GB2319226A - Hospital trolley - Google Patents

Abstract

A hospital trolley is described in which lifting of persons onto the trolley and other operations are facilitated by provision of an upper, generally C-shaped, frame (10) which in use supports e.g. a stretcher and is of adjustable height. Preferably, the upper frame is supported by a vertical telescopic pillar (14) in turn supported by a generally C-shaped base (16,18). The upper frame may be selectively tiltable about a horizontal axis.

Description

DESCRIPTION HOSPITAL TROLLEY The present invention is concerned with trolleys for use principally in hospitals.

Traditional hospital trolleys comprise a generally rectangular frame, rather like a tall bed frame, which has a castor wheel at each of its four lowermost corners. By having a freely pivotable wheel at each corner, such a trolley can be manoeuvred across the floor in all directions. The upper part of the trolley frame is adapted to support a conventional stretcher consisting of a length of canvas held between two parallel poles, by which a patient can be carried on the trolley.

Traditional trolleys have several practical problems associated with them. The principal problem is that is takes two persons to lift a patient onto and off the trolley, i.e. one person at each end of the canvas. Also, the height of the frame can often necessitate that a patient be physically lifted above the waist-height of the lifters in moving the patient onto or off the trolley and this can contravene certain rules/guidelines now in force. This arises because Health and Safety Regulations require that personnel should lift no more than 5Kg at waist level. Until recently, the NHS was exempt from these regulations but this exemption has now been lifted so that current trolley systems which require manual lifting will become illegal. In any case, with heavy patients, the lifters can be subjected to considerable strain, which is clearly undesirable.

It is an object of the present invention, to provide a hospital trolley wherein the aforegoing disadvantages of the traditional design are removed or mitigated.

According to the present invention in its broadest aspect, there is provided a hospital trolley comprising a generally C-shaped frame which is mounted above a mobile base and is of adjustable height relative to the mobile base under the control of the trolley operator.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hospital trolley comprising a pair of generally C-shaped frames which lie in respective horizontal planes and are spaced apart, one above the other, by a vertical pillar of adjustable height which interconnects the central portions of the C-shaped frames, the lower of the Cshaped frames having wheels to enable it to run on the floor.

Preferably, the trolley includes means whereby the upper C-shaped frame is selectively tiltable about a central horizontal axis which extends parallel to the direction of extension of the arms of the C section.

Advantageously, the tilting means for the upper C section frame comprises a pair of piston and hydraulic cylinder units disposed between the C-section frame and two opposite sides respectively of the vertical pillar.

Still more advantageously, the cylinders of the tilting mechanism are coupled together hydraulically so that the angular attitude of the upper C-shaped frame is locked when the supply/release of hydraulic fluid to the two cylinders is stopped.

Preferably, the adjustable height of the vertical pillar is achieved by constructing the pillar of at least two, mutually telescopable sections.

Preferably, the central beam/arm of the lower Csection frame is of selectively extensible length to enable the lateral spacing between the side beams/arms of this lower C-section to be adjustable.

Preferably, the lower C-section is mounted on four caster wheels, two of which can be locked to face in a selected direction and the other two of which can be braked.

Preferably, the upper C-shaped frame carries specific locking means for engaging with the side poles of a conventional stretcher/canvas to enable the stretcher/canvas to be selectively engaged with this upper C-section. For example, such locking means may comprise respective sleeve members which can be selectively extended from respective recesses in the side beams/arms of the upper C-section to lock onto or into the ends of the two poles of the stretcher/canvas.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hospital trolley in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the trolley of Fig.

1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the trolley of Fig.

1; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the trolley of Fig. 1.

The trolley shown in the drawings comprises upper and lower, horizontally oriented, generally C-shaped structures 10, 12 made of a box sectioned, metal or reinforced plastics material, such as carbon fibre.

The two C-shaped sections 10, 12 are joined vertically by a telescopic post 14 which can be extended and contracted by an internal screw jack or hydraulic mechanism (not shown) to enable the height of the upper section 10 to be controlled relative to the lower section 12.

The lower, C-shaped section 12 has a central, main beam 16 connected rigidly to two side beams 18a, 18b.

The central beam 16 is preferably telescopically extendible in its longitudinal direction, as shown at 20 whereby it can be adjusted/tailored to fit under beds and around operating table pedestals. It has a low profile and is mounted on four castor wheels 22, of which two are capable of being fixed and locked in a straight forward position by means of a spring mounted pin (not shown) which locates in a metal disc fixed to the castor. The latter locking mechanism can be released by a small lever (not shown), like a bicycle brake lever for example, mounted on the trolley handles. The other two wheels have foot-operated locking brakes. The aforegoing arrangement enables the trolley to be pushed/pulled in a selected direction.

The upper C-shaped section 10 has a central beam 24 connected rigidly to two side beams 26a,26b. The section 10 can be swivelled about a horizontal, transversely extending axis A-A and for this purpose is mounted on a bearing 28 (See Fig. 2) disposed at the upper end of the vertical post 14. The degree of swivel is controlled by a pair of hydraulically interconnected piston and cylinder units 30a, 30b pivotally coupled at their respective ends to the vertical post 14 and to the underside of the beam 24 on either side of the bearing 28, respectively. The cylinders are interconnected so that the supply of oil to one causes a corresponding release of oil from the other whereby when the displacement of oil is stopped, the beam 24 will remain locked in its prevailing angular attitude relative to the post 14.

