WO2022255948A2

WO2022255948A2 - Patient transport apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2022255948A2
Application number: PCT/SG2022/050375
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mun Hung Joseph LEW; Jimmy Addison LEE; Jing Kai LEONG
Original assignee: Ai Kaigo Pte. Ltd.
Priority date: 2021-06-01
Filing date: 2022-06-01
Publication date: 2022-12-08
Also published as: WO2022255948A3

Abstract

A patient transport apparatus comprises a base that is movable via at least one wheel mounted thereto; a patient support mounted to the base; and a motorized transfer member beneath the patient support; wherein the motorized transfer member is laterally extendable from the patient transport apparatus to engage with at least an upper surface of an external support structure adjacent to the patient transport apparatus such that the external support structure bears part of the load of the patient transport apparatus to form a stable body; and wherein the patient support is laterally movable to be supported on the motorized transfer member.

Description

PATIENT TRANSPORT APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a patient transport apparatus and system.

BACKGROUND

Mobility can be a challenge for physically impaired individuals and their carers. For example, it is often necessary to transfer such individuals between different locations, such as between a hospital gurney or personal mobility device such as a wheelchair, and a bed.

This can be particularly problematic when a patient is unconscious or otherwise incapable of moving themselves to and from the gurney or other device to the bed. The carer, or multiple carers, need to physically move the patient in such cases. This can be difficult and physically demanding, and can pose hazards to both the patient and the carers.

To address this issue, various proposals have been developed.

For example, mobile hoists and ceiling hoists can be used to lift patients from wheelchairs or gurneys. These suffer from various problems, including being inconvenient to use, bulky (and thus unsuitable for individuals who live in apartment blocks, for example), and requiring installation and regular maintenance.

Another type of previously proposed device is a wheelchair that has a fold-down armrest that can be laid against an upper surface of a bed. In principle, this would allow the wheelchair user to shift themselves across to the bed. In practice, many users lack the strength or mobility to do so and assistance from a carer is still required.

It would be desirable to address or alleviate one or more of the above difficulties, or at least to provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a patient transport apparatus comprising: a base that is movable via at least one wheel mounted thereto; a patient support mounted to the base; and a motorized transfer member beneath the patient support; wherein the motorized transfer member is laterally extendable from the patient transport apparatus to engage with at least an upper surface of an external support structure adjacent to the patient transport apparatus such that the external support structure bears part of the load of the patient transport apparatus to form a stable body; and wherein the patient support is laterally movable to be supported on the motorized transfer member.

In some embodiments, the patient support comprises a bed or a chair. Where the patient support comprises a chair, the chair may be transformable from a seating configuration to a lying configuration.

In some embodiments, the motorized transfer member comprises at least two parallel bars joined by a web portion. The at least two parallel bars may be laterally extendable via a rack-and-pinion mechanism.

In some embodiments, the motorized transfer member is beneath a seat portion of the chair.

In some embodiments, the base has a height adjustment mechanism to adjust a height of the motorized transfer member.

Some embodiments of the patient transport apparatus comprise at least one sensor for detecting whether the motorized transfer member and/or the patient support is aligned with the external support structure.

The present disclosure also relates to a patient transfer system comprising: a patient transport apparatus comprising a patient support, and a motorized transfer member beneath the patient support; and a controller that is configured to: position the motorized transfer member above an upper surface of an external support structure adjacent to the patient transport apparatus by laterally extending the motorized transfer member; lower the motorized transfer member to engage with at least the upper surface such that the external support structure bears part of the load of the patient transport apparatus to form a stable body; and laterally move the patient support such that it is supported on the motorized transfer member.

The patient support of the patient transfer system may comprise a bed or a chair. Where the patient support comprises a chair, the chair may be transformable from a seating configuration to a lying configuration.

The motorized transfer member may comprise at least two parallel bars joined by a web portion. The at least two parallel bars may be laterally extendable via a rack-and-pinion mechanism.

The patient transport system may comprise at least one sensor for detecting whether the motorized transfer member and/or the patient support is aligned with the external support structure.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured to receive measurements from the at least one sensor; and to automatically align the patient support and/or the motorized transfer member in accordance with the measurements.

