Patient support surface that includes foldable segments made of composite material

• US 5,263,213 A
• Filed: 04/27/1992
• Issued: 11/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Everest & Jennings International Ltd. (Armor Holdco, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Medical Composite Technology, Inc. (Armor Holdco, Inc.)
• Inventors: Geiger, Richard, Robertson, A. Scott, Page, Neville
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Application Number:
  US07/874,129
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 5/625, 5/627, 5/601, 5/620, 5/81.1, 5/89.1
• US Class Current: 5/627
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/00 Stretchers
• 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 1/013 foldable or collapsible A61G1/017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1043 Cushions specially adapted for wheelchairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1091 Cushions, seats or abduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/128 for feet

Abstract

A multipurpose patient support surface is provided with support surface segments connected to one another in series. The segments are formed of a sandwich laminate including a top and a bottom load bearing skin layer separated by a core material. The segments are connected to one another at transverse edges by a hinge area and are locked in position relative to one another to form substantially planar support surface.

Claims

1. A multipurpose patient support surface, comprising:

a first substantially rectangular support surface segment having first and second transverse edges and two longitudinal edges, a second substantially rectangular support surface segment having first and second transverse edges and two longitudinal edges, the first transverse edge of the first support surface segment facing the first transverse edge of the second support surface segment, said first and second support surface segments being rigid in a transverse and a longitudinal direction;

connecting and folding member for connecting the first transverse edge of said first support surface segment to the first transverse edge of said second support surface segment and for permitting the first support surface segment to be folded relative to the second support surface segment in a longitudinal direction, the connecting and folding member comprising a flexible hinge material that is located between, in contact with and, covers substantially the entire facing first transverse edges of the first support surface segment and the second support surface segment, said flexible hinge material isolating the first transverse edges of the first and second support surface segments from a surrounding exterior environment during folding of the first and second support surface segments; and

means for locking the first support surface segment relative to the second support surface segment to prevent said first and second support surface segments from being folded with respect to one another and thereby form a substantially planar support device, the planar support device having a top and a bottom planar surface, four corners, and a periphery;

wherein at least a portion of each support surface segment is formed of a laminate including a top and a bottom load bearing skin layer each having exterior and interior surfaces, and wherein at least a portion of each support surface segment is formed of a sandwich laminate comprising the top and bottom load bearing skin layers being separated by a core in contact with the interior surfaces.

2. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 1, wherein the connecting and folding member comprises portions of the interior surfaces of the top and bottom skin layers being sealed together in an area that is devoid of said core so that the first support surface segment can be folded relative to the second transverse segment in the sealed area.

3. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 1, wherein the core is disposed adjacent only an outer peripheral region of the planar support device so that a central region between the top and bottom load bearing skin layers of each support surface segment being devoid of a core.

4. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 1, wherein the core is formed of a composite honeycomb material.

5. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 1, wherein the core is formed of an expanded or foamed composite material.

6. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 1, wherein the skin members are formed of a composite material.

7. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 6, wherein the skin layers comprise fiber reinforcing elements oriented to provide flexibility in the longitudinal direction and rigidity in the transverse direction.

8. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 7, wherein the locking means extends substantially the entire length of the longitudinal edges of the first and second support surface segments to provide longitudinal rigidity to substantially the entire length of the planar patient support device.

9. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 1, wherein the locking means comprise a longitudinal recessed area that extends between the core of the first support surface segment and the core of the second support surface segment, the recessed area crossing the connection at the first transverse edges of the first and second support surface segments, and a rigid bar, the rigid bar being receivable in and longitudinally slidable in the recessed area, a portion of the recessed area in the core of at least one of the first and second support surface segments being at least as long as the bar.

10. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 1, wherein the locking means comprise a plurality of lock out sliders in the form of a rigid C-shaped tubular member, the lock out sliders being positioned over oppositely positioned longitudinal edges of the first and second support surface segments, the lock out sliders further being longitudinally slidable across the connection at the first transverse edges of the first and second support surface segments.

11. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 1, wherein the locking means comprise a recessed area in the core of the second support surface segment, and a rigid bar pivotably attached to the core of the first support surface segment, the rigid bar being pivotable into and out of the recess in the core of the second support surface segment.

12. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a patient transfer sheet for being removably attached to the planar support device to hold a patient in position on the top surface of the planar support device, the patient transfer sheet being substantially rectangular and substantially as large as the top surface of the planar support device, the patient transfer sheet having four corners formed to attach over the four corners of the planar support device for holding the patient transfer sheet in position relative to the planar support device.

13. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 12, wherein the corners of the patient transfer sheet are formed as handles.

14. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 1, wherein the periphery of the planar support device includes recesses forming strap receiving areas.

15. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first transverse edge of the first support surface segment is spaced from the first transverse edge of the second support surface segment, the flexible hinge material being secured to oppositely facing surfaces of the first and second support surface segments.

16. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flexible hinge material includes a portion of reduced thickness located intermediate said first transverse edges of said first and second support surface segments to facilitate folding of first and second support surface segments.

