Beds – Field stretcher – Combined or convertible
Patent
1997-02-03
1999-07-06
Grosz, Alex
Beds
Field stretcher
Combined or convertible
55031, 5658, 296 20, A61G 100, A61G 104
Patent
active
059183314
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relates to a portable intensive care unit and in particular but not limited to a stretcher style mobile intensive care unit for field use.
BACKGROUND ART
The present invention has particular application on premises or sites of operations to provide easy access to a fully equipped life support facility that can be quickly transported by road or air to further services that can provide the ongoing long-term treatment required so that the present invention can be easily returned to the site and partake in further rescue activities. This in turn enables the patient to not only receive emergency medical treatment at the point of accident (where a lack of treatment or suitable equipment may complicate their condition), but will most definitely enhance their recovery for having been treated so quickly and effectively.
Prior art solutions are generally unsatisfactory. One solution involves a so called stretcher bridge which holds instruments and straddles a stretcher, thereby bridging over the patient. While this unit has relatively low cost, equipment is exposed to the elements, patient access is restricted, the unit is relatively fragile and because of its small size, is not a fully self-contained unit. The unit lacks oxygen supply or power supply back-up. In addition, the unit does not satisfy air worthiness requirements.
Another unit of Israeli origin provides a single enclosure mounted to the rear wall of an aircraft to provide a flight surgeon with a full range of intensive care equipment. However, unfortunately, this system is not portable.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative system which alleviates the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.
OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect therefore, the present invention resides in a mobile intensive care unit comprising an elongate, hollow housing having an upper patient support table, the housing being adapted to hold at a location below the support table, a range of medical equipment customarily required for emergency care. Typically the equipment is arranged in side-by-side position and the unit has handles so that the unit can be carried like a stretcher.
The housing is preferably made from a fibre reinforced resin and preferably carbon fibre is employed as this provides strength, but also reduces radiant interference from electrical equipment housed in the unit. The use of carbon fibre also enables the housing to be thin walled whilst retaining impact resistance.
The housing is preferably internally braced. Advantageously, the housing includes an outer side wall bridging between the support table and a bottom wall, the housing has at least two transverse bracing walls, one adjacent each end of the housing, the bracing walls being interconnected by a third longitudinally extending bracing wall generally centrally disposed in the housing. The walls typically have an average wall thickness of 1 to 3 mm, but where necessary, the walls are locally strengthened particularly in areas prone to concentrated load, for example, handles or tie down sites etc. The carbon fibres are preferably laid in layers at plus or minus forty-five degrees to improve loading characteristics.
The medical equipment is typically located side-by-side on one side of the central wall so that medical personnel need only operate from one side of the unit. The other side of the central wall is typically used for storage. Oxygen bottles are typically located at opposite ends of the unit and away from the medical equipment.
The support table can be flat, but can be channel-like or recessed. Typically, the support table is designed to mount a stretcher, the support table having four stretcher feet sockets and transverse slots extended between adjacent sockets for receiving transverse stretcher braces.
The housing is typically divided into a plurality of isolated medical equipment holders including a defibrillator holder having a drawer so that a defibrillator can be easily removed from the unit for emergency use.
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Grant-Thomson John Charles
Hall David
Buchanan Aircraft Corporation Limited
Grosz Alex
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