Abstract:
The present invention relates to a military stretcher system. The system includes a military hand-carried stretcher. An adaptor is provided for adapting the stretcher to fasten to a military transportation stretcher holder, typically used on vessels and in vehicles and in aircraft. Advantageously, the adaptor may adapt the stretcher to fasten to the holder (e.g. a racking system) conventionally used to hold a known NATO type stretcher.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2014902833 filed on Jul. 22, 2014 and Australian Patent Application No. 2014903335 filed on Aug. 25, 2014, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a military stretcher system, and in particular to an aero-medical military stretcher system. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 
         [0004]    Medevac field stretchers commonly known as NATO type stretchers are designed in accordance with NATO and other military standards and are used in the evacuation of military or other casualties (e.g. during a natural disaster) to hospital in a helicopter or aeroplane. A NATO type military field stretcher includes a pair of rails terminating in handles, and a carrier sheet (normally canvass) extending between the rails to carry a patient. In practice, loaded NATO type stretchers are rested on fixed racking in aircraft during air transportation. 
         [0005]    However, the applicant has perceived that NATO type stretchers are less than ideal. Whilst improved stretchers are available to improve the comfort and security of a transported patient, the use of standard aircraft restraints and racking systems to suit the NATO type stretcher has impeded the use of such improved stretchers in medevac operations. This issue is particularly significant when considering the widespread adoption of these restraints and racking systems throughout the full suite of military transportation assets, on land, at sea and in aviation. 
         [0006]    The applicant also recognizes the deficiencies of the present NATO type stretchers in use, including but not limited to the following deficiencies. The NATO type stretcher exhibits:
       a. inability to properly and readily inspect damage to the stretcher (due to its cover materials encasing the side rails)—to ensure that there has been no impact damage, or fatigue or stress induced potential structural failure points;   b. inability to properly restrain the stretchered patient by the use of modern standard patient multi-point restraint belts so that the patient is restrained by suitable means to withstand rapid and major motion events (such as evasive maneuvers or major turbulence) and/or crash events—to improve patient survivability in all threat environments;   c. inability for the stretchered patient to be seated or placed in a variable upright position to provide optimum patient care;   d. inability to clean and ensure that any biological contamination on the stretcher has been eradicated—due to its materials of construction; and   e. inability to readily provide ballistic protection to the stretchered patient other than by the patient wearing suitable ballistic protective clothing, which significantly interferes with the provision of optimum patient care.       
 
         [0012]    Embodiments of the present invention provide for improved stretchers and associated devices in medevac operations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a military stretcher system including:
       a military hand-carried stretcher; and   an adaptor for adapting the stretcher to fasten to a stretcher holder of a military transportation vehicle.       
 
         [0016]    Advantageously, the adaptor may adapt the hand-carried stretcher to fasten to the holder conventionally used to hold a known NATO type stretcher. The holder may include aircraft racking. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the stretcher includes carbon fibre material. The stretcher may include other material (such as Kevlar for example). The stretcher may be lightweight, not weighing more than 15 kg, and preferably less than 10 kg. The stretcher may include a carbon fibre composite chassis. The chassis may be molded. The stretcher may further include a backrest or headrest. The stretcher may further include a lifter for lifting the rest from the chassis to an inclined position. The lifter may include a sealed gas strut. The stretcher may also include a support mattress, for patient comfort during stretchering. The stretcher material may be fire or flame resistant. 
         [0018]    The stretcher may include at least one pin for being received in a receptacle of the adaptor. The stretcher may include a locking actuator for locking the stretcher to the adaptor. The actuator may be a hydraulic actuator. 
         [0019]    The adaptor may include a frame. The frame may include a pair of rails for extending between arms of the holder. The adaptor may include one or more docks for docking the stretcher. Each dock may include a tapered guide for guiding a sliding stretcher. Each dock may define at least one female receptacle for receiving a pin of the stretcher. The receptacle may be retractable. The adaptor may include a quartet of rests. 
         [0020]    The system may include at least one male-female fastening arrangement for fastening the stretcher to the adaptor. The system may include a locking mechanism for locking the stretcher to the adaptor. The locking mechanism may include a retractable locking pin for being received by the adaptor. 
         [0021]    The adaptor may include a ballistic shield for shielding ballistic material (e.g. bullets or shrapnel). The shield may be releasably fastened to an underside of the adaptor. The shield may clip to the adaptor. The shield may include a sheet. The sheet may receive replacable inserts of ballistic protection material. The ballistic protection material may include carbon fibre and/or Kevlar and/or ceramic material of suitable composite construction to protect the patient on the stretcher. 
         [0022]    The system may further include a medical life support module for interconnecting between the adaptor and stretcher. The medical module may include a life support system. The medical module may include an oxygen tank and regulator, and/or suction systems. The medical module may also include a power inverter and supply outlets. 
         [0023]    The system may further include another adaptor for adapting a non-military stretcher (e.g. conventional civilian stretcher) to fasten to the adaptor. The adaptors may form a locking arrangement for releasably locking together. The other adaptor may include a guide for guiding wheels of the non-military stretcher. The guide may include a pair of channel rails. The other adaptor may include a fastening mechanism for fastening the non-military stretcher. The fastening mechanism may include at least one catch. The catch may be retractable. 
         [0024]    The system may further include a workbench for fastening to the adaptor. The workbench may include carbon fibre, Kevlar or metal alloys. 
         [0025]    The system may further include the racking system. The racking may include a pair of arms for supporting the adaptor. Each arm may include one or more receptacles for receiving respective handles of the adaptor. 
         [0026]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a military adaptor for adapting a military hand-carried stretcher to fasten to a military transportation stretcher holder. 
         [0027]    According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adaptor system including the military adaptor, and another adaptor for adapting a non-military stretcher (e.g. conventional civilian stretcher) to fasten to the adaptor. 
         [0028]    According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adaptor configured to adapt a non-military stretcher (e.g. conventional civilian stretcher) to fasten to a military adaptor. 
         [0029]    According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a military hand-carried stretcher configured to be fastened to an adaptor, in turn, fastened to a military transportation stretcher holder. 
         [0030]    According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a military evacuation method involving:
       fastening an adaptor to a military transportation stretcher holder; and   fastening a military hand-carried stretcher to the adaptor.       
 
         [0033]    According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a military stretcher system including:
       a military hand-carried stretcher; and   a military transportation dock for docking the hand-carried stretcher.       
 
         [0036]    According to an eight aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical stretcher including a carbon fibre composite frame and/or chassis. 
         [0037]    Advantageously, carbon fibre composite stretchers are lightweight when compared with conventional steel, alloy or aluminum stretchers. Preferably, the stretcher is a hand-carried stretcher which is carried by hand when loaded. 
         [0038]    The stretcher may include an impermeable patient support fastened to the frame which is more readily cleaned and more sanitary than fabric of NATO type-stretchers. The patient support may include carbon fibre composite material. The patient support may include cutouts though which seatbelts can advantageously pass to secure the patient. The frame may be at least partially exposed which advantageously allows ready visual inspection or damage. The stretcher may further includes a movable backrest or head rest for patient comfort. The stretcher may further include a lifter for lifting the backrest or headrest. The lifter may be hydraulic. The stretcher may include underside locking arrangements for locking the stretcher in place. 
         [0039]    According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stretcher system including:
       a medical life support module; and   a medical stretcher for coupling to the life support module.       
 
         [0042]    According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a life support module including a coupler for coupling a medical stretcher. The coupler may include a docking arrangement. The coupler may include a lock. 
         [0043]    Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0044]    Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: 
           [0045]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an aero-medical stretcher system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an adaptor of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the adaptor of  FIG. 2  with a shield fitted; 
           [0048]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the adaptor of  FIG. 2  with a workbench fitted; 
           [0049]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a medical module fastened to a stretcher in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0050]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing aero-medical racking in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0051]      FIG. 7  is an orthographic drawing of a stretcher in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0052]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an adaptor dock locking arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0053]      FIG. 9  shows plan and side sectional views of a stretcher locking arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0054]      FIG. 10  shows plan and side sectional views of a stretcher locking actuator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0055]      FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of another adaptor for adapting a non-military stretcher to fasten to the adaptor of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0056]      FIG. 12  shows a non-military stretcher fastened to the other adaptor of  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0057]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an aero-medical military stretcher system  100  for front-line services as shown in  FIG. 1 . The system  100  includes an improved military field medical stretcher  102  (see also  FIG. 7 ) for carrying a patient. The system  100  further includes an intermediate adaptor  104  for adapting the stretcher  102  to fasten to internal military aircraft racking  106  (i.e. stretcher holder). Advantageously, the adaptor  104  adapts the field stretcher  102  to fasten to the aircraft racking  106  which is conventionally used to support a known NATO type military field stretcher. 
         [0058]    The stretcher  102  includes a molded carbon fibre composite chassis  108  including carbon fibre and Kevlar. The stretcher  102  is extremely lightweight, not weighing more than 15 kg, and preferably less than 10 kg. The stretcher  102  further includes a pivoting backrest (or head rest)  110  to enable the patient to sit up for optimum care. The stretcher  102  further includes a pneumatic, hydraulic or electric lifter  112  for lifting the rest  110  from the chassis  108  and to an inclined position. The lifter  112  includes a retractable sealed gas strut. The stretcher  102  also includes a support mattress (not shown), for patient comfort during stretchering. The stretcher materials can be fire or flame resistant. 
         [0059]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , the adaptor  104  includes a frame  200 . The frame  200  includes a pair of rails  202   a,    202   b,  terminating in handles, for extending between cantilevered arms of the racking  106 . The adaptor  104  includes a pair of docks  204   a,    204   b  for docking the stretcher  102  and extending between the rails  202   a,    202   b.  Each dock  204  includes a tapered guide  206  for guiding the sliding stretcher  102  during loading. 
         [0060]    As can best be seen in  FIG. 8 , each adaptor dock  204  forms two male-female fastening arrangements with respective lateral sides of the stretcher  102 . A far male-female fastening arrangement includes a female receptacle  208  for complementarily receiving a retractable male locking pin  700  (see  FIGS. 7   c  and  9 ) of the sliding and fully loaded stretcher  102 . A near male-female fastening arrangement includes a retractable female receptacle  802  (see  FIG. 8 ) protruding from the topside of the adaptor  104  and complementarily receiving an opposite male locking pin  700  of the stretcher  102 . 
         [0061]    Each dock  204  includes a locking mechanism  212  for locking the stretcher  102  to the adaptor  104 . The locking mechanism  212  includes the locking receptacle  802  for received the near stretcher pin  700 . The locking receptacle  802  is spring biased to be retracted and unlocked to facilitate stretcher loading. Once the stretcher  102  is fully slid and loaded into the adaptor  104 , a carer can manually push up the locking receptacle  802  so that the locking receptacle  802  protrudes from the adaptor  104 . 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the stretcher  102  includes two underside stretcher locking arrangements  702  (see also  FIG. 7   b ). Each stretcher locking arrangement  702  includes a static rest  900  which houses the pair of movable pins  700  that are normally spring biased to be extended to facilitate loading of the stretcher  102  in the adaptor  104 . The stretcher  102  includes a locking actuator  704  (see  FIG. 7   b  and  FIG. 10 ) with spring-loaded pull handle  1000  to actuate a hydraulics supply and protract the stretcher locking pins  700  into the adaptor locking receptacles  208 ,  802 , thereby safely locking the stretcher  102  to the adaptor  104 , and also enabling its removal. 
         [0063]    The stretcher locking arrangement  702  is hydraulically operated and the complementary adaptor locking mechanism  212  is manually operated independently, although these can alternatively be mechanically, pneumatically or electrically operable, or operated together with a single actuator. The adaptor  104  also includes a quartet of rests  214  extending beneath respective junctions of the rails  202  and docks  204 . 
         [0064]    Turning to  FIG. 3 , the adaptor  104  may include a shield  300  for shielding bullets, shrapnel or other ballistic material coming from below. The shield  300  is releasably fastened to an underside of the adaptor  104 . The shield  300  clips to rails  202  of the adaptor  104  using resilient clips  302 . The shield includes a sheet which receives replacable inserts of ballistic protection material. The ballistic protection material may include carbon fibre and/or Kevlar and/or ceramic material of suitable composite construction to protect the patient on the stretcher. 
         [0065]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , the system  100  further includes a workbench  400  for slidably fastening to the adaptor  104 . The workbench  400  is formed from carbon fibre, Kevlar material or metal alloys. The underside of the workbench  400  includes locking arrangements  702  for locking with the adaptor  104  as previously described. 
