Method of transporting a patient

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9956126-B2
Application number	US-201514677802-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 2, 2015
Priority date	Mar 15, 2012
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

A method of transporting a patient may include providing a medical pod having a pallet forming a floor structure and including sidewalls extending upwardly from the pallet to a roof section to form a container. The method may additionally include coupling a patient restraint system to the floor structure using a transport system located on the floor structure, and moving the patient restraint system from a first position to a second position using the transport system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of transporting a patient using a medical pod having a pallet forming a floor structure and including sidewalls extending upwardly from the pallet to a roof section to form an enclosed container, the method comprising the steps of:
coupling a patient restraint system to the floor structure by engaging track engagement fittings to a patient track system having lengthwise tracks extending along a container width and integrated into or directly mounted to the floor structure; translating the patient restraint system in at least one of a lengthwise direction and a widthwise direction relative to the floor structure respectively along the lengthwise tracks and widthwise tracks; and loading the medical pod into a vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
changing an orientation of the patient restraint system from a first orientation to a second orientation.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
rotating the patient restraint system into an orientation of less than approximately 45 degrees to a longitudinal direction of the container.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
translating the patient restraint system to a position wherein at least a portion of the patient restraint system extends outside of the container.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
coupling a seat to the floor structure using a seat support structure; and
translating the seat from a first seat position to a second seat position within the container.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of:
changing an orientation of the seat by rotating the seat.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
draining fluid from the medical pod through a drain mounted to the floor structure.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle is an aircraft.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the aircraft is one of a rotorcraft and a fixed-wing aircraft.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of loading the medical pod into the vehicle includes:
securing the pallet to the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a roller system incorporated into a cargo area floor, the step of loading the medical pod into the vehicle includes:
loading the medical pod along the roller system.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of loading the medical pod into the vehicle includes:
orienting the medical pod in a lengthwise direction within the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medical pod includes a door located on at least one of a forward end and an aft end of the medical pod, the step of loading the medical pod into the vehicle includes:
orienting the medical pod such that the door is facing in at least one of a forward and aft direction of the vehicle.

14. A method of transporting a patient in an aircraft using a medical pod having a pallet forming a floor structure and including sidewalls extending upwardly from the pallet to a roof section to form an enclosed container, the method comprising:
coupling a patient restraint system to the floor structure by engaging track engagement fittings to a patient track system having lengthwise tracks extending along a container length and integrated into or directly mounted to the floor structure, and widthwise tracks extending along a container width and integrated into or directly mounted to the floor structure;
loading the medical pod into an aircraft; and
translating the patient restraint system in at least one of a lengthwise direction and a widthwise direction relative to the floor structure respectively along the lengthwise tracks and widthwise tracks.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of loading the medical pod into an aircraft comprises:
loading the medical pod into one of a rotorcraft and a fixed-wing aircraft.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of loading the medical pod into the aircraft includes:
securing the pallet to a floor of the aircraft.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of coupling the patient restraint system to the floor structure includes:
coupling the patient restraint system to the track system integrated into the floor structure below or substantially flush with the upper surface.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the track system extends between a pod forward end and a pod aft end.

19. The claim 1 , further comprising:
locking the patient restraint system into position prior to movement of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of translating the seat from the first seat position to the second seat position includes:
translating the seat along seat tracks mounted to or integrated with the floor structure.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Russell Rex Alan

Classifications

• A61G3/0858 Primary

  on support for multiple stretchers · CPC title

• A61G3/003

  Supplementary seats, e.g. for doctors to take care of a patient · CPC title

• A61F5/3769

  for attaching the body to beds, wheel-chairs or the like · CPC title

• A61G5/00

  Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs ({chairs with toilet conveniences A47K11/04; } devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or device not forming part of the body A61F4/00; {running gear or propulsion features B60K;} bicycles specially adapted for disabled riders B62K3/16 {; Invalid chairs having removable seats specially adapted to be transferred with the invalid to a vehicle and support the invalid during use of the vehicle A61G3/02}) · CPC title

• A61G3/00 Primary

  Ambulance aspects of vehicles; Vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances, e.g. for facilitating access of, or for loading, wheelchairs · CPC title