Medical road transport vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a medicalized road transport vehicle, comprising a passenger compartment adapted for the transport of at least three injured passengers and at least three accompanying passengers. The passenger compartment includes a central circulation lane along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a plurality of passenger accommodation modules, among which: - at least one companion accommodation module, comprising one or more seats configured to accommodate one or more accompanying passengers in a seated position; - at least one injured passenger accommodation module, comprising at least one medicalized accommodation unit configured to accommodate an injured passenger in a seated position with at least one lower limb raised substantially horizontally and / or to accommodate an injured passenger in a supine position. (See Figure 1 for abbreviated version.)

Description

Title of the invention: Medical road transport vehicle TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The fields of the invention are those of road transport means.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a medical road transport vehicle, particularly used for the repatriation of accident victims or injured individuals from accident sites to their homes.

[0003] The invention finds applications in particular for the medical repatriation of injured or injured holidaymakers from holiday destinations such as ski resorts to places of care or their homes. STATE OF THE ART

[0004] Medical transport means are known from the prior art. For example, there are medical aircraft for transporting sick and / or injured people over long distances. This means of transport is mainly used for personal accidents occurring far from the home of said people, such as for vacations, or in a completely different context, for soldiers injured in combat.

[0005] There are also medical helicopters, used in particular to transport people in life-threatening emergencies. They can be used to treat them in areas that are difficult to access, or to transfer patients very quickly from one hospital to another.

[0006] There are also medical road transport vehicles, including ambulances, which can transport injured and / or sick people.

[0007] However, ambulances have the particularity of taking in very few injured or sick people (generally, just one, sometimes accompanied but not systematically).

[0008] In the context of winter sports, the number of people injured or involved in accidents in a relatively short period of time, and in the same area, is high.

[0009] The use of repatriation aircraft is not feasible in this context, because the environment is not suitable, particularly from a topological point of view. Helicopters are reserved for the most serious injuries and are not suitable for transporting a large number of individuals, so the current solution consists of using a very large number of ambulances to repatriate injured or injured individuals.

[0010] This solution is far from satisfactory: in addition to the logistical problems linked the large number of individuals to be transported, sometimes including their relatives and / or medical personnel, the environmental impact of the repeated use of such means of transport is far too significant. Statement of the invention

[0011] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the state of the art cited above.

[0012] The invention relates to a medical road transport vehicle, comprising a passenger compartment adapted for the transport of at least three injured passengers and at least three accompanying passengers, the passenger compartment comprising a central traffic lane along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle as well as a plurality of passenger reception modules served by the central traffic lane, among which: - at least one so-called companion reception module, comprising one or more seats configured to accommodate one or more accompanying passengers in a seated position; - at least one so-called accident reception module, comprising at least one medical reception unit, comprising one or more pieces of medical equipment, configured to accommodate an accident passenger in a seated position with at least one lower limb raised substantially horizontally and / or to accommodate an accident passenger in a lying position.

[0013] The fact that a passenger has a lower limb raised substantially horizontally means that said lower limb is located in a plane substantially parallel to the ground on which the medical road transport vehicle is moving.

[0014] This medical road transport vehicle advantageously allows accident victims and their companions to be repatriated safely and comfortably while limiting the carbon impact.

[0015] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the medical equipment of the accident reception module comprises one or more stretchers.

[0016] This allows for the safe transport of injured passengers who need to be lying down.

[0017] Alternatively or in addition, the passenger compartment comprises a floor and medical equipment attachments fixed to the floor and capable of taking a closed position and an open position, the crash reception module being able to take two configurations,

[0018] - a first configuration called fixing, in which the fasteners are in closed position, and in which the medical equipment is fixed to the floor;

[0019] - a second configuration, called manipulation, in which the fasteners are in open position in which medical equipment can be moved relative to the floor.

