PATIENT TRANSFER DEVICE

Abstract: A device is provided for transferring a patient from a first to a second surface, comprising a sheet of flexible material (such as fire resistant woven nylon fabric), having first and second opposed longitudinal edges, for bearing the patient during the transfer operation, at least one handle disposed generally at each said longitudinal edge for enabling an operator to transfer the device bearing the patient from the first to the second surface, and at least one handle intermediate the said longitudinal edges, for facilitating the said transfer operation and for facilitating the removal of the device from beneath the patient once the transfer operation is complete.

Description: PATIENT TRANSFER DEVICE The present invention relates to a device for transferring a patient from a first to a second surface, and, in particular, from a hospital trolley to a hospital bed (and vice versa) . The invention also relates to a method for transferring a patient from a first to a second surface . Stretchers have been used for some considerable time to support and carry inured or ill persons. In their simplest form, stretchers comprise a rectangular fabric support on which the injured person lies, and handles or poles attached to the fabric support to enable the stretcher and patient to be carried. GB 468336 (Sarcilly-Ernes) describes a stretcher comprising a faonc support having looped handles at the longitudinal edges . The handles may be formed by the ends of straps which are sewn transversely across the fabric support. Alternatively, the handles may be manufactured separately from the straps and sewn either to the straps or directly to the fabric support . The handles may be covered in lengths of hose made from rubber or the like in order to provide an improved hold on the handles. In order to provide improved support for the injured person, the stretcher may be stiffened. For example, GB 1472272 (Coal Industry (Patents) Limited) descnoes a stretcher formed from a flexible canvas support into which is sewn one or more pockets for receiving rigid support memcers . The stretcher has hand holds on the longitudinal edges of the fabric to enable the stretcher to be carried. As well as transferring an injured person over some distance, stretchers are also used to transfer a patient from a hospital trolley to a hospital bed (for example) . As described in the prior art discussion in US 4744115 (Marchione) , sheets are commonly used for this purpose. However, sheets lack rigidity and do not have convenient grasping means. It is necessary therefore to slide the sheet and the patient from one supporting surface to another by grasping the sides of the sheet. An alternative form of device described in US 4744115 has a series of rollers so that the patient can be rolled from one surface to another. However, these devices are heavy and difficult to handle and manoeuvre successfully. The invention which is disclosed m US 4744115 has a pair of rigid panels sandwiched between upper and lower cover sheets, with loop handles at the longitudinal edges of the sheets. Although the device can be folded in half to make it more compact for storage purposes, it will be appreciated that the rigid panels make the device fairly bulky. EP 0152349 discloses a conveying plane made of canvas for lifting and transferring an iniured person. The canvas plane has a plurality of handles down each of its longitudinal edges, and, optionally, t also has handles at the ends of the canvas plane. The device may also have sleeves down the edges to receive poles, to enable tne injured person to ne carried. GB 2300619 discloses a rolling transfer aid for use m the transfer and repositioning of patients. The aid comprises a collapsible tube with a low friction internal surface and a laminar element which can slide with the upper layer of the tube over the lower layer in order to displace a patient resting on the laminate element from one position to another. US 5442821 discloses a sling for carrying patients comprising a trough of strong flexible sheet material with side walls having reinforced edges and carrying handles. US 5386604 discloses a patient rescue bag with an upper portion and a lower portion attached by multiple straps of hook and fastener material, so that the bag can be adjusted to the size of the injured person to be carried. As with all operations which involve manipulating a heavy object, it is important that the persons transferring the object (for example nurses transferring a patient in a hospital) take care not to injure themselves during the transfer operation. Ideally, when using a transfer device to transfer a patient from one surface to another, for example from a trolley onto a bed, operators of the transfer device should ensure that they are standing upright, with their upper arms m contact with their sides. The transfer device should be within their reach, ideally without their having to lean over the bed in order to reach the device, since this will reduce the risk to the operators of musculoskeletal injury. There is a need for a patient transfer device which enables a patient to be transferred from one surface to another whilst minimising the risk of the person carrying out the transfer operation being harmed. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for transferring a patient from a first to a second surface, comprising a sheet of flexible material, having first and second opposed longitudinal edges, for bearing the patient during the transfer operation, at least one handle disposed generally at each said longitudinal edge for enabling an operator to transfer the device bearing the patient from the first to the second surface, and at least one handle intermediate the said longitudinal edges, for facilitating the said transfer operation and for facilitating the removal of the device from beneath the patient once the transfer operation is complete. The provision of the handle or handles intermediate the longitudinal edges of the sheet enables the operator to carry out the transfer operation in two stages. First, the handles at one longitudinal edge of the device are grasped, and the sheet and patient are pulled partially onto the second surface. The part of the sheet between the longitudinal edge and the handles intermediate the longitudinal edges can then be folded over the top of the patient, or folded or bunched between the operator and the patient, m order that the operator can reach the intermediate handles. The transfer operation can then be completed by pulling on the intermediate handles in order to slide the patient fully onto the second surface. Optionally, the sheet can be slid out from under the patient, by pulling en the intermediate nandles . One advantage of th s mode of operation is that the operator is not required to move as far away from the bed as he or she would have to if the transfer operation had to be completed by pulling on the handles at the longitudinal edges only. It will be appreciated that this enables the device to be used in a confined environment, in which there may not be sufficient room to use existing devices. It is particularly preferred that the sheet should be sufficiently wide, or that the handles on the longitudinal edges should be sufficiently long, to enable a operator to reach the handles on one of the longitudinal edges without having to lean over the surface onto which the patient is being transferred. The risk of injury to the operator is thereby significantly reduced. It is preferred that the sheet should be wider than the first surface. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sheet is not less than about one and a half times the width of a standard hospital bed (a " King's Fund" bed) . More preferably, the sheet has a width of not less than about 1.5 metres, and most preferably the sheet has a width of about 1.8 metres . It will be appreciated that the size of the sheet can be varied depending on the intended use. For example, a small version can be provided for use m paediatric wards. In a preferred embodiment, there are a plurality of said handles intermediate the said longitudinal edges and disposed generally n the central region of the said sheet. There are preferably a plurality cf handles along each longitudinal edge of the sheet, thereby enabling more than one hospital employee to transfer a patient together. By spacing the handles at equal intervals, an even force can be applied to the sheet, so that the transfer operation can be carried out and the sheet can be removed from under the patient smoothly and evenly. The sheet may be generally rectangular, having first and second ends, and including at least one handle (and preferably a plurality of handles) disposed generally at each said end. This enables a patient to be transferred longitudinally up or down the hospital bed. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the said handles are formed by attaching at least one strap to the sheet at a plurality of points along the length of the strap . The device preferably has one strap at each longitudinal edge of the sheet and one strap approximately midway between the longitudinal edges and substantially parallel thereto. In an alternative embodiment, the device has one strap at each longitudinal edge and a pair of straps approximately midway between the longitudinal edges and substantially parallel thereto. Preferably, the pair of straps are disposed about the centre of the sheet . They may be disposed edge-to-edge, or there may be a gap between them. The provision of a pa r of straps enables a set of handles to be provided which are slightly nearer the longitudinal edge than a single set of handles at the centre of the sheet, and which are therefore easier to reach. It will be appreciated that the gap between the pair of straps can be varied depending on the width of the sheet . The device may also have a strap at each end of the sheet, in order to form a plurality of handles at the said ends. The use of a single strap to form a plurality of handles is particularly economical and results in a device which is very easy to manufacture. The device may also include covers formed from a flexible material, which covers are attached to the sheet, so as to overlay the handles . The covers prevent the handles from catching on projections during the transfer operation, and also have an aesthetic function in camouflaging the handles, particularly if the covers are formed from the same material as forms the sheet. In an alternative embodiment, the device may include means for receiving stiffeners at the longitudinal edges of the sheet to convert tne device to a conventional stretcher, thereby enabling a patient to be carried on the device. The sheet (and preferably the covers) may be formed of any material which is sufficiently strong to withstand the transfer operation, and which is sufficiently friction- free to enable the device and a patient to be slid from one surface to another. Preferably, the sheet is formed from fire resistant woven nylon fabric, although, as will be apparent to one skilled m the technical field, any fabric which is sufficiently strong, friction- free and fire resistant is suitable for use. Since the device does not have any rigid components, it can be folded into a small package for storage purposes. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for transferring a patient from a first to a second surface, comprising the steps of interposing a device according to the present invention between the patient and the first surface and transferring the device bearing the patient from the first to the second surface using the said at least one intermediate handle. The method may additionally comprise the step of removing the device from under the patient using the said at least one intermediate handle . The employment of the said at least one intermediate handle in the above method means that t is unnecessary to use tne handle (s) on tne longitudinal eαge which is remote from the person(s) transferring the patient. This reduces the need to lean over tne first surface to reach the remote handles, thereby reducing the rιsκ of muscoskeletal injury. It will be appreciated that the device may be folded in half for use in transferring patients between narrow surfaces such as between two hospital trolleys The handle (s) on one longitudinal edge and the handle (s) intermediate the longitudinal edges will be down tne edges of tne folded device, and can oe used to carry or transfer tne patient between tne trolleys. In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided the use of a device according to the invention to transfer a patient from a first to a second surface. In yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of securing a patient to an object (such as a mattress) , comprising the steps of wrapping a device according to the present invention around the patient and the object, and fastening one longitudinal edge of the sheet to the other. For example, one half of the sheet can be placed under a mattress and the other half thrown over the patient lying on the mattress. A strap or webbing (such as a seat belt strap) can then be passed through the handles on each longitudinal edge in order to fasten them together and secure the patient to the mattress. This method can be used when it is necessary to evacuate patients from a building, e.g. in the event of fire. Once the patient is secured on the mattress, the patient can be dragged from the building on the mattress. A device m accordance with the invention as described above can also be used to fold a mattress in half in order that it can be moved through a narrow doorway (for example) . One half of the sheet is placed under the mattress and the other half thrown over the top of the mattress, or alternatively the sheet is folded in half and placed under the mattress. In both cases, the sheet is arranged so as to leave a set of longitudinal handles at one longitudinal edge of tne mattress and a set of "intermediate" handles (that is the nandles which are intermediate the two longitudinal edges) at the other longitudinal edge of the mattress. A strao (for example) can then be passed through the nandles at the mattress edges, and tightened and secured to fold the mattress in half for transportation. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the underside of a device according to the present invention m perspective and in a partial cross section. Figure 2 shows the underside of an alternative embodiment of a device according to the present invention in perspective and in a partial cross section. The patient transfer device shown m Figure 1 has a sheet (1) with dimensions 2 metres by 1.5 metres which is formed from fire resistant rip-stop nylon. Longitudinal edge straps (2) are disposed along each longitudinal edge of sheet (1), centre strap (3) is disposed longitudinally down the centre of sheet (1) , and end straps (4) are disposed along each end of the sheet . The straps are formed from webbed nylon. All five straps (2,3,4) are sewn to sheet (1) at either end of each strap and at intervals of 40 cm along each strap at attachment points (5) , thereby resulting in looped handles (6) between consecutive attachment points (5) . Rip- stop nylon material overlays longitudinal edge straps (2) and centre strap (3) and is sewn to sheet (1) at attachment points (4) in order to result m strap covers (7) which permit access to nandles (5) . In an alternative embodiment, end straps (4) may be replaced by four looped handles, two at each end of sheet (1) . In use, the patient transfer device is arranged face down under a patient so that the straps (2,3) and strap cover (6) are underneath sheet (1) with respect to the patient, with the patient lying on one half of the smooth upper surface of sheet (1) , such that the patient is positioned between centre strap (3) and one of the edge straps (2) . This can be achieved either by positioning the device under a patient who is already lying on a hospital trolley (for example) , or by ensuring that the device is in place before the patient is laid on the trolley (for example at the scene of an accident) . In order to transfer the patient from the hospital trolley to a hospital bed (for example) , the trolley is first manoeuvred alongside the hospital bed. A minimum of two nurses stand on the side of the hospital bed remote from the hospital trolley The half of tne device on which the patient is not lying is spread out on the bed, so that the edge strap (2) remote from the patient is aligned close to the longitudinal edge of the bed. The nurses then grasp hold cf tne closest edge strap (2) at handles (6) by placing their hands between sheet (1) and strap covers (7) (without having to lean over the trolley) By keeping their upper arms oy tneir sides, the nurses are able to transfer force exerted oy their leg muscles through their arms to pull on edge strap (2) In this manner, they can slice sneet (1) and tne patient from the hospital trolley onto tne hospital beα, whilst minimising risk of muscoskeletal injury During the transfer operation, the nurses should keep their upper arms in contact with their body, and their oack straight. The nurses pull the patient partially onto the bed, until centre strap (3) is within reach (without having to lean over the bed) . The part of sheet (1) which is between the nurses and centre strap (3) can be bunched up or folded over the patient, in order to permit the nurses to grasp centre strap (3) . The transfer operation is then completed by pulling on centre strap (3) to slide sheet (1) and the patient fully onto the hospital bed. Finally, the nurses can remove the patient transfer device from underneath the patient by a combination of rolling the patient off sheet (1) and pulling on the centre strap (3) to slide sheet (1) from underneath the patient. If it is desired to move a patient longitudinally, i.e., up or down the bed or trolley, then one or two nurses can grasp handles (6) of transverse strap (4) and slide sheet (1) and the patient towards them. The device can be manoeuvred underneath a patient who is lying on a trolley by moving the patient to one side of the trolley and placing as much of sheet (1) face down on the trolley as possible. The patient can then be rolled or moved onto the part of sheet (1) wnich is on the trolley, until tne handles (5) of edge strap (2) can be reached from the siαe of the patient remote from tne bulk of sheet (1) The nurse or nurses can then pull on these handles (5) m orαer to sliαe the device underneath tne patient. There may be loops or a tunnel sewn into the edges of sheet (1) for receiving poles, in order to convert the device to a stretcher which can be used to support and carry a patient for longer distances, e.g. between an ambulance and a hospital trolley. The poles can be removed once the patient is on the trolley and the device can then be used as described above . The alternative embodiment shown in Figure 2 has dimensions 2 metres by 1.8 metres. The sheet has two centre straps 3 disposed longitudinally about the centre of the sheet, with a small (3cm) gap between the two straps. The provision of the extra strap means that the device can still be used without difficulty, despite the fact that the sheet is slightly wider than that shown in Figure 1. All other details of the device and the method of employment are the same as those described above for Figure 1. It will be appreciated that the number of handles can be varied according to the desired purpose of the patient transfer device. The width of the sheet will depend upon the size of the bed and trolley, for example, and the size of the patient. The interval between the attachment points (which determines the length of the handles) will depend on the size of the operator's hands.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for transferring a patient from a first to a second surface, comprising a sheet of flexible material, having first and second opposed longitudinal edges, for bearing the patient during the transfer operation, at least one handle disposed generally at each said longitudinal edge for enabling an operator to transfer the device bearing the patient from the first to the second surface, and at least one handle intermediate the said longitudinal edges, for facilitating the said transfer operation and for facilitating the removal of the device from beneath the patient once the transfer operation is complete. 2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, including a plurality of said handles intermediate the said longitudinal edges and disposed generally in the central region of the said sheet . 3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, including a plurality of said handles along each longitudinal edge of the sheet . 4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said handles are formed by at least one strap attached to the sheet at a plurality of points along the length of the strap. 5. A device as claimed in Claim 4, which includes one strap at each longitudinal edge of the sheet and one strap approximately midway between said longitudinal edges, disposed substantially longitudinally with respect to the sheet . 6. A device as claimed in Claim 4, which includes one strap at each longitudinal edge of the sheet and a pair of straps approximately midway between said longitudinal edges, disposed substantially longitudinally with respect to the sheet about the centre of the sheet . 7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet is generally rectangular, having first and second ends, and including at least one handle disposed generally at each said end. 8. A device as claimed in Claim 7, including a plurality of said handles along each said end. 9. A device as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the said handles are formed by a strap attached to the sheet along each of the said ends at a plurality of points along the length of each strap. 10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising handle covers formed from flexible material, which covers are attached to the sheet, so as to overlay the said handles. 11. A device as claimed m any one cf the preceding claims, wherein the sheet includes means for receiving stiffeners at the longitudinal edges of the sheet to enable a patient to be carried en the device. 12. A device as claimed in any one cf the preceding claims, wherein the sheet has a width of not less than 1.5 metres . 13. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet is formed from fire resistant woven nylon fabric. 14 A method for transferring a patient from a first to a second surface, comprising the steps of interposing a device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 13 between the patient and the first surface and transferring the device bearing the patient from the first to the second surface using the said at least one intermediate handle . 0 15 A method as claimed in Claim 14, additionally comprising the step of removing the device from under the patient using the said at least one intermediate handle . 5 16. The use of a pa t ient transfer device as cla i med m any one of Claims 1 to 13 , to transfer a patient from a first to a second surface. A method of securing a patient to an object, compr i s i ng the steps of wrapping a device as claimed m any one of Cla i ms 1 to 13 around the patient and the ob j ec t , and fas t ening one longitudinal edge cf the shee t t o the other . -53 18. A me t hod as claimed in Claim 17, wherein an elongate flexible member is linked through the handles on said long i tudinal edges in order to fasten them together. 19. A patient transfer device in accordance with the present invention, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing. 20. A method in accordance with the present invention for transferring a patient from a first to a second surface, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Inventors: ALEXANDER JANE DEBORAH, ALEXANDER, JANE, DEBORAH
Applicants: ALEXANDER JANE DEBORAH, ROYAL HOSPITAL OF ST BARTHOLOM, ALEXANDER, JANE, DEBORAH, THE ROYAL HOSPITAL OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW, THE ROYAL LONDON HOSPITAL AND THE LONDON CHEST HOSPITAL NHS TRUST
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61G1
IPC codes: A61G1