Stretcher frame clamp

The invention comprises a novel stretcher frame clamp, which allows standard hospital-style traction components to be used in conjunction with ambulance cots or the like. In the preferred embodiment, the clamp comprises two clamp halves, which when joined together define an octagonal outer shaped clamping area. The octagonal outer shape of the clamping area is sized to adapt to octagonal tubing-based traction components. Each clamp half also has a recessed channel cut therein, which is of a shape and size so that when the clamp halves are joined together around a stretcher frame rail, the frame rail passes through the center of the frame clamp assembly and contacts the clamp assembly along the entire length of the frame rail section which passes therethrough. The clamp halves are held together to create the clamp assembly in a compressive fashion, so as to squeeze the stretcher frame rail as it passes through the clamp assembly. Thus, the clamp assembly is held rigidly in position on a stretcher frame rail and serves as the base to which hospital-style traction components are attached.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to the field of orthopedic traction. 
Specifically, the invention is directed to an apparatus and method for 
providing traction to a patient in an environment other than a special 
purpose orthopedic bed. In particular, the invention comprises a stretcher 
frame clamp which allows standard, hospital-style traction components to 
be rigidly attached to ambulance cots, hospital "gurneys", movable 
emergency room stretchers and the like. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is well known in the art to provide specialized treatment beds 
configured to accept orthopedic traction components. These beds are highly 
sophisticated and are generally found in orthopedic wards in major city 
hospitals. Although they can be found in more rudimentary form in almost 
any hospital facility. A large number of orthopedic traction components 
are manufactured and sold for use with these orthopedic treatment beds. 
These components allow physicians and the like to construct traction 
apparatus ranging from simple, in-line configurations to complex 
multi-access arrangements. However, while the state of the art related to 
the utilization of traction apparatuses in orthopedic ward settings is 
well developed, the need often arises to allow for a patient to be 
maintained in traction at locations other than an orthopedic ward in a 
hospital. One such time, when traction would be desired, is during the 
transport of a patient who has suffered a broken bone to a hospital where 
the broken bone can be properly treated. 
Another use of the disclosed invention is in conjunction with emergency 
room beds, stretchers or gurneys. These types of beds are generally 
provided on wheels so that a patient being treated in an emergency room 
can be readily moved to an operating room, x-ray room, orthopedic ward, or 
the like. However, these beds are generally not configured to accept 
common orthopedic traction-related devices. 
There are prior art references that disclose the use of traction apparatus 
in conjunction with movable beds. U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,265, which issued to 
Carradine on Dec. 2, 1980, is one such reference. This reference discloses 
the use of traction components in conjunction with a portable bed, cot or 
"gurney". However, the Carradine invention requires a specially-configured 
gurney, manufactured to accept the traction components. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,165, which issued to Throner on Nov. 26, 1994 discloses 
another "portable traction system". However, like the Carradine system, 
the Throner system is also a specially-adapted, orthopedic-style bed. 
None of the prior art references disclose the applicant's novel apparatus, 
which allows standard, hospital-style traction components to be utilized 
in conjunction with both standard, off-the-shelf, ambulance-style cots and 
standard emergency room style movable stretchers or gurneys. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention comprises a novel stretcher frame clamp, which allows 
standard hospital-style traction components to be used in conjunction with 
ambulance cots or the like. In the preferred embodiment, the clamp 
comprises two clamp halves, which when joined together define an octagonal 
outer shaped clamping area. The octagonal outer shape of the clamping area 
is sized to accept octagonal tubing-based traction components. 
Specifically, a standard octagonal clamping unit would be joined to the 
stretcher frame clamp and would serve as the base for an orthopedic 
traction set up. The stretcher frame clamp has first and second ends, each 
of which has an enlarged shoulder area. These shoulders provide sufficient 
room and additional strength for holding means to pass therethrough and 
hold the clamp sections together in a rigid position on the stretcher 
frame or the like. 
Each clamp half has a substantially flat face, which is opposite a like 
face of the other clamp half when the clamp halves are joined to create 
the clamp assembly. Centrally located and disposed in each flat face, 
along the longitudinal axis of each clamp half, is a recessed channel. 
These channels are also directly opposite each other when the stretcher 
frame clamp halves are joined into the clamp assembly such that, when the 
halves are assembled, a centrally located through channel is created along 
the longitudinal axis of the clamp assembly. The through channel can be 
configured in various shapes and sizes to accommodate varying shapes and 
sizes of the stretcher, cot, or bed frame for which the clamp assembly is 
especially adapted. 
The clamp is affixed to the stretcher, or the like, by placing each clamp 
half on opposite sides of the tubular stretcher frame member such that the 
frame member passes through the longitudinally disposed through channel in 
the clamp assembly. The clamp is then held in position through the use of 
four screw means, which are tightened to clamp in position. In order to 
provide maximum clamping power, the mating faces of the clamp halves are 
machined to provide clearance when the clamp halves are combined and 
tightened in position around the stretcher frame or the like. Thus, the 
entire clamping power is directed from the clamp assembly to the stretcher 
frame along the through channel, which holds the clamp assembly rigidly in 
position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring now to the figures, there can be seen a stretcher frame clamp, 
generally designated 1. In the embodiment described, the stretcher frame 
clamp comprises two clamp halves 2 and 3 and a holding means 4 for joining 
the clamp halves together as a unit and firmly in position on a stretcher 
or bed frame rail 5. However, it is envisioned that embodiments can 
utilize more than two clamp halves, which embodiments are contemplated as 
being within the spirit and scope of the disclosed invention. 
