EP0209802A2 - Method of changing beds when patients are transferred from an aseptic to a septic area, and bed-changing system for carrying out the method - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method for transferring patients between a septic area (2) and an aseptic area (3), the patients are placed on a ward bed (14) and introduced into a sluice room in such a way that the lengthwise side of the bed (14) comes to bear on the lengthwise edge of a transfer bench (7) arranged at the same height. This bench (7) is situated above a parapet (1) dividing the sluice room into two areas. When the patient (15) is lying on the transfer bench (7), the latter is moved horizontally away from the ward bed (14) and is raised to the level of an operating table (23), which is situated on the other side of the parapet (1). The patient (15) is then moved from the transfer bench (7) to the operating table (23) without changing the vertical position. The transfer bench (7) sits on a horizontally moveable carriage (17), which in turn is arranged on a vertically moveable carriage (18). Both carriages (17, 18) are moved via cylinders (19, 20) (Fig. 2). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a method for transferring patients during the transition between a septic or "impure" ward area and an aseptic or "clean" operation area in a lock room of a hospital. It also relates to a transfer system for carrying out such a method.

When transferring patients from the septic ward area of a hospital to the aseptic operating area, the problem arises of excluding the spread of germs, in particular soil-borne germs, into the operating area. There is also the problem that the patient to be operated must be transferred from the ward bed to the operating table and then from the operating table to the ward bed in such a way that the medical assistants responsible for it are not subjected to excessive physical strain.

So far, two different ways have been known to hand over the patients who have to be transported to an operating room for an operation to the operating room staff and to introduce them into the operating rooms. It is known to drive the patient to a lock with the ward bed and then to push it on a treadmill through a wall opening onto the operating table top, which is carried by a carriage. This method is very complex in terms of the lock construction and requires a fragile technique. In addition, in many cases, patients perceive it as psychologically stressful and worrying. Often, the patients have to be immobilized again after this type of transfer. In addition, entrainment of airborne germs is still present in this procedure, while entrainment of soil germs is prevented.

It is also known to bring the patients from the wards in the ward bed into a preparation room and to lift them there manually onto the operating table top, which is seated on a movable carriage. This requires a great deal of effort, since the height difference between the ward bed and the operating table top has to be overcome. In addition to the high physical strain, there is also no way to prevent the spread of airborne germs and soil-borne germs.

The invention is based on the object of designing a method for transferring the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that it requires little construction effort, considerably reduces the physical strain on the medical auxiliary personnel and almost completely eliminates the spread of germs into the aseptic area. A transfer system for carrying out such a method is also to be specified.

The object is achieved in a method of the type mentioned in the invention in that the patients lying in a ward bed in the septic area of the lock room with a longitudinal edge of this bed are brought up to a table-like bed plate that the patient is transferred from the bed to the bed plate be that the patient carrying bed is then moved away from the bed and then to the level of a mobile operating table located in the aseptic area, that the patient is finally transferred to an operating table of the same height and that finally the patients coming from the operating area are reversed in the sequence of procedures in a ward bed can be relocated. The relocation of the transfer bed plate in both the vertical and horizontal directions inevitably results in a separation between the septic and the aseptic area of the lock room. So germs sticking to the ground are not transmitted, since the ward beds are always only on one side of the bed and the operating table is only ever moved on the other side of the transfer bed. The horizontal displacement of the transfer bed plate makes it possible for the auxiliary staff of the infirmary to step between the ward bed and the transfer bed plate when transferring and then to provide help when transferring to the operating table. With the new method, it is not necessary to change the height of the patient when moving with physical strength.

The method according to the invention can also be carried out in such a way that the patients are transferred from the ward bed to a sterile cloth located on the transfer bed, with the aid of which the transfer from the transfer bed to the operating table then takes place. Placing the patient on such a sterile cloth makes it possible to pull the patient over with the cloth onto the operating table or to transfer him from the operating table to the transfer bed. This further reduces the effort required by the auxiliary personnel.

According to a further proposal of the invention, the method can be carried out in such a way that negative pressure prevails in the lock space. In this way it is ensured that germs occurring in the lock room do not escape from it and e.g. can get into the operating room.

According to a further proposal of the invention, the method can be carried out in such a way that the pressure always arises in the lock room, which is maintained by the opening position of one of the doors leading into the lock room or in the adjacent rooms. Overpressure is maintained in a controlled manner in the operating room alone.

The transfer system provided for carrying out the method according to the invention is characterized in that the septic and the aseptic area are separated by a parapet which are separated and the transfer bed rests on a frame which is arranged in the area of the parapet and has guides for horizontal and vertical displacement of the table top with associated drive elements. The parapet forms a barrier between the septic and aseptic areas, which - unlike a visual mark on the floor of the lock room - cannot be passed over with the ward beds or the operating table. In this system, the transfer bed can be shifted from one area of the lock space in a horizontal direction into the other area, this sheet always being located essentially above the parapet.

The Umbettsystem invention can also be designed so that a swing door is provided in the parapet. This swing door is only intended for emergencies in which a passage of people between the two areas of the lock room is to be made possible for special reasons.

The bed system according to the invention can also be designed so that the parapet is about 0.5 m high. A parapet at this height clearly delimits the two areas of the lock area from one another and cannot be passed over. On the other hand, it does not interfere with the work of the medical assistants when changing beds.

The transfer system according to the invention can also be designed such that the frame carrying the transfer plate is designed as a column and is built into the parapet.

The transfer system according to the invention can also be designed such that the door leading from the stations into the lock room on the one hand and the door leading from the lock room into the operating room are mutually locked. This ensures that both doors leading to the lock room are not opened at the same time can. It is thereby achieved that a direct air flow between the ward room and the operating room is switched off. It also makes it easier to maintain negative pressure in the lock room.

