Patent Publication Number: US-9427367-B2

Title: System and method for transferring patients

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/626,457, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING PATIENTS, filed Sep. 25, 2012, issuing Jul. 22, 2014, as U.S. Pat. No. 8,782,826, and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/624,527, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING PATIENTS, filed Apr. 6, 2012, each of which is incorporated herein by reference herein, in the entirety and for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Various embodiments described herein relate to a method and a system for transferring objects, such as patients, in a hospital or in an operating suite. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the day to day operations of a hospital, many patients are moved. In many instances, patients are ambulatory and can move from a hospital bed to a wheelchair to be moved yet again. Many patients are not ambulatory. These patients must also be moved with the assistance of nursing and medical staff. Non-ambulatory patients are moved from a hospital bed to a gurney whenever there is a need to move a patient to a new area. Once moved to the new area, they are moved again into a new room or other environment. When a patient undergoes surgery, even the ambulatory patient is generally rendered non-ambulatory due to the effects of anesthesia. Generally, the anesthesia does not wear off shortly after concluding the operation. A patient is generally moved from the operating table in an operating suite to a bed in a recovery room. In the recovery room, the patient is observed until they “wake up” after the anesthesia wears off. In the recovery room, a nurse can also keep an eye on many patients in the event something should go wrong shortly after an operation. Once the patient awakens or recovers sufficiently, the patient is then moved again to a hospital room. Most patients are rendered non-ambulatory by virtue of the operation. As a result, the nursing and medical staff must move the patient onto a gurney for transport back to the recovery room. Generally, the patient stays on the gurney while in the recovery room. Upon recovery, the patient is then moved on the gurney to the hospital room. Once at the hospital room, the patient is moved from the gurney to the hospital bed by medical staff, or the nursing staff. 
     The most common device used to move a patient is shown in  FIG. 1 . The transport device  100  includes a number of elongated rollers  110  that are covered by a mesh cloth or vinyl  130 . A sheet of material, called a “chuck”  150 , is wrapped around the device  100 . The patient is rolled from a supine position to a lateral decubitus position (so called “log roll”), at which time the device is jammed between the patient and the surface of the bed or gurney or other surface on which the patient is lying. The patient is then rolled from the lateral decubitus position back to a supine position onto the device and the cloth chuck  150  covering the device  100 . The patient is rolled onto the device  100  with the assistance of nursing or medical staff. At this point, the patient is generally only partially on the device  100 . The medical or nursing staff may have to push and/or pull the patient across the device to effect a transfer across surfaces  100 . Once on the transport device  100 , the patient must be pushed and/or pulled across and over the device  100 . The patient rolls over the transport device  100  and the individual rollers as the patient is transported to the next surface. 
     The current device has many problems. The ride for the patient is uncomfortable, as the dorsal aspect of the patient does not move smoothly across the belt surface due to the open spaces between the rollers, which are located beneath the belt. This bumpy ride is stressful on patients being transported. For example, patients that have just completed an operation are many times still being monitored during transport and into the recovery room. The monitoring information taken during transport, such as heart rate, ECG (electrocardiograph), blood pressure, and respiratory rate show that the patient undergoes stress. Another problem is related to the hospital staff, such as the nursing staff or medical staff. In moving the patient, the staff must bend over two surfaces and push and/or pull the patient. This method is inherently inefficient due to accepted principles of physics, i.e., friction. This can cause any number of injuries and resulting workman&#39;s compensation claims. Also, for patients of significant size and/or weight, additional hospital staff is required for the physical task of moving the patient from one surface to another with the existing transport device. These injury and labor force issues can add dramatically to the cost of operating a hospital. A new chuck has to be wrapped around the transportation device each time the patient is moved. Wrapping the transportation device with the chuck is mundane relative to the advancement of technology within the healthcare industry. These, of course, are but a few of the problems associated with the transportation device  100 . 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art patient transportation device. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a prior art patient transportation device  100  with a chuck wrapped around the prior art patient transport device. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of a patient transport system without a belt, as used to move a patient or object from a first surface to a second surface, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a patient transport system as used to move a patient or object from a first surface to a second surface with a continuous belt, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a patient transport system, with the continuous belt and a portion of the support system removed, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a patient transport system, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  shows a partially cut away perspective view of a disposable chuck, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  shows a bottom view of the disposable chuck, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  shows a wall mounted bracket and roll of chucks, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is an end view of the wall mounted bracket for the patient transport device, and roll of chucks, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  shows a flow diagram of a method for operation of the patient transport device and chuck, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  shows a supplement sheet  1200  that can be used to add strength to the chuck  700  during a patient transfer, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  shows a schematic view of a transport device with a drive system, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic of a control system that acts in response to a set of sensors associated with the transport device  1200 , according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a flow diagram for a method for controlling the movement of a belt and for driving the belt, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  shows a diagrammatic representation of a computing device for a machine in the example electronic form of a computer system, within which a set of instructions for causing the machine to perform the methods discussed above, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  shows another embodiment of a wall mounted bracket  1700  for the patient transport device, and roll of chucks, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 18A  shows a perspective blow up view of another example embodiment of the patient transport device. 
         FIG. 18B  shows an end view of another example embodiment of the patient transport device. 
         FIG. 18C  shows a top view of another example embodiment of the patient transport device. 