Each side beam 26a, 26b of the upper C-shaped section 10 has a pair of cylindrical locking devices received in respective recesses 32 to enable each of the four recesses 32 to receive a respective one end of the two poles of a conventional canvas/stretcher. For example, the locking devices can include respective annular sleeves which can be extended from the recesses 32 to engage over and lock onto the respective ends of the poles of the canvas, which are usually made of aluminum, to enable the canvas to be supported between the beams 26a, 26b.

The locking devices on the side beams 26a, 26b can also be adapted to lock into/onto other specialised trolley heads, such as cadaver transfer caskets, temporary operating or mortuary tables, hospital stores delivery carriers, and the like. The upper C-shaped section 10 can also be adapted to enable additional equipment to be mounted in or from it. For example, mountings for one or more instrument trays can be provided, hung from the upper section 10 such that they can be swung out of the way during loading and unloading. Fittings for trolley sides, drip stands and the like can also be carried by the upper C-shaped section 10.

The upright post 14 is constructed in two sections of heavy gauge square section metal or carbon fibre, joined telescopically one inside the other. The lower section of the post 14 is welded to the longitudinal central beam 16 of the lower C-section 12. The upper section of the post 14 slots over (in this embodiment) the lower section and locates on the upper end of the aforementioned screw-jack or hydraulic jack (not shown) which enables it to be lifted or lowered. Normally this lifting/lowering need only be a few inches but it could be more in some situations. At the upper end of the post 14 is welded a carrying bracket and swivel mechanism for the upper C-section 10. Additional equipment such as oxygen bottle cage and instrument trays can be mounted on swivels from the lower part of the upright post.

The operation of the present trolley is similar in principle to that of a fork lift. The beam length of the lower C-section 12 is adjusted and fixed to enable it to slip beneath hospital beds (inside the legs) and around the plinth base of operating table. For picking up a patient on a bed, for example, the patient is first arranged to be lying on a conventional canvas on the bed and the trolley is then displaced so that the slide arms 26a, 26b take up respective positions above the head and below the feet of the patient. When so positioned, the locking pins/sockets in the side beams 26a, 26b can then be located in or around the ends of the canvas poles so as to firmly connect the poles to these beams. Using the screw jack or hydraulic jack in the vertical post 14, the upper C-section 10 supporting the patient on the canvas can then be raised a few inches to enable the trolley and patient to be removed from the bed and transferred to another location.

Similar procedures can be adopted for other loads.

Operation of the hydraulic cylinder units enables the angular attitude of the patient, or other load, carried by the trolley to be selected. This can be important therapeutically, in particular to affect the flow of a patient's bodily fluids. An example is where a patient is given drugs which lower blood pressure.

It can then be advantageous to incline the patient so that his head is lower than his feet, to promote blood flow to the brain.

A trolley constructed as described hereinbefore can having the following advantages; (a) It is capable of being operated by a single operator.

(b) It can enable the transfer of patients and other loads without the need for the operator physically to lift same; it therefore complies with the new Health and Safety requirements.

(c) It is a multi-use trolley that can be equipped with many different heads or fittings to enable it to fulfill several roles in a hospital or other environment, such as patient transfer, theatre trolley, mortuary trolley, temporary post mortem table, stores movement, food transfer trolley and the like.

(d) It is capable of lifting and transferring the heaviest of patients without special assistance.

The uses to which the trolley can be put enable far greater utilisation of the trolley compared to the majority of the time being left idle in a corridor as is the case with traditional trolleys.

Claims (10)

1. A hospital trolley comprising a generally Cshaped frame which is mounted above a mobile base and is of adjustable height relative to the mobile base under the control of the trolley operator.

2. A hospital trolley as claimed in claim 1, further comprising tilting means whereby the C-shaped frame is selectively tiltable about a central horizontal axis which extends parallel to the direction of extension of the arms of the C-section.

3. A hospital trolley as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tilting means for the C-shaped frame comprises a pair of piston and hydraulic cylinder units disposed between the C-shaped frame and two opposite sides respectively of the vertical pillar.

4. A hospital trolley as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cylinders of the tilting mechanism are coupled together hydraulically so that the angular attitude of the C-shaped frame is locked when the supply/release of hydraulic fluid to the two cylinders is stopped.

5. A hospital trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the C-shaped frame carries specific locking means for engaging with the side poles of a conventional stretcher/canvas to enable the stretcher/canvas to be selectively engaged with the Cshaped frame.

6. A hospital trolley as claimed in claim 5, wherein the locking means comprise respective sleeve members which can be selectively extended from respective recesses in the side beams/arms of the Cshaped frame to lock onto or into the ends of the two poles of the stretcher/canvas.

7. A hospital trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a lower generally C-shaped frame below the first mentioned C-shaped frame and spaced apart therefrom by a vertical pillar of adjustable height which interconnects the central portions of the C-shaped frames, the lower of the Cshaped frames having wheels to enable it to run on the floor.

8. A hospital trolley as claimed in claim 7, wherein the central beam/arm of the lower C-shaped frame is of selectively extensible length to enable the lateral spacing between the side beams/arms of the lower C-shaped frame to be adjustable.

9. A hospital trolley as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the lower C-shaped frame is mounted on four castor wheels, two of which can be locked to face in a selected direction and the other two of which can be braked.

10. A hospital trolley substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.