GB2540698A

GB2540698A - Inflatable patient cradle, patient handling system and method

Info

Publication number: GB2540698A
Application number: GB1618887.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edmund Talbot Garman David; William Owens Austin
Original assignee: David E T Garman Concepts Ltd
Current assignee: David E T Garman Concepts Ltd
Priority date: 2015-01-15
Filing date: 2015-11-20
Publication date: 2017-01-25
Also published as: GB201520454D0; GB2529954B; GB201500665D0; GB2529954A

Abstract

An inflatable cradle for supporting a patient in a sitting position comprising an inflatable seat section 14, an inflatable back support section 16 and a pair of opposed inflatable side panel sections 18 and 20 which each extend between the back support 16 and a side of the seat 14 wherein each of the elements has a soft walled inflatable structure. The device may employ a mixture of hinged and releasable attachments 30 between the sections and there may be recesses in a rear area. Also disclosed are a roller transfer assembly, a mobile transfer unit with rollers on it, a chair with longitudinal rollers, a toilet support seat with rollers, a roller baton assembly and a floor lift device. In use the inflatable cradle may be used to transfer a patient by positioning it on rollers and may also be used to lift a patient lying down.

Description

Inflatable Patient Cradle. Patient Handling System and Method Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to patient handling. The invention relates in particular to apparatus and methods for moving a patient and in particular, but not exclusively, to a system and method for transferring a disabled, elderly and/or infirm person.

Background to the Invention

People who are severely ill, elderly, disabled or otherwise infirm may lose the ability to move freely on their own and require assistance for repositioning and movement. This is a particular issue for people who have insufficient upper body strength to support themselves in an upright sitting position without assistance and for people who are very heavy, such as bariatric patients. The responsibility for assisting such people falls to care providers who reposition patients to prevent pressure ulcers and promote comfort and who transfer patients between supporting equipment, such as between beds, chairs, wheelchairs or patient trolleys for example. In some situations, a person must be transferred vertically, say between equipment with support surfaces of different heights. In other cases, the transfer is predominantly in a lateral or otherwise generally horizontal direction. This might be the case where a patient is repositioned on a bed or is transferred between adjacent surfaces at the same height, such as between a bed and an adjacent patient trolley, or between a chair and a commode, for example.

Research has shown that care providers experience significant physical stress when performing manual lifting and repositioning tasks which can lead to physical injury, including musculoskeletal disorders that can cause chronic back pain. Manual handling is also undesirable for the patient who is at risk of pain and discomfort, skin tears, bruising and being dropped, as well as suffering indignity. One of the highest risk manual handling activities is transferring a patient on or off a bed. This often requires the care provider to reach across the bed adopting a bad posture which can result in high physical stress to their body, particularly their back. The relatively soft nature of bed mattresses adds to the difficulty as they tend to compress when a force is applied, making it more difficult to move a patient safely and efficiently.

To alleviate the problems outlined above, various apparatus and methods have been developed over the years. Technologies to assist with vertical transfer of patients include powered full-body sling lifts, floor-based lifts, ceiling-mounted lifts, powered standing lifts, non-powered standing aids and gait/transfer belts. Technologies to assist with horizontal/lateral transfer and repositioning of patients include air-assisted systems, friction-reducing devices such as glide sheets, mechanical lateral transfer aids, sliding boards and transfer chairs. A major drawback of the apparatus developed so far is that they typically require the patient to be manually lifted to get them into position on the apparatus before it can be effectively used. For example, in order to reposition a patient on a bed using a glide sheet, the sheet must first be positioned wholly underneath the patient. This will usually require the patient to be lifted off the bed temporarily. Alternatively, the patient may be tilted or rolled over, first to one side, then to the other, to enable the sheet to be manoeuvred into position. Similar techniques are required to position a patient on a transfer board or in the sling of a transfer hoist. Lifting or moving the patient in these circumstances to place them on the equipment can be problematic owing to the soft nature of the bed mattress and the difficulty in reaching a patient positioned centrally within a bed. Furthermore, with some known types of apparatus, such as a glide sheet or transfer board, significant force must be applied to the patient manually to move them after they have been placed on the apparatus. This can be a particular issue where the patient is being moved from or to the centre of a bed where the patient is difficult to reach. These types of apparatus are also only of limited assistance for patients with limited upper body strength as they are not capable of supporting the patient in an upright sitting position.

Powered lifting aids such as lifts are often expensive, heavy and bulky. They require significant training to use safely and competently and are not always able to be used where access is limited.

There is a need then for an improved apparatus for handling a patient which overcomes, or at least mitigates, the drawbacks of the known apparatus.

There is also a need for an improved method of handling a patient which overcomes, or at least mitigates, the drawbacks of the known methods.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an inflatable cradle for supporting a patient in a sitting position, the cradle comprising an inflatable seat section, an inflatable back-support section, and a pair of opposed inflatable side panel sections, each side panel section extending between the back-support and a respective side of the seat, each of the seat, back-support, and side panel sections comprising a soft-walled inflatable structure.

When un-inflated, each of the seat, back-support, and side panel sections may comprise a thin, flexible structure. Each of the seat, back-support, and side panel sections may be made from a flexible fabric which is impervious to air, such as polyurethane coated nylon fabric. Each of the seat, back-support, and side panel sections may define a panel-like member which is relatively rigid when inflated in comparison with its un-inflated state.

The cradle may comprise two parts releasably attachable to one another, a first part comprising at least the back-support section and a second part comprising at least the seat section. The side panel sections may be permanently attached to one of the seat section and the back-support section and releasably connectable to the other of the seat section and the back-support section to attach the first and second parts together. The cradle may comprise a plurality of releasable fasteners for releasably connecting each side panel section to said other of the seat section and the back-support section. Each side panel section may be hingedly connected to a respective side of said one of the seat section and back-support section. In an embodiment, the side panel sections are permanently attached to the seat section and are releasably attachable to the back-support section. In an alternative embodiment, the side panel sections are permanently attached to the back-support section and are releasably attachable to the seat section.

The seat section may have a depth of 3 cm or more when inflated. The seat section may have a depth in the range of 3 cm to 10 cm when inflated.

The seat may define a central recess along a rear edge of the seat section. The back-support section may define a central recess along a bottom edge.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a roller transfer assembly comprising a supporting structure in which are mounted a plurality of rollers arranged in rows.

The roller transfer assembly may compromise a plurality of roller batons aligned parallel to one another, each roller baton comprising an elongate support member to which are rotatably mounted a plurality of rollers. The roller batons may be spaced from one another and interconnected by at least two rigid crossmembers. The cross-members may extend outwardly beyond a rearmost one of the batons. The elongate support member may be a channel member, the rollers being mounted between opposed walls of the channel member.

The support structure may comprise one or more load-spreading pads for engaging a surface on which the roller transfer assembly is positioned in use. Where the roller transfer assembly has elongate roller batons interconnected by cross-members, load-spreading pads may be incorporated in regions of the crossmembers which extend outwardly beyond a reannost roller baton.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile transfer unit, the mobile transfer unit comprising a chassis with rotatable ground-engaging members for movement over a floor surface and a height-adjustable platform defining a support surface, a plurality of rollers mounted to the platform in association with the support surface.

The rollers may be located in recesses in the platform so that at least the upper surfaces of the rollers are positioned above the support surface.

The rollers may be provided in a plurality of roller batons, each roller baton comprising an elongate support member to which are rotatably mounted a plurality of said rollers, the roller batons extending in a transverse direction of the support surface.

The platform may be padded and where the rollers are provided in a plurality of roller batons, the roller batons may be mounted in recess in the padded platform.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a chair comprising a seat defining a seating surface, a plurality of rollers mounted in the seat, each roller being rotatable about an axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the seat. The rollers may have an upper surface which is positioned above the seating surface of the seat. The rollers may be adjustably mounted for movement between a raised, transfer position in which at least the upper surfaces of the rollers are positioned above the seating surface and a lowered position in which the rollers are located wholly below the seating surface.

The rollers may be provided in a plurality of roller batons, each roller baton comprising an elongate support member to which are rotatably mounted a plurality of said rollers, the roller batons extending in a transverse direction across the seat. In an embodiment, the roller batons are mounted in recesses in the seat. The roller batons may be adjustably mounted for movement between a raised, transfer position in which at least the upper surfaces of the rollers are positioned above the seating surface and a lowered position in which the rollers are located wholly below the seating surface.