[0020] This allows the medical road transport vehicle to be particularly modular, and to be able to adapt to the number of injured passengers to be transported and to their needs, i.e. to be lying down or seated with a lower limb raised substantially horizontally.

[0021] In an alternative embodiment, the cabin comprises a floor, and a module called a storage module configured to store medical equipment that can be attached to the floor.

[0022] This embodiment offers the advantage of safely storing medical equipment, while making it accessible during travel if needed.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment, the passenger compartment comprises a floor, and the crash-responsive module comprises reclining seats, each comprising a seat and a backrest, and each capable of taking at least two positions: • a seated position, with the backrest substantially perpendicular to the floor at a more or less 30° inclination relative to a plane perpendicular to the floor; • a folded position, with the backrest folded onto the seat substantially parallel to the floor at a more or less 20° angle relative to the floor, whereby when an injured passenger is seated on a reclining seat located behind said reclining seat in the folded position, he can then place his lower limb(s) on said reclining seat in the folded position positioned in front of him.

[0024] This embodiment advantageously allows injured passengers to be seated comfortably in accordance with medical recommendations, without having to remove seats from the passenger compartment. This makes it possible to limit the space occupied by injured passengers.

[0025] In addition or alternatively, the backrest of a reclining seat comprises a system for holding at least one lower limb positioned substantially horizontally on said reclining seat when the latter is in the folded position.

[0026] This embodiment makes it possible to keep the injured lower limb(s) well supported and in complete safety.

[0027] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the accident reception module comprises so-called rotating seats, rotating around an axis substantially perpendicular to the floor, comprising a manual rotation locking system for locking the rotation of the rotating seat.

[0028] This embodiment is particularly advantageous because it reinforces the modularity of the medical road transport means. It allows passengers who have had an accident or have suffered lower limb injuries to turn their seats and put their their lower limbs horizontally on the nearest seat. This helps to optimize the number of injured passengers transported by the medical road transport.

[0029] Alternatively or in addition, the accident reception module comprises a rotatable seat comprising two positions, a raised position, and a reclined position, in which the backrest is configured to be substantially parallel to the floor whereby an accident passenger can be reclined substantially parallel to the floor on said rotatable seat.

[0030] This again reinforces the modularity of the medical transport means, by allowing the transport of injured passengers who must be seated and have a lower limb positioned horizontally and injured passengers who must be lying down.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment, the medical road transport vehicle comprises several rows of seats following one another along the longitudinal axis, each row comprising four seats separated two by two by the central traffic lane, and in which the seats of a row are alternately in the seated position and in the folded position.

[0032] This embodiment makes it possible to optimize the number of passengers transported with a single means of medical road transport, thus reducing the carbon impact of transporting injured passengers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0033] Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the devices and methods which are the subject of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: • [Fig.l] is a top view of the invention according to a first embodiment; • [Fig.2] is a top view of the invention according to a second embodiment; • [Fig.3] is a top view of the invention according to a third embodiment realization ; • [Fig.4] comprises a top view and a sectional view of the invention according to a fourth embodiment; • [Fig.5] includes two side views and one front view of a so-called seat rotary according to one embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The present description is given without limitation, each characteristic of an embodiment being able to be combined with any other characteristic of any other embodiment in an advantageous manner.

[0035] It should be noted, from now on, that the figures are not necessarily to scale. Example of a particular embodiment

[0036] [Fig.l] is a top view of a medical road transport vehicle 100, according to a possible embodiment of the invention. In the remainder of the text, the terms vehicle and medical road transport vehicle 100 refer to the medical road transport vehicle 100 according to the invention.

[0037] The medical road transport vehicle 100 can repatriate at least three passengers who have had an accident in the same trip, as well as three accompanying passengers. It can be used in an area where many accidents are recorded during certain periods of the year, such as ski resorts during the winter school holidays.

[0038] In the present non-limiting aspect of the invention, the medical road transport vehicle 100 comprises advancement means, configured to move said road transport vehicle on a road, which may for example comprise four or more wheels.