         FIG. 19  shows a bottom view of the disposable chuck, according to another example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art patient transportation device  100 . The prior art patient transport device  100  includes a number of parallel spaced elongated rollers  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117  which are spaced from one another. A frame member  120  and a frame member  122  hold the rollers in spaced relation to one another. The frame members  120 ,  122  are attached to the ends of the rollers  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117 . Each end of the roller  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117  is rotatably attached to the frame member  120 ,  122 . The frame members  120 ,  122  are tied to one another so as to form a substantially rigid frame. The rollers  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117  are covered by a continuous belt  130 . The continuous belt  130  is sized so that it fits tightly over the rollers  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117 . It should be noted that there are spaces  141 ,  142 ,  143 ,  144 ,  145 ,  146  between the rollers  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117 . In the spaces  141 ,  142 ,  143 ,  144 ,  145 ,  146  there is essentially no support. The continuous band  130  of the prior art is generally flexible. When supporting an object in the spaces  141 ,  142 ,  143 ,  144 ,  145 ,  146  between the rollers  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117  the continuous band  130  flexes or sags. When an object is small it travels between a high position on top of a roller  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117  and lower position in a space, such as spaces  141 ,  142 ,  143 ,  144 ,  145 ,  146  between the rollers  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117 . When a large flexible object is transported using the transport device, a flexible outside surface of the object will travel between these positions. 
     In some instances, a human being is transported using the prior art transport device  100 . Human beings have an integumentary system. The integumentary system is the organ system that protects the body from damage, and includes the skin and its appendages (including hair, scales, feathers, and nails). The integumentary system has a variety of functions; such as to waterproof, to cushion, and to protect the deeper tissues, to excrete wastes, and to regulate temperature. The integumentary system is also the attachment site for sensory receptors to detect pain, sensation, pressure, and temperature. In humans, the integumentary system is the largest organ system. 
     When a human is the object being moved, first portions of the integumentary system are supported by the elongated rollers  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117  while adjacent portions of the integumentary system are supported at lower positions by the belt  130 , spanning spaces  141 ,  142 ,  143 ,  144 ,  145 ,  146  between the rollers  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117 . This is due to the flexible nature of skin in its function to cushion organs within the body. As a human is transported over the device  100 , the skin or integumentary system undulates. This is stressful on the body. The stress occurs both when the human is conscious and unconscious. During surgery, the body is carefully monitored. The monitoring continues after surgery. For certain medical or surgical procedures, some patients require monitoring during transfer from the surgical surface to the transport surface. Other patients are also monitored as they convalesce in a post surgery recovery room. Monitoring information such as heart rate, ECG (electrocardiograph), blood pressure, and respiratory rate indicate that the patient undergoes stress during transfer. 
     In addition to producing stress, the transport device  100  also translates as the patient is moved. In other words, the elongated rollers  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117  roll along the continuous belt  130  which, in turn, is rolled over the surfaces between which the patient is being transported. Such an arrangement can result in high localized loading at the rollers and may require more force to move a patient. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a prior art patient transportation device  100  with a chuck  150  wrapped around the patient transport device  100 . In operation, a clean cloth, called a chuck  150 , is wrapped around the patient transport device  100 . The edge of the chuck  152  is generally gathered by workers on one side of the human. The chuck  150  is then pulled along the edge. Other workers can push the human to help move or transfer the patient from one surface to the other surface. Pushing the human adds to the stress. The workers generally must bend, push and pull and this causes the workers stress as well which can result in injury. At the end of its use, the chuck  150  is placed in the laundry, laundered and reused. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of a patient transport system  300  as used to move a patient or object from a first surface  301  to a second surface  302 , according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a top view of a patient transport system  300  as used to move a patient or object from a first surface to a second surface with a continuous belt, according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 5  is a top view of a patient transport system  300  as used to move a patient or object from a first surface  301  to a second surface  302 , with both the continuous belt  330  and a portion of a support system  400  removed, according to an example embodiment. Specifically, the end caps and the side caps of the housing are removed from  FIG. 5 . The bridge cover material is also removed from  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of a patient transport system along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 , according to an example embodiment. Now referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , the patient transport system  300  will be further detailed. 
     The patient transport system  300  includes a housing  310  dimensioned to span a distance between the first surface  301  and the second surface  302 . The housing  310  is also made sufficiently strong so as to have the strength to not fail while spanning the distance. The patient transport system  300  includes a first elongated roller  320  positioned along a first edge or first side cap  311  of the housing  310 ; and a second elongated roller  322  positioned along a second edge or second side cap  312  of the housing  310 . The patient transport system also includes a support system  400  (best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 ). The support system  400  includes a set of individual supports  412 ,  414 ,  416  (shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The individual supports  412 ,  414   416  are attached to the end caps  316 ,  318  of the housing  310 . For example, individual support  412  is attached to housing end cap  316  at point  422  and to the housing end cap  318  at attachment point  423 ; and individual support  414  is attached to housing end cap  316  at point  424  and to the housing end cap  318  at attachment point  425 ; and individual support  416  is attached to housing end cap  316  at point  426  and to the housing end cap  318  at attachment point  427 . A top bridge cover  421  is attached to the individual supports  412 ,  414 ,  416  to form a bridge  420 . The bridge  420  can also have a bottom bridge cover  621  (shown in  FIG. 6 ). The bridge covers  421 ,  621  are formed of a substantially rigid material, such as a low friction polymer or carbon fiber, plastic, metal or metal composite fiber material. The top bridge cover  421  flexes a limited amount during transport of an object, such as a patient, but is much more rigid than a belt material. The bridge  420  supports the object as it is transported using the patient transport system  300 . When the object is a patient, the patient is supported so that the skin or the integumentary system undulates less than when the prior art device  100  is used. This reduces the stress placed on the patient when moved with the patient transport system  300  when compared to the prior art device  100 . The bridge  420 , in one embodiment, forms a support surface having a first portion which is substantially the same height as the first elongated roller  320  and a second portion which is substantially the same height as the second elongated roller  322 . 
