GB2499784A - Break away stretcher with padding - Google Patents

Abstract

A padding member (102) is attached to a break away stretcher (10, figure 1), located over an upward surface of a side member (106, figure 10) of the stretcher, the stretcher has opposed side members which are detachably connected together. Each side member may have a leading edge region (104) arranged, in use, to be urged beneath a patient from either side when the parts are detached. The padding may be a padded panel (108, figure 9) and may have a filler in a retaining pocket (130, figure 8) which extends adjacent an edge region. The filler may be loose in the pockets and there may be a vacuum port through which air can be evacuated to maintain the padding in position.

Description

1

BREAK AWAY STRETCHERS

The present invention relates to a break away stretcher, method of locating a patient on a break away stretchers and methods relating thereto.

5 Figure 1 shows a plan and top view of the stretcher object of the invention; -

Figure 2 shows a side view of the stretcher in figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a section view along the line; 111-111 of the lower portion of the stretcher in figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a section view along the line IV-IV of the upper portion of the 10 stretcher in figure 1;

Figure 5 shows a section view along the line V-V of the upper portion of the stretcher in figure 1;

Figure 6 shows an enlarged view of one end of the stretcher in figure 1;

Figure 7 shows a section view along the line VII-VII of the detail in figure 6.

With reference to the figures from 1 to 5, the numeral 10 indicates the break away stretcher, consisting of two opposite halves or half-stretchers, first 20 and second 30.

The half-stretchers 20, 30 consist of an upper part, respectively 20s and 30s, and a lower part, respectively 20i and 30i.

The upper parts 20s, 30s have an upper tubular element, respectively 2s and 3s, and an upper support scoop shaped element, respectively 4 and 5, making a single block with related upper tubular element 2s, 3s including this latter. Each upper support element 4, 5 is internally provided with a hollow bar, respectively 6 and 7.

The upper tubular elements 2s, 3s have an end, respectively 14s and 15s, close to an upper sleeve, respectively 12s and 13s, making a single block with the related support element, respectively 4 and 5, while the other ends extend up to the end portion of the related support elements 4, 5 and help to support, in co-operation with these latter, locking and adjusting 30 means 22, 23 of the length of the stretcher 10.

The other ends of the sleeves 12s, 13s are fastened to the ends, respectively 16 and 17, of a hook device is allowing to hook detachably the upper parts 20s and 30s of the half-stretchers 20 and 30 so as to make the upper part 40 of the stretcher 10.

35 Similarly, each of lower part 20i and; 30i, has a lower tubular element, respectively 2i and 3i, and a lower support scoop shaped element, respectively 8 and 9, in single block with the

2

related tubular element 2i, 3i and partially including this latter.

The tubular elements 2i, 3i are telescopically sliding inside the respective hollow bar 6,7 and they have each other end, respectively 14i and 15i, located close to a sleeve, respectively 12i 5 and 13i, in single block with related support element 8,9.

The other ends of the sleeves 12i, 13i are fastened to the ends, respectively 18 and 19, of a hook device li which allows to hook detachably the lower parts 20i and 30i of the; half-stretchers 20 and 30 so as to make the lower part 50 of the stretcher 10.

10

In correspondence of the ends of the tubular element 2i and 3i, sliding inside the related hollow bars 6 and 7, there are hinge elements, respectively 52, 53, that allow the folding up of the lower portion 50 onto the upper portion 40 of the stretcher 10, or vice versa, in correspondence of the pulling out of said lower tubular elements 2i and 3i from the related hollow bars 6 and 7.

15

Each stop mean 22,23 has a pivot 45 insertable into related hole made on the external part of each tubular element 2i, 3i and comprises a crossing hole for these latter with such a diameter to allow the pulling out of the hinge elements 52,53 but not the pulling out of tubular 2i, 3i ends.

20 Each support element 4 and; 5, 8 and 9 further comprises a set of slots 25, respectively three in the upper support elements and one in the lower support elements, fit for inserting the immobilisation belts for the patient to the stretcher or for allowing the operators to hold the stretcher laterally.

