WO1993021884A1

WO1993021884A1 - Patient support device

Info

Publication number: WO1993021884A1
Application number: PCT/CA1993/000181
Authority: WO
Inventors: James E. Gastle; Thomas H. Gastle; Clarence E. Farrow
Original assignee: Gastle James E; Gastle Thomas H; Farrow Clarence E
Priority date: 1992-05-05
Filing date: 1993-05-03
Publication date: 1993-11-11
Also published as: AU4257493A

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a patient support device (140) comprising a flexible support means, the support means having a pair of ends each of which includes a pair of hand holds (140b), the hand holds (140b) being formed by an aperture (204) which is dimensioned to receive the palm of a user's hand when lifting a patient and flap means (206) hinged to one edge of the aperture (204) permitting the flap means (206) to engage the palm of the user's hand when lifting a patient, each of the hand holds (140b) being aligned with a respective hand hold so that, during use, the flap means (206) may be nested together to form an integral handle with a folded cross section, the support means (140) being formed of reinforced sheet material having sufficient rigidity to enable the integral handle to resist collapse, the support means (140) being dimensioned to position the hand holds (140b) above a floor surface in order to minimize discomfort experienced by a user when lifting a patient.

Description

PATIENT SUPPORT DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to patient support devices.

BACKGROUND ART

There are several versions of patient support devices currently in use. including those referred to as 'stretchers'. Stretchers are available in three versions, the first being with a wheeled undercarriage and otherwise referred to as 'gurneys' and the second being a non-wheeled but otherwise rigid unit carried by two or more personne1.

The third version is referred to as a 'collapsible' stretcher, in the sense that it can be reduced to a size smaller than its operative size. Such stretchers have found favour in cases where space is limited, or where the stretcher is to be carried. While exiting collapsible stretchers are satisfactory for their intended purpose, there are situations where the conventional stretchers are inappropriate. There are limits to the minimum size that these stretchers can be collapsed into. Smaller size usually must give way ,to a carrying handle which is nothing more than a simple nylon strap. However, such straps tend to put unwanted lateral 'squeezing' pressure on the hand causing pain and hand fatigue.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel patient support device. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the invention involves a patient support device comprising a flexible support means, the support means having a pair of ends each of which includes a pair of hand holds, the hand holds being formed by an aperture which is dimensioned to receive the palm of a user's hand when lifting a patient and flap means hinged to one edge of the aperture permitting the flap means to engage the palm of the user's hand when lifting a patient, each of the hand holds being aligned with a respective hand hold so that, during use, the flap means may be nested together to form an integral handle with a folded cross section, the support means being formed of reinforced sheet material having sufficient rigidity to enable the integral handle to resist collapse, the support means being dimensioned to position the hand holds above a floor surface in order to minimize discomfort experienced by a user when lifting a patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stretcher;

Figure 2 is another perspective view of the stretcher illustrated in figure 1;

Figure 2a is a fragmentary perspective view of one portion of the stretcher illustrated in figure 2;

Figure 2b is another fragmentary perspective view of the portion illustrated in figure 2a;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a gurney making use of the stretcher illustrated in figure 2;

Figures 4 is a perspective view of another stretcher;

•Figure 5 is a perspective view of the stretcher illustrated in figure 4 in an operative posit on;

Figure- 6 is a perspective view of yet* another- stretcher with an operative position shown in phantom;;

Figure 6a is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the stretcher illustrated in figure 6;

Figure 6b is a sectional view taken on arrow 6b of figure 6a;

Figure 7 is a side view of the stretcher illustrated in figure 6 in another operative position;

Figure 7a is a perspective view of another stretcher;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of yet another stretcher;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stretcher illustrated in figure 8;

Figure 10 is another perspective view of the stretcher illustrated in figure 8;

Figure 11 is sectional view of the stretcher illustrated in figure 8 in an operative position;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of an article carrier in an operative position;

Figure 12a is a perspective view of two of the article carriers illustrated in figure 12 in an operative position;

Figure 13a is a perspective view of a blank for making a stretcher;

Figure 13 b is a perspective view of the blank illustrated in Figure 13a following a manufacturing step;

Figure 13c is a perspective view of the blank illustrated in Figure 13a following another manufacturing step; and

Figure 13d is a perspective view of the blank illustrated in Figure 13a following yet another manufacturing step.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, there is provided a flexible stretcher 120 formed of a reinforced flexible material such as polyester reinforced vinyl. The stretcher 120 has four corners, each of which is reinforced with a patch shown at 120a. The corner is further cut to form a hand hold 120b. The cut is made to form a folded flap.which, in use, follows the inside contour of the hand thus allowing additional comfort. The user's hand w ll be wrapped around the fold so that the hand contacts the surface of the flexible material rather than the edge thereof.