     The patient transport system  300  also includes a continuous belt  330 . The continuous belt  330  is positioned in conveying relation with respect to the first roller  320  and the second roller  322  and with respect to the bridge  420 . The first roller  320 , the second roller  322 , a major portion of the supports  412 ,  414 ,  416  and a major portion of the bridge  420  are positioned within the continuous belt  330 . A portion of the continuous belt  330  conveys an object (not shown) while another portion of the continuous belt  330  passes through the housing  310 . The housing  310  includes a bottom  314 . The bottom  314  includes a first major surface abutting the first surface  301  and the second surface  302 , and includes a second major surface on the inside of the housing. The continuous belt  330  does not touch the first surface  301  or second surface  302 . The continuous belt  330  passes over the second major surface. In other words, the continuous belt passes over the top of the second major surface on the inside of the housing  310 . The elongated rollers  320 ,  322  are positioned substantially within the housing  310  and above the second major surface of the bottom  314  of the housing  310 . In another embodiment, the surface of the bridge  420  of the support system  400  is approximately the same height as one of the first end and the second end of the housing. The continuous belt passes over the support structure and specifically over the support surface as the continuous belt is moved to transfer an object. The support surface, in some embodiments, includes a material which lessens the friction occurring between the support surface and the belt. 
     Now looking at  FIG. 6 , in some example embodiments, the support structure  400  of patient transport system  300  also includes a bottom cover  621  attached to the supports  412 ,  414 ,  416 . The cover  621  is also positioned within the housing  310 . The cover  621  acts to guide the continuous belt  330 . The cover  621  also prevents the continuous belt from catching on the supports  412 ,  414 ,  416 . The support system  400  includes the bridge  420  which can be thought of as a frame covered by a bridge cover  421  and a bridge cover  621 . In another embodiment, the support system could be formed of a solid material. In still other embodiments, the number of supports forming the frame could be varied. Furthermore, different types of materials could be used for the bridge cover  421  and the bridge cover  621 . Bridge cover  421  is on one side of the supports  412 ,  414 ,  416  and bridge cover  621  is on the other side of the supports  412 ,  414 ,  416 . 
     In one example embodiment, the continuous belt  330  is made of an elastomeric material so as to cushion an object to be transferred. The continuous belt  330  must be sufficiently thin so as to fit between the space between the roller  320  and the edge  311 , and the space between the roller  322  and the edge  312  of the housing  310 . The thickness of the belt  330  must allow the belt to flex. In other words, the belt material  330  must be sufficiently flexible so that it can wrap around the rollers  320 ,  322  and most of the support system  400 . If the object is a human, the elastomeric material of the continuous belt  330  cushions the patient during a transfer. In another embodiment, a thinner cloth-like material is used in the continuous belt  330 . It should be noted that any type of material that is sufficiently flexible and sufficiently thin to fit between a roller and an edge of the housing can be used. 
     When the continuous belt  330  is made of an elastomeric material it somewhat conforms to the object during transport. When the object to transfer is a human being or animal, the conformance of the belt provides some comfort to the animal or human being. The continuous belt must be sufficiently thin so as to remain clear of the housing during operation of the continuous belt. The continuous belt must also be sufficiently thin so as to allow the use of a chuck. If the continuous belt is too thick, the belt could become caught within the housing, for example. If the continuous belt is too thick, it may allow the continuous belt to be used but prevent operation of the device when a chuck is used. In one embodiment, the first and second elongated rollers  320 ,  322 , respectively, are positioned inboard with respect to the first edge or side end cap  311  and the second edge or side end cap  312  of the housing  310 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the first edge or side end cap  311  of the housing  310  includes a transition area  611  between a lower portion of the housing  310  and the support surface or surface of the bridge  420 . The second edge or side end cap  312  of the housing  310  also includes a transition area  612  between a lower portion of the housing  310  and the support surface or surface of the bridge  420 . The transition area can be made in any number of shapes. As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the first transition area  611  and the second transition area  612  are triangular in cross-sectional shape. The triangular-like shape allows the housing  310  of the system  300  to be placed near the object and slightly wedged into the space. The less slope between the edge or end caps  311 ,  312  of the housing  310  and the bottom of the housing  314 , the gentler the transition area  611 ,  612 . The transition area  611 ,  612  is generally longer with gentler slope. The transport device  300  will be wider with transition areas having a gentler slope. The width of the transport device  300  is one consideration in the design of the device. Other design considerations might be the comfort of a human, when the human is an object or the bulkiness of the device  300  when handled by hospital personnel in an operating suite or around the hospital. 
