Hospital support poles with onboard power units

Embodiments of the invention relate to poles with wheels with an onboard power unit that be longitudinally fixed in place and positioned about a medial position of the pole or may be configured to rise and lower in concert with wheels supporting the floor when on the floor and that can hold medical and/or accessory equipment, typically in a clinical or hospital environment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to hospital accessory poles such as IV poles.

BACKGROUND

For many years, patients needing intravenous (IV) fluid transfusions have been moved by a patient transportation apparatus such as a wheelchair, wheeled bed, stretcher, gurney or the like while receiving intravenous (IV) transfusions by the use of mobile IV poles. These IV poles, however, suffer from a number of drawbacks.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention relate to poles for hospital accessories that include an onboard power unit. The poles are typically for a clinical or hospital environment, and can dock to various devices such as booms, beds, wheelchairs, walkers, wagons, and the like.

The poles can have a plurality of legs which hold wheels, typically casters.

The poles can have wheels that can be small wheels, larger wheels combinations of smaller and larger wheels, with or without casters.

In some embodiments, the legs are not retractable but the mast may be extendable/retractable.

In some embodiments, the legs can be moved between an extended configuration where the wheels contact a floor and a retracted configuration where the legs are drawn inward and the wheels are lifted to reside off the floor.

A medical accessory support pole, comprising: an elongate pole body; a plurality of wheels attached to the pole body; and an onboard power unit held by the pole body, comprising: a housing having a downwardly extending cylindrical channel surrounding a segment of the pole body; a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart electrical receptacles; and a power cord in electrical communication with the electrical receptacles extending outward from the housing.

The pole can include a power cord retraction mechanism held by the housing in communication with the power cord to allow automatic or semi-automatic retraction of the power cord into the housing.

The power cord can have a length of between 5-12 feet, and, in a fully or partially retracted configuration, a length of the power cord can reside inside the housing in stacked circular layers about the cylindrical channel.

The retraction mechanism can include a rotation coupler that can be in communication with a compartment holding a length of the power cord.

The housing can have a neck that angles out to a receptacle surface, then extends a vertical distance to define a cord compartment.

The cord compartment can be rotatable inside the housing about a pole axis of a centerline of the cylindrical channel.

The pole can be a transformable pole having a plurality outwardly extending legs holding a respective wheel. The transformable pole can have a first extended configuration with the legs extending outward away from the pole body with the wheels on a floor and a second configuration with the legs are retracted to reside closer to the pole body and the wheels are lifted off the floor. The onboard power unit can be configured to longitudinally slide up and down in concert with a base as the legs retract and extend, respectively.

The pole can include at least one cord grip attached to the pole body. The cord grip can include a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart and longitudinally extending accessory cord channels for holding segments of longitudinally extending accessory power cords.

At least one of the electrical receptacles can have an externally visual color that is different from one or more other of the electrical receptacles.

The power unit housing can be rotatable about a vertical pole axis of the pole body.

One or more of the electrical receptacles can have a different socket orientation from another of the electrical receptacles.

One or more of the electrical receptacles can be rotated to provide a desired socket orientation.

The housing can have an angled outer surface that extends away from the cylindrical channel and merges into a vertical outer wall. The angled outer surface can be angled at between 30-60 degrees from horizontal.

The pole can include wings held by an upper portion of the pole body and a base held adjacent the wheels. The housing can reside a distance above the wheels by between 3-6 feet to reside closer to the wings of the pole than the base.

The pole body can include a docking alignment key member circumferentially extending between 15-45 degrees and longitudinally extending between 1-5 inches of a segment of the pole body. The segment of the pole body with the key member can have a diameter that is less than a diameter of at least an adjacent lower portion of the pole body. The housing can reside a distance above the wheels by between 3-6 feet to reside above the key member. The housing can have an outer wall that extends radially outward a greater distance from the pole body than the key member.

