Abstract:
A medical bag is described that has a carrying configuration and a dispensing configuration and comprises a handle for carrying the bag and a space within the bag for accommodating a tapered storage drawer, the space tapering from a wide end to a narrow end and the drawer being of a corresponding shape to the space. When the bag is carried by the handle in the carrying configuration, the bottom surface of the space slopes down towards the narrow end so that gravity acts to force the drawer towards the narrow end of the space; however, because of its size, the drawer cannot pass through the narrow end of the space, thereby retaining the tapered storage drawer within the space.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of Great Britain Patent Application No. 1017650.1, filed Oct. 20, 2010, and Great Britain Patent Application No. 1104749.5, filed Mar. 21, 2011, which applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a product that stores and transports items necessary for providing medical care, including emergency care, urgent care, planned care, maternity nursing, sample taking, health demonstrations, veterinary care and other functions performed by healthcare professionals. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0003]    The nursing bag is an essential tool for healthcare professionals when delivering care to patients or animals outside of hospitals and in the community or patient homes. 
         [0004]    In hospitals, the medical trolley is an essential item of equipment to support the delivery of treatments by providing a sterile lay-down surface for clinical items. Unlike hospitals every patient&#39;s home is different and therefore seen as an uncontrollable clinical environment. Clinicians delivering treatments in this context are required to improvise as they often work off the floor, from a table or off a chair seat. Conventional nursing bags do not provide a professional, safe and consistent work zone to support the preparation and delivery of clinical treatments. Furthermore research evidence highlights: (i) patient safety concerns as traditional nursing bags are manufactured from permeable materials that harbour bacteria; (ii) bags utilising traditional zips, clips and fasteners inhibits effective hand-cleaning to minimise the presence of bacteria; (iii) separation of treatment space from storage receptacles exacerbates the problem of excessive bending and reaching during treatment delivery; (iv) storage of items in pockets inhibits the quick identification and retrieval of items; leading to nurses searching through pockets to find required items. 
         [0005]    The Health &amp; Safety at Work Act (1974) provides a statutory legal requirement for employers to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees at work. The wellbeing of employees is enhanced further through the Provision and Use of Work Equipment (1998); a statutory law requiring employers to ensure that workers are equipped with safe and fit for purpose equipment to perform their roles. 
         [0006]    Patient safety is a prerequisite quality of any medical device. Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) such as Meticillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) are now considered to be a main disease threat in Europe. Research suggests the proliferation of drug-resistance infections in the community such as MRSA makes nursing bags both outdated and dangerous. The National Patient Safety Agency does not specify direct guidelines for the cleaning of nursing bags used in the community. The absence of a structured cleaning regime together with the high number of patients nurses visited each day (&lt;17) raised concerns for the transfer/harbouring of pathogens. 
         [0007]    Observations revealed the absence of equipment specifically designed to support professionals working in this inconsistent setting. Fieldwork activities captured the practice of using bags specifically designed for non-healthcare applications: camera bags, plastic toolboxes and accountant cases. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    According to the present invention, there is provided a medical bag that has a carrying configuration and a dispensing configuration and comprises:
       a handle for carrying the bag,   a space within the bag for accommodating a tapered storage insert, the space tapering from a wide end to a narrow end,
 
wherein, when the bag is carried by the handle in the carrying configuration, the space has a bottom surface for supporting the insert and wherein the bottom surface slopes downwardly towards the narrow end of the tapered space so that gravity acts to force the insert towards the narrow end of the space, thereby retaining the tapered storage insert within the space.
       
 
         [0011]    As used herein, the term “configuration” includes the orientation of the medical bag as well as the situation in which the overall shape of the bag is changed from one configuration to another. 
         [0012]    The essence of the present invention lies in the provision of a tapered insert within a medical bag and the provision of a correspondingly shaped space for accommodating the tapered insert. When the medical bag is carried by the handle, the insert should be on its side supported by the sloping bottom surface of the space, which means that the insert is urged by gravity towards the narrow end of the tapered space, thereby holding the drawing in place without the use of fasteners. 
         [0013]    By avoiding the use of fasteners, a very simple case carcass can be provided that can readily be cleaned and disinfected. To that end, the narrow end and the wide end of the space are preferably open so that there are no corners in which infectious materials can be located and which are difficult to clean out. Obviously, the insert is inserted into the space through the wide end of the space and the narrow end of the space is too small to allow the insert to pass out of the space and indeed it is preferred that the narrow end on the space should be the same size or smaller than the small end of the tapering insert. 
         [0014]    The bottom surface of the space could slope towards the narrow end of the space by constructing the bag with such a sloping surface both when the bag is being carried by the handle and when it is resting on a horizontal surface. Alternatively, the surface could slope only when the bag is lifted by the handle, which may be achieved by locating the handle on one side of the center of gravity of the bag so that the bag is tipped when being carried by the handle and, in this tipped orientation, the bottom surface of the space will be correspondingly tipped to slope towards the narrow end of the tapered space so that gravity acts to force the insert towards the narrow end of the space to retain the insert within the space. In this latter arrangement, the bottom surface of the space can be parallel to the base of the case when the case is resting on a horizontal surface. It will be appreciated that both the above arrangements can be provided in a single bag. 