       FIG. 18A  shows a perspective blow up view of another example embodiment of the patient transport device  1800 .  FIG. 18B  shows an end view of another example embodiment of the patient transport device  1800 .  FIG. 18C  shows a top view of another example embodiment of the patient transport device  1800 . Now referring to all of the  FIGS. 18A, 18B, 18C , the patient transport device  1800  will be further detailed. The patient transport system  1800  includes a housing  1810  dimensioned to span a distance between the first surface and the second surface. The housing  1810  includes a first elongated frame member or side cap  1811 , a second elongated frame member or side cap  1812 , a first end cap  1813 , and a second end cap  1814 . The end caps  1813 ,  1814  attach to the first and second elongated frame members or side caps  1811 ,  1812  to form the housing  1810 . The housing  1810  is made sufficiently strong so as to have the strength to not fail while spanning a distance somewhat shorter than the length of the end caps  1813 ,  1814 . The housing  1810  holds a bridge  1840  which is formed from a material sufficiently strong to hold a patient. The bridge  1840  includes a top bridge cover  1842  and a bottom bridge cover  1844 . Located between the top bridge cover  1842  and the bottom bridge cover  1844  are a plurality of truss members including truss members  1845 ,  1846 , and  1847 . In this example embodiment, the truss members are part of a matrix of truss members. The truss members provide strength without making the bridge  1840  overly heavy. The bridge  1840  can be made of metal, plastic, fiberglass or the like. The bridge  1840  can also be made of a composite of several materials or additional materials. It should be note that the side caps  1811  and  1812  also include a system of trusses, as shown in  FIG. 18A . In another embodiment, the side caps  1811  and  1812  can be made of a solid material. 
     The patient transport system  1800  also includes a first elongated roller  1820  positioned along the first elongated frame member or first side cap  1811  of the housing  1810 ; and a second elongated roller  1822  positioned along the second elongated frame member or second side cap  1812  of the housing  1810 . The patient transport system  1800  also includes a set of four connector plates. Two of the connector plates are shown in  FIG. 18A  as elements  1831  and  1832 . These are most closely spaced with respect to the end cap  1813 . It should be understood, that there are additional connector plates positioned near the end cap  1814 . One connector plate  1831  is attached to one end of the side cap  1811  and another connector plate is attached to the other end of the side cap  1811 . Similarly, there are two connector plates, including connector plate  1832 , that are attached to the ends of the side cap  1812 . The rollers  1820  and  1822  are rotatably attached to two connector plates. The end caps  1813  and  1814 , in one embodiment, are also attached to the connector plates. For example, the end cap  1813  attaches to connector plates  1831  and  1832 . The frame or housing  1810 , the bridge  1840  and the connector plates form a support system  1830  for the patient transport system  1800 . In one embodiment, the bridge  1840  attaches to the end caps  1813  and  1814 . In another embodiment, the end caps  1813 ,  1814  include indents for receiving the end of the bridge. In this way, the bridge does not have to be connected by hardware but can merely slip into the openings or indents in the end caps  1813 ,  1814 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 18B , a continuous belt  1850  fits over the rollers  1820 ,  1822 , the top bridge cover  1842 , and the bottom bridge cover  1844 . The continuous belt  1850  is positioned in conveying relation with respect to the first roller  1820  and the second roller  1822  and with respect to the bridge  1840 .  FIG. 18  B is an exploded view, so the belt is shown separate from the rollers  1820 ,  1822 , the top bridge cover  1842 , and the bottom bridge cover  1844 . As shown in  FIG. 18C , the first roller  1820 , the second roller  1822 , and the bridge  1840  are positioned within the continuous belt  1850 . A portion of the continuous belt  1850  conveys an object (not shown) and while another portion of the continuous belt  1850  passes through the housing  1810 . The continuous belt  1850  passes over the top bridge cover  1842 , the bottom bridge cover  1844  of the bridge  1840 , and the rollers  1820 ,  1822  while in the housing  1810 . The continuous belt  1850  passes through the housing  1810  and does not contact the major surfaces that a patient is transferred from or to. The continuous belt  1850  passes over the support structure  1830  and specifically over the covers  1844 ,  1842  and the rollers as the continuous belt is moved to transfer an object. The material used to form the top bridge cover  1842  and the bottom bridge cover  1844 , in some embodiments, includes a material which lessens the friction occurring between the covers  1842 ,  1844  and the belt  1850 . 
     Now looking at  FIG. 18B , the patient transport device  1800  is assembled and the end cap  1813  is removed to more clearly show the truss members of the bridge  1840  which are used to support the covers  1842 ,  1844 . The truss members and covers are made of a material adequate to transport a patient. Of course a factor of safety can be incorporated into the design. 
       FIG. 18C  shows a totally assembled patient transport device  1800 . The continuous belt is cut away along the length so that the portions of the support systems  1830  are shown. 
