Abstract:
Methods and devices for securing a medical apparatus to a patient-transportation device is disclosed, including extensible and telescoping poles with releasable mechanisms for securing i.v. poles to a wheelchair.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional U.S. Patent Serial No. 60/401,256, filed Aug. 6, 2002, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Patients that stay in a hospital often require transportation from their hospital room to other rooms for testing, diagnostics, or exercise. This transportation sometimes takes the form of a wheelchair, gurney, or, in the case of children, a wagon. Many patients receive intravenous (i.v.) administration of fluids as part of their treatments.  
           [0003]    The i.v. administration is preferably continuous to avoid the inconvenience of removing and reinserting i.v. needles from the patient. Thus the transportation of a patient is commonly performed while the i.v. administration continues. The poles that carry the bags of i.v. fluids, referred to as i.v. poles, are typically wheeled. The i.v. poles are thus held by the hospital staff member that is pushing or pulling the transport.  
           [0004]    A staff member moving a patient that is connected to an i.v. pole is thus forced to use one hand to direct the i.v. pole and another hand to push the wheelchair. This is uncomfortable for the staff member and represents a hazard to the patient since control of the wheelchair is compromised. This situation also slows transportation since the staff member must walk more slowly while maneuvering with both the wheelchair and the i.v. pole.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The Applicants have identified the difficulties in managing a transport and an i.v. pole or other medical device that requires movement with the patient&#39;s transport. These difficulties are addressed herein by providing a transporting pole that is easily fitted to the transport and to the i.v. pole. The transporting pole allows for the i.v. pole or medical device to be moved with the transport and preferably maintains the i.v. stand at a fixed position relative to the patient&#39;s transport so that the pole is moved with the patient&#39;s transport. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a transporting pole and latch.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a transporting pole and latch.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 depicts partial elevated views of various embodiments of a grip of a transporting pole.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4A and 4B depict an elevated view of an embodiment in use with a wheelchair.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 depicts a front elevated view of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 depicts a plan view of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 5.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 depicts a side view of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 depicts a plan view of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 9 depicts a side view of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 10 depicts a front elevated view of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 9 as viewed from the perspective of line  10 - 10  therein.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 11 depicts an embodiment of the invention, with a gripping member being stored behind a wheelchair.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 12 depicts an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    A preferred embodiment of the invention is a transporting pole that has a main body and an extension that is connected thereto. The extension is joined to the main body so that the extension may be stowed when not in use. The extension is connected to a grip. The grip is adapted to grip a medical device, e.g., an i.v. pole. Fasteners are used to fasten the main body to the transport that carries a patient.  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 1, transporting pole  100  has main body  110  and extension  120  that is received by main body  110  so that extension  120  may be stowed substantially within main body  110 . Extension  120  is connected to grip  130 . Holder  140  is positioned so that tightening the holder causes holder  140  to hold extension  120  in place relative to main body  110 . Main body is attached to fasteners  150 . In use, fasteners  150  are attached to a transport, e.g., a wheelchair. Extension  120  telescopically slides out of main body  110  to a desired length. Holder  140  is tightened to secure extension  120 . A medical device, e.g., i.v. pole or gurney leg, is placed into grip  130  and bolt  132  is tightened, preferably hand-tight, to secure the medical device in grip  130 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 4A and 4B show this embodiment in place on a wheelchair. The extension is positioned so as to clear the patient&#39;s feet, which can be achieved on conventional wheelchairs by moving the i.v. pole to a comfortable arm&#39;s length (see Figure) and securing the extension and grip thereto. Wheelchair handle  702  and footrest  700  are depicted. Significantly, transporting pole  10  may be stowed with the length of the pole being less than the distance between end  706  of handle  702  and tip  704  of footrest  700 . FIGS. 5 and 6 similarly show this embodiment in use. The i.v. pole is preferably positioned in front of one of the arms of the wheelchair so that the patient may readily move in and out of the wheelchair.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 2A, 2B, and  2 C show an alternative embodiment of the invention. The extension  220  is connected to main body  210  using pins  142  that are received by pin-slots  144 . The pins may be depressed to allow their passage inside of main body  210  (FIGS.  2 B- 2 C) but are biased upwardly so they move to an up position when received by pin-slots  144 . The pins thus connect the main body  210  and extension  220  and prevent its rotation.  