         [0015]    The bag preferably has a rigid carcass in which the tapering space is formed. The carcass may be in the form of a one-piece plastic moulding. 
         [0016]    The term “insert” used herein includes a drawer that a practitioner fills with contents that he wants, and also includes a pre-tilled drawer that is provided by a supplier pre-filled with contents. It also includes a pack (i.e. without a surrounding drawer or container) that can be inserted into and withdrawn from the space(s) in the bag; an example of such an insert pack is a wound dressing pack that is held by a wrapping to form a pack that has a shape corresponding to the shape of the space. Thus an “insert” is anything that can be inserted into the space of the bag and withdrawn from it. Although the insert (including a drawer or pack mentioned above) preferably has a tapered shape, this is not necessary if it is small enough to be inserted into the wide end of the space and is large enough that it cannot pass out of the narrow end of the space. 
         [0017]    As well as providing materials, pharmaceuticals, equipment etc that can be used by the practitioner during a visit to a patient, the bag can also be used to deliver materials, pharmaceuticals, equipment etc to the patient for use after the visit is over and also to remove hazardous material or equipment for safe disposal later, e.g. a biological hazard or a “sharp” such as a catheter or syringe needle, which avoids the patient disposing of such hazards with the household waste. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, the medical bag has two halves connected by a hinge. Each half may have a surface immediately adjacent to the hinge and the bag can be opened up into a dispensing configuration in which the two surfaces lie side-by-side to form a horizontal treatment surface. However, the bag can be closed or folded up into the carrying configuration in which the two surfaces of the halves are vertical and lie flat against each other. 
         [0019]    The two halves of the bag can be constructed from a single plastic moulding and the hinge can be a living hinge. 
         [0020]    The handle can be in the form of an aperture in the two halves so that, when the bag is folded up into its carrying configuration, the handle apertures lie in register, thus forming a single handle. 
         [0021]    In the dispensing configuration, the inserts can lie underneath the treatment surface and provide a support for it, thereby elevating it above ground-level. In the dispensing configuration, the inserts can readily be removed from the spaces within the bag to gain access to medical equipment stored therein. 
         [0022]    An important aspect of the present invention is that it can be made without internal or external protrusions and without zips, clips and fasteners that can inhibit effective cleaning of the medical case. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    There will now be described, by way of example only, two embodiments of the present invention by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows the bag in a dispensing configuration; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows the bag in a carrying configuration; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows the bag in the carrying configuration but resting in the ground; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows the configuration of the bag when lifted by the handle; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is the same as  FIG. 4  but shows, in cross hatching, the position of the drawer within the bag; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  shows the bag without the drawers; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  shows a second embodiment of the bag in a dispensing configuration; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show a plan view and an end view of the bag of  FIG. 7  in a dispensing configuration; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 10 and 11  show a perspective view and an end view of the bag of  FIG. 7  in the folded up or carrying configuration when standing on the ground; and 
           [0033]      FIGS. 12 to 14  show a side view, a plan view and a perspective view of a drawer for use with the bag. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]      FIGS. 2 to 6  show the bag in a carrying or folded-up configuration. As can be seen, the bag has a rigid carcass (see  FIG. 6 ) having two side-by-side spaces  12  for accommodating drawers  14  (see  FIG. 2 ). The drawers can contain medical supplies and can be withdrawn from the spaces in order to gain access to the contents of the drawers. 
         [0035]    The spaces  12  taper from the front of the case  16  to the back of the case, that is to say the height of the space is greater at the front end  16  than at the back end  18 . The drawers  14  have a correspondingly tapered shape so that they can fit in the space and be withdrawn through the front of the case  16  but not through the back of the case  18 . This configuration can be seen especially well in  FIG. 5  where the drawers  14  are shown in crossed hatching. 
         [0036]    When resting on the ground, the bottom surface  17  of the spaces  12  may also be horizontal (as shown) or can slope towards the narrow end of the space (not shown). In the former case, the bag must be tilted when it is picked up and this can be brought about by providing a handle  20  for carrying the case that is arranged to one side of the center of gravity of the case so that it tips when picked up by the handle. The tipping angle should be sufficient to ensure that the drawers  14  do not fall out of the space  12  when being carried and we have found that an angle of 4 to 10 degrees, e.g. 6 degrees, is sufficient for this purpose. 
         [0037]    The arrangement of providing a sloping bottom surface when the case is being carried by the handle allows the bag to dispense with fasteners to retain the drawers within the spaces; such fasteners can be difficult to clean and can harbour microorganisms. 