25 Each support element 4 and 5,8 and 9 further comprises an opening 28 and 29,32 and 33, made in correspondence of said sleeve 12s and 13s, 12i and 13i, fit for easily holding the stretcher 10. In particular the openings 28 and 29 of the upper part of the stretcher also allow the passage of the immobilisation belts for the patient head.

30 Close to the head area of each upper support element 4,5 and of each related tubular element 2s, 3s there is furthermore a hole 47 for inserting the immobilisation belt of the patient head laying on the stretcher 10. In correspondence of the slot between the upper support elements 4, 5 on the inner edge thereof there is a recess 46 close to the head area of the support elements.

35

The free end 16 and 17,18 and 19 of each hook means, upper 1s and lower li, is included in the related sleeve, upper 12s, 13s and lower 12i, 13i; and a set of pins 48, included in the related support element 4 and 5,8 and 9, is fixed to the hook means, upper Is and lower li.

3

In figure 4, advantageously, the upper support elements 4 and 5 have a depression 54 in correspondence of the area between the recess 46 and the related sleeve 12s, 13s.

Such a depression 54 allows an optimal displacement of the lower portion 50 of the stretcher 10 in the folding phase thereof and in particular of the sleeves 12i, 13i, so getting a minimum 5 size condition for the folded stretcher.

The support elements, upper 4,5 and lower 8,9 are made of plastics, preferably polyethylene, while the tubular elements 2s and 3s, 2i and 3i and/or the hollow bars 6,7 are made of metal, preferably aluminium, or plastics, preferably polyethylene or composite material.

The material for making the stretcher 10 can be, advantageously, radio-transparent.

The method for carrying out the stretcher 10 includes the following main phases:

-putting into a two; half-shells mould, near the middle and upper peripheral area, 15 of the free ends 16 and 17,18 and 19 of the hook means 1 s or 1 i;

-putting into the mould, near the longitudinal edges, the tubular elements, upper 2s, 3s or lower 2i, 3i;

-extruding and blowing the plastic material into the mould for carrying out the support elements, upper 4,5 and lower 8 and 9, separated from each other by an 20 opening and respectively in single block with the related sleeves, upper 12s, 13s and lower 12i, 13i, and including the free ends of the hook means 1s, 1 i and the tubular elements 2s and 3s, 2i and 3i.

With reference to the carrying out of the upper support elements 4,5, the method provides that 25 the hollow bars 6,7 are also inserted in the mould, almost parallel to the upper tubular elements 2s, 3s. In other words, the method for carrying out the stretcher 10 provides that both the upper portion 40 and the lower portion 50 of the stretcher are made of plastic material, by means of a blow molding operation.

30 In particular, inside the mould designed for carrying out the upper portion 40 is inserted the hook device Is in a hooked condition A, in which the connection elements of the hook device Is are connected each other. Furthermore, the tubular elements 2s and 3s and the hollow bars 6 and 7 are inserted therein.

35

Now the blow molding is made to carry out the upper portion 40 by forming the support elements 4 and 5, which are a single block with the related tubular elements 2s, 3s and the related hollow bars 6,7.

4

The; half-shells of the mould are formed in such a way to make the openings 28,29, 32 and 33 and the set of the slots 25 as well as the hole 47 and the recess 46. The lower portion 50 is similarly made, with the difference that in related mould the hollow bars 6 and 7 are not put inside.

After the upper 40 and lower 50 portions have been made, the stretcher 10 is completed by inserting the tubular elements 2i, 3i of the lower portion 50 into the respective hollow bars 6,7 of the upper portion 40.

10 For avoiding the tubular elements 2i, 3i to come out from the related housing and for further allowing the adjustment of the stretcher length, there are locking and adjusting means, respectively 22 and 23, fit to control and adjust the telescopic sliding of the related tubular elements 2i, 3i.

15 With only two molding operations, it is possible to obtain the stretcher portions, upper 40 and lower 50, both provided with all the stretcher elements so that the only manual operation to perform is to connect together the stretcher portions.

