Abstract:
A apparatus such as a stretcher or guerney, and method, for engaging acquiring and transporting an injured person or some other person or object. The apparatus comprises a base, housing or frame having a low clearance portion; a first conveyance assembly movably connected to the housing for moving the housing with respect to the ground or another base surface; a second conveyance assembly movably connected to the housing for moving the person or object with respect to the housing; and a power member for moving the first and second conveyance assemblies. The apparatus is liftable by other persons to transport the person or object to another location. The method comprises the steps of moving a housing having a low clearance portion so that the low clearance portion moves toward and under the person or object; and moving the person or object relative to the housing. The device and method are mechanized and substantially automated. The device moves so that the person or object remains stationary during loading.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates, generally, to human medical devices and methods. More particularly, the invention relates to an emergency medical transport device and method. Most particularly, the invention relates to an emergency medical transport device for engaging and acquiring an injured person such as an injured athlete or accident victim who is suspected of having a neck or spinal injury, without the necessity of lifting the injured person. The apparatus and methods of this invention may be applicable to other fields such as veterinary medical, materials handling, and the like.  
           [0003]    2. Background Information  
           [0004]    The state of the art includes stretchers, gurneys and boards.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,418,670 issued Dec. 31, 1968 to Morgan discloses a roller stretcher with a pair of endless belt which are wound over respective upper and lower guides. A driving mechanism rotates one of the guides sot that one of the belts is moved. The belts are in frictional contact with each other whereby the non driven belt is moved by frictional contact with the driven belt. The stretcher has a complicated structure. Replacement of belts is difficult and time consuming. And, slippage can occur as a result of the frictionally coupled belts. Slippage can compromise the comfort and safety of the patient being transported.  
           [0006]    The background art are includes U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,005 issued Apr. 3, 1973 to Stevens which discloses a stretcher with an endless belt-cable or chain system which utilizes a non-endless belt which is coupled at both of its ends to a non-endless cable or chain. The non-endless belt is alternately wound and unwound around drums to move a patient. The background art also includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,466B1 issued Jun. 25, 2002 to Blotta which discloses a stretcher for the non-traumatic transport and lifting of people. It has a frame with beams with toothed bars, an inclined plate between the frame, a flexible sheet around the plate. A driving base moves the bars and causes the inclined plate to move.  
           [0007]    This technology is believed to have significant limitations and shortcomings, including but not limited to, that they require lifting, sliding, rolling or otherwise moving an injured person onto the device for transportation.  
           [0008]    For this and other reasons, a need exists for the present invention.  
           [0009]    This invention provides a medical transport apparatus for an injured person which is believed to fulfil the need and to constitute an improvement over the background technology.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention provides an apparatus and method for acquiring and transporting an injured person.  
           [0011]    In one aspect, the invention provides a device or apparatus for engaging, acquiring and transporting an object, particulary a person, and most particularly an injured person comprising:  
           [0012]    a. a base, housing or frame having a low clearance portion;  
           [0013]    b. a first conveyance assembly movably connected to the base for moving the base with respect to the ground;  
           [0014]    c. a second conveyance assembly movably connected to the base for moving the person with respect to the frame; and  
           [0015]    d. a driver mechanism for driving the conveyance assemblies.  
           [0016]    In another aspect, the invention provides a method of acquiring and transporting an object, particulary a person and most particularly an injured person, comprising the steps of:  
           [0017]    a. moving a base or housing having a low clearance portion so that the low clearance portion moves toward and under the person; and  
           [0018]    b. moving the person relative to the base.  
           [0019]    Advantages and features of the invention include but are not necessarily limited to that the device and method are mechanized and substantially automated, that the device moves so that the patient remains stationary during loading, and that the device and method are easy and safe for the operator(s) and the patient. The apparatus and method do not require lifting, sliding, rolling the injured person onto the device for transportation.  