17. A multipurpose patient support surface, comprising:

a rectangular planar support surface structure having longitudinal edges, an outer peripheral region and hand-hold means integrally formed therein for lifting the planar support surface structure by hand, said planar support surface structure having oppositely facing upper and lower surfaces, the entire upper surface of said planar support surface structure extending to the outer peripheral region being located in a common plane, the entire lower surface of said planar support surface structure extending to the outer peripheral region being located in a common plane, said planar support surface structure being comprised of two skin layers and a core with planer upper and lower surfaces positioned between the two skin layers, each of the skin layers being comprised of a fiber reinforced composite material, the core being secured to the two skin layers and being located adjacent only outer peripheral regions of the two skin layers so that a central region between said two skin layers is devoid of the core, the support surface structure having sufficient integral transverse strength to support a patient when the support surface structure is carried or suspended by at least portions of the longitudinal edges thereof; and

wherein the composite material provides said support surface structure having said strength and possesses a sufficiently light weight to enable practical hand lifting thereof with a patient thereon.

18. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 17, wherein the fibers in the composite are oriented to provided desired strength properties.

19. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 18, wherein the fibers are oriented to provide higher rigidity and lower flexibility in a transverse direction than in a longitudinal direction.

20. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 19, wherein the support surface structure comprises at least two separate segments, and hinge means for connecting said two segments to one another and for allowing said two segments to be folded relative to one another so that one segment is stacked on the other segment.

21. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 20, wherein the hinge means includes said two skin layers being in contact and sealed to one another in an area that is devoid of said core so that the two segments can be folded with respect to one another in the sealed area.

22. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 20, wherein the hinge means comprises a flexible material connected to the two segments and located between facing transverse edges of the two segments, the flexible material having a portion of reduced thickness to facilitate folding of the two segments.

23. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 17, wherein the structure is adapted for use in a magnetic resonance imaging device.

24. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 23, wherein the structure is translucent for use in an x-ray device.

25. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 17, wherein the structure is radio translucent for use in an x-ray device.

26. A multipurpose patient support surface, comprising:

a planar support device having a top and a bottom planar surface, four corners, and a periphery, the entire top surface of said support device extending to the periphery lying in a common plane, the entire bottom surface of said support device extending to the periphery lying in a common plane;

integral strengthening means for strengthening the planar support device in a transverse direction and in a longitudinal direction; and

at least a portion of the strengthening means being comprised of a laminate that includes load bearing skin layers having exterior and interior surfaces, and including a core with planar upper and lower surfaces positioned between and in contact with the interior surfaces of the skin layers, said core comprising a plastic foam material positioned adjacent only an outer periphery of the skin layers so that a central region between said skin layers is devoid of said core, each of said skin layers having an outer peripheral region, the entire exterior surface of each skin layer lying in a common plane.

27. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 26, wherein one of the load bearing skin layers is formed of a composite material formed with oriented fibers.

28. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 26, wherein the core is formed of a honeycomb material.

29. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 26, wherein the core material is flexible.

30. A multipurpose patient support surface, comprising:

a first substantially rectangular support surface segment having two transverse edges and two longitudinal edges, and a second substantially rectangular support surface segment having two transverse edges and two longitudinal edges, the first and second support surface segments being rigid in a transverse and a longitudinal direction;

folding and connecting member for connecting the first and second support surface segments to one another along facing transverse edges and for permitting the first support surface segment to be folded relative to the second support surface segment, in a longitudinal direction, the folding member comprising flexible hinge material that is located between, in contact with and, covers substantially the entire facing transverse edges of the first support surface segment and the second support surface segment so that the facing transverse edges of the first and second support surface segments are spaced apart from one another with the flexible material located therebetween, the flexible hinge material having flexibility sufficient to allow the first and second support surface segments to be folded relative to one another, the flexible hinge material being disposed relative to said facing transverse edges of the first and second support surface segments so as to isolate said facing transverse edges from a surrounding outside environment; and

means for locking the first support surface segment in coplanar relation to the second support surface segment to form a substantially planar support surface structure having a top and a bottom planar surface, four corners, and a periphery;

wherein at least a portion of each support surface segment is formed of composite material comprising fiber reinforcing elements oriented to provide rigidity in one direction and flexibility in another direction.

31. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 30, wherein each support surface segment is comprised of two skin layers fabricated of said composite material and a core positioned between said two skin layers, said core being positioned adjacent only a peripheral region of the two skin layers so that a central region between said two skin layers is devoid of said core, said flexible hinge material being attached to oppositely facing surfaces on each of the first and second support surface segments, said flexible hinge material having a portion of reduced thickness to facilitate folding of the first and second support surface segments.

32. A multipurpose patient support surface as set forth in claim 30, wherein each support surface segment is comprised of two skin layers fabricated of said composite material and a core positioned between said two skin layers, said core being positioned adjacent only a peripheral region of the two skin layers so that a central region between said two skin layers is devoid of said core, said flexible hinge material comprising said two skin layers being in contact and sealed to one another in an area that is devoid of said core and in an area that is located between said facing transverse edges so that the first and second support surface segments can be folded with respect to one another in the sealed area.