In a stretcher variant, it is possible to carry out the support elements 4 and 5 in a single block 20 without inserting the tubular elements 2s and 3s as structure reinforcement. Consequently, such support elements 4 and 5 have only the hollow bars 6 and 7 included therein.

This provides a light stretcher for supporting the patient body with the maximum possible supporting surface.

25 The stretcher so far described is disclosed in WO 01/03627.

A problem with the stretcher so far described is that the sides 100 that are pushed under the patient must be relatively narrow to push under the patient. In addition, the support elements on which the patient lies are hard. Thus the patient can only remain on the stretcher for a short period of time. Consequently on transfer to the ambulance it may be necessary to move 30 the patient onto an ambulance trolley. Further, on arrival at the hospital prior to securing the patient it is necessary to transfer the patient from the ambulance stretcher.

These transfers are potentially very damaging for the patient.

According to one aspect of the present invention a break away stretcher includes two opposed side members that are detachably connected at each end region, each opposed side member 35 including at least one leading edge region arranged, in use, to be urged beneath a patient from either side where the parts are detached whereby the side members provide support for a patient and in which the side members include an upwardly facing padding member over at least part of their extent.

5

According to a further aspect of the present invention a method of locating a patient on a break away stretcher comprises moving opposed side members together by urging a leading edge region of each side member under the patient such that the patient is supported by the side member and detachably connecting side members at each end region and in which the side 5 members are brought beneath a patient with the patient being supported by the padding on each side member.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a method of attaching a padding member to a break away stretcher in which the break away stretcher includes opposed side members that are detachably connected together comprises locating the padding member 10 over at least part of the upwardly extending surface of the side member.

According to another aspect of the present invention a padding member is provided suitable for padding a break away stretcher the padding including attachment means arranged, in use, to attach the padding to the stretcher.

The present invention is defined in the claims as elsewhere in this specification.

15 It is an object of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least one of the above or other disadvantages.

The present invention can be carried into practice in various ways but one embodiment will now be described by way of reference to the previous drawings and in the drawings below, in which:

20

Figure 7 which is a plan view of one half of the stretcher towards the head end thereof;

Figures 8 and 9 are section views taken along the lines 8-8 and 9-9 of Figure 7, and

25 Figure 10 is a perspective view of the padding in a laid out form.

As shown in Figure 7, padding 102 is provided over the rigid plastic part of the stretcher. The padding 102 may extend up to just over the slot 25 and the opening 32 and up to or in the region of the previously free edge 104 of the plastic part of the stretcher. In this way, the slot 30 and opening 32 are still available for gripping and lifting by an operative of the stretcher and straps are also able to be threaded through the slot and opening as previously described in order to restrain the patient.

The padding may be formed from the single item as shown in Figure 10 in which there are 35 provided various straps to secure the padding with the straps having fasteners such as hook and eye fasteners cooperating hook and eye fasteners provide in other parts of the padding 102.

6

In order to secure the padding to the stretcher a panel 106 is laid against the upwardly facing surface of the plastic with the free end of the panel 106 extending away from the edge 104 of the plastic. The padded panel 108 may then laid against the panel 106 or may be so laid later, after the fastener had been attached.

5

The first strap 110 may be passed through the slot 25 with a hook and eye fastener 112 of the strap 110 being brought back over the panel 106 to secure that fastener 112 with a corresponding fastener 114 on the panel 106.

10 A second strip 116 may then brought over the free edge of the plastic part of the stretcher to cooperate with an elongate fastener that includes a hook and eye attachment 118 to secure the fastener 120 of the second strap to the fastener 118. Likewise a spaced third strap 122 having a fastener 124 is brought over the free edge of the plastic part of the stretcher to secure the third strip 122 to the same fastener 118.

15

A fourth strap 126 is then brought through the opening 32 such that the fastener 128 of the fourth strip is also attached to the same fastener 118 of the panel 106.

