GB2254259A - Immobiliser - Google Patents

Abstract

An immobiliser (10) comprises a spinal support (12) and a head support in the form of two adjustable pads (48) and transverse tubes (42, 44). A patient can be secured to the immobiliser (10) by means of head straps (not shown) to secure the patients head in contact with the pads (48) and trunk supports (52, 54) which are axially and pivotally moveable on an outer frame (28) which are secured together by straps (not shown) to hold the patients trunk in position. The immobiliser (10) has a neutral buoyancy so that the immobiliser can be positioned easily underneath an injured patient in the water and for the patient to be easily and rapidly secured to the immobiliser ready for removal from the water. <IMAGE>

Description

IMMOBILISER This invention relates to a form of stretcher known as an immobiliser. Immobilisers are used to support and restrain from movement an injured person enabling the injured person to be moved for treatment without causing further injury.

The present invention relates to an immobiliser which is particularly useful for lifting injured persons from water, eg swimming pools, lakes, rivers and the sea.

An immobiliser according to the present invention could also be used if required in the case where an injured person was on land.

Many difficulties arise in removing an injured person from a body of water, for example a swimming pool. Usually it is difficult if not impossible to diagnose the extent and nature of the injuries incurred by the patient whilst the patient is in the water. It has to be assumed that if the back or neck of the patient is injured the spine and head must be supported when the patient is lifted from water. Otherwise the patient can incur further and sometimes fatal injuries when the support from the water due to the displacement of the patient is lost when the patient is lifted.

An immobiliser for use with the patient injured in the water should be arranged so that it is easy to be manipulated in the water, is readily attachable to the patient, provides appropriate support and restraint and is easy to remove from the water with the patient attached.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an immobiliser including spinal and head support means, means for attaching the patient to the immobiliser, the immobiliser having neutral buoyancy.

The immobiliser can comprise a central spinal support attached to an outer frame.

The spinal support can comprise two parallel members secured to transverse members which themselves are attached to the outer frame. The parallel members can be covered in a padding material, for example foam sleeving.

The head support can comprise two adjustable pads mounted on parallel support members extending between opposite sides of the outer frame.

The patient attachment means can comprise head, trunk and thigh restraints.

The head restraints can comprise a pair of straps, each attached at one end to the outer frame and having adjustable attachment means to join the free ends of the straps together.

The trunk restraint can comprise two arms which are each pivotable and axially moveable on the outer frame, each arm can have a strap attached to it at one end, the straps having adjustable attachment means so that the free ends of the straps can be attached together.

The leg restraints can comprise a pair of straps, one end of each being attached to the outer frame, the free ends of the straps being securable together by adjustable attachment means.

The immobiliser can be provided with lifting handles on each side and at each end of the outer frame.

The immobiliser can further be provided with locations for the attachment of lifting straps to assist in the raising of the immobiliser from the water.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of one form of immobiliser according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the immobiliser shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a view on Arrow A in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, an immobiliser 10 includes a spinal support 12 comprising two parallel members 14 and three transverse members 16, 18 and 20. The member 16 is attached to one end of each of the members 14 by T-connectors 22, whilst the members 18 and 20 are attached to the members 14 by X-connectors 24. The spinal support is carried by an outer frame 26 formed by a single length of tubing, the free ends of which terminate in legs 28.

The member 16 is attached to the outer frame by X-connectors 30 and the member 18 is attached to the frame 26 by T-connectors 32.

The member 20 is attached to the frame 26 by legs 34 which are attached to the frame 26 by connectors 36 and connectors 38 on the legs.

A further pair of legs 36 is attached to the member 18 by T-connectors 39, all of the six legs 26, 34, 36 terminate in feet 40.

Two parallel transverse members 42, 44 are attached to opposite sides of the outer frame 26 by T-connectors 46. Two head support pads 48 are moveable on the parallel members 42, 44 and head restraint straps (not shown) are attached at one end to the frame 26 at locations between the members 42 and 44. The free ends of the head restraint straps are provided with adjustable attachment means enabling the free ends of the straps to be secured together.

Two leg restraint straps (not shown) can be attached to opposite sides of the frame 26 at locations adjacent the legs 18. The leg restraint straps can be provided with adjustable attachment means enabling the free ends of the straps to be secured together.

Two side supports 52, 54 are attached to the frame 26 by T-connectors 56 which allow the supports 52, 54 to rotate and move axially on the frame 26. Two trunk restraint straps (not shown) are attached to the supports 52, 54 at locations 56, 58. The free ends of the trunk restraint straps are provided with adjustable attachment means enabling the free ends of the straps to be secured together.

