Beds – Invalid bed or surgical support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-07
2003-04-15
Trettel, Michael F. (Department: 3673)
Beds
Invalid bed or surgical support
C005S611000, C005S503100, C005S658000, C005S308000, C005S620000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06546577
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a mobile medical emergency table; and, more particularly, to a mobile medical emergency table that may be specifically and suitably fitted, configured, and placed for immediate field-based surgical use and intervention in the case of a medical emergency. The present invention provides, among other things, stable, yet adjustable, independent latching means to accommodate an emergency stretcher; a mechanically advantaged undercarriage for optionally placing the table into a fixed position and location; removable and interchangeable storage cassettes for equipment and supplies; and, a variety of other such features and advantages as enable the invention to fulfill its intended purpose.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a medical emergency, a relatively few minutes can mean the difference, in some cases, between life and death. In other cases, the same few minutes can mean the difference between a relatively full recovery and a life of impairment and disability. In fact, the first hour following a medical trauma is sometimes called the “golden hour”. If medical intervention is not provided within this hour, the patient likely will not fully recover or will perish. The import of such truisms are especially accurate when considering those who have been affected in large scale disasters.
In times of disaster, especially in the aftermath of tornadoes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, airliner, train, and large scale automobile accidents, and criminal or terrorist attacks, domestic and international emergency management and relief agencies struggle to provide adequate and timely medical assistance. Similar concerns, of course, apply during times of military conflict. The traditional approach has been to attempt to stabilize the patient in the field with paramedical personnel. The patient is then placed upon a gurney or stretcher, and transported via ambulance or helicopter to a medical facility for further treatment. In support of such an approach, a variety of equipment has been developed.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,991 to Kaufman (Oct. 5, 1982), a Portable Life Support System is provided for use with any of a variety of patient transport vehicles. In that device, a plurality of interchangeable life support units, such as a defibrillator apparatus, an electrocardiograph monitor, a suction apparatus, an oxygen administration unit, supply drawers, and the like, may be removably mounted in a support structure that, in turn, may be removably mounted in association with a collapsible, tubular-constructed, wheeled stretcher. The support structure may be interconnected with a DC power supply and, further, with the power supply of a transporting vehicle. Such a device requires, however, that each life support unit and supply drawer be of a standard size. This degree of standardization, unfortunately, has yet to be implemented fully amongst the various medical equipment suppliers. Such a device is further disadvantageous in that the support structure is mounted above the patient, effectively impairing the delivery to the patient of a variety of medical procedures, especially those that are surgical in nature. While the support structure is removable, two or more persons typically are required to so lift and remove the structure. In such disjointed form, the various patient-connected lines must be further manipulated in order to ensure that they continue to function and do not interfere with the timely delivery of medical services to the patient.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,989 to Stith (Apr. 29, 1986), a Life Support Stretcher Bed is provided primarily for use in a hospital environment. That device provides a variety of features, including a stretcher bed further having an undercarriage structure that is supported by wheels upon the ground. An hydraulically operable platform is supported upon the undercarriage structure. Provision is made for an intraaortic balloon pump unit connected to the undercarriage structure. The undercarriage also carries supply drawers, a shelf, an oxygen bottle, a weighing device, and various other such apparatus. The platform carries a defibrillator shelf, and further carries a plurality of support rods for intravenous fluids and the like. Such a device, however, is not seen to be conveniently adaptable for use in those field situations described hereinabove, especially those requiring field-delivered surgical procedures.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,886 to Grant (Sep. 4, 1990), a Mobile Stretcher Support is provided. This device, essentially, is a wheel supported hand truck, specially configured for receiving a stretcher, body board, or Stokes basket-type of litter. While such a device has decided utility in quickly evacuating and transporting patients from an accident or disaster scene, the device does not provide for those self-contained medical devices, equipment, and other supplies described in the art as being desirable under such circumstances.
While use of such devices undoubtedly has been effective for many patients, the general approach discussed hereinabove may be disadvantageous in a variety of circumstances. For example, sometimes the patient cannot be field-stabilized without immediate surgical intervention. Furthermore, during times of disaster, medical facilities, especially those with surgical facilities and operating rooms, often are overtaxed. Even were a patient timely to arrive at a surgical facility, his treatment may be delayed by a lack of operating rooms and supporting equipment. In some such circumstances, patients may be diverted to other facilities more capable of handling the emergency; and, again, valuable time is lost.
Even when medical and surgical facilities are available to handle the patient load, the most critical factor in saving a patient's life may be the time it takes to transport him to the facility that ultimately will provide a life-saving surgical intervention. Thus, should transport vehicles not be immediately available, or should roadways or other avenues of transport be poor or unavailable, valuable time is lost.
Another approach to the provision of field-based medical care, then, is to deliver the surgeon and operating room directly to the patient. Such an approach, under appropriate circumstances, can provide more immediate medical care and benefit to those patients requiring immediate surgical intervention than otherwise can be delivered under the stabilize-and-transport approach.
Unfortunately, however, no provision has been made in the prior art for a device specifically configured, and being further configurable, for field-based surgical procedures. The demands of such an approach require that a device be fully self-contained with equipment, supplies, electrical connections, surgical lights, and the like; that the device be stackable in order that multiple devices conveniently may be transported to the scene; that the device be susceptible of drop-position-and-operate approach; that the device accommodate a conventional stretcher or body board; that the position of each corner of the stretcher or body board independently be adjustable to accommodate various surgical procedures; that the device be rapidly configurable and re-configurable for a variety of disparate surgical procedures, whether on an individual patient or from patient-to-patient; that the device be susceptible of either accepting multiple patients or moving with an individual patient during transport; and, that the device be susceptible of transport in any of a variety of mass transport vehicles, such as an aircraft, bus, ship, or the like.
Were such a device available, it would have additional utility, advantage, and use in the outfitting of an overload area within a traditional emergency medical facility for conducting medical and surgical procedures that otherwise could not be conducted due to facility-dependent concerns; to wit, short term, but critical, shortages of surgical tables or operating rooms. Additionally, such a device could be fully equipped and then stored in
LandOfFree
Mobile medical emergency and surgical table does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Mobile medical emergency and surgical table, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mobile medical emergency and surgical table will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3010825