The transfer system according to the invention can also be designed so that the transfer plate is made of stainless steel.

The transfer system according to the invention can also be designed such that the transfer bed is coated with a plastic layer. In this way, it can be avoided that the patient feels cold when he comes into contact with the bed.

Finally, the transfer system according to the invention can be designed such that a heating device is arranged in the transfer bed. It is possible to bring the surface of the transfer plate that comes into direct contact with the patient to a temperature that is similar to the skin temperature of the patient and in particular does not give rise to a feeling of cold.

In the following part of the description, the method and an embodiment of the transfer system provided for its implementation are described with reference to drawings.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Schleusenraums mit teilweise weggebrochenen Wänden und
• Fig. 2 eine Ausführungsform des Umbettsystems mit auf das Niveau eines Stationsbetts abgesenkter Umbettplat­te.

It shows:

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lock room with walls partially broken and
• Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the Umbedtsystem with lowered to the level of a ward bed Umbettplatte.

The lock space shown in FIG. 1 is divided by a parapet 1 into a septic area 2 and an aseptic area 3. The parapet 1 is about 0.5 m high and 0.2 m wide. It leads from a wall 4 of the lock room to the opposite wall 4a. A swing door 5 is provided near the wall 4 in the parapet 1, which forms a passage for people between the septic area 2 and the aseptic area 3 for emergencies.

In the parapet 1 a column 6 is also installed, which carries a transfer plate 7 in a manner to be described.

By means of a control unit 8, the transfer bed 7 can be moved horizontally in the direction of arrow 9 and vertically in the direction of arrow 10 by means of drive elements to be described.

In the wall 4 of the lock room, a sliding door 11 is inserted, which connects the septic area of the lock chamber with the station area.

In another wall 12 of the lock room there is a sliding door 13 which opens or blocks access to the operating room or operating area.

The doors 11 and 13 are locked together in such a way that only one of the two doors can be open at a time. So e.g. the door 11 opened, then the door 13 cannot be opened when the door 11 is open.

A ward bed 14 is shown on the right in FIG. 2, the level at which the patient 15 comes to lie in this bed being indicated by the dashed line 16.

In Fig. 2, the transfer bed 7 is lowered to the level of the line 16 of the ward bed 14 and extended horizontally in the direction of this bed 14. The transfer plate 7 is seated on a horizontally movable carriage 17, which is supported on a vertically movable carriage 18. The result is a column 6 in which one end of a lifting cylinder 19 is fixed, the piston of which is supported on the vertically movable carriage 18. A horizontally arranged cylinder 20 is supported on this carriage 18, the piston of which acts on the horizontally movable carriage 17. The column 6 rests on a base plate 21 and a base plate 22 screwed thereto.

In Fig. 2, a carriage 24 is shown to the left of the transfer bed 7, which carries an operating table top. This operating table top 23 can be placed on the operating table in the operating room. However, it is also possible to move the operating table into the lock room itself.

When transferring a patient 15 lying in a ward bed 14, the patient is first transferred to the transfer bed 7 without changing its height. This plate 7 is then moved horizontally from the station bed 14 in the direction of the operating table top 23 and then brought to the height of this operating board 23. This creates a free space between the ward bed 14 on the one hand and the column 6 of the transfer plate 7, into which auxiliary persons can enter, who can help from the septic side when transferring the patient 15 to the operating table top 23. The transfer is facilitated when the patient 15, lying on a cloth, not shown, can be pulled from the one support surface to the adjacent one.

The transfer bed 7 is made of stainless steel or has a suitable plastic layer. The column 6 is also clad with stainless steel. The same applies to the parapet 1 and the swing door 5.

If, after an operation has been carried out, a patient is to be transferred from an operating table top 23 into a ward bed 14 again, the method steps described above are carried out in the reverse direction and sequence.

Claims (12)

1. A method for transferring patients at the transition between a septic or "impure" ward area and an aseptic or "clean" operating area in a lock room of a hospital, characterized in that the patient lying in a ward bed in the septic area of the lock room with a longitudinal edge of this bed are brought up to a table-like bed plate, that the patients are transferred from the bed to the bed plate, then the bed plate carrying the patient away from the bed and then is shifted to the level of a mobile operating table located in the aseptic area, that the patient is finally transferred to an operating table of the same height, and that the patients coming from the operating area are finally transferred to a ward bed in the reverse sequence of procedures. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the patients are transferred from the ward bed to a sterile cloth located on the transfer plate, with the help of which the transfer from the transfer plate to the operating table then takes place. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that there is negative pressure in the lock room. 4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pressure always sets in the lock room, which is held by the opening position of one of the doors leading into the lock room or in the adjacent rooms. 5. transfer system for carrying out the method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the septic (2) and the aseptic (3) area are separated from each other by a parapet (1) and the transfer bed (7) rests on a frame that is arranged in the area of the parapet (1) and has guides for the horizontal and vertical displacement of the table top (7) with associated drive elements (20, 21). 6. Umbettsystem according to claim 5, characterized in that a swing door (5) is provided in the parapet (1). 7. Umbettsystem according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the parapet (1) is about 0.5 m high. 8. Umbedtsystem according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the Umbettplatte (7) supporting frame as a column (6) and built into the parapet (1). 9. Umbedtsystem according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the leading from the stations in the lock room door (11) on the one hand and the leading from the lock room into the operating room door (13) are mutually locked. 10. Umbettsystem according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the Umbettplatte (7) is made of stainless steel. 11. Umbettsystem according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the Umbettplatte (7) is coated with a plastic layer. 12. Umbedtsystem according to any one of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that a heating device is arranged in the Umbettplatte (7).

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