       FIG. 7  shows a partially cut away perspective view of a disposable chuck  700 , according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 8  shows a bottom view of the disposable chuck  700 , according to an example embodiment. In operation a chuck  700  is used to provide additional cushioning and to provide a clean surface on which to transport an object. The chuck, in the embodiment shown, also may be disposable and includes absorbent material. In another embodiment, the chuck is formed from a permanent material and is adapted to receive an absorbent material. The absorbent material will absorb fluids that may be produced or come from an object, such as a patient. Any sort of absorbent material can be used. There are limits as to the thickness of the chuck  700 . The chuck  700 , when used, has to fit in a space between the outer surface of the continuous belt  330  when positioned on one of the rollers  320 ,  322  and the edge  311 ,  312  of the housing respectively. The thickness is denoted by the variable “t” shown in  FIG. 7 . The chuck  700  has a width, W. The width, W, is less than the width of the continuous belt  330 . The width of the chuck  700  cannot be wider than the continuous belt  330  or the chuck  700  will bind the transport device  300 . Looking at  FIG. 7 , the chuck  700  includes a bottom layer  710 , an absorbent layer  720  and a top layer  730 . The various layers  710 ,  720  and  730  are made of clean material. The various layers may also be made of a disposable material. The top layer  730  is permeable or will allow fluids to pass to the absorbent layer  720 . The chuck  700  also includes a first edge  711  and a second edge  712 . In one embodiment, the edges  711 ,  712  are perforated or have the earmarks from a perforated connection to another chuck.  FIG. 8  shows that the bottom layer  710  includes an adhesive strip  810  toward one edge, such as edge  711  of the chuck  700 . The adhesive strip  810  can be a single elongated strip or can be several smaller strips laid end to end to form an elongated adhesive strip near the edge  711 . In another embodiment, the adhesive strip can be multiple strips or multiple elongated strips near one of the edges  711  of the chuck  700 . In one embodiment, strips can be parallel to one another and parallel to the edge  711 . The adhesive used is generally a releasable type of adhesive, such as an adhesive similar to that used on a Post-It® note from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing of St. Paul, Minn. The releasable adhesive will allow the strip to be applied to a surface and removed without leaving an adhesive residue on the surface. In still another embodiment, the adhesive strip is covered with a strip of material to seal the adhesive until it is exposed for use. The material is of the peel and stick type. The chuck  700  can be bunched up along one of the edges  711 ,  712  and used to move an object such as a patient. In one embodiment, the chuck  700  can include hand hold openings. 
       FIG. 19  shows a bottom view of the disposable chuck  1900 , according to another example embodiment. The disposable chuck  1900  is similar to the disposable chuck  700 . Rather than repeat all the similarities, the following discussion will key in on the main differences between the disposable chuck  700  and the disposable chuck  1900 . The chuck  1900  includes a second strip of adhesive  1910  that can be removed during the initial loading of the chuck  700  onto the patient transfer device or at a later time as needed. The second strip of adhesive may not be used at all by some. 
       FIG. 9  shows a wall mounted bracket  900  for the patient transport device  300 , and roll  930  of chucks  700 , according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 10  is an end view of the wall mounted bracket  900  for the patient transport device  300 , and roll  930  of chucks  700 , according to an example embodiment. Now referring to both  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the details of the wall mount bracket and roll  930  of chucks  700  will be further detailed. The wall mount bracket  900  is attached or mounted to a substantially vertical surface, such as a wall  902 . The wall mounted bracket  900  has an upper portion  910  and a lower portion  912 . The upper portion  910  is substantially parallel with the lower portion  912 . The lower portion  910   912  abuts the wall  902 . The lower portion  912  is attached to the wall via any type of fastening device, such as lag bolts, screws, or the like. The lower portion  912  can be attached using an adhesive. In some embodiments, both an adhesive and one or more fasteners are used to attach the lower portion  912  of the wall bracket  900  to the wall  902 . When attached, the upper end  910  is free and spaced from the wall at a distance which is greater than the width of the patient transport device  300 . The patient transport device can then be stowed along the wall, and produce a minimal footprint. The patient transport device  300  also does not interfere with the ground. In many instances, the floor is kept clean so having the patient transport device off the floor is helpful in that it does not need to be moved to clean a room. The wall bracket  900  can be used in any type of room, including surgical suites, patient rooms, or hallways near a plurality of patient rooms. The device can also be used in transport vehicles, such as ambulances or helicopters, or rescue boats. Stored above the wall mounted bracket  900  is a roll of chucks  700 . The chucks  700  are formed in a roll  930  and can be easily deployed. The patient transport device  300  is removed. A chuck is torn off the roll along a perforated edge, such as edge  712 . The adhesive can then be used to removably attach the chuck  700  to the belt  330  of the transport device  300 . Of course, in other embodiments, the chuck  700  may be attached to the patient transport device  300  before being removed from the storage spot of the wall mounted bracket  900 . In one embodiment, the upper portion  910  is attached to the lower portion by a spring hinge  914 . The spring hinge  914  allows the upper portion  910  to fold down and provide a substantially vertical working surface for the patient transport device  300  as a chuck is being loaded thereon. After the chuck  700  is loaded onto the patient transport device  300 , the spring hinge  914  moves the upper portion  910  back to a position proximate the wall to which the wall bracket  900  is mounted. In still another embodiment, the roll of chucks can be placed or mounted in a housing. The housing can be attached to an appropriate surface. The housing protects the roll of chucks  700 . 