Other embodiments are directed to a medical accessory support pole that includes: an elongate pole body; a base attached to a lower portion of the pole body comprising a plurality outwardly extending legs; and a plurality of wheels attached to the legs. The legs have a first extended configuration with the legs extending outward away from the pole body with the wheels on a floor and a second configuration where the legs are retracted to reside closer to the pole body and the wheels are lifted off the floor. The pole also includes an onboard power unit attached to the pole body. The onboard power unit includes: a housing having a downwardly extending cylindrical channel surrounding a segment of the pole; a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart electrical receptacles; a power cord in electrical communication with the electrical receptacles extending outward from the housing; and a power cord retraction mechanism held by the housing in communication with the power cord to allow automatic or semi-automatic retraction of the power cord into the housing. The power cord can have a length of between about 5 feet and about 12 feet, and, in a fully or partially retracted configuration, a length of the power cord resides inside the housing in stacked circular layers about the cylindrical channel. The onboard power unit is configured to longitudinally slide up and down in concert with the base as the legs retract and extend, respectively.

The housing can be rotatable about the pole body. The housing can include a power cord compartment that is configured to rotate inside the housing about the pole.

Still other embodiments are directed to a medical accessory support pole that includes: an elongate pole body; a base attached to a lower portion of the pole body comprising a plurality outwardly extending legs; and a plurality of wheels attached to the legs. The legs have a first extended configuration with the legs extending outward away from the pole body with the wheels on a floor and a second configuration where the legs are retracted to reside closer to the pole body and the wheels are lifted off the floor. The pole also has an onboard power unit attached to the pole body that includes: a housing having a downwardly extending cylindrical channel surrounding a segment of the pole; a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart electrical receptacles; a power cord in electrical communication with the electrical receptacles extending outward from the housing; and a power cord retraction mechanism held by the housing in communication with the power cord to allow automatic or semi-automatic retraction of the power cord into the housing. The power cord has a length of between about 5 feet and about 12 feet, and, in a fully or partially retracted configuration, a length of the power cord resides inside the housing in stacked circular layers about the cylindrical channel. The pole includes wings held by an upper portion of the pole body. The housing resides a distance above the wheels by between 3-6 feet to reside closer to the wings of the pole than the base.

The pole body can have a docking alignment key member circumferentially extending between 15-45 degrees and longitudinally extending between 1-5 inches about a segment of the pole body. The segment of the pole body with the key member can have a diameter that is less than a diameter of at least an adjacent lower portion of the pole body. The power unit housing can reside above the key member. The housing can include an outer wall that extends radially outward a greater distance from the pole body than the key member.

The housing can be rotatable about the pole body. The housing can include a power cord compartment that is configured to rotate inside the housing about the pole.

Other embodiments are directed to methods of providing power to hospital equipment. The methods include: (i) providing a hospital support pole with a plurality of rollers and/or casters and comprising an on-board power shroud with a plurality of electrical receptacles; (ii) rolling the hospital support pole across a floor; extending a power cord held in a cord compartment of the on-board power shroud to have an exposed length; and (iii) plugging in the power cord to an electrical receptacle of a hospital electrical circuit to power the receptacles of the on-board power shroud.

Optionally, in response to a user unplugging the power cord, automatically retracting the exposed length of the power cord back into the cord compartment.

Optionally, electromechanically or mechanically automatically raising the hospital support pole so that the rollers and/or casters are off floor before, during or after plugging in the power cord.

It is noted that any one or more aspects or features described with respect to one embodiment may be incorporated in a different embodiment although not specifically described relative thereto. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination. Applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to be able to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

These and other aspects of the invention are described in more detail in the accompanying description and drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown. Like numbers refer to like elements and different embodiments of like elements can be designated using a different number of superscript indicator apostrophes (e.g.,90,90′,90″,90′″).

In the drawings, the relative sizes of regions or features may be exaggerated for clarity. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The term “Fig.” (whether in all capital letters or not) is used interchangeably with the word “Figure” as an abbreviation thereof in the specification and drawings. In the figures, certain layers, components or features may be exaggerated for clarity, and broken lines illustrate optional features or operations unless specified otherwise. In addition, the sequence of operations (or steps) is not limited to the order presented in the claims unless specifically indicated otherwise.

The term “about” refers to numbers in a range of +/−20% of the noted value.

The terms “accessory” and “accessory devices” are used interchangeably to refer to any clinical or hospital device that may be desirable to be provided for and/or moved with a patient using a support pole on wheels such as an IV pole, and can include one or more of IV systems, IV bags, IV bag supports, pumps, pump supports, monitors, monitor supports, tables, trays, oxygen tank/canisters and canister holders250(FIG. 3) and the like.

