GB2300619A

GB2300619A - Patent Transfer Aid

Info

Publication number: GB2300619A
Application number: GB9604687A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillip Walter Strong
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-05-12
Filing date: 1996-03-05
Publication date: 1996-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-05
Also published as: GB9509662D0; GB9604687D0; GB2300619B

Abstract

A patient transfer aid comprising an open-ended tube (11; 39 Figs 6 and 8) of flexible sheet material with a low-friction internal surface and a laminar element such as a pod or turntable (12; 45; 67) associated with the outside of the tube (11; 39) such that the laminar element (12; 45; 67) can be superposed on the tube collapsed on itself and can be urged, in use, in a direction transverse the axis of the tube to slide it with the underlying upper layer (11a) of the tube on the lower layer (11b) to displace a patient resting on the laminar element linearly from one position to another. Preferably, straps 24 or pull handles are provided. The laminar element is preferably multi-layer and preferably has pockets for the insertion of rigid reinforcing elements (31, 66). The association of the laminar element (12; 45; 67) with the said tube may be releasable engagement by frictional contact or releasable fastening elements, or may alternatively be a permanent association by fixing such as stitching, moulding or adhesive.

Description

IMPROVED TRANSFER AID The present invention relates to an improved rolling transfer aid particularly for use in the transfer and repositioning of patients.

It is well known that considerable effort needs to be exerted by any one person to move another human being manually. Aids have therefore been developed to assist persons, such as hospital staff, who need to move people frequently during the course of their work, in order to reduce the strain and fatigue involved. Indeed such aids are becoming ever more necessary in order to comply with an E.C. directive on the handling of loads.

One such aid which has been developed is generally known as a rolling transfer aid and consists of an open-ended, cylindrical tube of low-friction, flexible sheet material which can be collapsed to a state in which two halves of the sheet are superposed one on the other. The doubled sheet is placed on a supporting surface, whether this be a bed, stretcher, operating table or whatever, next to a patient who is to be moved and the patient is gently rolled onto the sheet which, if crumpled in the process, is then pulled flat. The patient may then be pushed gently on the doubled sheet in a direction generally perpendicular to the tube axis, friction between him and the upper half-sheet causing this to move with him and to slide on the lower half-sheet.The tube in fact acts like a conveyor belt, the upper half-sheet, or upper pass, being progressively transferred to the position of the underlying half-sheet and vice versa. As the portion of the upper sheet carrying the patients weight transfers to the underlying position, the patient himself is transferred from the sheet on to the adjacent supporting surface and his movement ceases. The patient is thus repositioned without the attendant members of staff needing to lift him or exert any great effort to effect the movement.

It will be appreciated that the magnitude of the transfer movements that can be effected with such an aid depend on its size and therefore tubes are provided in various sizes; in general, since the movement is perpendicular to the tube axis, its magnitude is determined by the tube diameter. Although the direction of the movement is generally perpendicular to the axis, the flexible nature of the tube material allows the tube to be placed on surfaces with a single degree of curvature or over an edge, such as the edge of a bed, to assist in the transfer of a patient not just in a purely rectilinear direction but from one attitude to another, for example from a prone to a sitting position.

Although the aid described above is extremely useful, it has certain limitations or drawbacks. In particular, in order to move a patient on the tubular sheet it is necessary to push and handle the patient himself whereas in some cases, such as severe burns cases, this is undesirable. Also the attitude adopted by the care assistants moving patients with such aids is not always good for their own well-being.

An improved version of such a rolling transfer aid was described in the applicant's prior UK Patent Application published under No. GB2282126 which is incorporated herein by way of reference. The object of the present invention is to provide an alternative improvement which makes the aid particularly useful for moving patients over relatively long distances while allowing care assistants to adopt a posture which minimises the strain to which they are subject when moving patients.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a patient transfer aid comprising an open-ended tube of flexible sheet material with a low-friction internal surface and a laminar element associated with the tube in such a way that the laminar element can be superposed on the tube collapsed on itself and urged, in use, in a direction generally transverse the axis of the tube to move together with the underlying upper layer of the tube with respect to the lower layer thereof whereby to transfer a patient resting on the laminar element from one position to another.

