PATIENT TRANSFER DEVICE

A patient transfer device. According to one embodiment, there is provided a patient transfer device: a support part including a patient seating surface on which a patient is supported; a plurality of propeller parts, connected to the support part, for moving the support part; a power supply unit to be transported while being borne by the user, the power supply unit serving to supply power to the plurality of propeller parts; and a connection member connecting the power supply unit and the support part, wherein the support part is configured to move to follow the power supply unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a patient transfer device.

BACKGROUND

In general, when an emergency patient occurs due to an accident such as a traffic accident or personal injury caused by a fire, it is necessary to quickly transport the emergency patient from the accident site to a hospital. In a typical method of transporting an emergency patient, an ambulance is used to transport the emergency patient from an accident site to a hospital, and during the transport, emergency measures may be performed or necessary treatment such as surgery may be performed inside the ambulance.

Meanwhile, in order to transport an emergency patient to a hospital through an ambulance, a rescue worker seats or lays the patient on a stretcher, then lift the stretcher and transfer the patient to the ambulance from an accident place. However, in case that an accident has taken place at a location that an ambulance cannot reach, such as a fire in a high-rise building or a personal injury during hiking, it takes a long time to transfer an emergency patient to the ambulance.

In addition, as for a general rescue stretcher, two rescue workers lift the stretcher at both sides to transfer a patient. In the case of transferring a child who weighs less, the number of rescue workers does not matter, but in the case of transferring an adult who weighs a lot, two or more rescue workers may be needed and it may take a longer time.

Accordingly, there is a need for a device capable of quickly transferring a patient from an accident place that an ambulance cannot reach to the ambulance with a less number of workers.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure are conceived in view of the above, and the present disclosure provides a patient transfer device capable of quickly transferring a patient from an accident place that an ambulance cannot reach to the ambulance with a less number of workers.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a patient transfer device including: a support part including a patient seating surface on which a patient is supported; a plurality of propeller parts, connected to the support part, for moving the support part; a power supply unit to be transported while being borne by the user, the power supply unit serving to supply power to the plurality of propeller parts; and a connection member connecting the power supply unit and the support part, wherein the support part is configured to move to follow the power supply unit.

The patient transfer device may further include: a plurality of folding parts each of which has one end rotatably connected to each of the propeller parts, and the other end rotatably connected to the support part, wherein the folding parts rotate relative to the support part to fold the plurality of propeller parts toward the support part.

The plurality of propeller parts may be supported by the support part such that one of the plurality of propeller parts is symmetrical with another one of the plurality of propeller parts with respect to a center of the support part.

The patient transfer device may further include: a control unit configured to control driving of the plurality of propeller parts; and a tilt detector which detects tilting of the support part, generates tilting information, and transmits the tilting information to the control unit, wherein when one side of the support part is tilted, based on the tilting information, the control unit performs a horizontal level maintenance control by controlling a rotation of the propeller part disposed closest to the one side of the support part among the plurality of propeller parts so that the patient seating surface of the support part is perpendicular to a direction of gravity.

The patient transfer device may further include: a tracking signal generator which generates a tracking signal; and a control unit configured to control driving of the plurality of propeller parts, wherein the support part includes a sensor unit which generates a moving signal by detecting the tracking signal generated by the tracking signal generator, and the control unit controls the driving of the plurality of propeller parts so that the support part moves toward the tracking signal generator based on the moving signal generated by the sensor unit.

When a position of the tracking signal generated from the tracking signal generator changes in a left or right direction, the control unit may control the driving of the plurality of propeller parts so that the support part moves in the left or right direction along the tracking signal after moving a predetermined distance.

When a position of the tracking signal generated from the tracking signal generator changes in an upward or downward direction while moving, the control unit may control the driving of the plurality of propeller parts so that the support part moves upward or downward along the tracking signal while maintaining a horizontal level after moving a predetermined distance.