The members 16 and 42 terminate in handles 60, and lifting straps (not shown) can be attached to the frame 26 at locations 62, 64.

The spinal support 12 and the frame 26 are preferably manufactured from aluminium or aluminium alloy tubing, any open ends of the tubing being plugged to prevent the ingress of water.

The members 14 and side supports 52, 54 are covered by sleeving 66 such as foam padding to provide comfort.

In order to use the immobiliser according to the present invention an injured person is supported in the water by hand and the immobiliser 10 is floated under the patient so that the head support pads 48 are located on either side of the head of the patient. The buoyancy of the immobiliser 10 is such that the immobiliser floats a few inches beneath the surface of the water.

It will be appreciated that with the immobiliser under the injured person the immobiliser exerts little or no upthrust. Such an arrangement enables the immobiliser to be relatively easily positioned and secured to the injured person. If the buoyancy was too great the immobiliser would tend to rise to the surface, either exerting an unnecessary upthrust to the injured person or to move sideways towards the surface out of contact from the injured person. If the immobiliser was not sufficiently buoyant it would tend to sink thereby causing greater difficulties in attaching the immobiliser to the patient.

With the head support pads located on either side of the injured persons head the two trunk supports 52, 54 are moved axially on the frame 26 so that they are adjacent the patients pelvis. The supports 52, 54 can then be rotated towards one another over the patients pelvis and the side supports are secured together by means of the straps and attachment means (not shown).

The patients head can then be secured in position by means of the head straps being secured together so that the patients head is securely held between the head support pads.

Finally the patients legs can be secured in position by means of the leg restraint straps and adjustable attachment means (not shown).

It will be appreciated that the patients spine is firmly supported by the two parallel members 14 of the spinal support 12 and the patients head is also firmly supported by the pads 48 and the tubes 42, 44. Thus the patient is fully supported and restrained from movement relative to the immobiliser.

The patient and immobiliser are now ready to be lifted. The immobiliser and patient can be lifted from the pool using the handles 60. For example, helpers on the side of the pool can hold the two handles closest to the edge of the pool whilst helpers in the pool can push the other two handles upwardly.

Alternatively lifting straps can be attached to the outer frame 26 at locations 64 on the outer frame enabling the helpers on the pool side to lift the immobiliser 10 from the pool with the assistance of the helpers in the pool itself.

It will be appreciated that an immobiliser according to the present invention provides a means of fully supporting and restraining an injured person in the water and which because of the buoyancy chosen is relatively easy to positon under to an injured person and then to be attached to the injured person.

An immobiliser according to the present invention enables of a range of heights and weights to be supported and restrained by virtue of the adjustable size head support, and the adjustable size and position trunk support.

Claims (15)

1 An immobiliser comprising spinal and head support means, means for attaching a patient to the immobiliser, the immobiliser having a neutral buoyancy.

2 An immobiliser as claimed in claim 1 including a central spinal support attached to an outer frame.

3 An immobiliser according to claim 2 in which the spinal support comprises two parallel members secured to transverse members, the transverse members being attached to the outer frame.

4 An immobiliser as claimed in claim 1 in which the head support means comprises two adjustable pads mounted on parallel support members extending transversely to the spinal support means.

5 An immobiliser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the attachment means comprises head, trunk and thigh restraint means.

6 An immobiliser as claimed in claim 5 in which the head restraint means comprises a pair of straps attached at one end to the outer frame, the free ends of the straps being securable together by adjustable attachment means.

7 An immobiliser as claimed in claim 5 in which the trunk restraint means comprises a pair of arms mounted on the outer frame for rotation and axial movement.

8 An immobiliser as claimed in claim 8 in which each arm is provided with a strap secured at one end to the respective arm, the free ends of the straps being securable together by adjustable attachment means.

9 An immobliser as claimed in claim 5 in which the thigh restraint means comprises a pair of straps each being attached at one end to the outer frame, the free ends of the straps being securable together by adjustable attachment means.

10 An immobiliser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which at least the spinal support means is provided with padding.

11 An immobiliser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims having a lifting handle at each end and on each side.

12 An immobiliser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including at least four legs.

13 An immobiliser as claimed in claim 12 having six legs.

14 An immobiliser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims

2 to 13 having locations for the attachment of lifting straps on the outer frame.

15 An immobiliser constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.