Furthermore, the flap together with the patch forms a handle with a thickened cross section. The hand hold provides a relatively rigid handle to resist lateral pressure, against the hand that would otherwise constrict the hand. However, with the flap in its unused position, the handle once again becomes sufficiently flexible to be folded for storage.

The flexible stretcher 120 has the particular feature of collapsing when carrying human patients, veterinary patients such as dogs and calves or other objects. This collapsing effect serves to cradle the animal in the stretcher and to make it more difficult for the animal to fall off the stretcher. Further, the collapsing effect permits the user to begin the lift in a more upright position. It should also be pointed out that the stretcher is intended to be used with one person at each end so that the work required to lift the animal is cut in half.

As shown in figure 3 the stretcher 120 is particularly useful in that it can be used to lift animals onto gurneys such as that shown at 'g' and to transfer animals from gurneys to other exam, x-ray and surgery tables with much less physical effort required.

If desired, the hand holds may be formed on an angle as shown in figures 4 and 5. In this case, the hand hold will be positioned to permit the hand to be in a natural gripping position rather than in an extended position as might be necessary with the hand hold not angled as in the previous embodiment.

Referring to figures 6 and 7, there is provided another flexible stretcher 140 formed of a reinforced flexible material such as polyester reinforced vinyl as useful as an evacuation stretcher. The stretcher 140 has four corners, each of which is reinforced with a patch shown at 140a. The corner is further cut to form a hand hold 140b. The cut is made to form a folded flap to function as does the flap in the earlier embodiment. In addition, a number of other hand holds are provided to allow a number of rescue personnel to carry the stretcher side-by-side,

A particular feature of the stretcher 140 is the use of pockets 142 located at each end thereof and which are dimensioned to receive a portion of the patient to be carried in the stretcher, such as for example, the patient's feet. The pockets 142 at each end allow usage in impaired sight conditions and prevent the patient from slipping off the stretcher when being carried on an incline.

The stretcher 140 lends itself to be used either with two or more rescue personnel as shown for example in phantom in figure 6. In this case, the stretcher 140 may be used so that the hand holds can be nested with one another to permit the rescue personnel to carry the stretcher with one hand while using the other hand to negotiate stair wells and the like. The nesting feature can be seen in figures 6a, 6b and forms a snug integral fit for the rescue personnel. In fact, the nesting tends to increase the strength of the hand hold by doubling the thickness of material that is folded, the fold forming a structure that resists collapse.

The stretcher 140 may also be used by a single rescuer as for example shown in figure 7. In this case, the rescuer can insert the patient's feet in one pocket which prevents the patient from slipping off the end of the stretcher. The rescuer may then grip the other end of the stretcher with the two hand holds and drag the patient along the floor. If stairs or other obstructions must be passed, the stretcher can maintain the buttocks and back off the floor to prevent injury while the feet will absorb the obstruction. If desired, the stretcher may also be provided with a cushion layer to protect the patient from such obstructions even further.

Figure 7a illustrates still another stretcher 160 wherein a central sleeve 162 is formed on the stretcher by bonded seams shown by chain dotted lines at 162a^* to form two openings as shown at 164a, 164b, each for other limbs of the patient for example, the arms thereof.

As can be seen from figure 7a (and will described in more detail below), the bonded seam 162a that forms the central sleeve is also used to form the pockets 166 and are aligned with the reinforced hand holds 168, thus allowing the flap of the hand hold to be the double thickness of the material along with the additional thickness of the reinforcement patch.

As with the stretchers 120 and 140, the stretcher 160 has the particular feature of collapsing when carrying a patient. This collapsing effect serves to cradle the patient in the stretcher and to make it more difficult for the patient to fall off the stretcher. Further, the collapsing effect permits the rescue personnel to begin the lift in a more upright position.

The handles lie flat in their unused position and thereby do not interfere with the folding of the stretcher for storage. The stretcher may be eas ly folded into a relatively small package thereby requiring relatively little storage space in an aircraft or other rescue vehicle. The rescuer may easily carry the stretcher on a belt-located pouch, in a pocket or the like and thereby not be hindered in his efforts to locate a victim.