The seat may be padded.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a toileting support comprising a seat having a toileting aperture and at least one roller mounted within or adjacent the seat, the upper surface of the at least one roller being positioned just above an upper surface of the seat.

The at least one roller may include a longitudinal elongate roller assembly mounted along one side of the seat.

The at least one roller may include a transverse elongate roller assembly mounted transversely across the seat in front of the toileting aperture. The transverse elongate roller assembly may comprise a roller baton having an elongate support member to which are mounted a plurality of rollers. The roller baton may be adjustable between a raised position in which at least the upper surfaces of the rollers are positioned above the upper surface of the seat and a lowered position in which the rollers are wholly located below the upper surface of the seat.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustable roller baton assembly, the assembly comprising at least one roller baton having an elongate support member to which are rotatably mounted a plurality of said rollers and a framework mountable to a supporting structure, the at least one roller baton being mounted to the framework for movement between a raised position and a lowered position, the assembly further comprising a mechanism for moving the at least one roller baton between said raised and lowered positions.

The at least one roller baton assembly may be mounted to the framework by means of links at either end, each link being pivotally connected with the roller baton and with the framework. The configuration of the roller baton, links and framework may define a parallelogram type four bar linkage. The mechanism for moving the at least one roller baton between said raised and lowered positions may be a winding mechanism comprising a winding bar rotatably mounted to the framework, a handle for rotating the winding bar and a flexible strap connected with the at least one roller baton at one end and with the winding bar at the other. The mechanism may comprise a locking arrangement for selectively holding the roller baton in the raised position. A roller baton assembly in accordance with the sixth aspect of the invention may be incorporated into any one or more of a mobile transfer unit in accordance with the third aspect of the invention, a chair in accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention, and/or a toileting support in accordance with the fifth aspect of the invention.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a floor-lift device comprising a frame having raised side bars interconnected by a number of rigid cross-members, the cross-members angling downwardly from each of the side bars to a central region in which they extend generally horizontally to define a recessed base region, a plurality of rolling ground-engaging members mounted to the frame so that the device can be rolled along the ground or floor and a soft-walled inflatable member positioned on the base region.

The inflatable member may be in the form of a bellows and may be in the form of a square-sided ring having a plurality of inflatable sections mounted one above the other.

The device may be dimensioned to receive a cradle in accordance with the first aspect of the invention when the cradle is inflated, with the seat portion of the inflated cradle sitting on the inflatable member.

In accordance with an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided a patient handling system comprising in any combination any two or more selected from the group consisting of: an inflatable cradle in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, a roller transfer assembly in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, a mobile transfer unit in accordance with the third aspect of the invention, a chair in accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention, a toileting support in accordance with the fifth aspect of the invention, and a floor-lift device in accordance with the seventh aspect of the invention.

In accordance with a ninth aspect of the invention, there is provided a patient handling system comprising an inflatable cradle in accordance with the first aspect of the invention in combination with any one or more of the following: a roller transfer assembly in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, a mobile transfer unit in accordance with the third aspect of the invention, a chair in accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention, a toileting support in accordance with the fifth aspect of the invention, and a floor-lift device in accordance with the seventh aspect of the invention

In accordance with a tenth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of handling a patient, the method comprising supporting a patient in a sitting position in a cradle in accordance with the first aspect of the invention when the cradle is inflated and manoeuvring the inflated cradle with the patient on board across a surface.

The method may comprise positioning a roller transfer assembly in accordance with the second aspect of the invention on the surface, positioning the inflated cradle with the patient on-board on the roller transfer assembly so that the seat section is supported on the rollers of the roller transfer assembly, and moving the cradle with the patient on-board along the roller transfer assembly over the rollers.

The method may comprise manoeuvring the inflated cradle with a patient on-board onto the platform of a mobile transfer unit in accordance with the third aspect of the invention, by sliding the cradle across the rollers mounted in the platform.

The method may comprise positioning a mobile transfer unit adjacent the surface on which a roller transfer assembly is located with the rollers in the mobile transfer unit platform aligned with the rollers in the roller transfer assembly, adjusting the height of the platform to bring the upper surfaces of the rollers on the mobile transfer unit substantially into the same plane as the rollers of the roller transfer assembly, and manoeuvring the inflatable cradle with the patient on-board between the roller transfer assembly and the mobile transfer unit across the rollers in the roller transfer assembly and the rollers in the platform of the mobile transfer unit.

In accordance with an eleventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of raising a patient from a floor using an inflatable cradle in accordance with the first aspect of the invention and a floor-lift device in accordance with the seventh aspect of the invention, the method comprising: with the patient lying on the floor, positioning the cradle about the patient in an un-inflated condition and subsequently inflating the cradle to support the patient in a sitting position with the back-support section of the cradle lying on the floor and the seat section extending vertically; positioning the lift device on the floor in front of the seat section of the inflated cradle with the inflatable member un-inflated; tipping the cradle forwardly so that the seat section comes to rest on and is supported on top of the inflatable member.

The method may further comprise inflating the inflatable member to raise the cradle.

For the avoidance of doubt, it should be understood that the term “patient” is used herein in a general context to refer to any person who requires assistance in moving. Accordingly, it should be recognised that the patient handling system and methods as described and claimed are not limited to use in a hospital or other formal medical or care facility and could be equally used in a person’s private home or indeed any other setting.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Several embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an inflatable patient cradle which can be used as part of a system for handling a patient in accordance with the present invention, showing the cradle inflated;

Figure 2 is a view from the side of the cradle of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a view from the front of a back-support section and integral side panel sections forming a first part of the cradle of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a seat section forming a second part of the cradle of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an inflatable patient cradle which can be used as part of a system for handling a patient in accordance with the present invention but also showing elements of an associated lower leg support shown in exploded view;

Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5 but showing the lower leg support mounted to the cradle;

Figure 7 is a view from the side of the cradle of Fig. 6;

Figure 8 is a view from the side of the cradle of Fig. 5 but with the lower leg support omitted and showing a back-support section in a reclined position;

Figures 9 to 15 are a series of perspective views illustrating fitment of the cradle of Figs. 5 to 8 about a patient lying on a bed and subsequent inflation of the cradle;

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate an alternative method of inflating the cradle of Figs. 5 to 8 using the lower leg support which automatically places the patient in an upright sitting position as the cradle inflates;

Figure 18 is a perspective view of a roller transfer assembly forming part of a system for handling a patient in accordance with the present invention and which can be used together with the cradle of Figs 1 to 8;

Figure 19 is a perspective view showing the roller transfer assembly of Fig. 18 in use on a bed to transfer a patient supported in the cradle of Figs. 5 to 8;

Figure 20 is a perspective view illustrating a method of positioning a patient supported in the cradle of Figs. 5 to 8 on top of the roller transfer assembly of Fig. 18 on a bed;

Figure 21 is a perspective view of a mobile transfer unit forming part of a system for handling a patient in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 22 is a side view of the mobile transfer unit of Fig. 21, showing the unit with a platform in a lowered position and a lower leg support panel in a raised position;

Figure 23 is a view similar to that of Fig. 22 but showing the platform in a raised position and the lower leg support panel in a lowered position;

Figures 24 and 25 are a series of perspective views showing a patient supported in the cradle of Figs. 5 to 8 being transferred from a bed on to the mobile transfer unit of Fig. 21 using the roller transfer assembly of Fig. 18;

Figure 26 is a perspective view of a chair incorporating an adjustable roller arrangement forming part of a system for handling a patient in accordance with the present invention, showing the rollers in a raised position;

Figure 27 is a view similar to that of Fig. 26 but showing the rollers in a lowered position;

Figure 28 is a perspective view of an adjustable roller baton assembly forming part of the chair of Figs. 26 and 27;

Figure 29 is a perspective view of a toileting support forming part of a system for handling a patient in accordance with the present invention; and

Figures 30 to 33 are a series of perspective views illustrating use of the cradle of Figs. 5 to 8 in combination with a floor-lift unit also forming part of a system for handling a patient in accordance with the present invention.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a first embodiment of an inflatable cradle or seat 10 in accordance with an aspect of the invention and which can be used as part of a patient handling and transfer system in accordance with a further aspect of the invention.

The cradle 10 is a pneumatically-inflatable device configured to be positioned in an un-inflated condition about a patient located on a surface and inflated to raise them off the surface. Once fully inflated, the cradle 10 forms a generally rigid seat structure in which the patient is supported in a sitting position to allow them to be moved. The cradle 10 can be used to reposition a patient on a support surface but can also be used in conjunction with other apparatus to transfer a patient from one supporting structure to another, such as between a bed and a chair.

