Systems and methods for transferring patients
First Claim
1. A patient transfer apparatus comprising:
- a housing with first and second opposing sides coupled to first and second opposing ends, the ends dimensioned for the housing to span a distance between a first surface proximate the first side and a second surface proximate the second side;
a support bridge positioned at least partially within and coupled to the housing, wherein the support bridge is spaced between the first and second sides and supported by the housing to define a channel therein;
a continuous belt disposed for motion about the support bridge and extending through the channel defined in the housing, the continuous belt configured to transfer a patient from the first surface at the first side of the housing to the second surface at the second side of the housing; and
a single-use transfer sheet removably attached to the continuous belt with a portion inserted into the channel between the continuous belt and the housing, wherein the single-use transfer sheet is configured for transferring the patient from the first surface to the second surface by pulling on the single-use transfer sheet to place the patient onto the continuous belt such that the patient is supported on the support bridge in conveying relationship with the continuous belt.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for transferring a patient or other body comprises a housing, a support bridge at least partially disposed within the housing, and a continuous belt disposed about the support bridge. The housing is formed with first and second sides coupled to first and second ends, and dimensioned to span between first and second surfaces. The support bridge is coupled to the housing, spaced from and supported between the first and second sides to define a channel through the housing. The continuous belt extends through the channel to transfer a body from the first surface at the first side of the housing to the second surface at the second side, with the body supported on the bridge in conveying relationship upon the continuous belt.
78 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A patient transfer apparatus comprising:
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a housing with first and second opposing sides coupled to first and second opposing ends, the ends dimensioned for the housing to span a distance between a first surface proximate the first side and a second surface proximate the second side; a support bridge positioned at least partially within and coupled to the housing, wherein the support bridge is spaced between the first and second sides and supported by the housing to define a channel therein; a continuous belt disposed for motion about the support bridge and extending through the channel defined in the housing, the continuous belt configured to transfer a patient from the first surface at the first side of the housing to the second surface at the second side of the housing; and a single-use transfer sheet removably attached to the continuous belt with a portion inserted into the channel between the continuous belt and the housing, wherein the single-use transfer sheet is configured for transferring the patient from the first surface to the second surface by pulling on the single-use transfer sheet to place the patient onto the continuous belt such that the patient is supported on the support bridge in conveying relationship with the continuous belt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for transferring a patient from a first surface to a second surface, the method comprising:
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spanning between the first surface and the second surface with a patient transfer apparatus comprising a housing with first and second opposing sides coupled to first and second opposing ends, the ends dimensioned for the housing to span a distance between the first surface proximate the first side and the second surface proximate the second side; removably attaching a single-use transfer sheet to a continuous belt disposed about a support bridge positioned at least partially within and coupled to the housing, wherein a portion of the single-use transfer sheet is inserted into a channel between the continuous belt and the housing; and transferring the patient from the first surface to the second surface by pulling on the single-use transfer sheet to place the patient on the continuous belt disposed about the support bridge, wherein the support bridge is spaced between the first and second sides and supported by the housing to define the channel therein; and wherein the support bridge is further spaced from the first and second sides of the housing to support the patient in conveying relationship with the continuous belt disposed for motion about the support bridge and extending through the channel defined in the housing, the single-use transfer sheet and continuous belt configured to transfer a body of the patient from the first surface at the first side of the housing to the second surface at the second side of the housing with the body supported on the support bridge in the conveying relationship with the continuous belt. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification