Patient transport apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10987267-B2
Application number	US-201715594195-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2017
Priority date	May 13, 2016
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

An inflatable device includes a top sheet of material and a bottom sheet of material, wherein the top sheet of material is connected to the bottom sheet of material thereby defining a cavity therebetween to be inflated. The device further includes a plurality of passages in the bottom sheet extending from the cavity to an exterior of the device, wherein the passages are configured to permit air to pass from the cavity to the exterior of the device and to flow between a bottom surface of the device and a supporting surface upon which the device is configured to rest. The inflatable device further includes a plurality of inflation-limiting members connecting the top sheet to the bottom sheet, and an input configured for receiving air to inflate the device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable device comprising:
a top sheet of material;
a bottom sheet of material, wherein the top sheet of material is connected to the bottom sheet of material thereby defining a cavity therebetween to be inflated;
a plurality of passages in the bottom sheet extending from the cavity to an exterior of the device, wherein the passages are configured to permit air to pass from the cavity to the exterior of the device and to flow between a bottom surface of the device and a supporting surface upon which the device is configured to rest;
a first plurality and a second plurality of inflation-limiting members connecting the top sheet to the bottom, wherein each inflation-limiting member comprises connection areas between the top sheet and bottom sheet arranged in a plurality of concentric shapes;
wherein a first distance between a first inflation-limiting member and a second inflation-limiting member of the first plurality of inflation-limiting members is greater than a second distance between a third inflation-limiting member and a fourth inflation-limiting member within the second plurality of inflation-limiting members;
wherein the first plurality of inflation-limiting members is disposed within a head support portion, such that the head support portion has a top surface that is raised higher than an adjacent area of the device containing the second plurality of inflation-limiting members; and
an input configured for receiving air to inflate the device.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the connection areas are formed by stitching the top sheet and the bottom sheet together.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of concentric shapes are polygonal, curved, or angular shapes.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of concentric shapes are a plurality of concentric circles.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a peripheral cushion configured to inflate prior to inflation of a central portion of the device.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the peripheral cushion is formed at at least two edges of the device and has a top surface that is raised higher than an adjacent area of the device.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the passages are circular and have a diameter in the range of 0.6 mm to 1.2 mm.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the device further comprises a high-friction portion.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the high-friction portion is a high-friction material attached to the top sheet.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the high-friction portion is a coating applied to the top sheet.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the device has contact areas and non-contact areas, wherein the contact areas are areas of the bottom surface that are in contact with a support surface on which the device is positioned when the device is inflated, and wherein the non-contact areas are areas of the bottom surface that are not in contact with the support surface when the device is inflated, at least in part due to the inflation-limiting structures.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the passages are arranged more densely in contact areas.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the bottom surface further comprises a high-friction portion at the non-contact areas.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the input comprises at least one inflation port in communication with the cavity and configured to connect to an air output to inflate the device.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the inflation port is configured to connect to a nozzle of an air pump.

16. The device of claim 14 , wherein the input comprises two inflation ports.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the two inflation ports are separated from one another at a distance sufficient to prevent heat buildup caused by receiving air from an air source through the two inflation ports.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein the material of the top sheet, the bottom sheet, or both is breathable to allow passage of heat and moisture vapor away from a patient on the device and is air impermeable.

19. The device of claim 1 , wherein the materials of the device are selected to minimize static charge buildup.

20. The device of claim 1 , wherein a cavity-facing surface of at least one of the top sheet and/or the bottom sheet is coated to reduce the static discharge potential of the top sheet and/or the bottom sheet.

21. An inflatable device for lifting a patient, comprising:
a cavity defined by a top sheet and a bottom sheet, and configured to be inflated;
a first plurality and a second plurality of inflation-limiting members connecting the top sheet to the bottom sheet;
wherein a first distance between a first inflation-limiting member and a second inflation-limiting member of the first plurality of inflation-limiting members is greater than a second distance between a third inflation-liming member and a fourth inflation-limiting member within the second plurality of inflation-limiting members;
wherein a bottom surface of the bottom sheet comprises contact areas and non-contact areas;
wherein the contact areas are areas of the bottom surface that are in contact with a support surface on which the device is positioned when the device is inflated, and wherein the non-contact areas are areas of the bottom surface that are not in contact with the support surface when the device is inflated, at least in part due to the inflation-limiting structures;
a passage formed in at least one of the contact areas of the bottom sheet extending from the cavity to an exterior of the device and configured to permit air to pass from the cavity to the exterior of the device and to flow between a bottom surface of the device and a supporting surface upon which the device is configured to rest;
a head support portion having disposed therein the first plurality of inflation-limiting members, such that the head support portion has a top surface that is raised higher than an adjacent area of the device containing the second plurality of inflation-limiting members;
a high-friction material located at the non-contact areas of the bottom sheet, such that the high-friction material is in contact with the supporting surface when the device is deflated and is not in contact with the supporting surface when the device is inflated; and
an input configured for receiving air to inflate the device.

Assignees

• Sage Products Llc

Inventors

• Alvarez Ryan A
• Beck David P
• Roberts Jay
• Rigoni Michael J
• Sweetwood Garret W
• Fletcher Hester C
• Keaty Jr Thomas
• Davis Gregory T
• Hanifl Paul H

Classifications

• A61G7/05769 Primary

  with inflatable chambers · CPC title

• A61G7/1028

  by a support moving on air cushion · CPC title

• A61G7/1026

  Sliding sheets or mats · CPC title

• A61G7/001

  with means for turning-over the patient · CPC title

• A61G7/1021 Primary

  Inflatable cushions · CPC title