Pediatric emergency transport device

• US 20080086817A1
• Filed: 10/16/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pediatric Medical Devices
• Original Assignee: Pediatric Medical Devices
• Inventors: Zucker, Stefanie, Ciappenelli, Robert, Bergh, Charles, Hantke, Suzanne
• Application Number:
  US11/974,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20080086817A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/603
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/04 Parts, details or accessories, e.g. head-, foot-, or like rests specially adapted for stretchers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/14 Children
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/70 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/90 for heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0504 Harnesses or restraining devices in order to evacuate a patient with the mattress, e.g. in situations of emergency, disaster or fire restraining in general A61F5/37

Abstract

A device for emergency transport of pediatric patients that safely and efficiently transports a pediatric patient to a medical facility is described. The device facilitates a variety of rapid attachment mechanisms to support emergency medical personnel'"'"'s ongoing need to quickly transport pediatric patients despite continuously, significantly changing specifications for conventional stretchers. Additionally, the device provides for safer, more stable transport of infants and more effective treatment of children with severe temperature imbalances.

Claims

1. A pediatric emergency transport device comprising:

a frame comprising (1) an upper frame section having an outer upper frame periphery formed from a first upper edge, a first lower edge and opposite first side edges extending from said first upper edge to said first lower edge, (2) a lower frame section having an outer lower frame periphery formed from a second upper edge, a second lower edge and opposite second side edges extending from said second upper edge to said second lower edge, and (3) at least one hinge assembly (i) positioned between said first lower edge of said upper frame section and said second upper edge of said lower frame section, (ii) connecting said first lower edge of said upper frame section to said second upper edge of said lower frame section, and (iii) enabling rotation of said upper frame section relative to said lower frame section, said upper frame section in combination with said lower frame section providing a receiving surface for receiving a pediatric patient thereupon; and

an adjustable restraint assembly coupled to the frame for restraining the pediatric patient against the receiving surface during transport, said adjustable restraint assembly comprising (1) a pair of shoulder belts extending through the receiving surface of said upper frame section and longitudinally along said upper frame section, and (2) a leg belt extending along said lower frame section, wherein a position of an upper portion of each shoulder belt is adjustable along the receiving surface of said upper frame section from a front of the device so as to accommodate varying sizes of pediatric patients without removing the pediatric patient from the device;

said pediatric emergency transport device being operatively adapted for attachment to and detachment from a conventional stretcher,

wherein said upper frame section is pivotally hinged to said lower frame section via said at least one hinge assembly so as to be movable from (i) a first configuration wherein a first portion of the receiving surface of said upper frame section is substantially parallel to and facing a second portion of the receiving surface of said lower frame section to (ii) a second configuration wherein the first portion of the receiving surface of said upper frame section is substantially horizontal with and adjacent to the second portion of the receiving surface of said lower frame section.

2. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 1, wherein said outer upper frame periphery and said outer lower frame periphery are each free of any additional hinge assemblies other than said at least one hinge assembly that connects said first lower edge of said upper frame section to said second upper edge of said lower frame section.

3. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 1, wherein said upper frame section is operatively adapted to pivot from a flat position to an angular position while said lower frame section is attached to the conventional stretcher.

4. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 1, further comprising a pad dimensioned for placement between the receiving surface and the pediatric patient during transport, said pad extending continuously and longitudinally along said receiving surface from an upper area of said upper frame section to a lower area of said lower frame member, wherein said pad comprises (i) a cover layer that resists transfer of bodily fluids and germs from the pediatric patient onto the receiving surface of the device and (ii) slots within the pad, said slots sized so that said shoulder belts and said leg belt may extend therethrough.

5. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 4, wherein said pad further comprises an indentation extending along and within an upper portion of said pad, said indentation being operatively adapted to provide support for a head of the pediatric patient.

6. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 5, wherein said pad further comprises at least one heating or cooling element operatively adapted to heat or cool the pediatric patient.

7. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 4, wherein said pad further comprises at least one heating or cooling element operatively adapted to heat or cool the pediatric patient.

8. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 4, further comprising a removable disposable cushion that is dimensioned for placement over said pad.

9. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 8, wherein the removable disposable cushion comprises a central perforation to allow the cushion to be torn in half and removed from beneath the pediatric patient.

10. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 9, wherein the removable disposable cushion further comprises cushion slots within the cushion, said cushion slots sized so that said shoulder belts and said leg belt may extend therethrough, wherein said cushion slots comprise (i) a first slot having an inverted goalpost configuration that extends from an upper edge of said cushion towards a central portion of said cushion, and (ii) a second slot having a “

T”

configuration that extends from a lower edge of said cushion towards said central portion of said cushion.

11. The removable disposable cushion recited in claim 10.

12. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 1, wherein said upper frame section comprises a first backboard engagement area between said opposite first side edges, said lower frame section comprises a second backboard engagement area between said opposite second side edges, and said first and second backboard engagement areas being operatively adapted for receiving and engaging with a pediatric backboard above the receiving surface when said pediatric emergency transport device is in said second configuration.

13. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 1, further comprising at least one storage compartment embedded in an exterior wall of said upper frame section, said lower frame section, or both for storage of pediatric patient treatment supplies, wherein full access to said at least one storage compartment and its contents is available even when a pediatric backboard is engaged with a backboard engagement area of the device.

