Patient transport bag

Details Patient transport bag Patient transport bag

1999-03-25

2001-03-06

Melius, Terry Lee (Department: 3628)

Beds

Field stretcher

With restraining means

C005S629000, C005S625000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06195822

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a patient transport bag.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With virtually all serious injuries, there is a danger that an injured person will suffer from shock. To minimize the effect of shock, the injured person should be kept comfortable. This requires that the person be sheltered from the elements, such as wind, rain, excessive heat or excessive cold.
Patient transport bags are being used to shelter injured persons from the elements. An example of a patient transport bag is U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,604 which was issued to Ricketts in 1995. The Ricketts reference discloses a patient transport bag which comes in two separate halves that can be used as blankets. The two halves are capable of being joined together to form an enclosure to protect an injured person from the elements.
As patient transport bags become more widely used various shortcomings are being discovered. One example of such a shortcoming relates to the time it takes to enclose an injured person within the confines of the patient transport bag. In a patient transport situation time can mean the difference between life and death for the injured person.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a patient transport bag that enables a patient to be positioned within the bag rapidly.
According to the present invention there is provided a patient transport bag which includes a fabric base having a bottom and four sides which define an interior cavity. Means is provided for securing the base to a stretcher. A top cover is detachably secured along at least three of the four sides of the base. Straps are provided for securing the top cover as a roll along one of the four sides.
The patient transport bag, as described above, is attachable in advance to a stretcher ready for use. It is preferred that a mattress which usually accompanies the stretcher be positioned within the interior cavity of the base. This maximizes both speed and patient comfort.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the patient transport bag, as described above, the size of the patients may vary widely from infants to persons weighing in excess of 300 pounds. Even more beneficial results may be obtained when the four sides of the base are expandable. Beneficial results have been obtained through the use of compression straps positioned at intervals along at least two of the four sides. This allows the sides to be compressed to accommodate contours of the patient's body.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the patient transport bag, as described above, the positioning of such equipment as oxygen bottles, and intravenous pumps and monitors presents a continual problem. Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be obtained when means is provided for securing such equipment to the top cover.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the patient transport bag, as described above, there are times when either for warmth or patient restraint the patients upper body must be covered. Even more beneficial results may, therefore be obtained when the top cover includes a yoke-like shoulder restraint. This yoke-like shoulder restraint can be folded out of the way when not required.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the patient transport bag, as described above, patient access, for example for an intravenous, is continually an issue. Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be obtained when the top cover has a top, a bottom and two sides and an closable opening is positioned between the two sides adjacent the top of the top cover. This allows access through the middle of the top cover in addition to access through the sides. There are a variety of ways to create a closable opening. It is preferred that the means for detachably securing the top cover to the base include a two way zipper along at least three of four sides. It is also preferred that the means for closing the centrally positioned closable opening in the top include a two way zipper. It has been found that a two way zipper provides the most secure mode of fastening while maintaining convenient and rapid patient access. With a two way zipper only that area in which access is required need be opened.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the patient transport bag, as described above, when a patient is transferred a chart and some addition paperwork must accompany the transfer. Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be obtained when a pocket with a transparent window is provided such that paperwork relating to the patient can be seen through the transparent pocket when positioned in the pocket.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4301791 (1981-11-01), Franco
patent: 5189746 (1993-03-01), Horie
patent: 5249321 (1993-10-01), Graf
patent: 5386604 (1995-02-01), Ricketts
patent: 5699568 (1997-12-01), Couldridge

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