The straps not only retain the padding on the stretcher: they also prevent or inhibit movement 20 of the padding along the stretcher. This inhibition is assisted by the strap 126 filling the lengthwise extent of the opening 25 and or by the strap holding the padding on the slot 32.

Although not described in detail, a unitary padding may also be applied to cover the other parts of the plastic stretcher with shorter straps extending through the openings 32 and the slot 28 25 with longer panels passing around the free edge of the plastic part of the stretcher whereby all of those panels are secured to an elongate fastener extending along a panel adjacent to the upwardly facing surface of the plastic with the padding, for instance, covering all of the remaining parts of the upwardly facing plastic.

30 The padded panel 108 may be provided with hook and eye connectors 140 that are able to be detachably connected to hook and eye connectors 142 on the underside of the straps 116, 112. Alternatively or additionally the width of the fastener 118 may be such that the padded panel is able to engage the fastener 118 possibly along the complete lengths of that fastener by means of hook and eye fasteners 144.

35

It will be appreciated that the padding may be retrofitted to an existing stretcher.

With a stretcher fitted with a padding the parts can be divided as previously described and brought into engagement under a patient with the parts then being connected as shown in

7

Figure 1 with the stretcher then being transported, for instance, to an ambulance. As padding is provided the patient is able to reside on the stretcher in a restrained manor by suitably applied straps and then the patient may be transferred to hospital. The same stretcher may be used to perform a scan on a patient to determine the extent of the injuries or other medical 5 procedures may be performed on the patient. Accordingly, few, if any, transfers will be required from the stretcher with possibly the ultimate transfer being to a suitable bed in a hospital.

As shown in Figure 9, the padded panel may include a filler that may extend to or just short of

10 the free edge 104 of the plastic panel. Alternatively or additionally, the filler may be angled upwardly and away from the free edge. Alternatively or additionally, the filler may be slightly loose within the plastic sheets 130 that contain the filler. In this way, the padding does not adversely effect the insertion of the hard plastic edge beneath the patient.

15 The part of the filler nearest to the leading edge may be compressed as the free edge is brought beneath a patient.

The filler may be urged away from the free edge as the free edges are brought beneath a patient.

20

The filler may settle back slightly when the two parts are brought together for the comfort of the patient such that the filler may be pushed initially away from the free edge 104 with the filler subsequently moving slightly back in the general direction towards the free edge 104.

25 The filler may comprise a foam. The filler may comprise individual particles. A suction port (not shown) may be provided such that when the patient is located on the stretcher air can be evacuated from the interior between the two sheets 130 whereby particles comprising the filler are locked in place in the shape formed by the patient lying on the stretcher.

30 Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

35 All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims,

abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

8

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or 5 similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, 10 or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

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Claims (34)

Claims:

1. A break away stretcher including two opposed sides members (20, 30) that are detachably connected at each end region, each opposed sides member including at least one leading edge region (104) arranged, in use, to be urged beneath a patient from either side 5 when the parts are detached whereby the side members provide support for a patient characterized in that:

the sides members include an upwardly facing padding member (102) over at least part of their extent.

10

2. A stretcher as claimed in claim 1 in which the padding member extends to the region of the leading edge region (104).

3. Astretcher as claimed in claims 1 or 2 in which the padding comprises a filler extending to the leading edge region.

15

4. A stretcher as claimed in claim 3 in which the filler is located adjacent to but spaced from the leading edge region.

5. A stretcher as claimed in claim 3 or 4 the filler is angled upwardly and outwardly from 20 the portion of the filler nearest the leading edge region.

6. A stretcher as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5 in which the filler is a loose fit within a retaining pocket (130).

25

7. A stretcher as claimed in claim 6 in which the filler is a loose fit within the retaining pocket (130) whereby, in use, the filler is able to be urged away from the leading edge region as the sides are being urged beneath a patient.

8. A stretcher as claimed in any preceding claim the padding member includes at least one 30 strap arranged to extend over and around the leading edge region and at least one strap is

10

arranged to be fastened to the padding member whereby the padding member includes a loop around the side member of the stretcher at at least one location along the stretcher.

