Patient transport apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11266557-B2
Application number	US-202117240829-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2021
Priority date	May 13, 2016
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

A system includes an inflatable device having 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. 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. The system further includes an absorbent body pad configured to be positioned between the top sheet of material and a patient positioned on the inflatable device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A patient transfer system comprising:
an inflatable device comprising:
a top sheet of material and a bottom sheet of material connected to the top sheet of material 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 formed by connections between the top sheet and bottom sheet, wherein each inflation-limiting member comprises connections 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 first portion, such that the first portion has a top surface that is raised higher than a second area of the device containing the second plurality of inflation-limiting members; and
an input configured for receiving air to inflate the device; and

an absorbent body pad configured to be positioned between the top sheet of material and a patient positioned on the inflatable device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable device and the absorbent pad are provided in a pre-folded arrangement.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein in the pre-folded arrangement, the pad is positioned in confronting relationship with a top surface of the inflatable device in approximately the same position that they would be positioned relative to one another in use.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable device and the absorbent pad are packaged together by wrapping with a packaging material.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein in the absorbent body pad comprises an absorbent material having a barrier to fluid passage on one side.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the device further comprises a high-friction portion configured for engaging with the absorbent pad.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the device further comprises a releasable connection structure for engaging with the absorbent pad.

8. 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.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the passages are arranged more densely in contact areas.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the bottom surface further comprises a high-friction portion at the non-contact areas.

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

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

• A61G7/1026

  Sliding sheets or mats · CPC title

• A61G7/1021 Primary

  Inflatable cushions · CPC title

• A61G7/1028

  by a support moving on air cushion · CPC title

• A61G7/001

  with means for turning-over the patient · CPC title