The cradle 10 has a seat section 14, a back-support section 16 and opposed side panel sections 18, 20, each section being a soft-walled pneumatically-inflatable structure. In an upright condition when the cradle is inflated as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the seat section is located generally horizontally on a support surface and the back-support section 16 extends upwardly from a rear edge of the seat section 14. The side panel sections 18,20 are located on opposite sides and extend between the back-support section 16 and seat section 14. The back-support section 16 may be slightly reclined rather than vertical for patient comfort.

Relative directional terms such as “upper” and “lower” and the like used in relation to the cradle or parts thereof refer to the cradle when in the upright inflated configuration as shown in Figure 1 and should be understood accordingly. However, it will be appreciated that the cradle can be used in other orientations.

When viewed in elevation from a side of the inflated cradle, each of the side panel sections 18, 20 is generally triangular in shape having a lower horizontal edge 22 and rear edge 24 which extends generally upwardly from the lower edge. The side panel sections 18, 20 are each connected along the rear edge 24 with a respective side edge region 26 of the back-support section 16 and along the lower edge 22 with the corresponding side edge region 28 of the seat section 14.

The cradle 10 is formed in two independently inflatable parts which are positioned about the patient separately and connected together by means of releasable fasteners 30 prior to inflation. In this embodiment, the side panel sections 18, 20 are constructed integrally with the back-support section 16 to form a first part 32 of the cradle and the seat section 14 is a separate component which forms the second part 34. In this arrangement, the lower edge regions 22 of the side panel sections are releasably attached to the sides 28 of the seat section 14 by means of the releasable fasteners 30. Each part 32, 34 of the cradle is a separately inflatable soft-walled body having a one-way inlet valve 36 through which air under pressure can be introduced to inflate the body and a release or dump valve 38 which can be selectively opened to allow air to escape to deflate the body.

Each of the two parts 32, 34 of the cradle are made from thin sheet material which is tough but very flexible and is impervious to air. The parts may be made of fabric material suitably treated to make it impervious to air such as a polyurethane coated nylon fabric for example. The material is formed into a baglike structure for holding a volume of pressurised air (that is to say air at a pressure above the ambient air pressure). When un-inflated, each part 32, 34 is relatively thin and highly flexible and so is easily positionable beneath and/or about the patient when they are laid or sitting on a bed or other similar supporting structure in a manner similar to that used to position a glide sheet. Indeed, when un-inflated each part 32, 34 has a thickness substantially equal to twice the thickness of the sheet material from which it is made and has a flexible fabriclike structure. Each part 32, 34 has opposed walls which define the major surfaces of the part when inflated. The opposed walls are interconnected by a series of internal webs and/or welds which limit their separation as the part is inflated in order to give a desired profile when inflated. The parts are profiled in this way so that each inflatable section 14, 16, 18, 20 defines a generally cylindrical outer frame portion 40 and fluted region 41 within the outer frame. In addition, the opposed walls in the first part 32 are welded together to define a hinge portion 42 between the back-support section 16 and each side panel section 18,20. Fluid passages 43 are defined through the hinge sections so that the back-support section 16 and the two side panel sections are fluidly interconnected to enable them to be inflated from a single inlet valve 36 and deflated through a single dump valve 38.

The seat section 14 is in the form an inflatable cushion for positioning under the thighs and buttock region of the patient. It has a generally rectangular profile in plan when viewed from above but with a recessed region or indent 44 centrally located along the rear edge 46 between a pair of rearwardly projecting shoulders 48. The opposed walls which define the major surfaces of the seat section are an upper wall 50 on which the patient sits and a lower wall 52 for positioning on a support surface. The cylindrical outer frame portion 40 extends along either side and across the front of the seat section. When inflated, the fluted region 41 has a depth in the region of 3 cm to 10 cm so that a person seated on it can be stably supported with their buttocks and upper thighs raised off a support surface on which the lower wall 52 of seat section 14 is positioned.

In the first part 32 of the cradle, the opposed walls which define the major surfaces are an inner wall 53 which is directed towards the patient in use and an outer wall 54 which is directed away from the patient. The back-support section 16 and each of the side panel sections 18, 20 define an internal volume for containing a quantity of pressurised air so that they each form a substantially rigid, panel-like structure when inflated. The side panel sections 18, 20 are pivotally connected to the back-support section 16 along the hinges 42 where the inner and outer walls are welded together so that when the second part is inflated, the rigid side panel sections 18, 20 can be positioned to extend forwardly, substantially perpendicular to the back-support section 16.

The lower edge of the back-support section 16 has a central concave recess 56 between a pair of downwardly projecting shoulders 58 on either side. The central recess 56 aligns with the recessed region 44 along the rear edge of the seat section 14. These two recessed regions 44, 56 allow the seat section 14 and the back-support section 16 to be positioned about a person in an un-inflated condition whilst the person remains seated or lying on a surface without having to lift them fully off the surface, as will be described in detail later.

The cradle 10 is configured so that the seat section 14 is received in the space defined between the back-support section 16 and the two side panel sections 18, 20, when all the sections are inflated and the side panel sections 10, 18 are positioned to extend forwardly from the back-support section 16. A plurality of releasable fasteners 30 is provided to connect the lower edge region 22 of each of the side panel sections 18, 20 to a respective side edge region 28 of the seat section. In the present embodiment, three fasteners 30 are provided on each side and the fasteners are quick-release buckle type fasteners, each comprising a female buckle member 60 attached by means of a flexible strap 62 to a lower edge region 22 of the respective side panel portion 18, 20 and a corresponding male buckle member 64 attached by a flexible strap or other fastening 66 to a respective side edge region 22 of the seat section 14. The buckle type fasteners 30 may be in the form of quick-release spring clips similar to those used on rucksacks in which the female buckle member 60 has a pair of resilient arms which are squeezed together for insertion into the male buckle member 64 and which after insertion spring out to engage with locking detents on the male buckle member 64 to prevent the female buckle member being pulled back out of the male member without first squeezing the resilient arms together. Apertures in the male buckle member 64 allow a user to squeeze the resilient arms inwardly to release the female buckle member. The positions of the male and female buckle members 60, 64 could be reversed. Indeed, it should be appreciated that releasable fasteners 30 of any suitable type can be used to connect the seat section 14 and side panel sections 18, 20, such as toggle fasteners or hook and loop fasteners for example. At least one of the straps 62, 66 may be adjustable in length to allow the angle of the back-support section 16 to be adjusted relative to the seat section 14 once the cradle has been inflated.

Figures 5 to 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a patient cradle 10’ in accordance with this aspect of the invention. The cradle 10’ is similar to the cradle 10 according to the first embodiment as described above to which the reader should refer and so only the significant differences will be described in detail.

The main difference between the cradle 10’ in accordance with the second embodiment is that the side panel sections 18’, 20’ are integral with the seat section 14 to comprise the second part 34’ of the cradle, with the back-support section 16 on its own forming the first part 32’. The parts 32’, 34’ are manufactured in a similar manner to those of the first embodiment from a flexible membrane or fabric-like material formed into a bag-like structure for holding a volume of pressurised air with the opposed walls interconnected by a series of internal webs and/or welds in order to give a desired profile when inflated. In this embodiment, the opposed walls in the second part 34’ are welded together to define a hinge portion 42’ between the side edges 28’ of the seat section 14’ and the lower edge region 22’ of each side panel section 18’, 20’.

The side panel sections 18’, 20’ are releasably connectable along their rear edge regions 24’ to respective side edge regions 26’ of the back-support section 16’ by means of a plurality of releasable fasteners 30’ similar to those used in the first embodiment to attach the side panel sections to the seat section as described above. Figure 8 illustrates how the straps 66’ connecting buckle members to the sides of the back-support section 16’ can be lengthened to allow the back-support section 16’ to be reclined. Usually, the straps 66’ are adjusted to hold the back-support section 16’ in close contact with the rear edge regions 24’ of the side panel sections when the cradle is being fitted and during inflation. Adjustment to allow the back-support section 16’ to be reclined will only be carried out after the cradle is fully inflated where this is desirable for the comfort of the patient and is safe to do so. Similar adjust is possible with the first embodiment to allow the back-support section 16 to be reclined.

It will be noted that in this second embodiment the lower end of the back-support section 16’ has a more pronounced central recessed region 56’ and downwardly projecting shoulders 58’, whilst the recess 44’ along the rear edge of the seat section 14’ is less pronounced.

As illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, a leg support attachment 70 can be used in conjunction with the cradle 10’. A number of flexible hoops 72 are spaced along the lower edge region 22’ of each of the side panel sections 18’ 20’. The hoops 72 are aligned and dimensioned to receive elongate side bars 74 which engage in the hoops along respective sides and project forwardly of the seat section. The side bars 74 are rigid and weight-bearing and may be round, tubular members made from any suitable but preferably light weight load-bearing material. Each side bar 74 could be made up of a number of sections which are releasably connected together. A sling or support 76 made of a flexible material has hoops 78 on either side which can be slid over the forward ends of the side bars 74. The sling 76 is arranged to locate under the lower legs/calf region of a person seated in the cradle so as to hold and support their legs projecting straight out in front. This may be necessary for patients who have had hip or knee joint replacements or where it is otherwise desirable that the patient’s legs be supported. The leg support 70 also enables the cradle 10 to be used to sit a patient upright from a supine position during inflation, as will be described later. The number of hoops 72 along each side of the cradle can be varied and some drawings show two hoops 72 whilst others show three. It should also be noted that the hoops 72 could be provided on the sides of the seat section 14’. The side bars 74 may also project rearwardly beyond the cradle to provide additional stability. The cradle 10 in accordance with the first embodiment can be adapted to receive a leg support attachment 70 and it will be appreciated that other arrangements for attaching a lower leg support to the cradle could be adopted.

Figures 5 to 8 also show how grab handles 80 can be provided on the cradle at various locations. The handles can be grasped by a care giver to assist in manoeuvring the inflated cradle 10’ with a patient onboard. Similar grab handles 80 can be provided on the cradle 10 according to the first embodiment.

When inflated, the cradle 10, 10’ resembles a child car seat but will usually be dimensioned to support an adult, including bariatric adults. A range of cradles 10, 10’ in different sizes can be provided. For use with very large bariatric patients, the two parts of the cradle may have to be so large that they become difficult to handle and manipulate around the patient. To overcome this problem, one or both of the seat section 14, 14’ and the back-support section 16, 16’ could be split into two or more parts that can be fastened together, say using releasable fastenings similar to the fasteners 30. For example, the seat section 14, 14’ and the back-support section 16, 16’ could each be made in two separately inflatable halves that are fastened together once placed in position about the patient. Each part would be provided with its own inlet valve 28 and outlet dump valve 38. In addition, or alternatively, the side panel sections 18, 20; 18’, 20’ could be releasably attachable to the back-support section 16 or the seat section 14’. Each part would be a separately inflatable body but in use it is expected that all the sections would be inflated simultaneously from a single source of pressurised air, such as a portable compressor.

At least the surfaces on the cradle 10, 10’ which the patient will come in to contact with may be made from or covered with a material of relatively low frictional resistance. Such materials are sometimes referred to as high slip materials. The material could be provided in the form of separate sheets that are placed between the cradle 10, 10’ and the patient each time it is used or in the form of covers that are semi-permanently fitted over the various parts of the cradle. The covers may be removable to allow for replacement, repair or cleaning. Alternatively, a low friction material may be permanently applied to the relevant surfaces of the cradle. The low friction/high slip material may be polyester and/or nylon or any other suitable material such as are used in the manufacture of glide sheets for patient transfer. The low friction/high slip material may comprise a base material coated with silicon or some other low friction substance. It should be assumed in the following description of the use of the cradle that a high slip material is always in position between the cradle and the patient. If this material is not present on the cradle parts themselves, then sheets of high slip material are placed between the parts of the cradle and the patient during the following procedures.

Figures 9 to 15 illustrate a sequence for positioning a patient in the cradle 10’. In this sequence, the patient 82 is initially in a supine position on a bed 84 and has insufficient upper body strength to support themselves in a sitting position on the bed. Use of the cradle 10’ according to the second embodiment will be described but a similar procedure can be used for the cradle 10 in the first embodiment.

Starting with the patient 82 in a supine position on the bed 84, the two parts 32’, 34’ of the cradle 10’ are separated and in a fully deflated condition.

The patient 82 is first rolled over to one side as shown in Figure 9. The back-support portion 16’ is folded in half longitudinally and placed on the bed behind the patient’s back and tucked in as close to the patient as possible. The second part 32’, including the seat section 14’ and the side panel sections 18’, 20’, is similarly folded in half and placed on the bed behind the patient’s buttocks and thighs as close to them as possible. The patient 82 is gently rolled back into the supine position on top of the folded parts of the cradle and then on to their other side as shown in Figures 10 and 11. The folded half of the back-support section 16’ is teased through under the patient so that the back-support section is lying flat on the bed. Similarly, the folded half of the seat section 14’ and the attached side panel 20’ on that side are teased through under the patient until they lie flat on the bed. The patient is now rolled back into the supine position so that they are lying with their back on the un-inflated back-support section 16’ and at least their upper thighs on the seat section 14’. During the above procedures, the back-support section 16’ is pulled down the bed so that its lower end is as close to the patient’s buttocks as possible and the seat section 14’ is pulled up the bed so that its rear edge is as close to the patient’s buttocks as possible. The material at the lower end of the back-support section 16’ and the rear end of the seat section 14’ may be bunched up around the patient’s buttocks/hips so that when these sections inflate, the material works its way further under the patient to assist in lifting them off the surface of the bed. This is made possible due to the flexible nature of the cradle when un-inflated and due to the recessed regions 44’, 56’ at the rear edge of the seat section 14’ and the lower edge of the back-support section 16’, which allow the patient’s buttocks to remain in contact with the bed.

An advantage of the second embodiment of the cradle 10’ in which the side panel sections 18’, 20’ are attached to the seat section 14’ is that the side panel sections can be used to pull the seat section 14’ into position under the patient.

Once the back-support section 16’ and the seat section 14’ are in position, the side panel sections 18’, 20’ are manoeuvred up and around and the fasteners 30 engaged to attach each side panel section 18’, 20’ to its respective side of the back-support section 16’. The dimensions and the flexibility of the parts of the cradle allow the side panel sections 18,20’ to be attached to the back seat portion 16’ when the cradle is un-inflated whilst the patient remains in a supine position with their legs generally flat on the bed as shown somewhat schematically in Figure 12. The straps of the fasteners 30 at this stage adjusted as short as possible so that the rear edges of the side panel sections 18’, 20’ are held close to the sides of the back-support section 16’.

The cradle 10’ is now ready to be inflated using a portable air compressor (not shown) or other source of pressurised air connected to the inlet valves of both parts of the cradle so that they are inflated simultaneously. Compressed air is introduced into both parts 32’, 34’ but as a significant proportion of the weight of the patient is concentrated on the seat section 14’ and the back-support section 16’, the side panel sections 18’, 20’ will tend to inflate first. This has the effect of drawing the back-support section 16’ forwardly (down the bed) so that the patient’s buttocks are moved on to the seat section 14’. The lower edge of the back-support section 16’ where it is bunched or folded about the patient’s buttocks will tend to creep under their buttocks/lower back. As the seat section 14’ begins to expand and the side panel sections 18’, 20’ become more rigid, the patient’s upper legs are raised off the bed to place them in a “sitting position” but with the back-support section 16’ lying flat on the bed. This is illustrated in Figure 13. As all the sections 14’, 16’, 18’, 20’ of the cradle become fully inflated, the seat section 14’ is drawn fully on to the patient’s buttocks and held tight against the lower edge 28 of the back-support section either side of the recess 56’. The patient is now supported in the cradle in a sitting position and the patient and cradle 10’ can be tilted forwardly to place them in an upright sitting position with the seat section 14’ on the upper surface of the bed mattress as shown in Figures 14 and 15.

It will be noted that at no time during the above described procedures is it necessary for a care giver to manually lift the patient fully off the bed. In particular, it should be noted that at least some part of the patient’s buttock/hip region remains in contact with the bed surface at all times whilst the un-inflated parts of the cradle are positioned on the bed and about the patient. It is only as the cradle 10’ inflates that the patient is lifted off the bed surface.