9. A stretcher as claimed in any preceding claim in which the padding member includes at 5 least one slot spaced from the leading edge region and at least one strap is arranged to extend through the slot and fastened to the padding member to provide a loop around the side through the slot and around the leading edge region.

10. A stretcher as claimed in claim 9 in which the padding member leaves at least a part of 10 the slot open.

11. A stretcher as claimed in claim 9 or 10 in which the filler extends in the lengthwise region of the slot on the side of the slot along the complete extent of the slot nearest the leading edge region.

15

12. A stretcher as claimed in any preceding claim in which the sides include at least one opening at at least one end region and a strap forms a loop that extends at an angle to the longitudinal extent of the stretcher.

20

13. A stretcher as claimed in any of claims 8 to 12 in which at least one strap is arranged to be detachably fastened.

14. A stretcher as claimed in any of claims 8 to 13 in which the padding member includes a fastening member, between the padding pocket and the upwardly facing surface of the side 25 member of a fastening member to which at least one strap is arranged to be fastened.

15. A stretcher as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10 in which the padding member includes a plurality of straps arranged to be fastened to the fastening member to provide a plurality of loops.

30

11

16. A stretcher as claimed in claim 15 in which all of the straps are arranged to be attached to the fastening member.

17. A stretcher as claimed in claims 8 and 9 and claim 13 or 14 in which at least one strap 5 that forms a loop around the side of the side member and at least strap that forms a loop through the slot are arranged to be fastened at the same distance from the leading edge region.

18. A stretcher as claimed in any of claims 17 in which at least some of the straps that are 10 fastened at the same distance from the leading edge may be attached to a common fastening member.

19. A stretcher as claimed in any of claims 14 to 18 when dependent on claim 6 in which the pocket is fastened to at at least one strap.

15

20. A stretcher as claimed in claim 18 when dependent on claim 6 in which the pocket is fastened to the common fastening member.

21. A stretcher as claimed in any preceding claim in which the padding member includes 20 foam.

22. A stretcher as claimed in any preceding claim in which the padding member includes a sealed region containing pieces and a vacuum port through which air can be evacuated to maintain the pieces in a set position.

25

23. A method of locating a patient on a break away stretcher comprising moving opposed side members together by urging a leading edge region of each side member under the patient such that the patient is supported by the side member and detachably connecting side members at each end region characterized in that as the side members are brought beneath

30 the patient the patient is supported by padding on each side member.

12

24. A method as claimed in claim 23 in which the padding is urged away from the leading edge region as the leading edge is inverted beneath the patient.

25. A method as claimed in claim 23 or 24 when using a break away stretcher as claimed in 5 any of claims 1 to 22.

26. A padding member suitable for padding a break away stretcher comprising attachment means arranged in use to attach the padding to the stretcher.

10

27. A padding member as claimed in claim 26 including filler which is a loose fit in a pocket.

28. A padding member as claimed in claim 26 or 27 in which the padding member includes at least one strap arranged to form a loop around one side of a break away stretcher.

15

29. A padding member as claimed in claim 28 in which the loop is arranged to be through an opening in a side member of a break away stretcher.

30. A padding member as claimed in claim 28 or 29 including the filler in a padding pocket and in which the loop is arranged to be made with a fastening member located, in use, 20 between the padding pocket and the upwardly facing surface of a side member of the break away stretcher.

31. A padding member as claimed in any of claims 20 to 30 when the padding member is as claimed in any of claims 1 to 22.

25

32. A method of attaching a padding member to a break away stretcher in which the break away stretcher includes opposed side members that are detachably connected together compressing locating the padding member over at least part of the upwardly extending surface the side member.

13

33. A method as claimed in claim 21 comprising forwarding a loop around the side member to assist in retaining the padding member on the side member.

5

34. A method as claimed in claim 32 when attaching the padding to a stretcher as claimed in any of claims 1 to 22 or when using a padding member as claimed in any of claims 26 to 31.