       FIG. 17  shows another embodiment of a wall mounted bracket  1700  for the patient transport device  300 , and roll  930  of chucks  700 , according to an example embodiment. The wall mounted bracket  1700  is mounted in a vertical orientation. The space in an operating suite is precious. By orientating the wall mounted bracket  1700  vertically, there is less of a footprint with respect to the floor of the operating suite. In this manner, the wall mounted bracket  1700  would allow space for other equipment to be placed into the operating suite. In this embodiment, the roll  930  of chucks  700  is also mounted vertically. It should be realized that the roll  930  of chucks  700  could also be mounted horizontally. In fact, one of the wall bracket or roll could be mounted substantially horizontally and the other of the wall bracket or roll could be mounted substantially vertically in various example embodiments. In each of the various embodiments, the wall bracket  900 ,  1700  is provided with a set of contacts for a contact charger. The patient transport device  300  would have a corresponding set of contacts which make contact with the set of contacts associated with the device  300 . The contacts would be used to recharge the motor inside the device  300 . Similarly, the device  300  and the wall mounted brackets could also include a non-contact charging system which could be used to charge the motors associated with the device  300 . In one embodiment, the non-contact charging device would include a set of coils associated with the patient transport device  300  and another set of coils associated with the wall bracket  1700 . An alternating current passed through the coils in the wall bracket would induce an alternating current in the coils of the transport device. These could be rectified and used to charge a storage device, such as a battery. In such an embodiment, there would be no electrical contacts, which is advantageous if the operatory includes the use of combustible gases and the like. In another embodiment, the wall mounted bracket could be provided with electrical contacts that make contact with the patient transport device so that it is charged when placed in the wall mounted bracket  1700 . The wall mounted bracket  1700  includes an upper portion  1710  and a lower portion  1712 . In one embodiment, upper portion  1710  is attached to the lower portion  1712  by a spring hinge  1714 . The spring hinge  1714  allows the upper portion  1710  to fold down and provide a substantially vertical working surface for the patient transport device  300  as a chuck is being loaded thereon. After the chuck  700  is loaded onto the patient transport device  300 , the spring hinge  1714  moves the upper portion  1710  back to a position proximate the wall to which the wall bracket  1700  is mounted. 
       FIG. 11  shows a flow diagram of a method  1100  for operation of the patient transport device and chuck, according to an example embodiment. The patient transport device  300  is removed from a wall bracket  1110 , and a chuck  700  is removed from the roll of chucks  1112 . The chuck  700  is applied to the continuous belt  330  of the patient transport device  1114 . Applying the chuck to the continuous belt includes removing a peel and stick type covering from an adhesive strip, and placing the adhesive strip of the chuck onto the continuous belt of the patient transport device. Generally, the adhesive strip will be applied to the belt near the edge that will be initially placed under the patient. The belt is moved to place a portion of the chuck into the opening between the housing  310  and the edge of the belt  330 , as depicted by  1116 . This may be referred to as loading the chuck onto the patient transfer device,  1116 . The object to be moved is then rolled away from the patient transfer device  1118 , the patient transfer device is placed adjacent the object to be moved  1120 , and the object is then rolled back onto the patient transfer device  1122 . The object, such as a patient, is now partially on the patient transfer device. The chuck can then be pulled and the object pushed to place the object onto the continuous belt and transfer the object from the first surface to a second surface,  1124 . At least one portion of the chuck contacts the continuous belt. The object continues to be moved until it is on the second surface  1126 . The object can then be tilted or rolled away from the patient transfer device  1128 , and the patient transfer device can then be removed  1130  and the object can be rolled onto the second surface  1132 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a supplement sheet  1200  that can be used to add strength to the chuck  700  during a patient transfer, according to an example embodiment. When the object is heavy or above a certain weight, there is a possibility that the chuck  700  may not hold up to the pulling forces needed to move the object. As a result, a sheet  1200  of a thicker and stronger material supplements and adds to the system. As shown, the sheet is a relatively thin and tough plastic sheet that is dimensioned so that it fits on the continuous belt  330 ,  1850 . In operation, the sheet  1200  fits between the chuck  700  and the continuous belt  330 ,  1850 . The sheet is positioned there when it is determined that the object, such as a heavy patient, may be large enough so that pulling on the chuck  700  alone may rip the chuck  700 . The sheet  1200  is made of a tough plastic that can be grabbed and moved with little chance of tearing. In one example embodiment, the sheet  1200  is made of polyethelene having a thickness of approximately 20 mils. As shown, the sheet  1200  has a first edge  1201  and a second edge  1202 . The sheet  1200  can have a first set of handholds  1211  positioned near the first edge  1201  and a second set of handholds  1213  is near the second edge  1202 . In another embodiment, the sheet can include a foam material. The foam material provides for further cushioning of the object during transport. In some embodiments, the foam is added to the sheet  1200  to provide a composite sheet that is both strong and cushioned. In another embodiment, the sheet may be entirely made of foam material. 
     In some embodiments, the patient transport device  300  includes a drive mechanism  1210 .  FIG. 13  shows a schematic view of a transport device  1200  with a drive system  1210 , according to an example embodiment. The drive mechanism, in one embodiment, includes an electric motor  1210 , such as a brushless induction motor. The electric motor turns a shaft  1212  and  1212 ′ which is coupled to at least one of the elongated rollers  320 ,  322 . The shaft  1212 ,  1212 ′ turns and drives the rollers  320 ,  322 . The shaft  1212 ,  1212 ′ turns one way to rotate the roller in a first direction and turns another way to turn the roller in the opposite direction. In one embodiment, the shafts  1212 ,  1212 ′ are connected so that the rollers  320 ,  322  can be rotated freely to override the drive motor  1210 . In one embodiment, the motor  1210  includes a gearbox having a set of pawls that are used to drive the shaft in a first direction. If the rollers are turned faster than the driven speed, the pawls merely ride over an adjacent drive position to allow the rollers to free wheel in the driven direction. This is helpful in the event the drive mechanism is not moving fast enough and the people overseeing the transfer of the object want to expedite the transfer, such as in an emergency situation. In addition, if there is a loss of power, it is necessary in order to move the object. As discussed above, the patient transport device is bi-directional because the shafts  1212 ,  1212 ′ can be driven in a first direction and in a second direction. Of course, the second direction may be the reverse or opposite the first direction. It is contemplated that sensors could be used to automatically determine which way to drive the rollers. In one embodiment, accelerometers are used to to detect tilt and to detect which of the sides of the patient transport device  300  contacts a surface first. This will generally indicate the side of the patient transport device  300  that is placed under the patient. In another embodiment, each edge of the patient transport device  300  is provided with a stress or strain gauge. The stress or strain gauge can be used to detect a force, such as a partial weight of a patient on one edge of the patient transport device. In either embodiment, detecting the patient using a strain gauge or by detecting the tilt of the device  300 , the top surface or exterior portion of the continuous belt is driven away from the patient so as to move the patient to a position on the surface of the device  300 . In some embodiments, inertial activation is used to determine the direction to drive the belt. It should be noted that one or more of these types of sensors can be combined to form a more robust system. 