In the method described above, the patient 82 remains on their back as the cradle is inflated. Figures 16 and 17 illustrate an alternative method using the lower leg support 70 in which the patient is automatically raised to an upright sitting position as the cradle is inflated. In this alternative method, the lower leg support 70 is attached to the cradle 10’ after it has been placed about the patient and the two parts 32’, 34’ connected together but just prior to inflation, this being the configuration shown in Figure 12. To attach the leg support 70, the side bars 74 are inserted into the hoops 72 on their respective sides and the sling 76 is attached to the forward ends of the side bars so that the sling is positioned beneath the patient’s feet/lower calf region as illustrated in Figure 16. At this stage, the patient remains in a supine position. The cradle is now inflated. As the cradle inflates, the weight of the patient’s legs acting on the sling 76 of the leg support holds the seat section 14’ flat on the bed so that the back-support section 16’ and the side panel sections 18’, 20, are drawn up off the bed to an upright position as shown in Figure 17. This pneumatically raises the patient into an upright sitting position automatically and ensures that the patient’s legs remain horizontal to the support surface of the bed at all times. If necessary, additional weight could be added to the leg support 70. This might be required where the patient is a single or double amputee, for example, but may be required in other circumstances.

Once the cradle 10’ is fully inflated and in an upright position on the bed or other supporting surface, the patient is stably supported by the cradle in a suitable position for transfer. It will be recognised that the above-described sequences can be reversed to position a patient in bed from an inflated cradle.

With a patient 82 supported in an upright sitting position in the inflated cradle 10’, the cradle can be manoeuvred across a surface manually, perhaps with the assistance of a glide sheet or other low friction material placed between the seat section 14’ and the surface. The cradle 10’ could also be provided with attachments to enable it to be lifted by means of a crane or hoist, with the patient safely on board. However, in accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the cradle 10’ is used in conjunction with a variety of apparatus to be described below which all comprise rollers over which the cradle can be moved manually with relative ease and safety to form a highly flexible and easy-to-use modular system for moving patients.

Figure 18 illustrates a first apparatus in the form of a roller transfer assembly 90 which can be used to move an inflated cradle 10, 10’ with a patient onboard across a surface and is particularly suitable for moving the cradle 10, 10’ laterally across a bed in order to manoeuvre a patient onto or off from a bed. The roller transfer assembly has a number of elongate, roller batons 92 aligned parallel to one another. Each roller baton 92 includes an elongate support 94 to which are rotatably mounted a number of rollers 96. The rollers 96 are arranged to rotate about axes which extend perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the elongate support 94. Conveniently, the elongate support 94 is in the form of a channel member with the rollers mounted between opposed side walls of the channel member. However, other supporting structures could be adopted. The roller batons 92 are interconnected by two cross-members in the form of rigid base plates 98 to maintain their relative spacing. The base plates 98 each have an elongate section 100 to which the roller batons 92 are connected and an enlarged head portion 102. The head portion 102 projects outwardly beyond the rearmost roller baton and helps to spread the load, which is particularly beneficial when using the assembly on a relatively soft surface such as a bed mattress. The rollers 96 define a low rolling resistance support surface across which the cradle 10’ can be moved from one end of the roller batons 92 to the other. The roller transfer assembly 90 can be dimensioned as required depending on the desired application. For example, for use in transferring a patient across a bed, the roller batons 92 can be dimensioned so as to extend across the full width of the bed. Roller transfer assemblies 90 could be made in suitable sizes for use with standard bed sizes. When in use, the roller batons 92 and the base plates 98 form a generally rigid frame structure. However, the roller transfer assembly 90 can be configured so that it can be taken apart or folded when not in use for ease of storage/transportation. For example, the base plates 98 could be formed in a number of parts that can be separated. Alternatively, at least one roller baton 92 may be attached to the base plates 98 by means of releasable interconnections or fasteners.

In use, the roller transfer assembly 90 is positioned between the seat portion 14’ of the inflated cradle 10’ and the support surface across which the cradle is to be moved, with the roller batons 92 extending in a transverse direction of the cradle 10’ so that the cradle can be rolled in a sideways direction of the cradle along the rollers 96. The roller transfer assembly 90 is typically positioned underneath the cradle 10’ after it has been inflated. As illustrated in Figure 19, where the cradle is inflated without the use of a leg support 70 so that the back-support section 16’ remains on the surface, the roller transfer assembly 90 can be positioned on the surface in front of the cradle prior to tipping the cradle forwardly so that when it is tipped forward, the seat portion 14’ comes down on the roller transfer assembly.

Where the leg support 70 is used so that the cradle 10’ is inflated to an upright position as shown in Figure 17, it will be necessary to raise the cradle off the surface to allow the roller transfer assembly 90 to be inserted. There are numerous ways in which this can be achieved. Figure 20 illustrates the use of a pair of pneumatically-inflatable soft-walled beams 104. The beams 104 are positioned in an un-inflated condition under the side bars 74, with one beam in front and one beam behind the cradle. The beams 104 are inflated to raise the cradle 10’ off the surface of the bed allowing the roller transfer assembly 90 to be positioned underneath the seat portion 14’. The beams 104 are then deflated to lower the seat portion 14’ on to the roller transfer assembly 90 and then removed. In this arrangement, the side bars 74 extend rearwardly beyond the back-support section 16’ of the cradle. Once the cradle 10’ has been positioned on the roller transfer assembly 90, the leg support 70, including the side bars 74, can be removed for ease of manoeuvring the cradle. However, in some cases it may be desirable to support the patient’s legs as they are transferred in the cradle. In this case, the side bars 74 may have rearward extension portions that project beyond the rear face of the back-support section and which can be removed after the cradle has been lowered on to the roller transfer assembly 90 whilst forward portions of the side bars 74 remain in position to form the leg support.

Other arrangements for raising the cradle 10’ to allow the roller transfer assembly 90 to be placed in position can be used. For example, a mechanical cam arrangement may be attached to the side bars 74 and used to lever the cradle 10’ off the surface.

Once in position on the roller transfer assembly 90, the cradle 10’ can be moved along the assembly across the rollers to the edge of the bed. The use of a plurality of roller batons 92 spaced apart has the advantage that the material of the seat portion 14’ will tend to engage front and rear edges to prevent the cradle easily sliding off the roller transfer assembly 90 to the front or rear, whilst allowing easy movement along the length of the roller batons. However, this is not always essential and the roller batons 92 could be positioned adjacent one another to form a largely continuous rolling surface. Indeed, rather than using a number of separate roller batons 92, a single set of longer rollers could be used mounted in a suitable support frame, such as a channel member. Furthermore, whilst the use of rollers rotatable about a single axis is advantageous in controlling the direction of movement of the cradle, other arrangements for producing a low friction supporting surface could be used. For example, the rollers could be spherical or part spherical. Alternatively, the rollers could be replaced by a moving belt or track. In this case, the belt or track could be driven by means of a motor or the like to move the cradle.

The roller transfer assembly 90 provides a simple to use, lightweight and low cost arrangement for moving a patient supported in the inflated cradle across a surface. It is particularly suitable for moving the patient between the edge and the centre of a bed. However, it can be used on any suitable surface. The roller fame assembly 90 could, for example, be used on a chair or patient trolley to move a patient on to or off the chair or trolley or to reposition them whilst supported in an inflated cradle 10’.

On many occasions though, it is necessary or desirable to be able to move a patient between different locations. Figures 21 to 23 illustrate a mobile transfer unit 110 which can be used in conjunction with the inflatable cradle 10, 10’ and/or the roller transfer assembly 90.

The mobile transfer unit 110 includes a chassis 112 having wheels or castors or other ground-engaging members 114 that enable the unit to be moved over the ground or a floor surface in a controlled manner and a releasable braking system 115 which can be selectively engaged to prevent it from rolling unintentionally. The mobile transfer unit 110 has a height-adjustable platform 118 mounted to the chassis. Any suitable mechanism can be used to raise and lower the platform 118 and may include a powered actuator such as a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator or electrical motor. In one embodiment, a scissor type mechanism powered by an electric motor is used to raise and lower the platform 118. Ideally, the platform can be lowered to a height measured at its upper surface 120 of about 38 cm (15 inches) or less and raised to a height of 64 cm (25 inches) or more. This range of movement will allow the system to cope with most transfer situations.

