AU774615B2 - Improvements relating to patient carrying structures - Google Patents

Description

P/00/01i1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Improvements relating to patient carrying structures The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: IP Australia Documents received on:- OMAR 2001 Batch No: Freehills Carter Smith Bead~eMELOS6l 051006.5

IA

Improvements Relating to Patient Carrying Structures A conventional carrying frame for supporting patients (for example, to enable them to be moved by means of a gantry), comprising a cross-shaped member from which straps hang down to a U-shaped support which can be linked to a sling which receives a seated person. Because the rigid parts of the frame are under tension, they need to be made of a fairly robust, and thus fairly heavy, material. A secondary problem is that the heavy frame part might hit a patient and cause injury. Furthermore, the height of the whole assembly is fairly significant.

According to the present invention, there is provided a carrying structure for supporting a patient from a suspension point and comprising a Y-shaped frame member with the 3 free ends of the arms of the member having carrying straps extending upwardly to a common interconnection for attachment at said suspension point and downwardly to three location points for connection to a sling or harness for attachment to a patient.

The overall assembly is much more compact vertically than the conventional frame design in that there is just one frame member depending from a single suspension point.

Furthermore, the straps leading from the suspension point down to the location points and through the frame member will, when the structure is under load, place the frame member under compression (rather than under tension as G:\Specs\MJ\Helping with previous structures). This means that the frame can be constructed from carbon fibre or another relatively lightweight, yet robust, material. If necessary, the frame could include a strengthening strut between the pair of arms of the Y.

The three arms of the Y provide a triangular support down to the sling or harness attached to the location points. Ideally one of the arms will extend downwardly from the plane of the other two.

It is preferred that the straps should be slidable within slots at the free ends of the arms so that the location of the Y-shaped member can be adjusted variably up and down with respect to the suspension point to suit a variety of patients and the positioning of a patient.

Preferably, the straps will be in the form of flexible tapes or ropes.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- 'Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a carrying structure of this invention; and Figure 2 shows the carrying structure in use.

The arrangement shown in Figure 1 incorporates a Yshaped member 1 providing a pair of arms 2 and an extending (and depending) leg 3. From a suspension point 4, flexible straps 5 extend through slots 6 in the ends of the arms 2 and the leg 3 and then lead down to location G:\Specs\MJ\Helping 3 points 7. A sling or harness can be attached to these three points. If necessary, a strengthening strut 8 can be included between the arms 2. The frame member 1 can be adjusted relative to the suspension points 4 by sliding the frame member 1 with respect to the straps 5 so as to provide a comfortable support for a particular patient 9 in a sling 10 (as shown in Figure Furthermore, adjustment of the carrying frame 1 is able to alter the carrying mode from an upright sitting position to a reclined sitting position, for example.

The flexible straps 5 enable the frame to cater for patients of different dimensions more easily, where conventional hoists with fixed frame pick-up points cannot. With the hanger being connected to an overhead boom by a flexible member, the effort required to move the lift is greatly reduced, as the force required to overcome inertia is less. This is due to the hoist moving before the patient starts to move.

It will be understood that the term "comprises" or its grammatical variants as used herein is equivalent to the term "includes" and is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other elements or features.

G:\Specs\MJ\Helping Hand\Hand-20. doc

Claims (6)

1. A carrying structure for supporting a patient from a suspension point and comprising a Y-shaped frame member with the 3 free ends of the arms of the member having carrying straps extending upwardly to a common interconnection for attachment at said suspension point and downwardly to three location points for connection to a sling or harness for attachment to a patient.

2. A carrying structure according to Claim i, wherein the straps are slidable within slots at the free ends of the arms.

3. A carrying structure according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the straps are flexible tapes or ropes.

4. A carrying structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame includes a strengthening strut between the pair of arms of the Y. A carrying structure according to any one of Claims 1 20 to 4, wherein the frame is made from carbon fibre or other relatively lightweight, yet robust, material

6. A carrying structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein one of the arms extends downwardly from the plane of the other two.

7. A carrying structure or any novel combination of features thereof substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The Helping Hand Corpany (Ledbury) Limited by Freehills Carter Smith Beadle Registered Patent Attorneys for the Applicant 1 March 2001