[0039] The medical road transport vehicle 100 is configured to move forward in a main direction, called the main direction of travel.

[0040] The medical road transport vehicle 100 also comprises a passenger compartment 101. The passenger compartment 101 may comprise two doors, and a driver's space 10. The passenger compartment 101 may comprise a floor 102, walls 103 and a ceiling 104, delimiting the interior of the passenger compartment 101.

[0041] The floor 102 is substantially parallel to the road on which said medical road transport vehicle is moving.

[0042] The passenger compartment 101 of the medical road transport vehicle 100 also comprises a central traffic lane 105, extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. This allows passengers to pass from a front part to a rear part of the medical road transport vehicle 100, and vice versa.

[0043] The front portion of the medical road transport vehicle 100 is defined as the portion corresponding substantially to a first half of the medical road transport vehicle 100 in the main direction of travel, starting from the front of the vehicle. The rear portion of the medical road transport vehicle 100 corresponds substantially to a second half of the medical road transport vehicle 100 in the main direction of travel, starting from the first half of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle.

[0044] The medical road transport vehicle 100 comprises a left part and a right part relative to the main direction of travel of the medical road transport vehicle 100, separated by the central traffic lane 105.

[0045] The passenger compartment 101 of the medical road transport vehicle 100 may comprise several passenger reception modules.

[0046] A reception module may comprise several sub-modules positioned at different locations. Each reception module or sub-module has a defined function, and / or is intended to accommodate one or more defined passenger types. Medical personnel, injured passengers or passengers accompanying said injured passengers are examples of different passenger types. The modules may be located on either side of the central traffic lane 105.

[0047] Said central traffic lane 105 is preferably clear of any obstacle, and in particular of any part of a reception module which would block the central traffic lane 105.

[0048] The medical road transport vehicle 100 may comprise a first reception module called the accompanying reception module 20. The accompanying reception module 20 may comprise two parts. A first part is configured to accommodate the medical personnel. This first part may comprise several seats. These seats may be standard bus seats. These seats may also be reclining seats 600 and / or rotating seats 700. The latter will be described in the remainder of the description.

[0049] A second part is configured to accommodate passengers accompanying the injured passengers, called accompanying passengers. This part may also include one or more standard, reclining and / or rotating seats.

[0050] The reception module may also comprise storage means located high up relative to the seats. The storage means may be configured to be at a distance from the passengers of the medical road transport vehicle 100 seated on the seats. The storage means may be configured to contain bags, small suitcases, as well as compact equipment, i.e. equipment that can be easily transported with one hand by a passenger. These storage means may take the form of a trunk arranged high up relative to the seats.

[0051] As shown in [Fig. 1], the accompanying reception module 20 can be grouped in a single location in the passenger compartment 101, located on the front right part of the medical road transport vehicle.

[0052] The accompanying reception module 20 can however also be distributed over different locations in the passenger compartment 101.

[0053] This accompanying reception module 20 advantageously makes it possible to transport medical personnel and passengers accompanying injured passengers by giving them the necessary and sufficient space for their journey. This reception module makes it possible therefore to optimize the filling of the 100 medical road transport vehicle.

[0054] The medical road transport vehicle 100 may also comprise a storage module 30. This storage module is configured to store medical equipment. The storage module 30 is configured to store medical equipment that can be fixed to the floor 102. The medical equipment can be accessible during the journey, unlike equipment that would be stored in a hold of the medical road transport vehicle 100.

[0055] For this, the cabin 101 may comprise wall supports. These wall supports, fixed to the walls 103 of the cabin 101, are configured to keep the medical equipment fixed on these supports fixed.

[0056] The cabin 101 may also comprise fixing rails arranged along the walls 103 of the cabin 101 and / or on its ceiling 104. By attaching a complementary part to the rails on medical equipment, the latter can be suspended in complete safety.