The patient transport system may comprise a rigid board for placement on the upper surface prior to positioning the motorized transfer member above the upper surface, to substantially prevent depression of the upper surface of the support structure by the motorized transfer member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of a patient transport apparatus will now be described, by way of nonlimiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a patient transport apparatus according to embodiments;

Figure 2 is a right side view of the patient transport apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top perspective view of the patient transport apparatus of Figure 1;

Figures 4(a) to 4(f) show partial top perspective views of a patient transfer mechanism of the patient transport apparatus. Figures 5(a) to 5(f) show a sequence of movements of the patient transport apparatus for transferring a patient to an external support structure, in this case a bed;

Figure 6A shows a side view of a patient in supine position supported on the patient transport apparatus; and

Figure 6B shows a top view of the patient of Figure 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 3, in one example, a patient transport apparatus such as a wheelchair 10 comprises a base 30 to which a patient support is mounted. The base 30 comprises a plurality of wheels for moving the patient transport apparatus 10.

For example, the base 30 may comprise a wheel carrier 31 to which a pair of lateral wheels 34, an anterior wheel 36, and a posterior wheel 38 are mounted. Each of the lateral wheels 34, anterior wheel 36, and posterior wheel 38 may be castor wheels, for example. Castor wheels enable the patient transport apparatus to have a smaller turning circle for easier manipulation within a confined space.

The base 30 may further comprise a column 33 which can move in telescoping fashion to change the height of the patient support.

As shown, the patient support may be a chair-like structure, which in this example comprises a backrest 12, a seat portion 14, a leg support 16, a pair of armrests 18, and a headrest 20. The leg support 16 may comprise a pair of leg rests 17 and a footrest 19. The patient support is transformable from the chair configuration shown in Figures 1 to 3 to a lying or bed configuration for patient transfer. This may be achieved by hydraulic cylinders 50 and 52, which respectively cause rotation of backrest 12 and leg support 16 such that they are substantially aligned in the same plane as seat 14.

The patient support may be mounted to the base 30 by a frame 40 that is laterally movable with respect to the base 30. Further, the frame 40 sits above a motorized transfer member 42 that is also laterally movable with respect to the base 30.

The patient transport apparatus 10 further comprises a controller which is not illustrated in the Figures, but which may reside inside the base 30, for example within wheel carrier 31 or column 33. The controller may be configured to operate various components of the patient transport apparatus 10, such as the wheels 34, 36, 38, the height adjustment column 33, hydraulic cylinders 50 and 52, and motors and gears for driving the frame 40 and the motorized transfer member 42.

Operation and/or programming of the controller may be achieved via buttons, switches and the like of the patient transport apparatus 10, for example located in the armrests 18. In some embodiments, a touch screen display or the like may be located on the patient transport apparatus 10 for operating components of the patient transport apparatus 10. Alternatively, or in addition, the controller may be configured to pair with an external device such as a smartphone or laptop to enable remote operation of the patient transport apparatus 10.

Referring now to Figure 4, a transfer mechanism of the patient support apparatus 10 will be described. The transfer mechanism comprises the motorized transfer member 42, which as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5(d), may comprise a pair of parallel transfer bars

44 connected by a web portion 46. The transfer mechanism also comprises the frame 40 on which seat 14 is supported.

The frame 40 has an upper surface 41 above which extend a pair of elongate guides 62 located at opposite sides of the frame 40. The elongate guides 62 are constructed and arranged to fit over a corresponding pair of guides 70 on a lower frame member 60.

The frame 40 has a rail 64 on a lower surface thereof. The rail 64 has teeth that are arranged to mesh with teeth of a gear 65 as part of a rack and pinion mechanism, as shown in the view of Figure 4(d). The gear 65 is mounted on the lower frame 60. Also as shown in Figure 4(d), each transfer bar 44 of the motorized transfer member 42 has a rail

45 at a lower edge thereof for meshing with gears 66 that are also mounted on the lower frame 60. The respective rails 45 and gears 66 also form a rack and pinion mechanism. The transfer bars 44 are guided within channels of the guides 70 of lower frame member 60 as gears (pinions) 66 rotate to cause linear movement of the rails (racks) 45 of the transfer bars 44.