     In one embodiment, the electric motor is powered by a battery. In one example embodiment, the wall bracket can include a charger that charges the battery by induction technology. Of course, the motor within the patient transfer device  1200  is an induction motor. The charger is within the wall bracket  900  and is positioned in charging relation to the motor within the patient transfer device  1200 . Induction contact points are located within the patient transfer device. The battery within the patient transfer device  1200  is then charged whenever the patient transfer device is placed in the wall mounted bracket  900 . Therefore, the battery  1220  will be charged and ready when the patient transfer device is needed. After use, the patient transfer device  1200  is placed in the wall mount bracket and recharged again. In another embodiment, the charger can also be placed in the wall near the wall bracket. In still other embodiments, the wall bracket  900  includes a series of stops to correctly position the patient transfer device with respect to the wall bracket so that the charger within the wall bracket is able to charge the battery  1220 . 
       FIG. 14  is a schematic of a control system that acts in response to a set of sensors associated with the transport device  1200 , according to an example embodiment. The patient transport device  1200  includes a controller  1310  for controlling the electric motor  1210  used to drive the patient transfer device  1200 . The patient transfer device  1200  also includes sensors, such as a sensor  1311  and a sensor  1312 . Sensor  1311  is associated or positioned on or within a first edge of the housing of the patient transfer device. Sensor  1312  is associated or positioned on or within a second edge of the housing of the patient transfer device  1200 . The sensors  1311 ,  1312  are used to detect the position of an object to be transported. The sensors  1311 ,  1312  can be any type of sensor including an optical sensor, a heat sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, an inertia sensor, or a strain gauge, or the like. An optical sensor detects an object in response to a reduced amount of light occurring at one sensor when compared to another optical sensor. A strain gauge will detect weight added to the housing in the area of the sensor location. A heat sensor could sense heat of an object, should the object moved be a human being for example. A gyroscopic sensor senses the axis plane position of a portion of the patient transport device  1200 . The inertia sensor senses the commencement of movement or the stoppage of movement. The sensors  1311  and  1312  can be used to control movement or driving of the continuous belt  330  so as to make the patient transport device user-friendly to hospital personnel using the device to transport a patient. Of course, more than two sensors can be used in other embodiments. 
       FIG. 15  is a flow diagram for a method  1500  for controlling the movement of a belt and for driving the belt, according to an example embodiment. If a chuck  700  is placed on the belt near an edge, the roller will be turned in a direction toward that edge so as to tuck the chuck  700  into the housing  1510 . The controller  700  could detect movement and direction of the roller for this operation  1512  and set the roller to be driven in a direction opposite the chuck tucking direction  1514 . To ease the discussion, assume that the edge carrying the sensor  1311  is going to be the edge initially placed near the object to be moved. The object is typically rolled away from the edge. For example, if a patient is the object to be moved, the patient is rolled onto his or her side  1516 . The edge is placed adjacent the object to be moved, and then rolled onto the edge and over the sensor  1311 . The position of the patient is sensed  1518 . If sensor  1311  is a light sensor, a signal indicating a lack of light or sudden drop in an amount of light is sent to the controller  1310 . The controller  1310  could then drive the rollers to move the belt  330  away from the sensor  1311 , as depicted by reference number  1520 . In some embodiments, the controller might have to detect a lack of light for a set time before actually moving. This would prevent detecting an object when there actually was not such an object (such as a user placing a hand on the sensor  1311 ). In one embodiment, the sensor  1311  can be compared to the sensor  1312 . If the two detect equal levels of light, the room would just be dark. In another embodiment, the sensor could be a stress/strain gauge. When an object is rolled onto the edge containing the sensor  1311 , the stress/strain gauge would detect added weight on the frame or the portion of the frame near the sensor  1311 . The sensor  1311  could also detect heat or a warm object to determine that an object is on the frame. Once an object has been detected, the drive system  1210  drives the rollers away from the edge with the sensor  1311 . The drive system  1210  will drive the rollers to move the object  1522  and then stop driving the object  1524 . There are many options for stopping the rollers. For example, in one embodiment, the drive system  1210  will drive the rollers to move the object until the sensor  1312  detects the object by way of a lack of light, an increase in weight, or by sensing heat at the sensor  1312 . In one embodiment, the drive system  1210  can continue to drive the belt for a set amount of time or for a set distance. In still another embodiment, the belt can be driven until a lack of weight, increased light or heat is no longer sensed at the sensor  1312 . In still another embodiment, the driver  1210  will stop when the load need to drive the belt increases, which indicates that the object traveled to the second surface and is now resting in part on the second surface. The horizontal component of force needed to overcome friction on the second surface will cause the load on the motor to go high. The motor associated with the drive system can then be stopped. The object can be rolled or tilted  1526  and the patient transfer system removed  1527  and placed back in the wall mounted bracket for recharging  1528 . 