[0057] The cabin 101 may also include systems comprising fasteners 106 and straps. The fasteners 106 and straps may be arranged around the medical equipment to secure it.

[0058] The passenger compartment 101 may also comprise floor supports 102. These are anchored in the floor 102 to be stable and to make it possible to make the medical equipment immobile during travel.

[0059] In a particularly advantageous case, these supports can be easily removed by medical personnel: thus, they are able to quickly grab and move the equipment to the injured passengers if necessary.

[0060] In the embodiment shown in [Fig. 1], the storage module 30 is located on the right front part of the medical road transport vehicle 100.

[0061] The passenger compartment 101 of the medical road transport vehicle 100 also comprises an accident reception module 40. This accident reception module comprises medical reception units 400. These medical reception units 400 may for example comprise medical equipment 300, which may be stretchers 500, or even medical road transport vehicle seats 100 which may be reclining seats 600 and / or rotating seats 700.

[0062] This accident reception module 40 is configured to accommodate seated accident passengers with one of their lower limbs stretched substantially horizontally or lying accident passengers. Using the previous example, lying accident passengers may be positioned on the stretchers 500. The stretchers 500 may include fixing elements, so that the accident passenger is held during the journey, even in the event of sudden braking of the medical road transport vehicle 100.

[0063] Injured passengers who need to have one of their lower limbs stretched substantially horizontally, that is to say substantially parallel (to within 20°) to the floor 102 can be seated on a seat.

[0064] The seats can be positioned in rows and columns.

[0065] As shown in [Fig.l], a medical road transport vehicle 100 can include four columns of seats spread over several rows.

[0066] The accident reception module is then distributed into several sub-modules in several locations: at the right rear of the medical road transport vehicle 100, at the left rear as well as on a part of the left front of the medical road transport vehicle 100, behind the storage module 30.

[0067] A seat in front of another designates a seat on the same column and located just in front of the other in the main direction of travel of the medical road transport vehicle 100.

[0068] The seat on which the injured passenger is seated may include a seat in front of it, which may be a reclining seat 600, as shown [Fig.5].

[0069] A reclining seat 600 comprises a seat and a backrest. The reclining seat 600 is configured to assume at least two positions. One of the two positions is a seated position. In the seated position, the backrest is substantially perpendicular to the floor 102 at a plus or minus 30° inclination relative to an axis perpendicular to the floor 102.

[0070] The seat can also take a folded position. In the folded position, the backrest is folded onto the seat substantially parallel to the floor 102 at a more or less 20° inclination relative to the floor 102. In other words, the backrest is rotatable about an axis transverse to the central traffic lane 105 of the medical road transport vehicle 100.

[0071] The reclining seat 600 may include a manual lever by which the change of position can be operated. The manual lever may be located on the side of the seat or under an armrest. By operating this lever, the passenger can adjust the inclination of the backrest according to his or her preferences. To operate it, the passenger can push the lever forward or backward to adjust the angle of the backrest.

[0072] Changing from one position to another may be accomplished by a button connected to an electrical circuit that may be integrated into the reclining seat 600. Passengers may use a button located on the side of the reclining seat 600 to control the angle of inclination of the backrest. This embodiment may be particularly advantageous for allowing injured passengers the ability to independently reclined their reclining seats 600, and possibly adjust the inclination of the reclining seat 600 in front of them.

[0073] The injured passengers can then have access to a control unit allowing them to control the inclination of their own reclining seats 600 and the 600 reclining seats on which their lower limbs rest.

[0074] Thus, if the injured passenger is sitting on a seat located behind the folded reclining seat 600, he can then place his lower limb(s) on the folded reclining seat 600 positioned in front of him.

[0075] Preferably, the backs of the reclining seats 600 are configured to include a system for holding the lower limb(s) positioned thereon substantially horizontally. This holding system may be removable, to limit loss of space if the seat is not used to hold the lower limb(s) of an injured passenger.