           [0020]    The features, benefits and objects of this invention will become clear to those skilled in the art by reference to the following description, claims, if any, and drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1-is a perspective view of one embodiment of the medical transport apparatus of the invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of another embodiment of the medical transport apparatus.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a top or plan view of the medical transport apparatus of FIG. 2.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of the medical transport apparatus of FIG. 2.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a top view of the medical transport apparatus with portions removed for clarity and to show internal structure.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is a side view of the medical transport apparatus showing some internal parts.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is an opposite side view of the medical transport apparatus showing some internal parts.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 is an end view of the medical transport apparatus showing some internal parts.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 is a top view of a portion of the medical transport apparatus.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 is a side view of a portion of the medical transport apparatus.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 11 is an opposite side view of the portion of the medical transport apparatus shown in FIG. 10.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 12 is an end view of the portion of the medical transport apparatus shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 13 is an enlarged side view of the portion of the medical transport apparatus shown in FIG. 10.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 14 is an enlarged side view of the portion of the medical transport apparatus shown in FIG. 11.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 15 is a top view of side chassis of the medical transport apparatus.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 16 is a side view of one of the chassis.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 17 is a side view of another chassis.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 18 is an end view of the chassis.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 19 is a top view of the chassis and handles.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 20 is an end view of the chassis and handles shown in FIG. 19.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 21 is a top view of the belt glide bed of the medical transport apparatus.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 22 is a side view of the belt glide bed.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 23 is an end view of the belt glide bed.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 24 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the medical transport apparatus embodiment of FIG. 1.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 25 is a view of another portion of the apparatus embodiment of FIG. 24.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 26 is a view of another portion of the apparatus embodiment of FIG. 25.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 27 shows a portion of the drive mechanism of the apparatus embodiments of FIGS. 24-26.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 28 shows an embodiment of motors of the drive mechanism of the apparatus.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIGS. 29  a  and  b  show an embodiment of the control panel of the apparatus.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 30 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of the control system of the apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0051]    The present invention provides an apparatus and method for engaging, acquiring and transporting an injured person. Example embodiments of the medical transport apparatus of the present invention are illustrated.  
         [0052]    The device is mechanized and substantially automated. The device and method function by moving so that a patient remains stationary during loading. Although the description of the apparatus and method of the invention are in terms of an injured person, it is within the purview of the invention that the apparatus and process may be used with a non-injured person (for example elderly or restrained persons), animals or objects.  
         [0053]    The benefits of the invention include, but are not necessarily limited to that the apparatus and method do not require lifting, sliding, or rolling the injured person onto the device for transportation.  
         [0054]    Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the medical transport device  100  comprises a base or housing  110 , a top belt  112 , a bottom belt  113  and a handle  114 . The base  110  preferably has a rectangular configuration as viewed from the top, with a front end  115  and a back end  116 .  
         [0055]    Referring to FIGS. 2-4, another embodiment of the medical transport device which is substantially similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The device  10  comprises a base or housing  11 , a top belt  12 , a bottom belt  13  and a handle  14 . The base  11  preferably has a rectangular configuration as viewed from the top, with a front end  15  and a back end  16 . The base  11  has a preferred approximate length of 74 in. and width of 25 in. The front end  15  has a low profile and is disposed low to the ground so that the device  10  has approximate front height of ⅝ in. The base  11  provides an incline to a height at the back end  16  of about 6 in.  
         [0056]    The top belt  12  is operatively connected to the frame  11 . The top belt  12  is an endless belt with a longitudinal, top travel length substantially equivalent to the length of the base  11 . It is preferably constructed of a flexible, polymeric material such as a food grade nylon backed rubber belt. The top belt  12  rotates in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 and at a preferred predetermined speed of approximately 0.133 feet per second. This permits loading of a 6 foot tall person in approximately 45 seconds. The top belt  12  moves a patient (not shown) from the front end  15  towards the rear end  16 . The bottom belt  13  also has and endless configuration and is operatively connected to the base  11 . It has a longitudinal, bottom travel length of about ⅔ the length of the base  11 . The bottom belt  13  is preferably constructed of a flexible, polymeric material. The material is preferably the same as the top belt  12 . The bottom belt  13  preferably has a tred pattern on its outer face for surface traction. The bottom belt  13  rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, and perferably at a predetermined speed which is idential to that of the top belt  12  for a smooth contact loading force. Alternatively the speed can be changed to permit compression or decompression of a patient during loading. The speed may also be variable.  