The tracking signal generator may be provided in one of the user and the power supply unit borne by the user.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to quickly transfer a patient from an accident place that an ambulance cannot reach to the ambulance with a less number of workers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, specific embodiments for implementing a spirit of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In describing the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of known configurations or functions may be omitted to clarify the present disclosure.

When an element is referred to as being ‘connected’ to, ‘supported’ by, ‘supplied’ to, or ‘detached’ from another element, it should be understood that the element may be directly connected to, supported by, supplied to, or detached from another element, but that other elements may exist in the middle.

The terms used in the present disclosure are only used for describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first and second, may be used for describing various elements, but the corresponding elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used for the purpose of distinguishing one element from another element.

In the present specification, it is to be understood that the terms such as “including” are intended to indicate the existence of the certain features, areas, integers, steps, actions, elements, combinations, and/or groups thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other certain features, areas, integers, steps, actions, elements, combinations, and/or groups thereof may exist or may be added.

Further, in the present disclosure, it is to be noted that expressions, such as horizontal, vertical, upper side, lower side, left side, and right side are described based on the illustration of drawings, but may be modified if directions of corresponding objects are changed. In the present specification, the horizontal direction (left and right direction) may be the x-axis ofFIG.2, and the vertical direction may be the y-axis direction ofFIG.2. In addition, the upper and lower sides may be the upper and lower sides ofFIG.5.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration of a patient transfer device1according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

Hereinafter, referring toFIGS.1to5, the patient transfer device1according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be used to transfer a patient. When an emergency patient occurs at a place where an ambulance cannot reach, the patient transfer device1may be used by a rescue worker (user) to quickly move the patient to the ambulance. In addition, the movement of the patient transfer device1may be guided by the rescue worker, and the patient transfer device1may be moved up and down with respect to the ground autonomously. For example, the patient transfer device1may be an unmanned moving unit such as a drone. The patient transfer device1may include a support part100, a propeller part200, a connection member300, a folding part400, a power supply unit500, and a control unit600.

The support part100may support a patient. In other words, the support part100may include a patient seating surface120on which the patient can sit or lie down. In addition, the support part100may support the propeller part200and the folding part400which will be described later. The support part100can be moved up and down by the propeller part200, and can support the patient in a state that it is floated from the ground. The support part100may be provided with a belt130capable of preventing the patient from falling out of the support part100. The belt130may be provided at one surface of the support part100, and a plurality of belts130may be provided. In a state that the support part100is moved up with respect to the ground by the propeller part200, the support part100may move along the power supply unit500carried by the user. In addition, the movement of the support part100may be guided by the connection member300. In other words, the support part100moves along the power supply unit500carried by the user, and the movement direction of the support part100may be determined by the connection member300. In addition, the support part100may be provided with a tilt detector140capable of detecting whether the support part100is horizontal with respect to the ground.

The tilt detector140may generate information about tilting of the support part100in order to prevent the patient from falling out of the support part100. In this case, the information about the tilting may be information on tilting of the support part100with respect to the ground, and information on whether the patient supported by the support part100is tilted while being moved. For example, the tilt detector140may include at least one of a horizontal sensor, a tilt sensor, and a distance sensor. The tilt detector140may generate information about the tilt of the support part100with respect to the ground, convert it into a tilt signal, and then transmit the tilt signal to the control unit600.

Referring toFIG.2, the propeller part200may move up or down with respect to the ground by rotation, thereby lifting or lowering the support part100and the folding part400. Further, the propeller part200may be rotatably connected to the folding part400. The rotation of the propeller part200may be controlled by the control unit600.

Meanwhile, the propeller part200may include a plurality of propeller parts200, and the plurality of propeller parts200may be supported by the support part100such that any one of the propeller parts200is symmetrical to another one of the propeller parts200with respect to the center of the support part100. In other words, referring toFIG.2, one of the plurality of propeller parts200may be connected to the folding part400to be symmetrical to another one of the plurality of propeller parts200with respect to a horizontal axis (x-axis inFIG.2) and a vertical axis (y-axis inFIG.2) passing through the center of the support part100. In this way, since the plurality of propeller parts200are symmetrical to each other, the support part100may move more stably in a state that it is lifted from the ground. The propeller part200may include a propeller unit210and a light member220.

