Patent Application
20210045952
The present disclosure generally relates to wheelchairs and, more particularly, a portable patient transport system configured to transport impaired, non-ambulatory, or physically challenged patients into and out of a wheelchair.
Individuals who are non-ambulatory, impaired, or physically challenged patients require a wheelchair for mobility. Transporting patients using conventional wheelchairs can be inconvenient and uncomfortable for patients. Some patients need substantial assistance to be placed into and out of a bed or vehicle, requiring significant muscular strength or at least two caregivers to lift the patient and place them in seated or lying position. Depending on the head room, ride height, and seating of the vehicle, adjusting the wheelchair or positioning the vehicle to accommodate comfortable transport of a patient can be difficult and very time consuming. Over the years many patient transfer devices have been developed to aide in transferring non-ambulatory patients from conventional wheelchairs. For example, harnesses, belts, slide sheets, and slings allow a caregiver to secure the patient and obtain leverage for lifting, pivoting, and moving patients onto or from a wheelchair.
To provide easier transport of patients, manual and hydraulic lift systems were developed to raise and suspend a patient in air for transport. The patient is secured in a slide sheet, sling, or harness and raised using one or more pulleys to a predetermined height above the wheelchair. Once the patient is suspended at a predetermined height, the lift system can be rolled towards a bed or vehicle then lowered to transport the patient. Of particular note, is the Hoyer hydraulic lift system. In a Hoyer lift system, a pad fits under the patient's body and connects with straps or chains to the lift frame. A hydraulic pump is used to lift the patient off the bed or seat surface. Once the patient is suspended in the air, the Hoyer lift can be maneuvered to a wheelchair or another surface by pushing the lift on its wheels. A wheel mechanism is slowly turned to lower the person into a seated or lying position. The pad will stay under the person, but the chains or straps are disconnected. While the Hoyer hydraulic lift system makes patient transport easier, it requires significant space to maneuver in a home, hospital, or near a vehicle. Moreover, the size of the lift frame together with the pad and straps inhibit caregivers from extended patients into a small space such as a vehicle cabin to be lowered onto the seat. Thus, there exists a need in the art for a portable patient transport system to enable caregivers to readily and easily transport patients.
The disclosed subject matter relates to a wheelchair for transporting a patient comprising a support frame, the support frame having an upper portion located substantially near a first end of the support frame and a lower portion located substantially near a second end of the support frame, at least one seat extension, the seat extension moveably coupled to the support frame between the lower portion and upper portion of the support frame, at least one leg, a first leg coupled to the lower portion of the support frame, at least two wheels mounted on the support frame, an anti-tip bar, the anti-tip bar being substantially horizontally disposed on the lower portion of the support frame and projecting in the lateral direction for stabilizing the wheelchair in the lateral direction, and an extendable beam positioned on the upper portion of the support frame and moveable coupled to the support frame.
It is understood that other configurations of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein various configurations of the present disclosure are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the present disclosure of other different configurations and its several details are capable of modifications in various other respects, all without departing from the subject technology. Accordingly, the drawings and the detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
Certain features of the present disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. However, for purpose of explanation, several implementations of the present disclosure are set forth in the following figures.
Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like-reference-numerals are used to identify like-elements illustrated in one or more of the figures.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.
Various features of the present disclosure will now be described and is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein. Modifications to these features and embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it should be apparent that the present teachings may be practiced without such details. In Other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and/or circuitry have been described at a relatively high-level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings.
To the support frame 101 may be attached a sheet 107. The sheet 107 may extend laterally along the support frame 101 to provide back support for a patient 180. The sheet 107 may extend outwardly from support frame 101 and along seat extensions 108 to provide seating support for a patient. The sheet 107 may be composed of a single fabric or multiple fabrics. The sheet 107 may comprise of one piece, or a plurality of interconnecting pieces to independently provide the desired seating support and back support, for example, a seat cushion and padded back rest.
The seat extensions 108 may be retractable, foldable, telescopic, or otherwise collapsible to allow the transport device 100 to be folded or collapsed into a portable size. The seat extensions 108, support frame 101, support brace 102, anti-tip support frames 104, anti-tip bars 105, and legs 106 may be solid, hollow, substantially solid, or substantially hollow and composed of any suitable material, for example metals, plastics, reinforced materials, composites, and the like to ensure safe transport of human body weight.