Four roller batons 92 are located in the platform 118. The batons 92 extend transversely across the platform 118. The roller batons 92 are similar to those used in the roller transfer assembly 90, each comprising a number of rollers 96 mounted in a rigid elongate support 94 which may be in the form of a channel member. The roller batons 92 are received in apertures 122 in the surface of the platform 118 but with the upper surface of the rollers 96 just above the upper surface 120 of the platform 118. The rollers 96 are aligned parallel to one another and rotate about axes which extend from the front to the rear of the platform. Whilst the present embodiment has four roller batons 92, the number of roller batons can be varied as desired. The roller batons 92 may be mounted so that they can be moved between a raised, transfer position in which the upper surface of the rollers is above the upper surface 120 of the platform and a lowered position in which the rollers are recessed wholly below the upper surface 120 of the platform 118. This would allow the roller batons 92 to be raised when the patient is being moved onto or off from the mobile transfer unit 110 and lowered when the patient is on-board to provide for greater comfort. Any suitable mechanism for raising and lowering the roller batons 92 can be adopted. It will also be appreciated that the rollers need not be provided in roller batons but could be mounted to the platform 118 by any suitable means.

The mobile transfer unit 110 has a handle 124 for manoeuvring the unit, a back rest 126 removably mountable at the rear of the platform, and side restraints 128 removably mounted on either side of the platform 118. The platform 118 may have a series of apertures in which the backrest 126, side restraints 128 and other ancillary equipment can be mounted. The unit 110 may also have a movable leg support panel 130 which can be selectively raised as shown in Figure 22 to support the legs of a person in a raised position whilst being transported on the transfer unit 110 and/or whilst being moved on or off the unit. The leg support panel 130 may be split to provide separately movable panel portions for each leg. This would enable either leg to be selectively supported in a raised position. In this case a catch arrangement may be provided to enable the two panel portions to be locked together so that they can be raised and lowered as a single unit if desired or unlocked for independent actuation.

As illustrated in Figures 24 and 25, the mobile transfer unit 110 can be used in conjunction with the roller transfer assembly 90 to move a person on to or off from a bed, or other surface, whilst supported in an inflated cradle 10,10’. With the patient supported in an upright sitting position in the inflated cradle 10’ and the cradle positioned on top of the roller transfer assembly 90 extending transversely across the bed, the mobile transfer unit 110 is positioned with one side adjacent a side of the bed and with the platform 118 in line with the roller transfer assembly 90 and the cradle 10’. The brakes are applied and height of the platform 118 is adjusted to bring the top of the rollers 96 on the mobile unit 110 broadly into the same plane as the top of the rollers 96 in the roller transfer assembly 90. The side restraint 128 adjacent the bed is removed to allow access to the platform 118 and the leg support panel 130 raised.

With the mobile transfer unit 110 in position and adjusted as required, the cradle 10’ is moved laterally along the roller transfer assembly 90 towards and on to the rollers 96 in the platform 118. Once the cradle 10’ is in position and fully supported on the platform 118, the side restraint 128 adjacent the bed is replaced to ensure the cradle 10’ cannot slide off the platform to the side. The leg support panel 130 can be lowered if desired and the height of the platform 118 adjusted as required so that the patient can be moved to another location on the mobile transfer unit whilst supported in the inflated cradle. The patient could be moved to a new bed or subsequently returned to the same bed where the above described sequences are reversed in order to place the patient in the middle of the bed. Similar procedures can be used to move a patient between the mobile transfer unit 110 and any suitable, generally horizontal support surface having a height within the range of adjustment of the platform 118.

Use of the mobile transfer unit 110 provides a high level of flexibility to the system, allowing a patient to be safely and comfortably moved between different locations whilst supported in the inflatable cradle 10, 10’. The ability to adjust the height of the platform 118, enables a patient 82 to be transferred between apparatus having support surfaces at differing heights, say between a bed and a chair.

Various apparatus incorporating a low friction support surface configured so that a patient supported in an inflated cradle 10, 10’ can be moved easily between the support surface and the mobile transfer unit 110 can be provided as part of an integrated patient handling system. Such equipment might include chairs, trolleys and toileting supports for example. The low friction support surface may be provided by rollers, which may be provided in roller batons 92 similar to those used in the roller transfer assembly 90 and the mobile transfer unit 110. In an advantageous arrangement, the roller batons are adjustable so that they can be raised above a fixed supporting surface for use in transferring the patient on to and off from the apparatus and lowered below the fixed supporting surface to enable the patient to sit on the fixed supporting surface in comfort.

Figures 26 and 27 illustrate an example of a chair 140 having legs 141, a padded seat 142 defining an upper supporting surface 144 and a padded back rest 146. Located in spaced elongate slots 148 which extend transversely across most of the width of the seat are a pair of roller batons 92. The roller batons 92 each have an elongate supporting structure 94 in which a plurality of rollers 96 are rotatably mounted. The roller batons 92 can be moved between a raised, transfer position as shown in Figure 26 in which the upper surface regions of the rollers 96 are located above the upper surface 144 of the seat 142 and a lowered position in which the rollers 96 are spaced below the upper surface 144 of the seat. With the roller batons 92 locked in the raised position, a patient supported in an inflated cradle 10, 10’ can be easily moved on to or off from the seat in a lateral direction from one side or the other in a manner similar to that described above in relation to the mobile transfer unit 110. Typically the chair 140 would be used in conjunction with the mobile transfer unit 110 which can be positioned adjacent one side of the chair and the platform 118 adjusted to a suitable height to allow a patient supported in an inflated cradle 10, 10’ to be moved between the mobile transfer unit 110 and the chair 140 by sliding the cradle across the rollers on the mobile transfer unit platform 118 and the chair seat. Where a patient is being moved onto the chair 140, the roller batons 92 can be lowered once the cradle 10, 10’ is in position on the seat to allow the patient to sit comfortably on the chair 140. Where a patient is able to support themselves in a sitting position on the chair, the cradle 10, 10’ can be deflated, the parts 32’, 34’ separated and removed to leave the patient sitting directly on the seat 142 of the chair. To subsequently move the patient off the chair, the parts of the cradle are positioned about the patient when un-inflated and joined together. The cradle is inflated to lift the patient off the surface of the seat and support them in an upright sitting position. The roller batons 92 are then raised to allow the patient to be transferred off the seat in the inflated cradle, for example on to a mobile transfer unit 110. The procedure for fitting the cradle 10,10’ will be similar to that described above but suitably modified to allow for the patient being in an upright sitting position. The chair 140 may be provided with arm rests (not shown) which can be selectively removed to allow for transfer of the patient on to or off from the chair.

Any suitable mechanism for raising and lowering the roller batons 92 can be adopted and the mechanism could be powered. Figure 28 shows one possible arrangement for manually raising and lowering a pair of roller batons 92 which can be adapted for use in any suitable apparatus. An adjustable roller baton assembly 150 has a frame 152 which can be mounted to a supporting structure 154, say of a chair 140 or any other apparatus. The frame 152 includes a pair of spaced, rigid lateral frame members 156 which are suitably shaped for attachment to the supporting structure 154. Two spaced, rigid cross-members 158 extend between the lateral frame members 156 to maintain them in a fixed spaced relation. First and second roller batons 92 are attached to the frame 152 for movement between raised and lowered positions. The roller batons 92 are similar to those described previously and comprise an elongate support member 94, which may be in the form of a channel member, in which are rotatably mounted a number of rollers 96 spaced along its length. The roller batons can be made in any suitable length for a desired application and the frame 152 constructed accordingly. The roller batons 92 are spaced apart and aligned parallel to one another and the lateral frame members so as to extend transversally relative to the seat 142 or other supporting surface in use. The elongate support member 94 of each roller baton 92 is connected at either end with a respective one of the cross-members 158 by one or more pivoting links 160. The links 160 are each pivotally connected with both the elongate support member 94 and the respective cross member 158 and are arranged so that the roller baton 92, the links 160 and the frame 152 define a four bar linkage or parallelogram. This arrangement allows the roller batons 92 to be moved between a lowered position as shown in Figure 28 and a raised position by moving the baton 92 in a lengthwise direction of the baton whilst the batons remain substantially horizontal. A winding mechanism 164 is provided at one end of the frame 152 for moving the roller batons 92 lengthwise between raised and lowered positions. The winding mechanism 164 includes a winding bar 166 rotationally mounted to the frame 152 and aligned parallel to the cross-members 168, that is to say perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the roller batons 92. A handle 168 is attached to the winding bar 166 at one end to allow the bar to be manually rotated. The winding bar 166 is connected to each roller baton 92 by a strap 170. Each strap 170 is attached at one end to an end of the elongate support member 94 of its respective roller baton 92 and passes over a bobbin 172 rotatably mounted to the frame 152. The other end of each strap 170 is secured to the winding bar 166. Rotating the winding bar 166 in a first direction, clockwise as shown, by use of the handle causes the straps 170 to be wound onto the winding bar, pulling the roller batons 92 to the raised position as the links 160 pivot. To lower the roller batons 92, the winding bar 166 is rotated in the opposite direction to unwind the straps from the winding bar 166. The roller batons 92 may be biased away from the winding mechanism to return to the lowered position or the arrangement may be configured so that when the roller batons are in the raised position, the links 160 do not reach the vertical so that the weight of the roller batons returns them to the lowered position when the straps 170 are un-wound. A releasable locking mechanism to hold the roller batons 92 in the raised position is provided. This may take the form of a ratchet arrangement operative on the winding bar 166 which allows it to rotate in the first direction but prevents it from rotating in the opposite direction unless manually released.