When the clamp halves are joined, they create a clamping area 6, which has 
an octagonal outer cross section. The octagonal outer cross section is 
selected and sized to allow standard hospital-style orthopedic traction 
components to be rigidly attached to the gripping area, which in turn is 
rigidly attached to a stretcher frame or the like. Octagonal tubing based 
traction components are manufactured by a number of medical device 
manufacturers. However, the most popular components are manufactured by 
the Zimmer Patient Care Division of Bristol-Myers Squib Corporation 
("Zimmer"). In particular a Zimmer octagonal clamping unit would be 
clamped to the stretcher frame clamp assembly in order to provide the base 
for a traction apparatus to be utilized with a patient occupying the 
stretcher or the like. The traction apparatus would be constructed 
according to standard teachings in the art, which could utilize a number 
of base clamps. Thus, it is envisioned that a single stretcher or like 
movable bed would incorporate more than one stretcher frame clamp assembly 
and could incorporate four, six, or even eight assemblies at various 
locations around the stretcher frame. 
At each end of the clamping area 6, the clamp assembly comprises raised 
shoulders 7 and 8. These shoulders allow the traction components to be 
easily located on the stretcher frame clamp assembly along its 
longitudinal axis and provide sufficient room and additional strength for 
holding means 4 to pass therethrough and hold the clamp halves together in 
a rigid position on the stretcher frame or the like. While the figures 
show shoulders that are also substantially octagonal in cross section, 
this was chosen more as a matter of manufacturing convenience and is not 
critical to the inventive concept disclosed herein. 
The first clamp half has a substantially flat face 9, which opposes a like 
face on the second clamp half when the clamp halves are positioned around 
the stretcher frame or the like to create the clamp assembly 1. Centrally 
located, along the longitudinal axis of each flat face is a channel 10 
recessed in said flat face. The size and shape of each recessed channel 10 
is sufficient so that when the clamp halves are joined together, a 
longitudinally disposed through channel 11 is created in the clamp 
assembly, which is substantially the same shape and size as the shape and 
size of the stretcher frame tubing 5 for which the clamp assembly 1 is 
especially adapted. Since many ambulance cots and emergency room 
stretchers are manufactured with cylindrical, extruded tubular frame 
rails, the disclosed invention is particularly adapted to be used in 
conjunction with such configurations. In fact, cylindrical, extruded 
tubular stretcher frames provide a unique challenge to create a clamp 
assembly that can be rigidly secured in position with sufficient gripping 
power to prevent the assembly from rotating about the stretcher frame. 
This is especially critical since a patient suffering from a broken limb 
will generally be using such an apparatus, and any unwanted movement of 
the broken limb could result in additional injuries or complications to 
the trauma site. 
Thus, in order to ensure maximum gripping power of the clamp assembly where 
it contacts the stretcher or bed frame rail, the flat face of each clamp 
half is machined to provide sufficient clearance 12 between the flat faces 
when the clamp halves are joined in position about the stretcher frame so 
that the entire gripping force being exerted by the clamp assembly's 
holding means is directed to the walls of the stretcher frame tubing where 
it contacts the walls of the recessed channels 10 in each clamp half. 
Generally, clearances between 0.015 and 0.030 inches have proven to be 
adequate to ensure maximum gripping power. In fact, clamps utilizing these 
clearances provide gripping power that exceeds the structural limitation 
of the tubular traction components. 
The raised shoulders 7 and 8 at either end of the clamping area provide 
sufficient clearance and strength for holding means 4 to attach therewith 
to rigidly join the clamp halves together in position and also to provide 
a sufficient compressive force upon the stretcher frame tubing 5 to hold 
the clamp assembly 1 in position and preclude rotation of the clamp 
assembly around the stretcher frame tubing. The holding means itself 
comprises a plurality of threaded bores 13 in the first stretcher frame 
clamp half 2. The threaded bores are generally located in the flat face 9 
at the larger shoulders and are oriented substantially perpendicular to 
the mating face. The second stretcher frame clamp half 3 comprises a like 
number of countersunk through bores 14. These through bores are also 
located in the shoulders 7 and 8 of the second clamp half 3, perpendicular 
to its flat face 9. These through bores are also located so that when the 
clamp halves are joined to form the clamp assembly, a plurality of 
fasteners 15, which may take the form of machine screws or the like, can 
be inserted through the through bores in the second clamp half and engage 
the threads of the threaded bores in the first clamp half directly 
opposite their respective through bores. 
In order to use the clamp assembly, the clamp halves are located 
circumferentially around a stretcher frame rail in the desired location. 
The required number of machine screws, which in the preferred embodiment 
is four, are then inserted through the through bores in the second clamp 
half and are threaded into the threaded bores in the first clamp half. The 
screws are then tightened. This tightening of the screws compresses the 
clamp assembly around the stretcher frame rail as the rail passes through 
the recessed channel in the clamp assembly. 
Various other changes coming within the scope of the invention may suggest 
themselves to those skilled in the art: hence, the invention is not 
limited to the specific embodiment shown or described, but the same is 
intended to be merely exemplary. It should be understood that numerous 
other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the 
art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of the 
invention.