Turning now to the figures,FIG. 1illustrates a pole10with an onboard power unit15with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart plug-in electrical receptacles25and a power cord150. The pole10can be a transformable pole. The power cord150can have an external male plug-in connector 150p.

The term “transformable” when referring to some embodiments of the pole10means that the pole10can transform between at least two different configurations, typically including a stowed configuration with the wheels11off of/above a support floor as shown inFIG. 2Aand an extended configuration with the wheels11on the floor as shown inFIG. 2Bwith the wheels11able to provide a weight bearing support for the upwardly extending tubular pole body10b. The pole10can include a lift mechanism14held by the base12. The lift mechanism14can slide up and down relative to a lower end portion of the pole body10b. The lift mechanism14holds legs13that are attached to the wheels11. The legs13can pivot inward and outward relative to the base12to be able to retract and extend the wheels11in the stowed and extended positions, respectively. The pole10can include at least one foot lever for moving between the stowed and extended positions.

As shown inFIG. 1, the pole10can have a manually-actuated foot lever18accessible under a lift tab18tin communication with the lift mechanism14for engaging an onboard (e.g., gas spring) actuator that raises the wheels11. The pole10may also have a second lever17for lowering the wheels11. The second lever17can manually lower the wheels13from force applied to the second lever17. In some embodiments, the wheels11are caster-type wheels capable of freely rotating along a leg-wheel connection. Although in this particular depiction there are five legs13with five four-inch caster-type wheels11, embodiments with different numbers of legs (such as 1, 2, 3 or 6 or more) and different sized or types of wheels, or combinations of different types or sizes, larger or smaller or combinations of different size wheels may be used.

The lift mechanism14may include a gas spring as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,918,422, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein. Alternatively, other lift mechanisms14including, for example, electric motor or pneumatic driven gears and/or links may be used.

FIGS. 2A and 2Bare enlarged views of retracted/stowed configuration and an extended operational configuration, respectively, of a transformable pole10that can include the onboard power unit15according to embodiments of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 3, the tubular pole body10bcan include an upper mast16residing between wings10wunder a suspension support10sfor suspending bags of fluids for patient administration, such as IV fluids and the like. The wings10wcan support patient monitors and/or other devices. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,497,407; 7,918,422; 7,735,789; and US Patent Application Publication 2013/0181100, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.

As shown inFIG. 3, the pole10can include the power unit15with the circumferentially spaced apart receptacles25and may include a secondary onboard power strip unit15′ and/or a gas canister holder250that can releasably hold a gas canister251.

Turning again toFIG. 1, in some embodiments, the onboard power unit15can be configured to longitudinally slide up and down as indicated by the vertically oriented arrow. The power unit15can be incorporated into the base12or reside above the base12and slidably cooperate with the base12to be able to slide up and down in concert with the base12as the legs13retract and extend, respectively. The longitudinal travel can be between 2-10 inches, typically about 4-7 inches, such as about 4 inches, about 5 inches, about 6 inches about or about 7 inches and in particular embodiments can be about 6 inches.

The power cord150is preferably configured as a retractable power cord as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4A-4D. However, the power cord150may also be configured as a loose external length of cable/cord that can optionally be held about a cord support/mount on the pole body10band/or on the body of the power unit15.

Although the power unit15is shown with eight separate electrical receptacles25, it may include less or more, e.g., a single receptacle or between 2-10 circumferentially spaced apart receptacles25, in some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the power cord150can have a length that is a length of a hospital bed plus between 2-6 feet, typically between about 8-12 feet such as about 8 feet, about 8.5 feet, about 9 feet, about 9.5 feet, about 10 feet, about 10.5 feet, about 11 feet, about 11.5 feet and about 12 feet. The cord150can have a suitable power and amperage rating and associated diameter for supplying the power input15i(FIG. 10A, 10B, 11) to the power circuit15cof the onboard power unit15. The cord150can have a 110 volt, 15 to 20 amperage rating. The cord150can comprise a 10 gage wire size.