The adjustable roller baton assembly 150 can be supplied as a standard unit to furniture manufacturers for incorporation in a range of different furniture items for use as part of the overall patient handling system. This might include a range of chairs, sofas and the like. The adjustable roller baton assembly 150 or something similar could be adapted for use in the mobile transfer unit 110. The adjustable roller baton assembly 150 can be modified to vary the number of roller batons 92 as required. For example, the assembly might have only a single roller baton 92 or up to as many as five or more.

Figure 29 illustrates a toileting support 180 which can be used as part of a system for handling a patient. The toileting support 180 is in the form of a chair-like structure having a seat 182 and a back rest 184. The seat 182 is mounted on four legs 185, which are height-adjustable. Rolling ground-engaging members 186, which may be in the form of wheels or castors, are attached to the lower ends of the legs so that the support can be moved across the ground or a floor. A toileting aperture 187 is provided in a central region of the seat and a side restraint 188 is provided along one side of the seat. The side restraint 188 may also act as an arm rest and both the side restraint 188 and the back rest 184 may be detachably mounted. Located on the edge of the seat along the side opposite from the side restraint 188 is a longitudinal, elongate roller assembly 190, having one or more rollers 192 rotatable about an axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the seat, that is to say from the front to the rear of the seat. The upper surface of the roller or rollers 192 is located slightly above the upper surface 194 of the seat. Between the toileting aperture 187 and a front edge 196 of the seat is a transverse roller assembly in the form of a roller baton 92 which extends parallel to the front edge of the seat. Whilst the roller baton 92 extends transversely, the rollers 96 in the baton are mounted for rotation about axes which extend in the longitudinal direction of the seat (that is from front to back) and so rotate in the same direction as the rollers 192 of the longitudinal roller assembly 190. The roller baton 92 is mounted in an elongate slot 198 in the seat and can be moved between a raised position as shown, in which the upper surfaces of the rollers 96 are located above the upper surface 194 of the seat and a lowered position in which the rollers 96 are wholly positioned below the upper surface of the seat. The roller baton 92 is mounted to the seat by means of spaced pivotal links 200 so as to form a parallelogram type four bar linkage with the seat in a manner similar to the roller batons 92 in the adjustable roller baton assembly 150 described above. A winding mechanism 202 similar to that used in the adjustable roller baton assembly 150 is mounted on one side of the seat and has a strap 204 attached to the support member 94 at one end of the roller baton assembly to selectively raise and lower the roller baton assembly 92. The winding mechanism 202 works in substantially the same way as the winding mechanism 164 described above in relation to the adjustable roller baton assembly 150 and so will not be described again further. It will be appreciated that in any given winding mechanism for use with a roller baton 92, the positions of the winding bar and bobbin can be varied to suit different applications.

In use, a patient can be transferred on to the toileting support 180 whilst supported in an inflated cradle 10’. It is expected that transfer will be from a mobile transfer unit 110 but transfer could be effected in different ways depending on the circumstances. Where a mobile transfer unit 110 is used, the unit 110 is positioned adjacent the side of the toileting support 180 with the longitudinal roller assembly 190. The roller baton 92 is moved to the raised position and locked. With the platform 118 of the mobile transfer unit 110 adjusted to a suitable height to match that of the seat 182, the cradle is moved from the mobile transfer unit 110 across on to the seat 182 moving over the rollers 96,192 of the roller assembly 190 and the roller baton 92. Once the cradle 10’ is correctly located above the seat 182, the roller baton 92 is lowered so that the seat portion 14’ of the cradle rests on top of the seat 182. The mobile transfer unit 110 can be moved away and the toileting support 180 moved into position as required over a toilet. For toileting, the cradle 10, 10’ can be deflated and at least the seat portion 14’ fully or partially removed. These procedures can be reversed after toileting is completed to transfer the patient back on to the mobile transfer unit 110 from which they can be moved back to bed or to a chair or elsewhere as desired.

Figures 30 to 33 illustrate how the cradle 10’ can be used to lift a person from the floor together with a floor-lift device 210. The floor-lift device 210 comprises a frame having raised side bars 212 interconnected by a number of rigid cross-members 214, three in this case. The cross-members angle downwardly from each of the side bars to a central region in which they extend generally horizontally to define a recessed base region 216. The base region 216 and raised side bars 212 define a basket for receiving the seat section 14’ of an inflated cradle 10’. Rolling ground-engaging members 218, which may be in the form of wheels or castors, are attached to forward and rear ends of each of the side bars so that the device can be rolled along the ground or floor. Some or all of the rolling ground-engaging members 218 are provided with releasable brake mechanisms 220. The device is configured so that the central base region 216 is located as close to the ground or floor surface on which the device is standing as possible whilst maintaining a working clearance. A pneumatically-inflatable bellows lift 222 is positioned on the base region. The bellows lift 222 is a soft-walled inflatable device which may be made from similar materials to the cradle. In the present embodiment, the bellows is in the form of a square-sided ring having a plurality of inflatable sections 224, 226, 228, three in this case. Each section 224, 226, 228 is independently inflatable and has a one-way inlet valve which can be connected to a portable compressor or other source of pressurised gas and a dump valve. Independent inflation of the bellows sections 224, 226, 228 allows for a controlled, sequential inflation of the lift. However, it may be possible to inflate all the bellows sections simultaneously from a single inlet valve in some applications.

The floor-lift device 210 is dimensioned so that an inflated cradle 10’ can be received on the base region 216 between the side bars, with the seat section 14’ resting on the bellows lift 222. A handle 230 is removably mountable to a rear end of the frame for use in manoeuvring the device.

In use, if a patient is lying on the floor and needs to be lifted, the cradle 10’ is placed about and underneath them and inflated until they are supported by the inflated cradle in a sitting position, but with the back-support section 16’ of the cradle resting on the floor. The method described above in relation to Figures 9 to 13 can be used to place the patient in this position. The floor-lift device 210 is positioned in front of the cradle with the handle removed, the bellows lift 222 un-inflated and the brakes applied. The cradle 10’ with the patient on board is tilted forwardly until the seat section 14’ is resting on top of the bellows lift 222 in the base region of the frame. The bellows lift 222 is inflated to raise the person to a more comfortable height. The use of a ring shaped bellows lift 222 with a central recess has the advantage that the person’s weight on the seat section 14’ will tend to push the seat section slightly down inside the ring so as to make the structure more stable and reduce the risk of the cradle 105 accidentally slipping off when the bellows is inflated. The handle 230 can optionally be reattached to the frame either before or after inflation.

If the patient is sufficiently able, they can be assisted to stand once the bellows lift 222 has being inflated to raise them to a suitable height. Alternatively, the patient can be manoeuvred off the lift device directly on to a chair, bed or a mobile transfer unit 110 whilst supported in the cradle 10’.

It can be seen that the various apparatus described herein, including the inflatable cradle 10, 10’, the roller transfer frame assembly 90, the mobile transfer unit 110, the chair 140 with roller batons, the toileting support 180, and the floor-lift device 210 can be used together in various combinations to form a highly flexible and uniform system for handling patients with minimum training. The various parts of the system are relatively low cost and take up little space. However, it should be appreciated that the various apparatus described can also be used independently of one another or with only some of the other apparatus. For example the inflatable cradle 10, 10’ can be used independently of the other apparatus to stably and safely support a person for transfer and handling by any suitable means. Other parts of the system, including the roller transfer assembly 90, the mobile transfer unit 110, the chair 140 with roller batons, and the toileting support 180 could all be used, individually or in various combinations, to assist in moving patients without the use of an inflatable cradle 10, 10’. The patient may, for example, be supported in an alternative supporting structure for movement across the rollers in the various apparatus. This might take the form of a simple seat where the patient has sufficient upper body strength.