[0076] This holding system may comprise two rails into which two boards are inserted (one board per rail), the two boards being configured to limit the transverse movements of one or more of the lower limbs positioned on the seats. The boards may be substantially perpendicular to the floor 102. The holding system may comprise straps to limit vertical movements, in particular when the medical road transport vehicle 100 takes a rough road.

[0077] The seats can also be rotatable, such as the 700 rotating seats. These 700 rotating seats can be rotated along a vertical axis. The rotation can be locked manually and / or electronically by a rotation locking system.

[0078] This rotation locking system may include a locking system, preferably located under the seat.

[0079] It may include a lever or a pedal, operable by a passenger seated on the seat.

[0080] In an advantageous version of the rotating seats 700, these seats may comprise a reclined position, in which the backrest is configured to be substantially parallel to the floor 102. In this position, the injured passengers may be reclined substantially parallel to the floor 102 on said rotating seat 700.

[0081] This embodiment is particularly advantageous because it makes it possible to offer a very modular medical road transport vehicle 100 and to adapt very quickly to the needs of accident victims by optimizing its filling.

[0082] The passenger compartment 101 may comprise fasteners 106 fixed to the floor 102. These fasteners 106 are preferably installed at the planned location of the medical equipment 300, which may be seats and stretchers 500.

[0083] The medical equipment 300 can take two configurations: • a first configuration called fixing, in which the fasteners 106 are in the closed position, and in which the medical equipment 300 is fixed to the floor 102; • a second configuration, called manipulation, in which the fasteners 106 are in the open position and in which the equipment is able to be moved.

[0084] These fasteners 106 may be a slide and lock system. Said slides are fixed to the floor 102 of the passenger compartment 101. The medical equipment 300 may comprise locking mechanisms which engage with the slides to ensure a secure fixation. These fasteners 106 allow the medical equipment 300 such as stretchers 500 or seats 600, 700 to be moved and fixed in different positions.

[0085] Alternatively, these fasteners 106 may comprise quick-release pins or latches. These pins fit into receptacles inserted into the floor 102 of the passenger compartment 101 to hold the medical equipment 300 in place.

[0086] In another embodiment, the fasteners 106 may be gooseneck-shaped fasteners. These fasteners may be attached to anchor points integrated into the floor 102 of the passenger compartment 101. The medical equipment 300 is then equipped with rods or supports that fit into these fasteners to lock them in place. They may be removed by loosening the locking devices.

[0087] In the configuration shown [Fig.l], the medical reception unit may comprise reclining and rotating seats 700, so that an injured passenger needing to place one of his lower limbs parallel to the floor 102 can turn his reclining and rotating seat by 90° so as to be facing another reclining seat in the same line, and put the reclining seat closest to him in the folded position. The support system may be integrated on the back of the seat so that his lower limb is well supported. Thus, his lower limb can rest on the back of the folded seat in complete safety.

[0088] Thus, this configuration, as illustrated in [Fig.l], makes it possible to transport 15 injured passengers, 14 accompanying passengers and medical personnel, 5 drivers, as well as medical equipment stored in the storage module 30.

[0089] The invention thus makes it possible, for a journey of 250 km in a road transport vehicle according to this first embodiment, to reduce CO2 consumption by almost 50% per injured person compared to transport in a conventional ambulance. Out of a total of 900 ambulances initially used, the invention makes it possible to reduce CO2 consumption by almost 20,000 kg. Another example of an embodiment

[0090] [Fig.2] illustrates another embodiment of the invention, in which the accident reception module comprises stretchers 500. The accompanying reception module is, in this configuration, positioned on the front left part of the medical road transport vehicle 100, the storage module 30 in the front right part, and the crash module 40 includes two crash sub-modules, both front left and right, and rear left and right.

[0091] [Fig.3] illustrates another embodiment of the invention, in which the module accompanying reception 20 is located at the rear and on the front right part.