Although a rack-and-pinion mechanism is depicted in the Figures, it will be appreciated that other mechanisms for lateral transfer of the motorized transfer member are possible. For example, a linear actuator or other mechanism may be used.

The sequence of operations of the transfer mechanism is as follows. In the configuration of Figures 4(a) and 4(d), the frame 40 and thus the seat 14 of the patient transport apparatus 10 is aligned with the base 30. Next, as shown in Figures 4(b) and 4(e), the gears 66 are activated to drive transfer bars 44 to cause the motorized transfer member 42 to extend laterally from the patient support apparatus 10. In a subsequent step which is not shown in Figure 4, the seat 14 is lowered, to cause the bars 44 of transfer member 42 to engage with an upper surface of an external support structure such as a bed. At this point the weight of the patient support apparatus 10 is partially borne by the external support structure such that the apparatus 10 is stabilised. Finally, as shown in Figures 4(c) and 4(f), gear 65 is activated to drive the rail 64, and thus the frame 40 to which it is connected, to cause the frame 40 to extend laterally of the patient transport apparatus 10 such that it overlies and is supported by the transfer member 42. The guides 62 of frame 40 traverse the guides 70 of lower frame 60 as the frame 40 extends laterally.

In some embodiments, a rigid board (not shown) may be provided for use with the patient transport apparatus 10, as part of a patient transport system. The rigid board may be placed on a support structure, such as a bed 100 (Figure 5), that may have a soft upper surface that could be depressed by the transfer member 42 in a manner such that the support structure obstructs lateral movement of the components of the patient transport apparatus 10 that would otherwise pass over the upper surface. The rigid board thus acts to substantially prevent such depression to ensure an even surface so that the lateral transfer can take place unimpeded.

Transfer of a patient to a bed will now be described with reference to Figures 5, 6A, and 6B. In Figure 5(a) the patient transport apparatus 10 is moved to be adjacent to and in proximity with a bed 100.

For safe transfer to take place, the wheelchair 10 may comprise means for positioning the wheelchair 10 relative to the bed such that the transfer is safe. For example, an alignment image, such as a QR code, can be placed at a fixed distance from the perfect parking position of the wheelchair 10. The perfect parking position for safe transfer may initially be determined manually by the user of wheelchair 10. An inbuilt camera of the wheelchair 10 and a process implemented in a controller of the wheelchair 10 is invoked to search and locate the alignment image at a certain direction where the image could be at the x- y plane (bed frame) or z-plane (on the floor) and confirms that the image is found. The camera is then initialized to remember the position of the image. In future, as long as the wheelchair 10 gets into the vicinity of a distance say +/- 10cm from the perfect parking position, the inbuilt camera will search for the QR image and "auto-align" itself. The autoalignment feature may be implemented using artificial intelligence techniques.

To elaborate further, the base 30, motor 34, are typically software-controllable, in order for the "auto-alignment" to work.

Besides the auto-alignment function, there may also be a laser or ultraviolet or passive light sensor along the frame 40, and/or on transfer bars 44, depending on the factory configuration, to detect how far the transfer bar 44 is extended over the bed to determine if there is enough overlap for the transfer to take place safely. The smart chair 10 controller may provide feedback as to whether a transfer is going to be successful, or if manual adjustment via a remote controller or fixed handle controller (of the wheelchair 10) is needed.This may be facilitated by the use of alignment marks such as QR codes or the like, which are detected by one or more sensors of the patient transport apparatus 10 as it moves into proximity with the bed 100. The alignment marks may be located on a floor, and/or on the bed itself, for example.

Next, as shown in Figure 5(b), the patient transport apparatus 10 is transformed from the chair configuration to a lying configuration by rotating the backrest 12 away from the seat 14, and the leg support 16 towards the seat 14, for example using hydraulic cylinders 50 and 52 (Figure 2).