Referring to figure 8, the stretcher 160 may also be provided with a cover portion 170 to provide heat retention, or protection against the elements for the patient. In this case, the cover portion may either be integral with or be attached to the pocket and be stored therein if desired.

Other restraint straps may of course be incorporated into the stretcher as desired.

Referring to figure 8, there is provided yet another flexible stretcher 200 formed of a reinforced flexible material such as polyester reinforced vinyl. The stretcher 200 has four corners 202, each of which has an aperture 204 which is shaped to fit the palm of a user's hand. Attached to the corner 202 adjacent the aperture 204 is a patch shown at 206. The patch is oversized so that it forms a flap that can be passed through the aperture as shown in figures 9 and 10. The flap may thus be folded in the same manner as in the earlier embodiments to form a hand hold. This alternative may in some cases be desirable as a means to provide similar stiffness to comfort the hand while reducing the amount of material for its construction. In use, the flaps 206 may be overlapped in the same manner as earlier embodiments and as shown in figure 11.

Referring to figure 12, there is provided a device 220 for carrying articles such as fire wood 222 which utilizes two hand holds 224 on either side thereof and which provide the overlapping flaps 226. The overlapping flaps 226, by virtue of the characteristics of the material used (including stiffness and thickness) have the ability to resist collapse. Conveniently, the stiffness and thickness of the material can be selected according the degree of collapse resistance required. The device 220 is significant in that the benefits of the overlapping flaps are also available for carrying objects such as fire wood, boxes or the like where the length of the object being carried is relatively short. Furthermore, two or more devices 220 may be used as slings to lift long objects such as poles as shown in figure 12a.

One technique to make a stretcher is shown in figures 13a to 13d. First a blank 230 is formed from a reinforced material such as 18 ounce polyester reinforced vinyl . The blank is provided with an adhesive receiving zone 232 on each corner 234. Thereafter, a fold line 236 is formed on each end midway through the adhesive receiving zones 232 to form flaps 238. The flaps are then folded about the fold lines 236 to form pockets shown at 240 in figure 13b, each with a relatively wide bonded seam 242. The so formed blank 230 is then placed upside down and reinforcing patches 244 are bonded at the locations shown. In particular, the patches 244a on the corners of the stretchers are conveniently located on the bonded seams 242, thereby to form a triple layer of material in the corners. Finally, the reinforced locations are punched to form handles as shown in figure 13d.

While the above embodiments refer to patients, animals rescue and veterinary personnel, it will of course be understood that all of the above embodiments may be used in situations other than those specifically named.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A patient support device comprising a flexible support means, said support means having a pair of ends each of which includes a pair of hand holds, said hand holds being formed by an aperture which is dimensioned to receive the palm of a user's hand when lifting a patient and flap means hinged to one edge of said aperture permitting said flap means to engage the palm of the user's hand when lifting a patient, each of said hand holds being aligned with a respective hand hold so that, during use, said flap means may be nested together to form an integral handle with a folded cross section, said support means being formed of reinforced sheet material having sufficient rigidity to enable said integral handle to resist collapse, said support means being dimensioned to position said hand holds above a floor surface in order to minimize discomfort experienced by a user when lifting a patient.

2. A patient support device as defined in claim 1 wherein said aperture and said flap means are formed together by a cut out.

3. , A patient support device as defined in claim 1 wherein said flap is formed from a blank of material which is bonded to one side of said aperture.

4. A patient support device as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means includes at least one pocket located at one end of said support means to receive a body part of said patient.

5. A patient support device as defined in claim 1 wherein said pockets are formed by forming a bonded seam between adjacent sheets of said material and said aperture being formed in said bonded seam.

6. A support device comprising a flexible support means, said support means having a pair of ends each of which includes a hand hold, said hand hold being formed by an aperture which is dimensioned to receive the palm of a user's hand when lifting an object and flap means hinged to one edge of said aperture permitting said flap means to engage the palm of the user's hand when lifting said object, each of said hand holds being aligned with a respective hand hold so that, during use, said flap means may be nested together to form an integral handle with a folded cross section, said support means being formed of reinforced sheet material which enables said integral handle to resist collapse, said support means being dimensioned to position said hand holds above a floor surface in order to minimize discomfort experienced by a user when lifting a said object.