The seat extensions 108 together with sheet 107 may be selectively configured for transferring a patient into and out of the transport device 100 by folding or collapsing towards the support frame 101 to enable a caregiver to raise or move the patient away from the transport device 100. Moreover, the seat extensions 108 and sheet 107 may include a detachable seat back, head rest, and cushioning to enable an upright and comfortable seating position for patient 180.
An extendable beam 111 may be fixed to the support frame 101 or removably attached to the support frame 101. As shown in
To provide for a compact design and easy assembly, the extendable beam 111 may be a detachable component of transport device 100. Moreover, the extendable beam 111 may be detachable to allow for repairs or replacement with one or more improved components. The extendable beam 111 may comprise of one or more slidable or retractable structures that extend out from support frame 101 or extend telescopically away from seat extensions 108. The extendable beam 111 may comprise of one or more bendable, foldable, or rotatable pieces or sections attached together at one or more hinges, connectors, or pivot points (not shown) to extend, rotate, or fold out to a predetermined height from the seat extensions 108.
The seat extensions 108 may be made of fabric, leather, plastic web, willow, bamboo or other material. The frame and components of the frame 101 may be made of aircraft aluminum (6061-T6) which makes it extremely strong yet lightweight.
Similar to the exemplary extendable beam 111, anti-tip bars 105 may extend away from legs 106 and brace 102 to provide better leverage and stability for safely transporting patient 180 from transport device 100. The anti-tip bars 105 may slide, retract, or otherwise move laterally away from the support frame 101. The exemplary transport device 100 may include locking mechanism, for example, locks 164a, 164b for securing anti-tip bars 105 at a fully extended position (e.g.
The transport device 100 may include a plurality of wheels 103. A wheel 103 may be positioned at each end of the legs 106, and at least one wheel 103 may be positioned at an end of each anti-tip bar 105. Further, each wheel 103 may include a wheel lock 160a, 160b configured to lock the transport device 100 and anti-tip bars 105 in place while a caregiver transports patient 180. A wheel lock 160a, 160b may be positioned at an end of each leg 106 and at an end of each anti-tip bar 105.
Referring to
in some aspects, clearance 213 may not be formed on beam 211 and booms 221a, 221b may be mounted and rotatably fixed to beam 211 to improve stability of booms 221a, 221b by restricting motion and improving the durability of beam 211. Alternatively, clearance 213 may be formed at the left and right sides of booms 221a, 221b to restrict the booms 221a, 221b from rotating freely during patient transport and to reduce shaking or swaying of booms 221a, 221b with patient 280 as a load at attachment points 235. Each of the attachment points 235 may be formed on each of the boom arms 231. As shown in
The boom arms 231 may slide outwards from frame 201 while being secured by hinge points 233. In some exemplary embodiments, the hinge points 233 may be formed over booms 221a, 221b and completely cover booms 221a, 221b. The boom arms 231 may then retract or slide out of hinge points 233 using attachment points 235. Once the boom arms 231. are coupled to one another through the attachment points 235, the cradle assembly 270 may be attached to the attachment points 235. The cradle assembly 270 comprises of a pulley strap 240 and a harness 250. The pulley strap 240 may be any one of a belt, strap, chain, or cable suitable for holding a patient 280. The harness 250 may be any of a pad, a sling, a blanket, or any fabric for cradling or holding a patient 280. In some exemplary embodiments, the sheet 207 may serve as a harness 250. The pulley strap 240 may couple to a plurality of grommets positioned along the edges on sheet 207. In some exemplary embodiments, harness 250 may be a sling or pad having a plurality or straps, bands, cables, or chains, for attaching directly to attachment points 235. Alternatively, as shown in
The cradle assembly 270, pulley straps 240, and harness 250 may be positioned, connected to, secured, or attached anywhere along the torso of patient 280. For example, the cradle assembly 270 may comprise of a harness 250 and pulley straps 240 that, in part or in whole, wrap around or attach to the torso of the patient 280 similar to a back brace, girdle, sling, and the like.
