AU2005100583A4

AU2005100583A4 - Towing bracket for IV pole assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2005100583A4
Application number: AU2005100583A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mark Andrew Farrell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-16
Filing date: 2005-07-15
Publication date: 2005-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 2013-07-15

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Name of Applicant: MARK ANDREW FARRELL Actual Inventor(s): MARK ANDREW FARRELL Address for Service: SANDERCOCK COWIE SUITE 8C, 50-54 ROBINSON STREET DANDENONG VIC 3175 Invention Title: TOWING BRACKET FOR IV POLE ASSEMBLY Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. 2004903955 Filed: 16th July, 200 4 -1- Fc2005-07-I 5,Z:\Letter\farrell.fle. wpd, I la- TITLE: TOWING BRACKET FOR IV POLE ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns a towing bracket for an intravenous pole assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In my co-pending application for Innovation Patent No. 2003100759, I describe a pole for use in hospitals and medical centres where patients undergo treatment which utilises 2005-07-1 pumps and/or blood bags and the like. Bags of blood and the like are suspended from an intravenous (IV) pole and my patent described a base on casters which supported the IV pole. The pole is interchangeable between the base, a wheelchair and a bed. This specification describes devices which may be used to improve the transferability of the poles and their load.

00 When patients beds are transferred from department to department, for example from intensive care to X-ray or MRI scan, they must be accompanied by their drips. One person is needed to push the bed from department to department and another to bring the mobile IV pole simultaneously because the patient is attached to the drip. If there is an emergency and two persons are not available there is risk to the patient.

Patent No. 753375 describes a bifurcated screw clamp which is fixed to the bed frame.

The screw clamp opens and closes to admit and release a metal sleeve which is a slide fit on the IV pole. The TV pole is mounted on a spider with casters. The IV pole is captive to the bed and runs alongside the bed when the bed is moved.

This is effective but adds extra width to the bed because the clamp is fixed to the side of the bed and the bed may need to pass through doorways.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus aspect of the invention provides a device for coupling an IV pole to a patients bed comprising means to engage the frame of a bed, means to reversibly engage the IV pole or the mobile pole base and a tie connecting both means.

The means to engage the frame of the bed may be a pin capable of insertion into the pole socket of a patients bed. The means to engage the pole or the mobile base is a manually operable quick release clamp. The tie may comprise two articulating links.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Certain embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the 2005-07- 5AS:pecifications\farrell.l innpat.wpd2 accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a diagram of the patients bed and the IV pole assembly.

Figure 2 is a perspective of the device.

00 DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings, caster mounted bed 2 has a socket 4 close to the bed head 10 6 for the reception of an IV pole. The socket has a screw clamp 8.

The IV pole 10 is mounted in a mobile base 12 which rides on a spider with casters.

Referring now to Figure 2, the device has a central boss 20 which can be locked by star clamp 22. One half of the boss is connected to arm 24 (250mm) which terminates in first pin 26. Stop 28 limits pin insertion into socket 4. The other half is connected to arm (250mm) which terminates in boss 32. Boss 32 is locked by star clamp 34. Second pin 36 is welded to one half of boss 32. The second pin 36 engages bore 38 of clamp Clamp 40 has a larger bore 42 which is clamped to mobile base 12. The coupling and clamp are made of stainless steel. The star clamps are plastic mouldings, In use the mobile IV base 12 is wheeled to the bedside. Pin 26 is inserted into socket 4 and clamped. Clamps 40 encircles the mobile base and the distance between the bed and the pole is adjusted by star clamp 32. The bed socket 4 is about 800mm high and the top of the mobile base is about 700mm high. The bags and pumps are suspended from the pole and the patient is given intravenous supply from the bags. When the bed is moved, one person steers the bed. The pole follows without disturbing the tubes linking the bags to the patient. As pumps and bags are added, the centre of gravity of the pole and base rises. If the assembly tilts and accidentally falls on the floor, the pump is frequently damaged and is expensive to repair. The tie is therefore clamped at the lowest level possible.

2005-07-1 5,Z:'Specifications\farrell.innpatwpd,3 I have found the advantages of the above embodiment to be:- 1. The motion of the mobile IV assembly is controlled and orderly during transfer of the bed from place to place.

OQ 2. The distance between the bag and the patient does not change during transfer thereby preventing any tension on the tubes and possible detachment of the needle.

C 10 3. The stability conferred by the mobile base is preserved.

It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. Use of the word "comprising" does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

2005-07-1 5,Z:\Specifications\faell.innpat.wpd,4

Claims

2. A coupling as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means to engage the socket is a 0first pin. (N
3. A coupling as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the means to engage the mobile apparatus is a second pin.
4. A coupling as claimed in any one of Claims 1-3, wherein the tie comprises two articulating links. A coupling as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, wherein the angle of the second pin is adjustable in relation to the axis of the tie. Dated this 1 5 th day of July, 2005. SANDERCOCK COWIE PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR MARK ANDREW FARRELL
2005-07-1 5.Z:\Specfications\farre1.