         [0066]    Turning to  FIG. 5  (and also shown in  FIG. 1 ), the system  100  further includes a medical life support module  500  for interconnecting between the adaptor  104  and stretcher  102 . Accordingly, the fastening fittings on the top (dock locking mechanisms  212 ) and bottom (pin locking arrangements  702 ) of the medical module  500  are the same as those of the adaptor  104  and stretcher  102  respectively. The medical module  500  includes a container  502  for containing a life support system. In particular, the medical module includes an oxygen tank (or tanks)  504  and regulator  506  for supplying oxygen to the patient on the stretcher  102 , and a suction system. The medical module  500  also includes a power inverter and a 110V/240V mains power supply  508  with outlets. 
         [0067]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , the aircraft racking  106  includes upper and lower pairs of cantilever arms  114  for supporting the adaptor  104 . Each arm  114  includes an end receptacle  116  for receiving respective handles terminating the adaptor rails  202 . The racking further includes a pair of uprights  118 , a base  120  supporting the uprights  118 , and a stabilizer bar  122  stabilizing the uprights  118 . 
         [0068]    The system  100  is used in aero-medical military evacuations including during natural disasters, but also during battle or war. In use, the adaptor  104  is fastened to aircraft racking. In turn, the medical stretcher  102  carrying the patient is slid into the docks  204  and locked, with locking mechanisms  212 , to the adaptor  104  for transport. 
         [0069]      FIG. 7  shows the hand-carried stretcher  102  in detail which can be used to carry a patient by hand. The stretcher chassis  108  includes a carbon fibre composite outer frame rails  710 , and a carbon fibre composite patient support  712  attached to the frame adjacent the pivoting rest  110 . The impermeable carbon fibre composite support  712  is more readily cleaned and more sanitary than fabric of NATO type-stretchers. The patient support  712  includes four handle cutouts  714  defining four side handles, with two handles on either side for respective stretcher bearers on either side to grab. A foot end pocket  716  is provided for receiving an end of the outer frame rails  710 . Modern multi-point seatbelts can advantageously pass through the four seatbelt cutouts  715  to secure the patient to the stretcher  102 . 
         [0070]    As can best be seen in  FIG. 7   b,  the patient support  712  does not cover the centre region of the frame  710 , which is under most duress, and advantageously allows ready visual inspection of the exposed frame  710  for damage. 
         [0071]    As can best be seen in  FIG. 7   c,  the stretcher  102  includes a carbon fibre composite undercarriage  718  extending along the length of the underside of the chassis  108  and patient support  712 . The locking actuator  704  is mounted in the undercarriage  718 , and the locking arrangements  702  are mounted beneath the undercarriage  718 . 
         [0072]    Turning to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the system  100  further includes another top plate-like adaptor  1100  for adapting a non-military stretcher  1200  (e.g. conventional civilian stretcher) to fasten to the military adaptor  104 . The adaptors  104 ,  1100  form a locking arrangement, including previously described dock locking mechanism  212  ( FIG. 8 ) and complementary locking arrangement  702  ( FIG. 9 ), for releasably locking together. 
         [0073]    The top adaptor  1100  includes a linear guide for guiding wheels  1202 ,  1204  of the non-military stretcher  1200 . The guide includes a pair of channel rails  1206  and may include releasable ramps extending from respective channels  1206 . 
         [0074]    The top adaptor  1100  also includes a fastening mechanism for fastening the non-military stretcher  1200 . In particular, the fastening mechanism includes a pair of fixed rear fasteners  1102 , a pair of intermediate retractable fasteners  1104  and a front retractable fastener  1106 . Each fastener is a catch or hooked for catching on a bar of the non-military stretcher  1200 . The top adaptor  1100  also includes a hydraulic pull actuator  108  for protracting the retractable fasteners  1104 ,  1106 . 
         [0075]    The fastening mechanism of the top adaptor  1100  of  FIG. 11  is suitable for fastening to many types of civilian stretchers  1200 . The fastening mechanism can be arranged to suit various other types of civilian stretchers including Ferno, Stryker and DHS brand stretchers. 
         [0076]    A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. 
         [0077]    In one embodiment, purpose built aircraft racking  106 ′ may include the adaptor docks  212 ′ as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0078]    In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. 
         [0079]    Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.