The components of the upper and lower portions of the transport device 300, for example, support frame 301, support brace 102, at least two wheels 103, anti-tip bars 305a, 305b, booms 321a, 321b, masts 323a, 323b, boom arms 331a, 331b, attachment points 335a, 335b, cradle assembly 370, hinge points 333, harness 350, pulley strap 340, brackets 342, and attachment points 335 may be made of an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastics or similar rubber, neoprene, silicone, and polyurethane. Other suitable materials for the components of the upper and lower portions of the transport device 300 may further comprise of a low friction material selected from the group consisting of plastics, molded or extruded medical grade, plastic, materials plastic reinforced with fiber, metal, rolled steel, stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum, impact resistant plastics material reinforced by carbon reinforced fiber material such as steel or metal rolled, stainless steel, aluminum or preferably titanium. For an even lower friction, the surfaces may be smooth, glazed, polished or polished. Still, other suitable materials for the components of the upper and lower portions of the transport device 300 may contain or be made of, in part or in whole, square or rectangular tubing formed from a suitable material such as, for example, steel, aluminum, titanium, plastic, or composite providing the desired combination of stiffness, light weight, and ruggedness.
The seat extensions 608 and sheet 607 may comprise of one or more handles 607a positioned near the top edges of the sheet 607 such that when the sheet 607 is folded back the handles 607a may be used to position the transport device 600 closer to a vehicle, seat, or bed.
The patient 680 may be lowered by lowering masts 523a, 523b or segments 623a2, 623b2 to a predetermined height or by reducing the tautness or tension in the cradle assembly 670, the one or more pulley straps 640, the one or more harnesses 650, or by reducing the tension or height of the one or more brackets 642.
Referring to
The driver 591 may include levers, handles, knobs, other easily turnable or pressable fittings (not shown), motors, gears, battery, springs, hydraulic or pneumatic lifts, shocks, and the like positioned on support frame 601.
In some exemplary embodiments, upper portion, lower portion, or both of the exemplary transport device 400 may be manually extended outwards to improve leverage and stability of a wheelchair for safely transporting patient 480 from transport device 400. In some exemplary embodiments, the upper portion or lower portion may include an automated or semi-automated lifting mechanism, for example, a scissors jack, a pneumatic or hydraulic jack or any number of alternative devices used to give a caregiver mechanical advantage in transporting patient 480. The lifting mechanism may be configured for raising patient 480 to first predetermined height, extending patient 480 outwards to first predetermined length, then positioning patient 480 onto bed 490.
The term “within a proximity”, “a vicinity”, “within a vicinity”, “within a predetermined distance”, “predetermined width”, “predetermined height”, “predetermined length” and the like may be defined between about 0.1 meters and about 3 meters. The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection may be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other feature that the term modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially cylindrical” means that the object resembles a cylinder, but may have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like.
The term “a predefined” or “a predetermined” when referring to length, width, height, or distances may be defined as between about 0.1. meter and about 3 meters.
The booms (e.g. booms 321) and seat extensions (e.g. seat extensions 308) may be defined by a percentage of openness of between about 1-99%. For example, partially opening the booms 321 to about 99% means the booms 321 are about completely open or folded out and substantially perpendicular to the beam 311, and partially opening the booms 321 to about 1% means the booms 321 are about completely closed or folded in and substantially parallel to the beam 311. Similarly, partially opening the seat extensions 308 to about 99% means the seat extensions 308 are about completely open or folded out and substantially perpendicular to the frame 301, and partially opening the seat extensions 308 to about 1% means the seat extensions 308 are about completely closed or folded in and substantially parallel to the frame 301.
Phrases such as an aspect, the aspect, another aspect, some aspects, one or more aspects, an implementation, the implementation, another implementation, some implementations, one or more implementations, an embodiment, the embodiment, another embodiment, some embodiments, one or more embodiments, a configuration, the configuration, another configuration, some configurations, one or more configurations, the present disclosure, the disclosure, the present disclosure, other variations thereof and alike are for convenience and do not imply that a disclosure relating to such phrase(s) is essential to the present disclosure or that such disclosure applies to all configurations of the present disclosure. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect or some aspects may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa, and this applies similarly to other foregoing phrases.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” or as an “example” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include”, “have”, or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.”
The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope possible consistent with the principles and novel features as defined by the following claims.
The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of an image device. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.