The propeller unit210may move up or down with respect to the ground by rotation to lift or lower the support part100and the folding part400. The propeller unit210may include a plurality of propeller units210, and the plurality of propeller units210may be connected to each other to form the propeller part200.

The light member220may emit light to indicate to the outside that a patient is being transferred. By the light emitted from the light member220, people can recognize that a patient is being urgently transferred, and clear the path through which the patient is transferred. The light member220may be disposed in any one of the plurality of propeller units210. In addition, the patient transfer device1may further include a sound device, and may sound an alarm to notify the surroundings that a patient is urgently being transferred.

The connection member300may transmit power to the propeller part200from the power supply unit500to be described later. In addition, the connection member300may connect the support part100and the power supply unit500. One end of the connection member300may be connected to the power supply unit500, and the other end of the connection member300may be connected to the support part100. The connection member300may guide the movement of the support part100along the movement of the power supply unit500. In other words, the connection member300may move along a movement direction of a rescue worker who bears the power supply unit500and provide a movement direction to the support part100.

Referring toFIGS.3A and3B, the folding part400may rotate with respect to the support part100to fold the propeller part200toward the support part100. One end of the folding part400may be rotatably connected to the propeller part200to support the propeller part200. In addition, the other end of the folding part400may be rotatably connected to the support part100. A plurality of folding parts400may be provided to be connected to the plurality of propeller parts200.

The power supply unit500may supply power to the propeller part200to drive the propeller part200. The power supply unit500may be connected to the support part100through the connection member300, and may supply power to the propeller part200. In addition, the power supply unit500may be borne by a rescue worker, and may be carried while being borne by the rescue worker. The power supply unit500may include a supply body510, a battery520, a display530, a button540, and a supply cover550.

Referring toFIG.4, the supply body510may provide a space in which the battery520, the display530and the button540to be described later are accommodated. As for the supply body510, the supply cover550hinged to the supply body510is rotated to an open position by the button540, so that the interior of the supply body510may be partially opened, and when the interior is partially opened, the battery520may be loaded into the inside of the supply body510or may be taken out.

The battery520may supply power to the propeller part200to drive the propeller part200. The battery520may be loaded and mounted in the supply body510, and may be taken out for charging. For example, the battery520may be a lithium ion battery.

The display530may display a charged state of the battery520. For example, when the battery520needs to be charged, the display530may display a red color or a text indicating that the battery needs to be charged. The display530may be located on one surface of the supply body510.

The button540may be pressed to drive the propeller part200to lift the support part100. When the button540is pressed, power may be supplied to the propeller part200from the battery520, and the propeller part200is driven. In addition, while power from the battery520is being supplied, the button540may be pressed to cut off the power supply from the battery520. The button540may be located on one surface of the supply body510.

The control unit600may receive a measurement signal for the tilting state of the support part100generated from the tilt detector140. In addition, the control unit600may perform horizontal level maintenance control so that the patient seating surface120of the support part100is kept perpendicular to the direction of gravity based on the received measurement signal from the tilt detector140.

Specifically, the control unit600may receive information about the tilting of the support part100from the tilt detector140to perform the horizontal level maintenance control. In addition, the control unit600may control the driving of the propeller part200. When it is determined that one side of the support part100is inclined, the control unit600increases or decreases the rotation of the propeller part200disposed close to the one side, thereby maintaining the horizontal level of the support part100.

The control unit600may be located inside the power supply unit500, and may be implemented by a computing device including a microprocessor, a measuring device such as a sensor, and a memory, or a combination thereof. The implementation method is obvious to those skilled in the art, and further detailed description will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the patient transfer device1having the configuration as described above will be described.