         [0057]    The bottom belt  13  engages the ground or another such surface or substrate, and moves the medical transport device  10  toward and under the patient simultaneously as the top belt  12  engages the patient and moves the patient onto the device  10 . Although the patient is typically loaded head first, loading may be accomplished feet first. Unloading of a patient is accomplished by running the device  10  belts  12  and  13  in reverse. The patient is thus gently loaded and unloaded without lifting or manipulating the patient. Although the top and bottom belts  12  and  13  are shown and described as single structures, it is within the purview of the invention that they may be constructed as plural structures disposed side by side, and connected or not connected to each other.  
         [0058]    The handles  14   a  and  b  are connected to the base  11  and provides a means of moving the patient transport device into a position for loading and unloading a patient, and for moving the patient when he or she is disposed on the device  10 . The handles  14   a  and  b  are preferably disposed on the sides of the base  11  and extend from near the rear end  15  approximately ⅔ the length of the device  10 . However, the handle  14  may have a longer length. Also, the handle  14  may have a unitary configuration and extend around the rear end  15  of the device  10 . After loading of the patient, the device  10  may lifted by one or more users to transport the patient to another location such as an ambulance, helicopter, or other emergency vehicle or craft, a clinic or a hospital. The device is preferably light in weight and constructed of light weight materials.  
         [0059]    Referring also to FIGS. 5-9, the base or housing  11  preferably comprises a frame  18 , at least two upper rollers  19  and  20 , at least two lower rollers  22  and  23 , and a drive mechanism  25 . The rollers  19 ,  20 ,  22  and  23  in combination with the belts  12  and  13  define conveyance assemblies or mechanisms. Upper drive roller  19  is disposed proximate the rear end  16  of the apparatus  10  and arranged laterally with respect to the overall elongated apparatus  10 . It has a cylindrical configuration with a predetermined diameter. Upper idler roller  20  is disposed proximate the front end  15  of the apparatus  10  and arranged laterally. It has a cylindrical configuration and a predetermined diameter less than that of the upper drive roller  19  whereby the apparatus  10  front end  15  has a low profile. Referring also to FIG. 9-12, the inner surface of top belt  12  is wrapped around upper drive roller  19 , the belt glide bed  31 , and upper idler roller  20 . The outer surface of top belt  12  is engaged by an upper tensioning belt  21  disposed proximate upper drive roller  19 .  
         [0060]    The inner surface of bottom belt  13  is wrapped around lower drive roller  22 , lower intermediate idler rollers  24   a  and  b , and lower front end idler roller  24 . Lower drive roller  22  is disposed proximate the rear end  16  of the apparatus  10  and arranged laterally. It has a cylindrical configuration with a predetermined diameter. Lower front end idler roller  23  is disposed toward the front end  15  of the apparatus  10 , a predetermined distance from the lower drive roller  22 , and arranged laterally. It has a cylindrical configuration and a predetermined diameter less than that of the lower drive roller  22  whereby the apparatus  10  front end  15  has a low profile. Intermediate lower idler rollers  24   a  and  b  are arranged laterally and parallel to each other a predetermined distance apart.  
         [0061]    The frame  11  comprises a pair of chassis sides  29   a  and  b , spacers  30   a - d , and a belt glide bed  31 . The frame  11  primarily provides structural support to the remaining elements of the apparatus  10 . Referring also to FIGS. 15-18, the chassis sides  29  are longitudinally disposed and have a predetermined configuration and length. The chassis side configuration includes straight sides forming an incline with radius ends. Referring also to FIGS. 19 and 20, the spacers  30  have a predetermined length and are laterally disposed and connect the chassis sides  29 . The spacers  30  are disposed parallel to each other a predetermined distance apart from each other. Referring also to FIGS. 21-23, belt glide bed  31  is shown. Preferably, the glide bed  31  is a unitary or one piece structure which is rigidly connected to the chassis sides  29 , for example by welding or fabrication. Alternatively, the glide bed  31  may be constructed of plural pieces or may be connected to the chassis sides  29  by known fasteners. The gide bed  31  is preferably flat, but may have a contoured surface.  