The transfer aid of the invention thus, in effect, comprises the combination of a rolling transfer sheet with an additional laminar element associated with the sheet in such a way that the laminar element can be moved generally linearly. The association of the laminar element with the tube may take various forms. In one embodiment of the invention the laminar element is permanently attached to the tube and in another it is releasably engaged. Such releasable engagement may be adhered by using releasable fasteners such as the hook and loop fastener sold under the Registered Trade Mark "VELCRO", or may be so-called press-studs, buttons, tapes or other forms of fastening element or components.

Preferably, however, the releasable engagement may be adhered by providing the face of the laminar element intended to contact the tube with a layer of highfriction lightly adhesive material such as that sold by DYSEN. Such materials allow a secure non-slip contact to be made between facing surfaces which can be released easily by peeling one from the other, with no transfer of adhesive material to the contacting surface. In addition, means may be provided to enable one or more care assistants, according to the length of the aid along the axis of the tube, to exert a force on the laminar element at two or more points spaced along it such as to ensure that the element is moved evenly. This is especially useful if the tube is relatively long and intended for the lateral transfer of patients lying down.

The engagement of the various parts of the aid may be effected by interconnection using any method convenient to the materials used. The use of adhesive or welding may thus be appropriate but in some embodiments, the various parts are stitched together as an alternative to the releasable engagement discussed above.

The laminar element may be of the same size and shape as the collapsed tube, normally rectangular, and if permanently engaged is preferably attached to the tube along its centre line so that it has a free flap portion on either side of this centre line. Preferably, whether permanently or temporarily engaged, the laminar element has engagement means, such as handgrips, at or adjacent the free edge of each flap portion remote from the centre line.

An advantage of the transfer aid of the invention is that, for a given diameter of tube, it allows a patient to be transferred twice the distance possible with an unmodified rolling transfer aid in a single movement, provided the aid is positioned correctly beneath the patient at the start of the movement, as will be clarified below. This is particularly advantageous in the transfer of a patient from one bed to another or from a bed to a trolley or other support, or vice versa.

Other embodiments may be specifically adapted for longitudinal rather than lateral displacement of a patient, and is especially useful for moving a patient in the sitting position. For this purpose the tube is relatively short and of much larger diameter than its length. The laminar element need then only be large enough for a patient to sit on, although larger elements big enough for a patient to lie on are also envisaged.

A laminar element of suitable size for a sitting patient may also have the additional feature, that it may be made from two layers which are relatively displaceable with respect to one another either linearly or angularly. In the former case the laminar element may itself be a tube, placed on or attached to the said tube with its axis perpendicular thereto so as to allow displacement of the patient in two dimensions. In the latter case the two layers may be secured together, permanently or releasably by an attachment which allows one layer to turn about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the layer with respect to the other layer.

A further advantage of the aid of the invention is that the laminar element may have holding or grip means which can be used by care assistants to act on the aid rather than on the patient to effect a patient transfer.

Various such means are envisaged to facilitate use of the aid, all of which may be designed to enable the care assistants to adopt a good, normally upright posture when moving a patient. In general, such means are arranged or adapted so that they are usable by care assistants to pull or push the aid directly towards or away from themselves, without any need for twisting, whereas, in use of prior art aids, the tendency is for care assistants to position themselves alongside the free edges of the tube and to twist in order to grip these or to handle the patient himself to effect the movement.

As mentioned, various forms of holding or grip means are envisaged. They may, for example, comprise at least one handgrip provided on each free edge of the laminar element parallel to the axis of the rolling transfer tube. Preferably several such handgrips are provided spaced along each such free edge. These may project from the free edge or be formed as loops extending along the free edge as described in the applicant's prior patent GB 2282126 mentioned above.

The handgrips just mentioned are intended to lie close to the edge of the laminar element but alternatively, or in addition, flexible pull straps may be attached to the laminar element to enable a care assistant located at a distance of perhaps a metre or more from the aid to pull it towards him. This feature is, for example, useful to enable an assistant to pull a patient on the aid from one bed to another while adopting an upright posture, as will be described more fully below. Such pull straps may also have handgrips spaced along their lengths; these may simply comprise thickened portions of the strap, loops or other attachments.

Pull straps may be attached substantially permanently to the aid but are preferably releasably attachable; any convenient known form of releasable connection may be used. Parts of the transfer aid to which handgrips and/or pull straps are attached are preferably strengthened for example by additional layers of fabric.

A further form of engagement means that may be incorporated in the aid of the invention comprise a casing or other form of attachment for a pole. The casing or other attachments are preferably formed to enable a pole to be releasably attached so as to extend right along the edge of the laminar element remote from its attachment to the roller tube, preferably with its ends projecting from each end of the aid. The free ends of the pole may be grasped by care assistants standing one at either end of the aid and may be pushed by the assistants, thereby sliding the laminar element and a patient thereon on the rolling tube to effect a transfer.