         [0022]    FIGS.  3 A- 3 G show some of the embodiments of the grip. FIG. 3A depicts a spring  1000  that is affixed to an eye  1002  and is reversibly joinable to a second eye  1004 . In use, the spring  1000  is passed around the medical device, e.g., i.v. pole  1006  , and secured to one of the eyes. FIG. 3B depicts a buckle  1008  that may be used with a strap  1010  to buckle the i.v. pole  1006 . FIG. 3C depicts a hook-and-loop fastener system  1012  for gripping. FIG. 3D depicts a hoop  1020  that is securable to the extension  1022  by use of biased pins  1024  and slots for the pins  1026 . FIG. 3E depicts a rigid pin  1028  that may be used with a slot and a pin-hole for gripping  1030  with gripper  1032 . FIGS. 3F and 3G depicts flexible member(s)  1036 ,  1038  that are on the extension. The medical device is pushed into the flexible members  1036 ,  1038  so that they are forced open and resiliently grip the device. The grip of the flexible members  1036 ,  1038  may be enhanced, e.g., by using a gripping material inside the flexible members, e.g., a soft, sticky, or rigid material. A preferred embodiment is the rough surface found on a pipe wrench favored by plumbers. Combinations and variations of these schemes for gripping may also be used.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 depicts a wagon having a transporting pole mounted thereto Main body  120  is secured to the underside of the wagon and holder  140  is secured about extension  110 . Grip  230  is secured to i.v. pole  90 . The pole is preferably mounted to follow the wagon so as to provide the least obstacle to the user pulling the wagon.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 depicts a preferred embodiment having clamp  500  with a clamp-type grip  502  that is secured by bolt  504 . The extension  506  is in the stowed position and is secured by holder  508 . The extension is further stowed and secured to the main body using biased pins  510  that are received by slots  512 . The grip  502  is preferably mounted on a removable extension portion  514  that is reversibly attached to the extension  506 . The removable extension portion  514  is secured to main body  516  using biased pins  510  that are received by slots  512 . An optional strap  518  for securing the clamp is also depicted. FIG. 8 further depicts an optional cap  520  for covering the end of the extension  506  after the removable extension portion  514  has been removed. The cap may be used for safety purposes.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 8, in use, the extension  506  is stowed in the main body  516  by pushing the extension  506  into the main body  516 . A biased pin  510  moves up into a pin-receiving slot  512  to secure the extension  506 . The holder  508  is secured to the main body  516  as needed. The removable extension portion  514  is removed from the extension  506  by depressing the pins  510  and pulling the removable extension portion  514 . A cap  520  is secured over the end of the extension.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIG. 9, a transporting pole  550  may be secured to a transport, e.g., a wheelchair  552  using a fastener  554  (e.g., a clamp) on wheelchair arm  553 . The transporting pole  550  may be attached to, for example, i.v. pole  555 , using grip  560 . Transporting pole  550  may be secured in a first position  556  or a second position  558 , or positions therebetween, as depicted by pole  550  and i.v. pole  555  being shown in broken lines. Movement between the positions changes the relative distance between the wheelchair  552  and the i.v. pole  555  or other medical device. Bias pins  562  secure extensible portion  564  to main body  566 .  
         [0027]    Referring to FIG. 10, a transporting pole main body  566  may be mounted to wheelchair arm  553  so as to allow lateral movement relative to the arm. This change of position is advantageous when extra lateral room is required, e.g., as in a patient that is relatively large compared to other persons that use the chair. Thus the lateral area advantageously allows for the device to be used without interfering with the patient&#39;s leg movement. Thus fastener  554  is pivotable about arm  553  from a first position  570  to a second position  572 ; FIG. 10A shows the second position  572  in broken lines, and FIG. 10B shows first position  570  in broken lines.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIG. 11, a portion of the extension  595  having the gripper  596  that grips an i.v. pole is detachable from the main body and may be stored separately, e.g., on the back of wheelchair  590  having a wheelchair back  592  and wheelchair arm  594 . Other storage includes on the sides, front, or underside of the wheelchair, wagon, or other transport. The reversibly detachable portion may have various sizes to accommodate its stowage, for example, it may have a maximum length (i.e., its maximum dimension) of, e.g., less than about 24, 20, 18, 16, 12, 10, 8, 6, or 4 inches. It may further have fasteners for fastening to a medical device, e.g., a wheelchair. The medical device may also have a receptacle fro receiving the detachable portion, e.g., a pocket.  
         [0029]    Referring to FIG. 12, a flexible member, e.g., a spring  602 , may be introduced into the transporter pole  600 . For example, the flexible member may be positioned close to the gripping member as a detachable member using biased pins  604  received by slots  606 . Clamp  610 , movable fastener  612 , and arm  614  are also depicted. Optional straps  616  are also depicted that secure on either side of spring  602 . The flexible member aids in the movement of the i.v. pole across unevenly graded surfaces and up and down ramps, steps, and other surfaces. Other flexible members include flexible pipes, pinioned structures, pivotable members, and hinged and segmented members. Suitable materials include plastics and metals.  
         [0030]    Transportation devices that may be used with the transporting pole include wheelchairs and gurneys. Other medical devices include beds, rolling tables, carts, and other movable devices that support or transport patients. The term rod, as used herein, refers to an article that may be, e.g., cylindrical, solid, hollow, polygonal in cross-section, or square in cross-section.  
         [0031]    Suitable materials for the transporting pole, including the holders, grips, main body, and extension, include: metals, iron, stainless steel, steel, aluminum, bronze, alloys, titanium, and plastics, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutadiene, polycarbonate, fluorocarbons, polystyrene, and ABS plastics. Materials that are free of latex and natural rubber are favored since these materials are allergenic. Materials that are easy to wipe-down for sanitary purposes are favored.  
         [0032]    The embodiments of the invention described herein are for exemplary purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope and spirit of the invention.  
       References  
       [0033]    Aspects of designing various members of the transporting pole will be understood by those skilled in these arts after reading this disclosure. The following patents and patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,428,029; 6,354,390; 6,179, 260; 5,482,239; 5,374,074; 5,366,191; 5,135,191; 4,949,408; 4,725,027; 4,572,536; 4, 451,158; 4,511,157; and 4,840,391. Some suitable locking mechanisms for use in with embodiments disclosed herein include those in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,220,707; 4,993,101; 5,288,161; 4,662,771; 3,603,623; and 3,596,946. All patents and publications listed herein are hereby incorporated by reference herein.