As shown in Figure 5(c), the height adjustment column 33 is then actuated to cause the seat 14 to elevate above the height of upper surface of bed 100. The extent to which seat 14 is raised may be determined by the person in control, to the limit of the maximum height article 30 can extend itself, which the limit is dependent on manufacturing limits which could be in the range of 10 to 30cm non-inclusive. At this point the patient 110 is in the elevated position depicted in Figure 6A.

Next, as shown in Figure 5(d), gears 66 of lower frame 60 are actuated to drive the transfer member 44 so that it extends laterally of the patient transport apparatus 10 and overlies the upper surface of the bed 100.

Next, as shown in Figure 5(e), seat 14 is lowered using height adjustment column 33, until the transfer member 44 engages with the upper surface of the bed 100 such that the bed 100 bears part of the load of the patient transport apparatus 10.

Finally, as shown in Figure 5(f), the gear 65 of lower frame 60 can be actuated to drive the frame 40 so that it extends laterally of the patient transport apparatus 10, and overlies and is supported by the transfer member 44 and the bed 100. This places the patient 110 in the position shown in Figure 6B. At this point, with the patient stably supported on the backrest 12 and seat 14 and over the edge of the bed, the patient 110 may readily move themselves off the patient transport apparatus 10 and onto the bed.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

1. A patient transport apparatus comprising: a base that is movable via at least one wheel mounted thereto; a patient support mounted to the base; and a motorized transfer member beneath the patient support; wherein the motorized transfer member is laterally extendable from the patient transport apparatus to engage with at least an upper surface of an external support structure adjacent to the patient transport apparatus such that the external support structure bears part of the load of the patient transport apparatus to form a stable body; and wherein the patient support is laterally movable to be supported on the motorized transfer member.

2. A patient transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the patient support comprises a bed or a chair.

3. A patient transport apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the patient support comprises a chair, and wherein the chair is transformable from a seating configuration to a lying configuration.

4. A patient transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the motorized transfer member comprises at least two parallel bars joined by a web portion.

5. A patient transport apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least two parallel bars are laterally extendable via a rack-and-pinion mechanism.

6. A patient transport apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the motorized transfer member is beneath a seat portion of the chair.

7. A patient transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the base has a height adjustment mechanism to adjust a height of the motorized transfer member.

8. A patient transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising at least one sensor for detecting whether the motorized transfer member and/or the patient support is aligned with the external support structure.

9. A patient transfer system comprising: a patient transport apparatus comprising a patient support, and a motorized transfer member beneath the patient support; and a controller that is configured to: position the motorized transfer member above an upper surface of an external support structure adjacent to the patient transport apparatus by laterally extending the motorized transfer member; lower the motorized transfer member to engage with at least the upper surface such that the external support structure bears part of the load of the patient transport apparatus to form a stable body; and laterally move the patient support such that it is supported on the motorized transfer member.

10. A patient transfer system according to claim 9, wherein the patient support comprises a bed or a chair.

11. A patient transfer system according to claim 11, wherein the patient support comprises a chair, and wherein the chair is transformable from a seating configuration to a lying configuration.

12. A patient transport system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the motorized transfer member comprises at least two parallel bars joined by a web portion.

13. A patient transport system according to claim 12, wherein the at least two parallel bars are laterally extendable via a rack-and-pinion mechanism.

14. A patient transport system according to claim 12, wherein the at least two parallel bars are laterally extendable via a linear actuator mechanism.

15. A patient transport system according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the motorized transfer member is beneath a seat portion of the chair.

16. A patient transport system according to any one of claims 9 to 15, comprising at least one sensor for detecting whether the motorized transfer member and/or the patient support is aligned with the external support structure.

17. A patient transport system according to claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to receive measurements from the at least one sensor; and to automatically align the patient support and/or the motorized transfer member in accordance with the measurements.

18. A patient transport system according to any one of claims 9 to 17, comprising a rigid board for placement on the upper surface prior to positioning the motorized transfer member above the upper surface, to substantially prevent depression of the upper surface by the motorized transfer member.