[0092] [Fig.4] illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the seats 600 tilting units of the damaged reception module 40 are arranged in a staggered pattern.

[0093] The passenger compartment 101 comprises several rows of seats following one another along the longitudinal axis, each comprising 4 seats separated two by two by the central circulation lane, and in which the seats of a row are alternately in the seated position and in the folded position.

[0094] . In other words, in front of a raised seat, there may be an inclined seat to allow for an injured passenger to place one of his lower limbs on it.

[0095] Thus, an injured passenger who needs to have one of his lower limbs substantially horizontal can place it on the seat folded in front of him.

[0096] This configuration makes it possible to optimize the number of injured passengers transported while being particularly ergonomic for them, in particular because it offers more space at the level of their lower limbs.

[0097] The other elements of the previous embodiment are identical.

Claims

Claims

1. Medical road transport vehicle (100), comprising a passenger compartment (101) adapted for transporting at least three injured passengers and at least three accompanying passengers, the passenger compartment (101) comprising a central traffic lane (105) along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle as well as a plurality of passenger reception modules served by the central traffic lane (105), among which: - at least one so-called accompanying reception module (20), comprising one or more seats (200) configured to accommodate one or more accompanying passengers in a seated position; - at least one so-called injured reception module (40), comprising at least one medical reception unit (400), comprising one or more medical equipment (300), configured to accommodate an injured passenger in a seated position with at least one lower limb raised substantially horizontally and / or to accommodate an injured passenger in a lying position.

2. Medical road transport vehicle (100) according to claim 1, wherein the medical equipment (300) of the accident reception module (40) comprises one or more stretchers (500).

3. Medical road transport vehicle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the passenger compartment (101) comprises a floor (102), and fasteners (106) of medical equipment (300), fixed to the floor (102) and capable of taking a closed position and an open position, the accident reception module being able to take two configurations, • a first configuration called fixing, in which the fasteners are in the closed position, and in which the medical equipment (300) is fixed to the floor (102); • a second configuration, called handling, in which the fasteners are in the open position and in which the medical equipment (300) is able to be moved relative to the floor (102).

4. Medical road transport vehicle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the passenger compartment (101) comprises a floor (102), the passenger compartment (101) comprising a module called module storage (30) configured to store medical equipment that can be secured to the floor (102).

5. Medical road transport vehicle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the passenger compartment (101) comprises a floor (102), in which the accident reception module (40) comprises reclining seats (600), each comprising a seat and a backrest, and each capable of taking at least two positions: • a seated position, with the backrest substantially perpendicular to the floor (102) at a greater or lesser 30° inclination relative to a plane perpendicular to the floor (102); • a folded position, with the backrest folded onto the seat substantially parallel to the floor (102) at a more or less 20° inclination relative to the floor (102), whereby when an injured passenger is seated on a reclining seat (600) located behind said reclining seat in the folded position, he can then place his lower limb(s) on said reclining seat (600) in the folded position positioned in front of him.

6. Medical road transport vehicle (100) according to the preceding claim in which the backrest of a reclining seat (600) comprises a system for holding at least one lower limb positioned substantially horizontally on said reclining seat (600) when the latter is in the folded position.

7. Medical road transport vehicle (100) according to any one of claims 5 and 6, in which the accident reception module comprises so-called rotating seats (700), rotating around an axis substantially perpendicular to the floor (102), comprising a manual rotation locking system for locking the rotation of the rotating seat (700).

8. Medical road transport vehicle (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the accident reception module comprises a rotating seat (700) comprising two positions, namely a raised position, and a lying position in which the backrest is substantially parallel to the floor (102) whereby an accident passenger can be lying substantially parallel to the floor (102) on said rotating seat (700).

9. Medical road transport vehicle (100) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, comprising several rows of seats following one another along the longitudinal axis, each row comprising four seats separated two by two by the central circulation path (105), and in which the seats of a row are alternately in the seated position and in the folded position.

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