Referring toFIG.5, a user may use the patient transfer device1to rescue an emergency patient. After transferring the patient transfer device1to an accident place, the user may lay or seat the patient on the support part100. When the patient is supported by the support part100, the belt130may be worn on the patient to prevent the patient from falling out of the support part100. When the patient is fixed to the support part100, the user may press the button540to operate the propeller part200. When the propeller part200is operated, the support part100and the patient may be lifted. When the support part100is lifted, the user may move toward an ambulance, and the support part100may move along the user through the connection member300.

Hereinafter, a process in which the propeller part200is unfolded by rotation of the folding part400will be described with reference toFIGS.3A to3D. When the patient transfer device1is not in use, the propeller part200may be folded toward the support part100to minimize the volume thereof, as shown inFIG.3A. Then, when it is necessary to drive the propeller part200to lift the support part100, the folding part400may rotate with respect to the support part100so that the propeller part200faces the ground as shown inFIG.3B. Further, as shown inFIG.3C, the folding part400may rotate with respect to the support part100in a direction in which the plurality of propeller parts200are away from each other. After the folding part400rotates with respect to the support part100, the plurality of propeller parts200may rotate with respect to the folding part400so as to be parallel to the ground, as shown inFIG.3D.

The patient transfer device1has an effect that one person can transfer a patient who weighs a lot without mobilizing a plurality of persons. In addition, the user can quickly transfer the patient to an ambulance from the accident place that the ambulance cannot reach.

Meanwhile, beside the above configuration, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the control unit600may control the propeller part200so that the support part100follows a rescue worker. Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIG.6. In describing another embodiment, differences from the above-described embodiment will be mainly described, and the same configurations as those in the above-described embodiment are given the same reference numerals and the descriptions in the above embodiment are referred.

The patient transfer device1may further include a tracking signal generator700. The tracking signal generator700may be provided to any one of a rescue worker and the power supply unit500, and may be transferred along the movement of any one of the rescue worker and the power supply unit500borne by the rescue worker. Further, the movement of the tracking signal generator700may be detected by a sensor unit110. Various well-known sensors may be used as the sensor unit110for detecting the movement of the tracking signal generator700.

The sensor unit110may detect the movement of the tracking signal generator700. For example, various well-known sensors such as an infrared sensor, a temperature sensor, or a distance sensor may be used as the sensor unit110. The sensor unit110may detect the movement of the tracking signal generator700when the rescue worker moves to transfer the patient, and may generate a movement signal and transmit the movement signal to the control unit600.

The control unit600may control the driving of the propeller part200so that the support part100follows the tracking signal generator700based on the movement signal generated by the sensor unit110. The control unit600may detect the movement of the tracking signal generator700when the rescue worker moves. In addition, the control unit600may control the driving of the propeller part200so that the support part100supporting the patient follows the tracking signal generator700.

When the tracking signal generator700switches the movement direction thereof to the left or the right while moving, the control unit600may control the driving of the propeller part200to move the patient transfer device1to the left or the right along the tracking signal generator700after moving forward by a predetermined distance.

In addition, when the tracking signal generator700switches the movement direction thereof upward or downward while moving, the control unit600may control the driving of the propeller part200to move the patient transfer device1upward or downward while maintaining the horizontal level along the tracking signal generator700after moving forward by a predetermined distance.

The patient transfer device1according to the second embodiment may have the effect of being able to follow the rescue worker even when the rescue worker moves or changes the movement direction while moving.

The examples of the present disclosure have been described above as specific embodiments, but these are only examples, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and should be construed as having the widest scope according to the technical spirit disclosed in the present specification. A person skilled in the art may combine/substitute the disclosed embodiments to implement a pattern of a shape that is not disclosed, but it also does not depart from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art can easily change or modify the disclosed embodiments based on the present specification, and it is clear that such changes or modifications also belong to the scope of the present disclosure.