         [0038]    The case is made in two halves so that it can be opened up to a dispensing configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . As can be seen, each half has a surface  22  that lie side-by-side and that can be used by the medical practitioner to support medical equipment, provide a surface for dressing etc. In this connection, it should be noted that the two surfaces  20  are brought face-to-face when the bag is folded into the carrying configuration shown in  FIGS. 2 to 6  and therefore the support surfaces  22  are protected from infections, thereby helping to maintain the cleanliness and sterility of the surfaces. 
         [0039]    As is also clear from  FIG. 1 , the surfaces  20  extend beyond the drawers to provide a long treatment surface. In these extensions, handle openings  20 ′ are provided that, when the case is folded up into the carrying configuration ( FIGS. 2 to 6 ), the two openings  20 ′ are brought into register to form a single carrying handle  20 . 
         [0040]    In order to maintain the sterility of the combined surface  22 , the two surfaces may be joined by a living hinge  24  which provides a continuity in the surface  22  from one half of the case to the other and therefore can be kept clean by wiping and disinfection. Obviously, the case can hinge about the living hinge  24  when transformed from the dispensing configuration of  FIG. 1  to the carrying configuration of  FIGS. 2 to 6 . The whole of the carcass  10  can be formed in a single moulded article, which includes the living hinge  24 . 
         [0041]    As can be seen especially in  FIG. 6 , the spaces  12  are open both at the front and at the hack so that no corner is provided that can harbour infectious microorganisms. Furthermore, as discussed above, no fasteners are required in order to keep the drawers  14  in the spaces  12  when the case is being carried, thereby further increasing the ease of cleaning. 
         [0042]    Ridges  26  are provided along the outside edges of the base of the case, thereby elevating the outside edges above the level of the center of the base of the case, which keeps the case in its closed configuration shown in  FIGS. 2 to 6  when it stands on a surface. Obviously, instead of ridges  26 , it is possible to provide individual projections or feet along the outer edge of the base of the case that perform the same function. 
         [0043]    A slightly different second embodiment is shown in FIGS.  7  to  11 ., where the same reference numbers are used to refer to corresponding parts. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in having notches  28  to assist in removing drawers  14  from the spaces  12 . 
         [0044]    The drawers are shown in  FIGS. 12 to 14  and have a base  30 , a front wall  32 , a back wall  34  and sidewalls  36 .  38  that surround the base on all four sides. However, the walls are not connected and there are gaps  40  between them to avoid providing hard-to-clean corners. As can be seen from  FIG. 13 , the drawer tapers from the front end wall  32  to the back end wall  34  so that it has a corresponding shape to the tapered spaces  12  in the bag. A lip  42  extends horizontally from the top of the front wall  32  and is joined to the wall  32  by a curved section  44 . 
         [0045]    Returning to  FIGS. 7 to 11 , the drawers  14  slide into the spaces  12  back end  34  first; when fully inserted the lip  40  can be grasped in the region of the notches  28  to remove the drawers. It is possible that the lip is marginally taller than the top  46  of the space  12 , as seen in  FIG. 7 , so that it frictionally engages the top  46  when the drawer  14  is slid into the space  12  and so helps retain the drawer in the space. The drawer can be smoothly inserted into the gap  12  of the bag because the front wall  32  of the drawer is flexible and the curved section  42  engages the top  46  of the space and so depresses the lip  42  slightly to allow the lip to be moved readily under the top  46 . 
         [0046]    In addition, the ridges  26  in the second embodiment so that, in addition to keeping the bag closed when standing on a surface, the two opposing ridges engage with each other when in the dispensing configuration (see  FIG. 9 ) to provide a rigid structure in the dispensing configuration and to prevent the hinge  24  being flexed beyond 180°. 
         [0047]    should be noted that the drawer  14  (including lip  40 ) is a single part moulding. The walls  32 , 34 , 36 , 38  do not join up and so there are no edges or corners between them. It also uses curved connections between the base  30  and the walls and between the lip  40  and the front wall  32 . Thus the drawer avoids the use of angular/sharp edges and corners that are difficult to reach and clean thoroughly and that could act as a bacteria/dirt trap. The avoidance of angular/sharp edges and corners is also true of the bag as a whole. 
         [0048]    The drawers can be filled by a practitioner with any contents that he wants; alternatively, drawers could be provided by a supplier that are pre-filled with contents. 
         [0049]    Although the above description in connection with the Figures has described the use of drawers, it will be appreciated from the earlier, more general description that inserts other than drawers can be used instead. Thus, the insert may be a pack (i.e. without a surrounding drawer or container) that can be inserted into and withdrawn from the space(s)  12  in the bag, for example the insert may be wound dressings that are held by a wrapping to form a pack that has a shape corresponding to the shape of the space. 
         [0050]    The bag may be white in colour so that any contamination is visible and also it visually communicates a state of cleanliness.