Referring toFIG. 4A-4D, in some embodiments, the power unit15can orient the receptacles25in different directions or the unit15can have at least one that faces a different direction than another, e.g., one that faces the front, one that faces the back, one that faces a side or wing10w, and the like. The power unit15can have one or more individually rotatable (swivel) electrical receptacles25as shown by the arrows adjacent two of the respective receptacles25for altering orientation. One or all of the receptacles25may have a fixed receptacle orientation.

Referring toFIG. 4A, the power unit15can have a housing15hthat rotates about the vertical axis A of the pole10. The angular rotation of the housing15hcan be between 30-360 degrees, including about 30 degrees, about 60 degrees, about 90 degrees, about 120 degrees and about 180 degrees. The plug-in receptacle25rrotation and/or rotation of the housing15hcan allow easier access of cords for various accessory components held by the pole10that may need powering, such as monitors, pumps and the like.

As shown inFIG. 4A-4D, the power unit housing15hcan have a longitudinally extending open center channel30that is sized and configured to surround the tubular pole body10b. The channel30can have a diameter between about 1.25 inches and about 2 inches and a length between about 2 inches and about 4.5 inches.

FIG. 4B-4Dshow that the housing15hcan have a cord port152and an internal open vertical space extending below (as shown) or above the receptacles25with a vertical height “h” sufficient to accommodate a cord retraction mechanism40with a plurality of stacked layers/loops151of cord extending about and inside the channel30of the housing15h.

The retraction mechanism40can be configured to be able to automatically or semi-automatically extend and/or retract the power cord150, e.g., act as a rotatable “take-up” reel. To be clear, the term “retraction mechanism” refers to a mechanical or electromechanical device that can be used to either extend or retract or both extend and retract a length of power cord from an enclosure/unit housing15h. The retraction mechanism40can have a rotation coupler41that can rotate the cord compartment42in the housing open space32that holds the stacked layers of cord151. The compartment42can have upper and lower members43,44with a circular outer perimeter attached at an inner edge portion thereof by a downwardly extending inner wall45with a cylindrical opening that that aligns with the longitudinally extending channel30of the unit housing15h.

The housing15houter wall15wcan define the outer enclosure of the compartment members43,44. The compartment42can have a radial length extending from the inner wall45outward to the outer perimeter thereof that is between about 3-10 inches. The retraction mechanism40can be configured to operate with sufficient drag or torque so that the cord150is not allowed to retract or extend at a speed that may cause a tipping issue of the pole10. The retraction mechanism40can include a preloaded spring providing constant or substantially constant cord retention force (e.g., within about 10% of a defined cord retention force). The retraction mechanism40can include a spring loaded plunger49(FIG. 4B) that holds the spring and can provide a radially inwardly extending cord retention force onto the cord compartment through the power unit housing15h, e.g., from either the upper compartment member43and/or lower compartment member44(FIG. 4C), typically via only the lower compartment member44.

In some embodiments, the unit housing15hcan include a cord lock155(FIG. 4A) to electronically lock and/or allow a user to manually lock and/or unlock the cord150at a desired external length and/or to retain the cord150inside the housing15huntil pole10is in a stable environment or position. AlthoughFIG. 4Aillustrates a lock155adjacent the cord port152, it may alternatively or additionally be inside the housing adjacent the retraction mechanism to inhibit rotation of the rotation coupler41.

The pole10can have a user input10i(FIG. 11) that allows a user to affirmatively indicate when an action to deploy the power cord or the retract the power cord is desired. The user input can be a manual and/or electrical input. The user input10ican be in communication with the lock155and/or retraction mechanism40to allow a user to selectively extend and/or retract the power cord150. In some embodiments, the lock155can lock the power cord150to prevent extension from the housing15huntil the housing15hitself is locked into a desired circumferential orientation (such as where the unit housing15his able to rotate about the pole axis A).

FIG. 5illustrates that the onboard power unit15of the pole10can have at least two receptacles25that have a different color25cfrom each other (indicated by the different surface shadings/finishes on respective receptacles). In some embodiments, each receptacle25can have a different visual appearance such as one or more of a different color25c, opacity, intensity or hue to allow a user to visually identify what receptacle25is used for a particular accessory power cord200to an accessory held by the pole10. In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 5, the pole10can also include at least one accessory cord grip300with circumferentially spaced apart longitudinally extending cord grip channels310. The cord grip300can be integrated into the outer wall of the pole and/or can be provided as a removable sleeve300s(as shown). For the integrated version, the pole10can comprise one or more overmolded segment with polymeric and/or elastomeric cord grips. The cord channels310can have an open externally facing perimeter segment310e. The channels310can elastically deform to receive and snugly hold a respective accessory cord200.