Whilst use of the inflatable cradle 10’ in accordance with the second embodiment has been described in conjunction with the the roller transfer frame assembly 90, the mobile transfer unit 110, the chair 140 with roller batons, the toileting support 180, and the floor-lift device 210, it will be appreciated that the cradle 10 in accordance with the first embodiment can be used in a similar manner.

Where the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprised” or “comprising” are used in this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature, integer, step, component or group thereof.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An inflatable cradle for supporting a patient in a sitting position, the cradle comprising an inflatable seat section, an inflatable back-support section, and a pair of opposed inflatable side panel sections, each side panel section extending between the back-support and a respective side of the seat, each of the seat, back-support, and side panel sections comprising a soft-walled inflatable structure.

2. An inflatable cradle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein when uninflated, each of the seat, back-support, and side panel sections comprises a thin, flexible structure.

3. An inflatable cradle as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein each of the seat, back-support, and side panel sections defines a panel-like member which is relatively rigid when inflated in comparison with its uninflated state.

4. An inflatable cradle as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the cradle comprises two parts releasably attachable to one another, a first part comprising at least the back-support section and a second part comprising at least the seat section.

5. An inflatable cradle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the side panel sections are permanently attached to one of the seat section and the back-support section and are releasably connectable to the other of the seat section and the back-support section to attach the first and second parts together.

6. An inflatable cradle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cradle comprises a plurality of releasable fasteners for releasably connecting each side panel section to said other of the seat section and the back-support section.

7. An inflatable cradle as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein each side panel section is hingedly connected to a respective side of said one of the seat section and back-support section.

8. An inflatable cradle as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the side panel sections are permanently attached to opposed sides of the seat section and are releasably attachable to the back-support section.

9. An inflatable cradle as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the side panel sections are permanently attached to opposed sides of the back-support section and are releasably attachable to the seat section.

10. An inflatable cradle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat section has a depth of 3 cms or more when inflated.

11. An inflatable cradle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat is profiled to define a central recess along a rear edge of the seat section.

12. An inflatable cradle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the back-support section is profiled to define a central recess along a bottom edge.

13. A roller transfer assembly comprising a supporting structure in which are mounted a plurality of rollers arranged in rows.

14. A roller transfer assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the transfer assembly compromises a plurality of roller batons aligned parallel to one another, each roller baton comprising an elongate support member to which are rotatably mounted a plurality of rollers.

15. A roller transfer assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the roller batons are spaced from one another and interconnected by at least two rigid cross-members.

16. A roller transfer assembly as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the elongate support member comprises a channel member, the rollers being mounted between opposed walls of the channel member.

17. A mobile transfer unit, the mobile transfer unit comprising a chassis with rotatable ground-engaging members for movement over a floor surface and a height-adjustable platform defining a support surface, a plurality of rollers mounted to the platform in association with the support surface.

18. A mobile transfer unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the rollers are provided in a plurality of roller batons, each roller baton comprising an elongate support member to which are rotatably mounted a plurality of said rollers, the roller batons extending in a transverse direction of the support surface.

19. A mobile transfer unit as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein the rollers are located in recesses in the platform so that at least the upper surfaces of the rollers are positioned above the support surface.

20. A chair comprising a seat defining a seating surface, a plurality of rollers mounted in the seat, each roller being rotatable about an axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the seat.

21. A chair as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rollers are provided in a plurality of roller batons, each roller baton comprising an elongate support member to which are rotatably mounted a plurality of said rollers, the roller batons extending in a transverse direction across the seat.

22. A chair as claimed in claim 21, wherein the roller batons are mounted in recesses in the seat.

23. A chair as claimed in claim 22, wherein the roller batons are adjustably mounted for movement between a raised, transfer position in which at least the upper surfaces of the rollers are positioned above the seating surface and a lowered position in which the rollers are located wholly below the seating surface.

24. A chair as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23 in which the seat is padded.

25. A toileting support comprising a seat having a toileting aperture and at least one roller mounted within or adjacent the seat, the upper surface of the at least one roller being positioned just above an upper surface of the seat.

26. A toileting support as claimed in claim 25, wherein the at least one roller includes a longitudinal elongate roller assembly mounted along one side of the seat.

27. A toileting support as claimed in claim 25 or claim 26, wherein the at least one roller includes a transverse elongate roller assembly mounted transversely across the seat in front of the toileting aperture.

28. A toileting support as claimed in claim 27, wherein the transverse elongate roller assembly comprises a roller baton having an elongate support member to which are mounted a plurality of rollers.

29. A toileting support as claimed in claim 28, wherein the roller baton is adjustable between a raised position in which at least the upper surfaces of the rollers are positioned above the upper surface of the seat and a lowered position in which the rollers are wholly located below the upper surface of the seat.

30. An adjustable roller baton assembly, the assembly comprising at least one roller baton having an elongate support member to which are rotatably mounted a plurality of said rollers and a framework mountable to a supporting structure, the at least one roller baton being mounted to the framework for movement between a raised position and a lowered position, the assembly further comprising a mechanism for moving the at least one roller baton between said raised and lowered positions.

31. An adjustable roller baton assembly as claimed in claim 30, wherein the at least one roller baton assembly is mounted to the framework by means of links at either end, each link being pivotally connected with the roller baton and with the framework.

32. An adjustable roller baton assembly as claimed in claim 30 or claim 36, wherein the mechanism is a winding mechanism comprising a winding bar rotatably mounted to the framework, a handle for rotating the winding bar and a flexible strap connected with the at least one roller baton at one end and with the winding bar at the other.

33. A floor-lift device comprising a frame having raised side bars interconnected by a number of rigid cross-members, the cross-members angling downwardly from each of the side bars to a central region in which they extend generally horizontally to define a recessed base region, a plurality of rolling ground-engaging members mounted to the frame so that the device can be rolled along the ground or floor and a soft-walled inflatable member positioned on the base region.

34. A floor-lift device as claimed in claim 33, wherein the inflatable member is in the form of a square-sided ring having a plurality of inflatable sections mounted one above the other.

35. A floor-lift device as claimed in claim 33 or claim 34, wherein the device is dimensioned to receive a cradle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 when inflated, with the seat portion of the inflated cradle sitting on the inflatable member.

36. A patient handling system comprising in any combination any two or more selected from the group consisting of: an inflatable cradle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, a roller transfer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16, a mobile transfer unit as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19, a chair as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 24, a toileting support as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 29, and a floor-lift device as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 35.

37. A patient handling system comprising an inflatable cradle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 in combination with any one or more of the following: a roller transfer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16, a mobile transfer unit as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19, a chair as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 24, a toileting support as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 29, and a floor-lift device as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 35.

38. A method of handling a patient, the method comprising supporting a patient in a sitting position in a cradle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 when inflated and manoeuvring the cradle with a patient on board across a surface.

39. A method of handling a patient as claimed in claim 38, the method comprising positioning a roller transfer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16 on the surface, positioning the inflated cradle with the patient on-board on the roller transfer assembly so that the seat section is supported on the rollers of the roller transfer assembly, and moving the cradle with the patient on-board along the roller transfer assembly over the rollers.

40. A method of handling a patient as claimed in claim 38 or claim 39, the method further comprising manoeuvring the inflated cradle with a patient on-board onto the platform of a mobile transfer unit as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19, the method comprising rolling the cradle across the rollers mounted in the platfonn.

41. A method as claimed in claim 40 when dependent on claim 39, the method comprising positioning the mobile transfer unit adjacent the surface on which the roller transfer assembly is located with the rollers in the mobile transfer unit platform aligned with the rollers in the roller transfer assembly, adjusting the height of the platform to bring the upper surfaces of the rollers on the mobile transfer unit substantially into the same plane as the rollers of the roller transfer assembly, and manoeuvring the inflatable cradle with the patient on-board between the roller transfer assembly and the mobile transfer unit across the rollers in the roller transfer assembly and the rollers in the platform of the mobile transfer unit.

42. A method of raising a patient from a floor using an inflatable cradle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 and a floor-lift device as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 35, the method comprising; with the patient lying on the floor, positioning the cradle about the patient in an un-inflated condition and subsequently inflating the cradle to support the patient in a sitting position with the back-support section of the cradle lying on the floor and the seat section extending vertically; positioning the lift device on the floor in front of the seat section of the inflated cradle with the inflatable member un-inflated; tipping the cradle forwardly so that the seat section comes to rest and is supported on top of the inflatable member.

43. A method as claimed in claim 42, the method further comprising inflating the inflatable member to raise the cradle.