     Discussed above is one control method. It should be noted that other control methods are possible. For example, a sensor able to detect a level surface might be used. The patient transfer device could be placed on the first and second surface and be substantially level. The chuck  700  could be attached to the belt. When the patient or object is rolled onto their side, the patient transfer device is typically tilted slightly with the low end being nearest the patient or object. Sensing the tilt toward an edge could be a signal to drive the roller in a direction toward the patient to load the chuck  700 . The remaining portion of the control method discussed above could then be carried out as discussed above. 
     Described above is a system that would work with a few sensors. It is contemplated that other sensors could be used and produce inputs to a controller to enhance the ease of use for hospital personnel or others that use the patient transfer system. For example, gyroscopic technology can also be used to sense certain conditions. A gyroscopic sensor can be used to detect a substantially level condition, such as when the patient transfer device is placed between a first surface and a second surface. Once the level condition is detected, the drive system can be enabled or turned on and readied for use. Using gyroscopic technology, the device can also be disabled or turned off when it is determined to be at an angle greater than a selected threshold, such as 30 degrees with respect to level or horizontal. Levels can also be used to produce inputs for enabling and disabling the device. A sensor could also provide an input to automatically shut off the device when it is within the wall mounted bracket. 
       FIG. 16  shows a diagrammatic representation of a computing device for a machine in the example electronic form of a computer system  2000 , within which a set of instructions for causing the machine to perform the methods discussed above, according to an example embodiment. In various example embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device or can be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine can operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine can be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a portable music player (e.g., a portable hard drive audio device such as an Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer 3 (MP3) player), a web appliance, a network router, a switch, a bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. 
     The example computer system  2000  includes a processor or multiple processors  2002  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), arithmetic logic unit or all), and a main memory  2004  and a static memory  2006 , which communicate with each other via a bus  2008 . The computer system  2000  can further include a video display unit  2010  (e.g., a liquid crystal displays (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system  2000  also includes an alphanumeric input device  2012  (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device  2014  (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit  2016 , a signal generation device  2018  (e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device  2020 . 
     The disk drive unit  2016  includes a computer-readable medium  2022  on which is stored one or more sets of instructions and data structures (e.g., instructions  2024 ) embodying or utilized by any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The instructions  2024  can also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory  2004  and/or within the processors  2002  during execution thereof by the computer system  2000 . The main memory  2004  and the processors  2002  also constitute machine-readable media. 
     The instructions  2024  can further be transmitted or received over a network  2026  via the network interface device  2020  utilizing any one of a number of well-known transfer protocols (e.g., Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP), CAN, Serial, or Modbus). For example, it is contemplated that an application, referred to as an app, could be used with a handheld device, such as an iPhone® available from Apple Computer and various wireless telephone carriers, could be employed as an interface for controlling the patient transfer device. Other smart phones could also be provided with applications that could be used to control the patient transfer device. For example, a mobile phone application could be used to enable or turn on the device and issue certain commands needed to move an object. In essence, an application could be used to convert a mobile phone or smart phone into a remote. Of course, a dedicated remote could also be provided with the patient transport device. 
     While the computer-readable medium  2022  is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions and provide the instructions in a computer readable form. The term “computer-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that causes the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present application, or that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying data structures utilized by or associated with such a set of instructions. The term “computer-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media, tangible forms and signals that can be read or sensed by a computer. Such media can also include, without limitation, hard disks, floppy disks, flash memory cards, digital video disks, random access memory (RAMs), read only memory (ROMs), and the like. The computer system or part of a computer system could be used as the controller  1310  in the drive system of the patient transfer device. In addition, the patient drive system could be provided with any type of link for receiving signals over a link, such as an internet link, RF link, infrared link or the like. 
     The example embodiments described herein can be implemented in an operating environment comprising computer-executable instructions (e.g., software) installed on a computer, in hardware, or in a combination of software and hardware. Modules as used herein can be hardware or hardware including circuitry to execute instructions. The computer-executable instructions can be written in a computer programming language or can be embodied in firmware logic. If written in a programming language conforming to a recognized standard, such instructions can be executed on a variety of hardware platforms and for interfaces to a variety of operating systems. Although not limited thereto, computer software programs for implementing the present method(s) can be written in any number of suitable programming languages such as, for example, Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), Dynamic HTML, Extensible Markup Language (XML), Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL), Document Style Semantics and Specification Language (DSSSL), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL), Wireless Markup Language (WML), Java™, Jini™, C, C++, Perl, UNIX Shell, Visual Basic or Visual Basic Script, Virtual Reality Markup Language (VRML), ColdFusion™ or other compilers, assemblers, interpreters or other computer languages or platforms. 
     This has been a detailed description of some exemplary embodiments of the invention(s) contained within the disclosed subject matter. Such invention(s) may be referred to, individually and/or collectively, herein by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. The detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and which shows by way of illustration, but not of limitation, some specific embodiments of the invention, including a preferred embodiment. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to understand and implement the inventive subject matter. Other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive subject matter. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.