14. A pediatric emergency transport device comprising:

a frame comprising (1) an upper frame section having an outer upper frame periphery, (2) a lower frame section having an outer lower frame periphery, and (3) at least one hinge assembly (i) positioned between said upper frame section and said lower frame section, and (ii) enabling rotation of said upper frame section relative to said lower frame section, said upper frame section in combination with said lower frame section providing a receiving surface for receiving a pediatric patient thereupon; and

an adjustable restraint assembly coupled to the frame for restraining the pediatric patient against the receiving surface during transport, said adjustable restraint assembly comprising (1) a pair of shoulder belts extending through the receiving surface of said upper frame section and longitudinally along said upper frame section, and (2) a leg belt extending along said lower frame section;

said pediatric emergency transport device being operatively adapted for attachment to and detachment from a conventional stretcher,

wherein said upper frame section is pivotally hinged to said lower frame section via said at least one hinge assembly so as to be movable from (i) a first configuration wherein a first portion of the receiving surface of said upper frame section is substantially parallel to and facing a second portion of the receiving surface of said lower frame section to (ii) a second configuration wherein the first portion of the receiving surface of said upper frame section is substantially horizontal with and adjacent to the second portion of the receiving surface of said lower frame section; and

wherein said outer upper frame periphery and said outer lower frame periphery are each free of any additional hinge assemblies other than said at least one hinge assembly that connects said first lower edge of said upper frame section to said second upper edge of said lower frame section.

15. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 14, wherein a position of an upper portion of each shoulder belt is adjustable along the receiving surface of said upper frame section from a front of the device so as to accommodate varying sizes of pediatric patients without removing the pediatric patient from the device.

16. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 14, further comprising a pad dimensioned for placement between the receiving surface and the pediatric patient during transport, said pad extending continuously and longitudinally along said receiving surface from an upper area of said upper frame section to a lower area of said lower frame member, wherein said pad comprises (i) a cover layer that resists transfer of bodily fluids and germs from the pediatric patient onto the receiving surface of the device, (ii) slots within the pad, said slots sized so that said shoulder belts and said leg belt may extend therethrough, (iii) an optional indentation extending along and within an upper portion of said pad, said indentation being operatively adapted to provide support for a head of the pediatric patient, and (iv) at least one optional heating or cooling element operatively adapted to heat or cool the pediatric patient.

17. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 14, further comprising a clamp assembly operatively adapted to secure said device to a stretcher.

18. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 17, wherein said clamp assembly comprises a two-part clamp assembly having a clamp mechanism positioned along said device and a receiving clamp member positioned along said stretcher, wherein said clamp mechanism is operatively adapted to releasably connect to said receiving clamp member.

19. The pediatric emergency transport device of claim 18, wherein said clamp mechanism comprises (i) a housing member having a lower housing surface, and (ii) a grasping device or finger that enables said device to be releasably secured to said receiving clamp member, said grasping device or finger being positioned within said housing member such that a lower end of said grasping device or finger is positioned above said lower housing surface.

20. A pediatric emergency transport device comprising:

a frame comprising (1) an upper frame section having an outer upper frame periphery formed from a first upper edge, a first lower edge and opposite first side edges extending from said first upper edge to said first lower edge, (2) a lower frame section having an outer lower frame periphery formed from a second upper edge, a second lower edge and opposite second side edges extending from said second upper edge to said second lower edge, and (3) at least one hinge assembly (i) positioned between said first lower edge of said upper frame section and said second upper edge of said lower frame section, (ii) connecting said first lower edge of said upper frame section to said second upper edge of said lower frame section, and (iii) enabling rotation of said upper frame section relative to said lower frame section, said upper frame section in combination with said lower frame section providing a receiving surface for receiving a pediatric patient thereupon;

an adjustable restraint assembly coupled to the frame for restraining the pediatric patient against the receiving surface during transport, said adjustable restraint assembly comprising (1) a pair of shoulder belts extending through the receiving surface of said upper frame section and longitudinally along said upper frame section, and (2) a leg belt extending along said lower frame section, wherein a position of an upper portion of each shoulder belt is adjustable along the receiving surface of said upper frame section from a front of the device so as to accommodate varying sizes of pediatric patients without removing the pediatric patient from the device; and

a pad dimensioned for placement between the receiving surface and the pediatric patient during transport, said pad extending continuously and longitudinally along said receiving surface from an upper area of said upper frame section to a lower area of said lower frame member, wherein said pad comprises (i) a cover layer that resists transfer of bodily fluids and germs from the pediatric patient onto the receiving surface of the device, (ii) slots within the pad, said slots sized so that said shoulder belts and said leg belt may extend therethrough, (iii) an optional indentation extending along and within an upper portion of said pad, said indentation being operatively adapted to provide support for a head of the pediatric patient, and (iv) at least one optional heating or cooling element operatively adapted to heat or cool the pediatric patient;

said pediatric emergency transport device being operatively adapted for attachment to and detachment from a conventional stretcher,

wherein said upper frame section is pivotally hinged to said lower frame section via said at least one hinge assembly so as to be movable from (i) a first configuration wherein a first portion of the receiving surface of said upper frame section is substantially parallel to and facing a second portion of the receiving surface of said lower frame section to (ii) a second configuration wherein the first portion of the receiving surface of said upper frame section is substantially horizontal with and adjacent to the second portion of the receiving surface of said lower frame section.