The pole described above may form part of the transfer aid of the invention and be permanently attached thereto, but preferably is releasably attachable to it. More preferably the aid is provided with a housing, such as an open-ended casing, of a size suitable to receive poles currently used in hospitals for stretchers and the like.

The transfer aid of the invention described above is useful for many transfer situations but when a transfer is to be made from one surface to another, for example from one bed to another, it is helpful to be able to span the gap between the two surfaces with something stiffer than the fabric of the loop or the laminar element.

Auxiliary supports for this purpose are known but the aid of the invention has the further advantage that it lends itself very conveniently to the incorporation of one or more reinforcing stiffeners within it. The laminar element may of course comprise a rigid, or at least relatively stiff, sheet but preferably incorporates at least one housing for releasably receiving at least one reinforcing stiffening element which in use can span the gap between two surfaces when the aid is used to transfer a patient across the gap from one surface to another.

The housing for the reinforcing stiffening element may be provided only on one side of a line of attachment of the laminar element to the rolling tube (if the laminar element is permanently attached) but preferably extends across such line of attachment, preferably across substantially the entire width of the laminar element.

The reinforcing stiffening element may be of such a width as to extend a substantial proportion of the length of the laminar element. Preferably, however, the aid has several housings extending transverse the laminar element and spaced apart longitudinally of it, each for receiving a respective rather narrower stiffening element. This enables stiffening to be provided selectively and conveniently in whichever part of the aid requires it, or over the whole of its area if desired.

Although, for convenience of manufacture, housings for poles, stiffening supports or other elements of the aid of the invention could be provided on the upper, or outer, face of the laminar element, for the comfort of the patient they are preferably provided on the lower surface of the laminar element, which lies between it and the roller tube. In addition, the laminar element itself is preferably made of relatively soft and thick, material, for example with a thickness of the order of 5 mm to 15 mm, for the comfort of the patient. Such material, which may include so-called padding or wadding may be quilted with lines of stitching to secure upper and lower layers of the element to one another.

The roller tube may of course be made from a single sheet of fabric, but preferably is made of a multi-layer composite structure which includes a woven NYLON fabric sold under the trade name HYPERLAST. This may be coated on one face, which constitutes the very low-friction face, with a silicone elastomer. The laminar element likewise may also be a single-layer or a composite fabric structure, in which latter case at least the under fabric of the laminar element may also be made of HYPERLAST. In embodiments in which the engagement between the roller tube and the laminar element is a permanent fixing it is preferred that the low-friction face of the laminar element lies in contact with the roller tube so that it slides easily thereon. On the other hand, in embodiments of the invention in which this engagement is releasable quite different considerations apply and it is preferred that the under face be made of a high-friction material.

The aid as a whole is preferably made from fabrics which are washable and/or sterilisable and suitable for hospital use.

One embodiment of the aid may be of a size to cover a single hospital bed, arranged lengthwise of the bed, and may be intended particularly for the transfer of patients from one bed to another. It may, however, be made in any size convenient for any particular purpose, especially that of longitudinally displacing a patient between a sitting and a supine position as will be described in more detail below.

Various embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the aid according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic sectional view taken on the line II-II of Figure 1 but with the vertical scale enlarged for clarity of illustration; Figure 3 is an under plan view of a top sheet forming part of the aid of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view of the sheet of Figure 3 showing a stage in the insertion of a stiffening slat into a pocket in the sheet, with the sheet upside down; Figures 5a, 5b and Sc are end elevational views showing three different stages in the use of the aid of Figure 1;; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, suitable for displacing a patient longitudinally rather than laterally and having means for turning a sitting patient about a vertical axis; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the laminar element forming part of the embodiment of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention.

With reference to the drawings, a patient transfer aid is shown generally indicated 10. The aid 10 includes a loop, or rolling transfer aid 11, best seen in Figure 2, formed from a rectangular sheet of fabric seamed along opposing edges (not shown) in known manner to form a cylindrical sleeve defining a longitudinal axis but shown in its usual condition in which it is collapsed flat.

The sleeve 11 is of HYPERLAST fabric and has an inner surface 11a with a very low coefficient of friction whereas the outer surface 11b has a higher coefficient.

