Carrier pad with integrated abdominal wall relaxation and its use

Abstract

Stretcher support (10), comprising a support extending substantially from a head end to a foot end of a stretcher surface, wherein the support is raised in a lower leg area by a frame (12) arranged underneath it by an elevation of several centimeters such that an inclined transition area (24) is formed between the lower leg area raised in this way and a buttocks area (16) located approximately in the longitudinal center of the stretcher surface, such that the inclined transition area (24) lies approximately in the area of ​​the knees of a person placed on it, characterized in that a cavity (18) is located under the raised area of ​​the stretcher support (10), wherein at least one of the side surfaces of the elevation provided by the frame (12) has a reversibly closable slot-shaped opening,through which the cavity (18) located under the raised area of ​​the stretcher support (10) is accessible.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a support for a stretcher with an integrated device for abdominal wall relaxation and its use.

[0002] From the publication DE 10 2016 215 082 A1 a stretcher support is known in which several straps are provided which are guided through the support in order to secure the person being placed on it and, if necessary, transported.

[0003] Practical use has shown that such stretchers are extremely problematic for patients with injuries or pain in the abdominal region. The staff usually dealing with such stretchers therefore usually have blankets or pillows ready for such patients, which can be pushed under the knees of such patients if necessary to enable them to be supported in a tolerable manner. However, in ambulances, for example, there is usually hardly any space for such additional equipment, which is a major problem. Another stretcher support is known from patent EP 2 637 622 B1, in which a frame is provided for lifting part of the person being supported, with a storage area for equipment being created beneath the raised frame. Other stretcher supports, which have liftable sections, are known from the documents DE 10 2007 014 101 A1 and KR 10 1 878 411 B1.

[0004] The invention aims to provide a stretcher support that solves or at least mitigates the problems of the prior art.

[0005] To this end, the present invention provides a stretcher support according to claims 1 and 7, as well as its use according to claims 10 and 13 and the system according to claim 15.

[0006] As it turns out, raising the lower leg area by a few centimeters not only relaxes the abdominal wall of the patient lying on the stretcher support, but also creates valuable additional hollow space and storage space that can be used for accompanying documents, rescue blankets, or similar equipment. This elevation does not pose any particular inconvenience for normal patients lying on the modified stretcher support. Since a person's weight is generally concentrated predominantly on the torso, it is also possible to make the padding in the raised lower leg area thinner than in the rest of the stretcher support, creating even more hollow space, without significantly compromising comfort.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. In particular, a slot is provided on the side of the support in the region of the raised portion, which can be closed, for example, with a zipper or Velcro fastener, providing access to the resulting cavity.

[0008] The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show: Fig. 1A a side view of the foot part of the stretcher support; Fig. 1B is a perspective view of the foot part of the stretcher support; Fig. 2A+ Fig. 2B perspective views of the foot part of a stretcher support with a rollboard in two different extension stages; and Fig. 2C+ Fig. 2D longitudinal sectional views of the foot section of this stretcher support.

[0009] The drawings Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B shows a first stretcher support 10 according to the invention, along with the stretcher base frame 12 and a schematically indicated roller 14. The stretcher support has a normal thickness in an area 16 away from a lower leg area. In the lower leg area, which extends approximately to 60 cm or 80 cm from the foot-side end 20 of the stretcher support (i.e., approximately over the foot-side third), the support is raised overall by an inner frame arranged between the base frame 12 and the support. This inner frame forms a hollow space 18 that is closed to the front and back and, if necessary, to one side, but has an access opening on the other side, which can be reversibly closable by a zipper 22, a hook-and-loop fastener, or the like. In one variant, this opening can instead be arranged on the foot side.The access opening allows the hollow space 18 to be used for temporary storage of rescue blankets, accompanying documents, or aids. Both drawings also show the sloped transition 24 from the raised area of ​​the support to the normally padded area 16 of the support. This area should be positioned approximately below the knees of the patient lying on it, so that the legs are slightly bent, which reduces tension on the abdominal wall and promotes the most pain-free positioning and transport possible.

[0010] For the sake of clarity, further stabilization of the patient by means of laterally arranged cushion wedges, e.g. made of foam, has not been shown here.

[0011] In this example, the elevation is between 5 cm and 15 cm, which creates considerable storage space, is usually sufficient for patients with suspected gastrointestinal diseases or injuries, or with abdominal pain, while not being too uncomfortable for other patients or injured persons. If necessary, additional blankets or pillows can be stored in cavity 18 to provide additional elevation below the knees of the person being transported.