In some embodiments, the pole10can hold a plurality of the cord grips300, one above another for limiting dangling cords for overhead accessories.

In some embodiments, the cord grips300can be configured with two or more channels310having a different color channel310, such as310c1,310c2,310c3. Optionally, the different color channels310ccan be color-coded to match a respective color25cof a receptacle25.

FIG. 6illustrates that the power unit housing15hcan be configured to lockingly engage the pole10to lock into a desired circumferential orientation, when the unit housing15his rotatable about the pole axis A, such as using one or more cooperating lock and release members such as a radially extending finger19and radially extending slot23. As shown inFIG. 6, the pole10can have at least one finger19and the unit housing can have a cooperating at least one slot23. As also shown inFIG. 6, the unit housing (bottom) can have at least one finger19and the pole base12can have a cooperating at least one slot23configuration. While the radially extending slot23is shown on the base12and upper unit housing segment15hand the radially extending finger19is shown on the lower unit housing15hand the pole10, these configurations can be reversed (and both are not required). Other radial-position lock configurations may be used.

FIG. 7illustrates that the power unit15can have vertically stacked receptacles25, at least one above at least one other. Both the upper and lower15u,15lreceptacle compartments can rotate or both can be stationary or one can rotate and one can be stationary. Each of the receptacles in the upper and lower receptacle compartments15u,15lcan be in electrical communication with a single power cord150or each can be in communication with a separate respective power cord150.

The receptacles25can have front faces that angle outward from the pole10at an angle from horizontal at between 30-60 degrees, typically about 45 degrees.

FIG. 8andFIG. 9illustrate another embodiment of the power unit15. In this embodiment, the power unit15can reside in a fixed vertical position and may rotate circumferentially as described above. As shown, the power unit15can reside above a key10kthat cooperates with a docking interface of a boom arm, hospital bed, gurney, wheelchair or the like to allow the pole legs/wheels to be retracted while the pole10is suspending in the docking interface. The key10kcan have an arcuate longitudinally extending shape, as shown, the key10kmay have a circumferential angular extent of between about 15 and 45 degrees, for example. The key10kcan reside on the pole body10bat a tubular segment10twith a smaller outer diameter relative to at least an underlying segment of the pole.

The power unit15can be held at position closer to the accessory devices205with associated power cords200which may lessen power cord lengths, and may avoid undue lengths of accessory cords200which may otherwise be located adjacent a floor. The accessory devices205are powered accessory devices such as pumps, monitor and the like. The power unit15can be positioned at a height H above the floor when the wheels11are on the floor, that is between about 3-5 feet, such as at about 3 feet, at about 3.5 feet, at about 4 feet or about 4.5 feet.

In this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 9, a cord grip300with cord channels310may be used.

FIGS. 10A, 10B and 11illustrate examples of a power circuit15cfor a power unit15.FIGS. 10A and 10Bshow that the power circuit15cincludes a power input15ifrom the power cord150. The power circuit15ccan include at least one surge protector160.

FIG. 11also shows that the onboard unit15can include at least one battery400that can be used to power at least one of the receptacles25in the case of an emergency, black-out or ambulatory movement of the pole10. The receptacle25with the onboard battery power source400can have a different external visual indicia (color, configuration, text, shape) to provide a distinct visual look or configuration so that a user can plug in a critical component into the receptacle25with the battery power.

FIG. 11also shows that the receptacles can have one or more indicator lights25ito indicate when it is powered or not or when a fault condition is identified, for example.

The poles with onboard power units15can be configured for various purposes and/or provided as components of various devices. The poles can be configured to be one or more of an IV pole, an oxygen tank pole, a monitor support pole, a pole attachable to a pediatric wagon, wheelchair or hospital bed or hospital beds with a pole docking system and/or any combination of the different uses and may be used for other hospital or care-based medical accessories.

The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. Thus, the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.