The aid 10 further includes a rectangular laminar element 12 of substantially the same dimensions in plan as the collapsed sleeve 11 which is attached to the sleeve 11 by a stitched seam 13 extending along the longitudinal centre line of the laminar element 12 and along a generatrix of the sleeve 11: the stitching 13 passes through only one layer of the fabric of the sleeve 11.

The laminar element 12 may comprise a single sheet of material but preferably, as shown, comprises a quilted sheet formed by two outer fabric layers 14, 15 with wadding 16 between them. The three layers are joined, or quilted, by an array of seams, not shown for clarity of illustration, and the edges may be bound or seamed as appropriate. At least the under layer 15 of the element 12 is of HYPERLAST fabric with its low-friction face 15a in contact with the sleeve 11.

Two tapes 17 are sewn to the upper surface of the quilted laminar element 12, one along each longitudinal edge thereof. Each tape 17 is sewn to the quilted element 12 at its ends and along both longitudinal edges except along four sections 18 of each tape 17, each about 150 mm long. These sections 18 are left free of the element 12 to form loops constituting hand grips. Transverse seams are formed across the tape 17 at each end of each loop 18 for strengthening purposes - only one such transverse seam is shown at 19 at each end for clarity of illustration. The four loops 18 in each tape 17 are provided one adjacent each end of the element 12 and two adjacent the centre but it will be apparent that other numbers, arrangements and spacings of loop handgrips 18 may be provided.In the embodiment illustrated, one end loop 18a is closer to the adjacent end of the element 12 than the other end loop 18b; the loops 18a are intended to be placed at the head end of a bed in use. This arrangement optimises the distribution of forces on the aid in use in relation to the weight of a patient lying on it.

The laminar element 12 further includes two additional strips 20 of fabric sewn to its underside along longitudinal edge portions thereof. The fabric strips 20 are sewn to the laminar element 12 only along their edges (one edge seam of each strip is indicated by the broken line at 21 in Figure 1) so that each strip forms a longitudinally-extending, open-ended casing 22 with the adjoining quilted element 12. Each casing 22 of sufficient size to receive a pole, indicated 23, inserted longitudinally therethrough for purposes which will be explained below.

A further feature of the aid 10 is a plurality (three in the embodiment illustrated) of strap handles 24 which can be releasably attached to either edge of the aid 10 but could be permanently attached if desired. Each strap handle 24 comprises a length of webbing which is folded once on itself to form two layers which are seamed together along both longitudinal edges except along three sections which are left free to form loop hand grips 25, like the loop hand grips 18 of the edge tapes 17 described above. Transverse seams 26 are again formed at each end of the loops 25. In this case the length of webbing left free between the transverse seams 26 in the upper layer is slightly longer than in the lower layer so that, the webbing being fairly stiff, the upper layer stands up from the lower layer to facilitate grasping of the hand grip 25 by the user.Clearly, although three handgrips 25 are shown, these each being approximately 150 mm long, any convenient number, size and arrangement of grips 25 could be provided.

The strap handles 24 are intended to be attached to the quilted element 12 for use and, for this purpose, one end thereof carries a clip element 27 which can be releasably attached to an eyelet 28 fixed to the underside of the quilt 12 adjacent its longitudinal edge. A clip element 27 and eyelet 28 are shown only schematically in Figure 2 since various alternative forms of connection may be used including a loop formed in the strap itself.

The eyelet 28, or other suitable attachment point, is, in practice, provided or formed at one end of an additional length of webbing 29 which extends transverse the quilted sheet 12, right across its under side. The opposite end of the webbing 29 also carries an eyelet for attachment of a strap 24 to that end when required. The additional webbing 29 is provided for strengthening purposes to spread the load of a pull on the strap 24 across the full width of the quilted element 12.

A final feature of the aid 10 is a set of transverselyextending elongate housings 30 provided on the underside of the quilted element 12 for receiving stiffening slats 31. The housings 30 and slats 31 are shown only in Figures 4 and 5 for clarity of illustration. As shown there are five housings 30, two between each pair of webbing tapes 29 and one adjacent the foot end of the aid 10 but, again, other numbers and arrangements of housings and slats may be envisaged.