[0012] The drawings Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B, Fig. 2C and Fig.2D show a second stretcher support 10a according to the invention along with the same stretcher base frame 12. In this variant, the cavity 18a has a second removal opening on the foot side and is large enough to accommodate a so-called rollboard 100. Such a (foldable) rollboard can be found, for example, in the applicant's patent application DE 10 2015 013 971 A1 and is incorporated into the present disclosure by reference. A rollboard serves to be placed underneath the patient during any repositioning and to facilitate lateral movements.

[0013] In order to be able to pull the stored rollboard out of the cavity even when the patient is lying on it, an inner end of a pull-out tab 32 is attached to the underside of the cavity 18a, specifically at a fastening point 30 which is preferably located approximately in the middle five-sevenths in the longitudinal direction of the cavity, in the middle three-fifths, or in the middle third; likewise in the transverse direction. The pull-out tab 32 is placed in a loop within the cavity 18a, first towards the head and then above the stored rollboard 100 towards the foot, and is just long enough that its outer end can be fastened, for example by means of a snap fastener 28, to the counterpart 26 or near the lower edge of the foot-side removal opening, in order to prevent the rollboard from accidentally slipping out.The cavity can be divided transversely at approximately half its height in such a way that the rollboard 100 can be accommodated from the foot side, but other equipment or documents can be accommodated laterally through the opening 22.

[0014] Since the foregoing embodiments merely illustrate, but do not limit, the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications, additions and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the following claims.

Claims

[1] Stretcher support (10), with a support extending substantially from a head end to a foot end of a stretcher surface, wherein the support is raised in a lower leg area by a frame (12) arranged underneath by an amount of elevation of several centimeters in such a way that an inclined transition area (24) is formed between the lower leg area raised in this way and a buttock area (16) located approximately in the longitudinal center of the stretcher surface in such a way that the inclined transition area (24) lies approximately in the area of ​​the knees of a person lying thereon, characterized bythat a cavity (18) is located under the raised area of ​​the stretcher support (10), wherein in at least one of the side surfaces of the elevation provided by the frame (12) there is a reversibly closable slot-shaped opening through which the cavity (18) located under the raised area of ​​the stretcher support (10) is accessible. [2] Stretcher support (10) according to claim 1, wherein the frame (12) is located in the foot-end third of the stretcher support (10). [3] Stretcher support (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the height of the elevation provided by the frame (12) is in the range of 5 cm to 15 cm. [4] Stretcher support (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elevation provided by the frame (12) extends substantially over the entire width of the stretcher support (10). [5] Stretcher pad (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the slit-shaped opening is formed by a zipper (22) or a Velcro fastener. [6] Stretcher support (10a) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a pull-out loop (32) is fastened at one end in the cavity (18a) and the cavity (18) has a removal opening on the foot side. [7] Stretcher support (10), with a support extending substantially from a head end to a foot end of a stretcher surface, wherein the support is raised in a lower leg area by a frame (12) arranged underneath by an amount of elevation of several centimeters in such a way that an inclined transition area (24) is formed between the lower leg area raised in this way and a buttock area (16) located approximately in the longitudinal center of the stretcher surface in such a way that the inclined transition area (24) lies approximately in the area of ​​the knees of a person lying thereon, characterized by that there is a cavity (18) under the raised area of ​​the stretcher support (10), wherein a pull-out loop (32) is fastened at one end in the cavity (18a) and the cavity (18) has a removal opening for the pull-out loop (32). [8] Stretcher support (10a) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the pull-out loop (32) has a fastening component (28) at its other end, and a fastening component (26) complementary to that is arranged at the edge of the removal opening. [9] Stretcher support (10a) according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein one end of the pull-out loop (32) is attached to the underside of the cavity (18a). [10] Use of the stretcher support (10, 10a) according to one of claims 1 to 9, for storing objects in the cavity. [11] Use of the stretcher support (10a) according to claim 10, wherein the object stored in the cavity (18a) is a rollboard (100). [12] Use of the stretcher support (10a) according to claim 11, wherein the pull-out loop (32) is placed in a loop around the inward-facing edge of the rollboard (100) when the stored rollboard (100) is not in use and is designed to be reversibly fastened to or near an edge of the foot-side removal opening. [13] Use of the stretcher support (10, 10a) according to one of the preceding claims, for placing on a stretcher base (12). [14] Stretcher support (10; 10a) according to one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a device for attachment to a stretcher base (12). [15] System comprising the stretcher support (10; 10a) according to claim 14, and the stretcher base frame (12).

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