         [0062]    Also as shown in FIGS. 5-8, the upper and lower drive rollers  19  and  22 , and hence the belts  12  and  13 , are powered by a drive mechanism  25 . Referring also to FIGS. 13 and 14, one embodiment of the drive mechanism  25  basically comprises a battery powered motor  35 , a first belt  38 , and a second belt  43 . Motor  35  is preferably an aviation quality, high torque motor. An exemplary motor is provided by Quantum of Minnesota, USA. Motor  35  has power shaft  36  which is connected to motor pulley  37 . First belt  38  is communicatively connected to motor pulley  37  and to lower drive pulley  39 . Lower drive pulley  39  is connected to and drives first gear  40 . First gear  40  is communicatively connected to and drives second gear  42 . Second belt  43  communicatively connects second gear  42  to third gear  44 . Third gear  44  is communicatively connected to upper drive hub  45 . Lower drive roller  22  is connected to lower drive hub  41  which is connected to first gear  40 , which thus supplies ground transportation power to lower belt  13 . Upper drive roller  19  is connected to upper drive hub  45 , which thus supplies patient transportation power to upper belt  12 . This drive mechanism  25  configuration permits synchronized powering of both the upper and lower belts  12  and  13  via the single motor  35 . These drive mechanism  25  components are disposed internally, between the chassis sides  29   a  and  b  of the frame  18 . The drive mechanism components essentially define a transmission connecting the motor  35  to the upper and lower drive rollers  19  and  22 .  
         [0063]    Referring to FIGS. 24-26, an alternative embodiment of the apparatus  110  is shown which has a substantially similar structure and function to the apparatus  10 . Elements or aspects of apparatus  110  which have a structure or function substantially similar to elements or aspects of apparatus  10  have the same numerical designation except that is a one hundred series (100) number. In other words, for example, upper or top belt  112  in device  100  is substantially similar to top belt  12  of device  10 .  
         [0064]    Apparatus  110  has rigid, linear, lateral stabilizers  160 . Referring also to FIGS. 27 and 28, drive mechanism  125  includes a battery system  164 , a control circuit  165 , a high torque motor  135  and a gear box  166  connected to the motor  135 , both of which are covered by housing cover  170 . The gear box  166  is preferably a planetary-type gear box which is connected to the motor  135  and converts the motor drive speed to a prefered drive speed of approximately 10 RPM. Gear box  166  has a drive shaft/sprocket set  171   a . Shaft/sprocket set  171   b  is driven by drive shaft/sprocket set  171   a  via a pair of gears (not shown) connected to shafts  171   a  and  b  and an intermediary gear (not shown). Drive shaft sprocket/shaft set  171   a  is communicatively connected to roller sprocket/shaft combination  172   a  (coupled to lower drive roller  122 ) via drive chain  173   a . Shaft/sprocket set  171   b  is coupled to roller sprocket/shaft combination  172   b  (coupled to upper drive roller  119 ) via drive chain  173   b . This permits synchronized driving of the lower and upper belts  113  and  112 . Alternatively, plural motors may be used or the belts may be driven at different speeds.  
         [0065]    [0065]FIGS. 29  a  and  b  show control panel  180  comprising an on/off switch  181 , an actuation control lever  182  and a battery recharger receptacle  183 . On/off switch  181  preferably has a built in indicator light. Actuation control lever  182  is rotatable in forward and reverse directions corresponding to forward and reverse directions for the apparatus. Lever  182  preferably automatically returns to a neutral position when released by the user. Preferably, the control system has a lag period of a predetermined time, most preferably approximately 5 seconds, whereby when the user moves the lever the system powers up from 0 speed to the predetermined maximum speed (for example 0.133 feet per second) over the lag period. Acceleration is preferably substantially linear. Also, when the lever is released by the user, the system slowly powers down from the normal travel speed to a stop. This smooths transitions and loading, prevents sudden stops, and minimizes trauma. Preferably, the system can be suddenly stopped in an emergency by moving the lever from one direction to the opposite direction. FIG. 30 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of control circuitry of the apparatus  10 .  
         [0066]    Although the device and method shown and described above is configured as a stretcher, it is within the purview of the invention that the device could be configured as a guerney, for example with legs. Additionally, although the device and method are shown and described for use with respect to an injured human being, they can be used for non-injured humans, injured or non-injured animals other than humans such as in a veteinary medical setting, and non-animal objects such as in a materials handling setting.  
         [0067]    The descriptions above and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not the limited sense. While the invention has been disclosed in connection with an embodiment or embodiments thereof, it should be understood that there may be other embodiments which fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Where a claim, if any, is expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function it is intended that such claim be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof, including both structural equivalents and equivalent structures, material-based equivalents and equivalent materials, and act-based equivalents and equivalent acts.