Each housing 30 is constituted by a strip of fabric 32 sewn to the quilted element 12 along its longitudinal edges to form an open-ended casing slightly shorter than the slats 31 and two end pockets 33 sewn to the quilted element 12 around three sides and open towards the adjacent open end of the casing 32. The flexibility of the sheet material of the aid 10 is such that a slat 31 can be inserted into its casing 32 and one end pocket 33 through the gap 34 between the other end pocket 33 and the casing and the said other end pocket can then be slipped over the corresponding end of the slat to retain the slat in the housing, as shown in Figure 4. The ends of the slats 31 are rounded or ogival in shape to facilitate this insertion as shown at 35. Other means for releasably retaining slats in housings on the under side of the quilt element 12 may be envisaged.

With reference to Figure 5 of the drawings, this shows three stages in the use of the transfer aid 10, shown purely diagrammatically, to transfer a patient P from one bed B1 to a second, adjacent bed B2.

Figure 5a shows the aid 10, (with its stiffening slats 31 in place but not visible in the drawing) placed on the two beds B1, B2 with the laminar element 12 completely on the first bed B1, beneath the patient P, but with the underlying rolling transfer tube 11 partly overlapping the bed B2. A care assistant C stands at the opposite side of the second bed B2 from the first bed B1 and grasps the handgrips nearest the free end of a pulling strap 24. At least one other assistant (not shown) would preferably also grasp another of the pulling straps.

The care assistant C, standing upright, then pulls the strap towards himself, causing the laminar element 12, with the patient P, to slide on the rolling transfer tube 11 until the aid reaches the position shown in Figure SB.

Here the laminar element 12 spans the gap between the beds B1 and B2 but the stiffening slats provide support for the patient.

From here the assistant C continues to pull the strap, still standing upright and gripping the various handgrips in turn as the aid 10 is drawn nearer to him. In due course the position shown in Figure 5C is reached in which the laminar element 12 and the patient P have been transferred completely to the second bed B2.

The aid 10 is sufficiently thin, flexible and slippery to be pulled out readily from beneath the patient P.

Referring now to Figure 6, an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in schematic perspective view.

Whereas the embodiments described above are intended for lateral transfer of a patient in a recumbent position, for which purpose the roller tube or sleeve 11 is a longer than its diameter such as to match the axial length of the tube approximately to the height of a person lying on it, the aid 10' of Figure 6 is intended for displacement of a patient longitudinally if in a recumbent position or alternatively in a sitting position.For this purpose the aid 10' comprises a loop 36 of the same or similar material as that described in relation to the sleeve 11 of the embodiments of Figures 1 to 4 which, as will be appreciated, when laid flat on a horizontal surface will form two "passes" namely an upper pass 37 and a lower pass 38 in the form of two super imposed layers the facing surfaces of which are provided with low-friction material to allow the two passes 37, 38 to slide freely with respect to one another even when pressed together by the weight of a person lying or sitting on the tube 36.Along its free edges 39, 40 (effectively the "ends" of the tube) are provided respective tapes (41, 42) covered in the same material as that of the tube 36, and left exposed at periodic intervals (typically between 2 and 4 feet apart) at which points the tapes form small loops 43, 44 usable as grip handles in manipulating the equipment.

Whereas in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6 the roller tube had associated therewith a laminar element secured permanently along a generatrix of the tube, in this embodiment the association between the roller tube 36 and a laminar element 45 is achieved by purely frictional engagement as will be described below. The laminar element 45 in this embodiment is, in fact, a composite structure of multiple layers primarily comprising, as can be seen in Figure 7, an upper layer structure 46 and a lower layer structure 47 permanently interconnected with respect to one another by a pivot assembly generally indicated 48 which allows the upper layer structure 46 to rotate about an axis generally indicated X-X defined by the pivot assembly 48 to be generally orthogonal to the plane of the two primary layer structures 46, 47.Each of these layer structures 46, 47 is flexible and the upper structure 46 includes a padded or quilted material for long term comfort of a patient sitting or lying on or over this element.

The construction of the element 45 will be described in more detail in relation to Figure 7 which, it must be emphasised, is a schematic diagram illustrating the various layers and components of the structure without in any way being drawn to scale, but rather being presented in a way which will assist understanding of the structure itself. It will be appreciated that each layer may be a woven or non-woven textile fabric of fibres or filaments suitable for the individual purposes described hereinbelow, and typically are of a thickness between 1.5 millimetres and 0.035 millimetres.

