematically, and a more detailed explanation of the supply column will be provided subsequently with reference to Figs. 2-6.

Fig. 2 shows that the supply column 1 has a side wall 6 formed by a plane front panel 16 and two U-shaped side panels 17. Each side panel 17 is attached via a screw 18 to a frame 50 (see Fig. 6), and by releasing the screw 18, the side panel 17 may be lifted and swung outwards to be removed from the frame 50/supply column 1. In Fig. 5, which shows the supply column seen from the back, it can be seen that there is no back panel as the model shown is intended for wall mounting.

Figs. 3 and 4 show that in the front panel 16 there is a control panel comprising a control handle 19 for water supply via a connection piece 20, which is intended for connection with the hose 7 for quick filling of water into the birth pool. The control panel comprises an additional control handle 21 for connection to a connection piece 22, which is in tended to be connected via the hose 8 to the shower 8’ used in connection with the birth pool.

The control panel also comprises a temperature control 23, which ensures mixing of hot and cold water to a desired temperature.

The supply column 1 comprises a holder 24 for the quick-filling hose, and a holder 25 for the shower unit hose.

In the front panel, an electrical socket 26 is provided for connection to an electricity supply, a multi-connector 27, which connects the controller to controls and sensors in the birth pool, and a connection piece 28 for connection to a drain hose that may direct water to a floor drain.

In Figs. 3-5, a draining connection 29 can be seen at the bottom, which may be used to drain water from the birth pool directly to a floor drain, if a floor drain is provided under the supply column.

The supply column has a width 30, as indicated in Fig. 3. It can be seen here that the U- shaped side panels 17 each extend over a distance 31, which is about 30% of the total width 30 of the supply column 1.

Fig. 4 illustrates the depth 32 and height 33 of the supply column. As evident from the figures, the supply column is presented as a column with a height significantly larger than both the width and depth of the supply column. In the embodiment shown, the supply column is shown without wheels. However, ele- vatable wheels may have been provided so that the supply column may be easily trans ported from maternity ward to maternity ward. Fig. 5 shows the supply column from the back with partial opening to the interior. Here, a box 34 can be seen for mixing battery and controller. It can be seen that the mixing battery has an inlet pipe 35 for cold water and an inlet pipe 36 for hot water.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the supply column has a box 37 for electrical installa- tion to multi-connector and a box 38 for a non-return valve connected to the connection piece 28 in order to be able to seal off the drain hose 13 from a sewer.

Fig. 6 shows the supply column 1 seen from the front without side panels and without front panel.

At the top, a mixing battery 39 can be seen. At the top, the mixing battery is connected via a connection piece 40 to a piping 41, which is connected to the connection piece 20 for a quick filling. The mixing battery has a further connection piece 42, which is con nected via a piping 43 to the connection piece 22 for connection to the shower hose.

The mixing battery 39 is connected to the abovementioned supply pipes 35 and 36 for hot and cold water. Each of these pipes is connected to a quick coupling 44, which is coupled to a filter unit 45 on both cold water supply and hot water supply. At the bottom of the filter unit 45, an inlet pipe 46 for cold water and an inlet pipe 47 for hot water are provided. Each of the inlet pipes is connected via a quick coupling 48 to the filter unit 45. It is thus simple and quick to replace the filter unit in case of ser vicing, just as it is also easy to mount the filter unit. As is clearly evident from Fig. 6, there is easy access to the units inside the supply column when the side panels are removed. Although Fig. 6 illustrates a situation of re moval of the front panel, it will appear that the front panel has an extension which is only slightly wider than the mixing battery 39. Thus, removal of the side panels will be sufficient for easy servicing. The inlet pipes 46, 47 are equipped with sleeves 49 for connection to external water supply for hot and cold water.

The supply column 1 comprises a frame 50 on which the individual units of the supply column are mounted.

Each of the filter units 45 is connected to an inlet connection 51 and an outlet connec tion 52 for flushing the filters when they are clogged. Hoses for the connection pieces 51 and 52 are not illustrated.

In the supply column shown in Fig. 6, pressure sensors may be mounted for pressure drop detection over the filter units 45, and sensors may also be provided for detecting operating modes in the filters. These sensors will be connected to the controller for automatic cleaning/rinsing of the filters.

The elements mentioned above are merely an illustration and description of the neces sary details for constructing a supply column according to the invention. In order to be fully functional, further construction details will thus be needed. However, such addi- tional construction details will not be necessary for understanding the invention and the benefits of the supply column according to the invention.