IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO PATIENT CARRYING STRUCTURES

AMELIORATIONS CONCERNANT LES STRUCTURES DE TRANSPORT DE PATIENTS

English Abstract

A carrying structure is provided for supporting a
patient from a suspension point 4. A Y-shaped frame
member has three arms 2,3 whose free ends have carrying
straps extending upwardly to the common interconnection of
the suspension point 4. The straps extend downwardly to
three location points 7 for connection to a sling or
harness for attachment to a patient.

Claims

4
Claims
1. A carrying structure for supporting a patient from a
suspension point and comprising a Y-shaped frame
member with the 3 free ends of the arms of the member
having carrying straps extending upwardly to a common
interconnection for attachment at said suspension
point and downwardly to three location points for
connection to a sling or harness for attachment to a
patient.
2. A carrying structure according to Claim 1, wherein
the straps are slidable within slots at the free ends
of the arms.
3. A carrying structure according to Claim 1 or Claim 2,
wherein the straps are flexible tapes or ropes.
4. A carrying structure according to any one of Claims 1
to 3, wherein the frame includes a strengthening
strut between the pair of arms of the Y.
5. A carrying structure according to any one of Claims 1
to 4, wherein the frame is made from carbon fibre or
other relatively lightweight, yet robust, material
6. A carrying structure according to any one of Claims 1
to 5, wherein one of the arms extends downwardly from
the plane of the other two.
7. A carrying structure or any novel combination of
features thereof substantially as herein described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Description

CA 02339407 2001-03-05
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Improvements Relating to Patient Carrying Structures
A conventional carrying frame for supporting patients
(for example, to enable them to be moved by means of a
gantry), comprising a cross-shaped member from which
straps hang down to a U-shaped support which can be linked
to a sling which receives a seated person. Because the
rigid parts of the frame are under tension, they need to
be made of a fairly robust, and thus fairly heavy,
material. A secondary problem is that the heavy frame
part might hit a patient and cause injury. Furthermore,
the height of the whole assembly is fairly significant.
According to the present invention, there is provided
a carrying structure for supporting a patient from a
suspension point and comprising a Y-shaped frame member
with the 3 free ends of the arms of the member having
carrying straps extending upwardly to a common
interconnection for attachment at said suspension point
and downwardly to three location points for connection to
a sling or harness for attachment to a patient.
The overall assembly is much more compact vertically
than the conventional frame design in that there is just
one frame member depending from a single suspension point.
Furthermore, the straps leading from the suspension point
down to the location points and through the frame member
will, when the structure is under load, place the frame
member under compression (rather than under tension as
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CA 02339407 2001-03-05
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with previous structures). This means that the frame can
be constructed from carbon fibre or another relatively
lightweight, yet robust, material. If necessary, the
frame could include a strengthening strut between the pair
of arms of the Y.
The three arms of the Y provide a triangular support
down to the sling or harness attached to the location
points. Ideally one of the arms will extend downwardly
from the plane of the other two.
It is preferred that the straps should be slidable
within slots at the free ends of the arms so that the
location of the Y-shaped member can be adjusted variably
up and down with respect to the suspension point to suit a
variety of patients and the positioning of a patient.
Preferably, the straps will be in the form of flexible
tapes or ropes.
The invention may be performed in various ways and a
preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a carrying
structure of this invention; and
Figure 2 shows the carrying structure in use.
The arrangement shown in Figure 1 incorporates a Y
shaped member 1 providing a pair of arms 2 and an
extending (and depending) leg 3. From a suspension point
4, flexible straps 5 extend through slots 6 in the ends of
the arms 2 and the leg 3 and then lead down to location
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CA 02339407 2001-03-05
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points 7. A sling or harness can be attached to these
three points. If necessary, a strengthening strut 8 can
be included between the arms 2. The frame member 1 can be
adjusted relative to the suspension points 4 by sliding
the frame member 1 with respect to the straps 5 so as to
provide a comfortable support for a particular patient 9
in a sling 10 (as shown in Figure 2). Furthermore,
adjustment of the carrying frame 1 is able to alter the
carrying mode from an upright sitting position to a
reclined sitting position, for example.
The flexible straps 5 enable the frame to cater for
patients of different dimensions more easily, where
conventional hoists with fixed frame pick-up points
cannot. With the hanger being connected to an overhead
boom by a flexible member, the effort required to move the
lift is greatly reduced, as the force required to overcome
inertia is less. This is due to the hoist moving before
the patient starts to move.
C:\Specs\MJ\Helping Hand\Hand-20.doc

Representative Drawing