The upper layer structure generally indicated 46 of the element 45 comprises a quilting layer 50 and a lower layer 51 of woven nylon which may be the same material as that from which the sleeve or tube 36 is made. The lower structure 47 comprises an upper layer 52 of the woven nylon fabric and an outer, lower surface layer 53 of a lightly adhesive high-friction material such as that made by DYSEN. The central pivot structure 48 comprises a plastics pivot pin 54 having an enlarged head 55.

Beneath the enlarged head 55 is a stiffening layer 56 formed as a disc having a diameter larger than that of the head 55 and interposed between the head 55 and the lower friction layer 53. The pin 54 projects through a central hole in the upper layer 52 of the lower layer structure 47 and through a central opening in a circular rigid plastics washer 57 having the same diameter (or substantially the same diameter) as the head 55 of the pin 54.

Over the central plastics washer 57 is placed the lower layer 51 of the upper layer structure 46, and a further, upper plastics washer 58 is then placed over the pin 54 and bonded thereto by welding or adhesive. Any projecting end of the pin 54 is then severed to leave its end 59 substantially flush with the upper face of the upper washer 58 the diameter of which is substantially the same as that of the intermediate washer 57 and the head 55 of the pin 54. The upper washer 58 is then covered by a stiffening layer 60 of the same material as the layer 56, and over this layer is placed the upper quilting layer 50.The pivot structure thus holds the two layer structures 46, 47 together, and these are held to the pivot structure 48 by circular lines of stitching, schematically illustrated by the vertical lines 61 in the case of the upper pivot structure 46 and 62 in the case of the lower pivot structure 47. Further lines of stitching join the outer perimeters of the layers 50, 51 comprising the upper layer structure 46 and a circle of stitching 64 joins the outer perimeters of the layers 52, 53 of the lower layer structure 47.As will be appreciated the dimensions of the laminar element 45 may be chosen suitably to receive a seated person, for example in the region of .5 to .75 metres (although the diameter of the underlying lower layer structure 47 may be less than this, as illustrated in Figure 7, if desired, the function of the lower layer structure being primarily to bear the friction layer 53 in a manner which permits the upper layer structure 46 to rotate with respect thereto).

Finally, the interspace schematically illustrated as 65 in Figure 7 may be formed as a plurality of pockets to receive flat reinforcing batons or slats 66 as illustrated in Figure 6.

The laminar structure 45 allows two primary functions to be fulfilled. First, as an aid to transferring a seated patient between two adjacent surfaces, such as a bed and a trolley or a bed and a chair the roller tube 36 may be placed on the surface with the laminar element 45 lying on it and the patient sitting on the laminar element. It is assumed here that the batons or slats 66 are in place in the pockets 65. The laminar element 45 is orientated so that the batons or slats 66 lie parallel to the length of the pass 37, that is perpendicular to the axis of the tube 36. The patient is then displaced by sliding the upper pass 37 of the tube 36 over the lower pass 39 thereof, gripping by the handle loops 43, 44 and/or the edges of the laminar element 45 which, likewise, may be provided with similar handle loops (not shown) until the patient arrives at the gap between the two surfaces.

Then, by lightly raising the corner of the element 45, and therefore the leading ends of the batons or slats 66, the patient may be transferred over the gap with the batons or slats 66 spanning this and providing suitable continuity of supporting surface.

In an alternative use, a patient lying on a bed can be moved to a sitting position easily, and then left comfortable sitting up in bed by the following process.

Let us assume that the patient is lying on the bed. By rolling the patient to one side a roller tube 36 can be introduced to lie with its axis perpendicular to the length of the bed, that is with the upper and lower passes 37, 38 approximately parallel to the length of the bed, and the patient then rolled back and the loop smoothed out so that the patient is lying along the upper layer or pass 37. This is a simple operation to achieve using the handle loops 43, 44 to pull the loop 36 smoothly into position. The patient is then again rolled slightly to one side and a laminar element 45 introduced under the hips, being slightly folded as it is pushed under so that when the patient is returned to the superimposition the folds can be pulled from the other side to smooth out the laminar element 45 leaving it centrally positioned on the patient.The frictional engagement between the lower layer 53 of the laminar element 45 will ensure that this moves together with the upper pass 37 of the loop 36 without any relative slippage. By gripping the handle loops 43, 44 and/or the corresponding (but not shown) loops at the edges of the laminar element 45 and moving the patients hips towards the head end of the bed, and with some assistance from the patient sitting himself or herself up (which may be assisted by the carers lifting the shoulders), the patient can be moved to a sitting position. Of course, the low-friction between the layers 37, 38 allows this to take place very easily, and naturally if the carers were simply to leave the equipment in place the patient could slip down the bed back to the supine position very easily.However, by gripping the lower pass 38 using the handle loops, and retaining the upper pass 37 in position, the loop 36 can be withdrawn from under the patient, rolling away from the underside 53 of the laminar element 45 without any relative motion between the two, leaving the laminar element 45 contacting the bed surface with its high friction layer 53 thereby assisting the patient to remain upright in the sitting position.

The embodiment of Figure 8 differs from that of Figure 6 in the construction of the laminar element 67. The loop 36 is otherwise identical and it and its components are identified with the same reference numerals as have been used in Figure 6. The laminar element 67 in this embodiment, however, likewise comprises a short loop having upper and lower passes 68, 69 and a plurality of parallel thin stiffeners 70 running parallel to the axis Z-Z of the loop 67. This allows the upper pass 68 to move transversely of the axis Z-Z and parallel to the axis X-X of the loop 36 whilst the laminar element 67 as a whole may be displaced parallel to the axis Z-Z and perpendicular to the axis X-X. By forming the outer surfaces of the loops 36, 67 with higher friction material than the inner surfaces thereof it will easily be seen how the equipment may be used with a person seated on the upper pass 68 of the laminar element 67 to move in two dimensions for precise positioning, and again each loop may be removed after position has been achieved in the manner described for the removal of the loop 36 in relation to the embodiment of Figure 6.

Claims

1. A patient transfer aid comprising an open-ended tube of flexible sheet material with a low-friction internal surface and a laminar element associated with the outside of the tube such that the laminar element can be superposed on the tube collapsed on itself and can be urged, in use, in a direction transverse the axis of the tube to slide it with the underlying upper layer of the tube on the lower layer to displace a patient resting on the laminar element linearly from one position to another.

2. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 1, in which association of the laminar element with the tube in a permanent attachment is attached to the tube along a substantially median line of the laminar element.

3. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the laminar element is rectangular and substantially the same size as the collapsed tube.

4. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which there are provided holding or gripping means along at least one edge of the laminar element.

5. A patient transfer device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the laminar element is provided with pull tapes attached or releasably attachable to at least one edge thereof.

6. A patient transfer device as claimed in preceding claim, in which the laminar element is provided with rigid releasable reinforcing means which can be introduced into at least one edge thereof and project therefrom to permit displacement of the laminar element with respect to the said tube.

7. A patient transfer device as claimed in any of Claims 4, 5 or 6, in which the holding or gripping means comprise loops of tape stitched or otherwise secured along the or each said edge of the laminar element and/or one or more edge of the said tube.

8. A patient transfer device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the said laminar element includes one or more pockets for receiving one or more stiffening slats or battens.

9. A patient transfer device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the roller tube is made from a single sheet of fabric.

10. A patient transfer device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the association of the laminar element with the tube comprises releasable engagement of the laminar element with the tube.

11. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 10, in which the said releasable engagement is effected by means of releasable fastener elements.

12. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 11, in which the releasable fastener elements comprise hook and loop fasteners, press-studs, turn buckles, tie tapes, buttons or other like releasable fasteners.

13. A patient transfer device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10, in which the association of the laminar element with the said tube is releasable engagement by frictional contact.

14. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 13, in which a face of the laminar element intended to contact the said tube in use is provided with a surface layer of lightly adhesive or high-friction material.

15. A patient transfer device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the laminar element is formed as a multiple layer structure.

16. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 15, in which the multiple layer structure includes an upper layer structure which is relatively movable with respect to a lower layer structure.

17. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 16, in which the relative motion between the said upper layer structure and lower layer structure of the laminar element is linear relative motion.

18. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 16, in which the said relative motion between the upper layer structure and lower layer structure of the said laminar element is rotary relative motion.

19. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 18, in which the upper layer structure and lower structure of the laminar element are held together by a separable connection permitting relative rotation of one structure with respect to the other.

20. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 18 in which the upper layer structure is permanently pivotally connected to the lower layer structure.

21. A patient transfer device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in any of the figures of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A patient transfer aid comprising an open-ended tube of flexible sheet material with a low-f riction internal surface, a sheet-form patient-support device that can be superposed on the tube collapsed on itself, and gripper means attached or attachable to the patient-support device; the aid being such that, when a patient rests on the patient-support device superposed on the tube in use, a force applied to the gripper means attached to the patient-support device in a direction transverse the axis of the tube is transmitted to the tube so ae to cause the patient-support device to slide with the underlying upper layer of the tube on the lower layer to displace a patient resting: on the patient-support device linearly from one position to another, the gripper means comprising or including at least one member that extends from the patient-support device for gripping at a position remote from the device itself.

2. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the patient-support device is attached to the tube by a substantially permanent attachment along a generatrix of the tube.

3. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the patient-support device is attached to the tube by releasable means which interconnect the device and the tube along a generatrix of the tube.

4, A patient transfer device as claimed in claim 3, in which the releasable means comprise hook and loop fasteners, press-studs, turn buckles, tie tapes or buttons.

5. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the face of the patient-support device intended to contact the tube in use is provided with a surface layer of lightly adhesive or high-friction material such as to cause the device to grip the upper layer of the tube in use to enable the said force to be transmitted to the tube.

6. A patient transfer device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the patient-support device is rectangular and of substantially the same size as the collapsed tube.

7. A patient transfer device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the gripper means include handgripe provided along at least one edge of the patient-support device.

8. A patient transfer device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the patient-support device is provided with at least one pull tape attached or releasably attachable to at least one edge thereof so as to constitute a said gripper member for remote gripping.

9. A patient transfer device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the patient-support device is provided with rigid releasable reinforcing means which can be introduced into at least one edge portion thereof so as to project therefrom and constitute a said gripper member for remote gripping.

10. A patient transfer device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the patient-support device comprises a multi-layer, flexible structure including one or more pockets for receiving one or more stiffening slats or-battens.- 11. A patient transfer device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the roller tube is made from a single sheet of fabric.

12. A patient transfer device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. in which the patient-support device comprises a multiple layer structure including an upper layer structure which is relatively movable with respect to a lower layer structure.

13. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 12, in which the relative motion between the upper layer structure and the lower layer structure of the patientsupport device is linear relative motion.

14. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 12, in which the said relative motion between the upper layer structure and the lower layer structure of the patientsupport device is rotary relative motion.

15. A patient transfer device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, any of the figures of the accompanying drawings.

16. A patient transfer aid comprising an open-ended tube of flexible sheet material with a low-friction internal surface, la sheetiform patient-support device that can be superposed on the tube collapsed on itself, gripper means attached or attachable to the patient-support device; and means for attaching the patient-support device to the flexible tube such that, with the patient-support device superposed on the tube in use, a force applied to the gripper means attached to the patient-support device in a direction transverse the axis of the tube can urge the patient-support device to slide with the underlying upper layer of the tube on the lower layer to displace a patient resting on the patient-support device linearly from one position to another.

17. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 16, in which the patient-support device is attached to the tube by a substantially permanent attachment along a generatrix of the tube.

18. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 16, in which the patient-support device is attached to the tube by releasable means which interconnect the device and the tube along a generatrix of the tube.

19. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 18, in which the releasable means comprise hook and loop fasteners, press-studs, turn buckles, tie tapes or buttons.

20. A patient transfer device as claimed in any one of Claims 16 to 19, in which the patient-support device is rectangular and of substantially the same size as the collapsed tube.

21. A patient transfer device ae claimed in any one of Claims 16 to 20, in which the gripper means comprise or include handgrips provided along at least one edge of the patient-support device.

22. A patient transfer device as claimed in any one of Claims 16 to 21, in which the gripper means comprise or include at least one pull tape attached or releasably attachable to at least one edge thereof.

23. A patient transfer device as claimed in any one of Claim 16 to 22, in which the patient-support device is provided with rigid releasable reinforcing means which can be introduced into at least one edge portion thereof so as to project therefrom and constitute a gripper member for gripping to enable application of the said force.

24. A patient transfer device as claimed in any one of Claims 16 to 23, in which the patient-support device comprises a multi-layer, flexible structure including one or more pockets for receiving one or more stiffening slats or battens.

25. A patient transfer device as claimed in any one'of Claims 16 to 24, in which the roller tube is made from a single sheet of fabric.

26. A patient transfer device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the patient-support device comprises a multiple layer structure including an upper layer structure which is relatively movable with respect to a lower layer structure.

27. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 26, in which the relative motion between the upper layer structure and the lower layer structure of the patientsupport device is linear relative motion.

28. A patient transfer device as claimed in Claim 2S, in which the said relative motion between the upper layer structure and the lower layer structure of the patientsupport device is rotary relative motion.