Patient transport method and apparatus

Abstract

A transport method and apparatus is provided capable of reducing the accelerations encountered by an item or patient due to an external energy input to the transport device, by utilizing an active control system adapted to input a second energy to offset the effect of the external energy input.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a transport device and methods, and particularly to reducing the effects and damage to items or patients being transported as a result of certain energy inputs to the transport device and resulting acceleration-related inputs to the patient or item. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Patient transport devices, often referred to as gurneys, stretchers, and the like, have long been used to transport people having injuries from one place to another, such as from an accident site to a hospital, or from hospital to hospital, etc. In addition to being themselves mobile, many patient transport devices may be adapted for use with a number of different transport vehicles, including ambulances, airplanes, helicopters, snow machines, and the like. When these vehicles are transporting patients from one location to another, they inevitably encounter disturbances such as bumps, potholes, turbulence, or other inconsistenc...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

When these vehicles are transporting patients from one location to another, they inevitably encounter disturbances such as bumps, potholes, turbulence, or other inconsistencies in the transport medium, which in turn causes a sudden change in position of the patient transport device.

This abrupt change in position is transmitted to the patient, and can cause the patient to be subject to accelerations in various directions.

The magnitude of these external energy inputs and the resulting accelerations of the patient in different directions can have a severe and oftentimes detrimental impact on the patient being transported, particularly if the patient has head, neck, and / or spinal trauma, for example.

Any undue energy input cannot only further aggravate an existing injury, but may ultimately result in death.

Oftentimes being several weeks if not months premature, the biological systems within the neonatal patient, particularly the vascular system, has not fully developed and is extremely susceptible to damage.

Even the smallest amount of vibrations and accelerations transmitted to the neonatal patients through the patient transport device during transfer can have traumatic impacts.

Because the blood vessels in the brain of neonatal patients are underdeveloped (i.e., very thin and not prepared for significant stress), the vibrations and the accelerations of the patient as a result of the vibrations may cause the blood flowing through those vessels to be inclined to suddenly stop and / or change directions.

Since this is not possible due to the continuous flow of blood through the system, an outward pressure is applied to the underdeveloped vessel causing them to fatigue and / or rupture.

These devices may not provide an acceptable energy and vibration absorption capability for the susceptible patients described above.

While the passive systems may ultimately absorb external energy inputs and vibrations, they are often too slow, may initially amplify the accelerations resulting from certain energy inputs, and cannot adequately attenuate the acceleration encountered by the patient.

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