Supports – Stand – Understructure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-10
2001-09-18
Ramirez, Ramon O (Department: 3632)
Supports
Stand
Understructure
C248S413000, C248S523000, C403S104000, C403S329000, C403S362000, C005S503100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290192
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
(Not applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to poles utilized to transport intravenous fluid bags and pumps (IV poles and pumps), and more particularly to an improved receiver tube for receiving a variety of diameters of IV poles in at least one end for removable attachment to wheelchairs, beds, and other equipment, as well as other IV pole bases.
(2) Background Information
In the hospital environment, it is typically difficult, awkward, and inefficient to move a patient in a wheelchair along with an associated IV pole which supports one or more IV bags and pump. In some cases, it requires two people to accomplish such a task, one person pushing the wheelchair, and a second person moving the associated IV pole.
Another difficulty with conventional movement of a patient in a bed is the need to transfer the fusion pump and IV bag from one pole mounted on a bed to a second “transportable” pole having a wheeled base. Every time a patient is moved from a stationary location, such as a bed or a chair, a nurse or aid is needed for the transfer of the pump and IV bag, as well as the transport of the patient and IV pole.
Various prior art devices have been devised to alleviate some of these problems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,027 to Joseph Bekanich discloses an IV equipment support with a removable upper section of an IV pole which may be journaled within a tube mounted on a gurney or the like. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,191 to James Schmuhl discloses a medical support system having an IV pole with an upper section which may be removed and journaled within a tube mounted on a gurney or wheelchair for supporting the IV pump and bag.
While both of the above-identified patents assist in making IV pumps and equipment more easily moved from one location to another, they both suffer the same problem. They require a specific diameter receiver tube to receive the IV pole upper half. Thus, the receiver tubes on the gurneys and wheelchairs must be matched in diameter to receive a specific IV pole. Because a wide variety of manufacturers may make gurneys, wheelchairs, and IV pole bases, this requirement effectively restricts the purchase of medical support systems to a single manufacturer of all components.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved receiver tube for receiving and retaining a variety of diameters of IV poles within a single tube.
Another object is to provide an adjustable receiver tube which restrains rotational movement of the IV pole and horizontal movement of the lower end of the IV pole, within the receiver tube.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a receiver tube which may interconnect upper and lower poles of different diameters.
Yet another object is to provide a receiver tube which is simple to operate and attach to an IV pole, and economical to manufacture.
These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The adjustable receiver tube of the present invention includes an elongated tube having a flat resilient strap extending within the tube from the upper end of the cylindrical side wall. A flange at the bottom of the tube will support an IV pole within the tube, and a threaded shaft threaded through an aperture in the side of the tube will move the strip into engagement with an IV pole to hold the pole snugly within the receiver tube. A cushion is preferably mounted in the tube on the flange, to frictionally engage the lower end of the IV pole and prevent rotation, horizontal movement, and prevent damage to the lower end of the IV pole.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1970624 (1934-08-01), Recker
patent: 3047061 (1962-07-01), Wilcox et al.
patent: 3167292 (1965-01-01), Meyerowitz
patent: 3604734 (1971-09-01), Friedman
patent: 4655632 (1987-04-01), Smith
patent: 4715488 (1987-12-01), Hewitt et al.
patent: 4725027 (1988-02-01), Bekanich
patent: 5039043 (1991-08-01), Hodge
patent: 5135191 (1992-08-01), Schmuhl
patent: 5366191 (1994-11-01), Bekanich
patent: 5458427 (1995-10-01), Simond
Frederiksen Mark D.
Koley Jessen P.C. A Limited Liability Organization
Ramirez Ramon O
Szumny Jon
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