Infant patient transfer device with temperature sensor

• US 10,052,029 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2014
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Belsinger, Jr., Harry Edward, Falk, Steven Mitchell, Underwood, Thomas Charles, Starr, Karen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, SEAN PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US14/483,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20160073889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 15/008 in beds, play-pens or cradles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/01 Sheets specially adapted for use as or with stretchers restraining devices used in nursing A61F5/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/048 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/14 Children
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/32 lying
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1023 Slings used manually
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1038 Manual lifting aids, e.g. frames or racks

Abstract

A patient transfer device is utilized to transport infant patients between locations within a hospital environment. The patient transfer device includes a center, support section and a pair of side sections that can be moved into contact with each other to surround the infant patient. The first and second side sections each include a handle that can be brought into close proximity to each other and can be grasped by a single hand of a clinician. The patient transfer device includes a temperature sensor positioned to provide a temperature measurement of the patient when the patient is received on the patient transfer device. The patient temperature can be displayed on either an integrated display or wirelessly transmitted to an external display device. In this manner, the temperature of the infant can be continuously monitored during transport.

Claims

1. A transfer device configured to support an infant patient during transfer of the infant patient, comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to monitor the infant patient'"'"'s temperature during transfer;

a center support section positionable beneath the infant patient;

a first side section connected to the center support section, the first side section including a first handle;

a second side section connected to the center support section, the second side section including a second handle, wherein the first and second side sections are movable between an unfolded condition in which the first section, the second section and the center section are generally co-planar and a folded condition in which the first and second side sections are folded toward each other and over the center section and the infant patient when the infant patient is on the center section, wherein the first and second handles are located adjacent to each other in the folded condition such that the first and second handles are used to lift the transfer device and the infant patient during transfer of the infant patient; and

a display integrated into the transfer device, wherein the display is in communication with the temperature sensor to numerically display the infant patient'"'"'s temperature during transfer.

2. The transfer device of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is positioned within the center support section and configured to directly engage the infant patient'"'"'s skin.

3. The transfer device of claim 1 wherein the display is configured to communicate a visual alert when the infant patient'"'"'s temperature falls outside of a predefined range.

4. The transfer device of claim 1 further comprising a wireless transmitter operatively connected to the temperature sensor.

5. The transfer device of claim 1 wherein the display is integrated into one of the first and second side sections.

6. The transfer device of claim 1 further comprising a stiffening device positioned within the center support section to provide support for the infant patient during movement.

7. A transfer device configured to support an infant patient during transfer of the infant patient, comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to monitor the infant patient'"'"'s temperature during transfer;

a center support section positionable beneath the infant patient;

a first side section connected to the center support section, the first side section including a first handle;

a second side section connected to the center support section, the second side section including a second handle, wherein the first and second side sections are sized to surround the infant patient when the first side section is folded over the center section along the connection between the first side section and the center section and the second side section is folded over the center section along the connection between the second side section and the center section such that the first and second side sections are folded over the infant patient when the infant patient is on the center section, wherein the first and second handles are located adjacent to each other such that the first and second handles are used to lift the transfer device and the infant patient during transfer of the infant patient; and

a display mounted to one of the first and second side sections in communication with the temperature sensor to numerically display the infant patient'"'"'s temperature during transfer.

8. The transfer device of claim 7 wherein the temperature sensor is positioned within the center support section and configured to directly engage the infant patient'"'"'s skin.

9. The transfer device of claim 7 further comprising a wireless transmitter operatively connected to the temperature sensor to communicate between the temperature sensor and the display.