Abstract:
A medical gurney for supporting, transporting and temporarily bedding patients in need of treatment comprising a first frame structure made from a plurality of inter-connected frame members and a porous mesh-type patient-supporting bed surface secured to the first frame structure. A portion of the first frame structure and bed surface are adjustable between horizontal and inclined positions. A second frame structure having transport wheels is removably attached to the first frame structure. Both the first and second frame structures are moveable between a transport position and a storage position when disconnected, such that the height of the medical gurney is substantially reduced when the first and second frame structures are in their storage position. Triage indications advise medical personnel of the medical status of the patient supported by the gurney.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     This disclosure relates to an emergency management triage bed  10  that is designed to be used in emergency response situations where patients need to be transported to a hospital or other location for treatment. Various types of medical transport devices are used to move injured or sick individuals to medical facilities for treatment. These include stretchers that are carried by medical staff to an ambulance or medical facility. Gurneys having wheels are also used to transport patients from the emergency site to the hospital. Patients injured by biological agents or that have been injured by hazardous materials require decontamination as part of their medical treatment. Existing medical gurneys cannot be decontaminated due to the nature of their construction. In order for the decontamination to occur, patients are removed from the gurneys before they can receive treatment. Further, existing medical gurneys are costly and cannot be easily stored in large quantities preventing them from being available in the event a large scale emergency response is required.  
         [0002]     In view of the above, it should be appreciated that there is a need for an emergency management triage bed that can be easily stored, is lightweight, and permits the decontamination of a patient without removing the patient from the bed. The present disclosure satisfies these and other needs and provides further related advantages.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     The invention comprises an emergency management triage bed that is used in emergency response situations prior to admitting the patient to a hospital. The emergency management triage bed is in the form of a gurney that can be utilized in multi-casualty situations or in situations where decontamination is required due to exposure to biological, hazardous or other agents. The emergency management triage bed is comprised of a plurality of frame members interconnected to form a first frame structure. At least a portion of the frame structure is adjustable from a horizontal position to an inclined position to permit elevation of the head and upper torso of the patient&#39;s body. The bed also includes a bedding surface stretched over and connected to the frame structure by use of a plurality of straps. The bed further includes a secondary frame structure releasably connected to the first frame structure and includes a plurality of wheels to allow the bed to be transported from one location to another. The secondary frame structure can be adjusted from a transport position to a storage position, reducing the height of the bed to allow for storage. When in the storage position, the emergency management triage beds can be stacked multiple units high so that a greater number of beds can be stored in a given location. The triage beds also include a plurality of colored flags that are use to indicate the severity of the patient&#39;s injuries during a triage situation.  
         [0004]     Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and the accompanying drawings, wherein the embodiments of the disclosure are described and shown, and in part will become apparent upon examination of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The above-mentioned and other features of this disclosure in the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of elements of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the emergency management triage bed;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the emergency management triage bed shown with the head support in an inclined position;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the emergency management triage bed with the lower frame structure removed;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the emergency management triage bed with the lower frame structure removed;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is an elevational view of the underside of the emergency management triage bed;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is an end elevational view of the emergency management triage bed;  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the lower frame structure of the emergency management triage bed;  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the lower frame structure of the emergency management triage bed in a storage position;  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the upper frame structure of the emergency management triage bed;  
         [0015]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the emergency management triage bed with an alternate lower frame structure assembly;  
         [0016]      FIG. 11  is an elevational view of the bottom of the emergency management triage bed connected with the alternate lower frame structure;  
         [0017]      FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of the alternate lower frame structure; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the alternate lower frame structure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     While the present invention will be described fully herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a particular embodiment is shown, it is to be understood that the person skilled in the art may modify the disclosure herein described while still achieving the desired result of this disclosure. Accordingly, the description that follows is to be understood as a broad and informative disclosure directed to persons skilled in the appropriate art and not as limitations on the present disclosure.  
         [0020]     As illustrated in the drawings, an emergency management triage bed  10  is adapted to transport patients from an emergency site to a hospital or can be used as temporary bedding in a mass casualty situation.  FIG. 1  illustrates the emergency management triage bed  10  which is comprised of an upper frame structure  12  removably connected to a lower frame structure  14 . The upper and lower frame structures  12 ,  14  are preferably manufactured from a polymer such as polyvinylchloride (pvc) because it is light weight and can be decontaminated without causing damage to the structure or physical appearance of the emergency management triage bed  10 .  
         [0021]     The upper frame structure  12  is formed from a plurality of tubular side frame members  16  and tubular end frame members  18 . The tubular side frame members  16  are interconnected by use of connectors  24 , which are secured to the connectors  24  by use of fasteners such as screws or rivets or preferably by use of an adhesive. The tubular side frame connector  16  are interconnected with the tubular end frame members  18  by use of corner connectors  26 . The corner connectors  26  are secured to the frame members  16 ,  18  by use of fasteners or an adhesive.  
         [0022]     The first frame section  20  of the emergency management triage bed  10  includes a head portion  28  that is pivotally connected to a torso portion  30  of the first frame section  20  by a pair of hinges  32 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The head portion  28  of the first frame section  20  includes an adjustable support brace  34  that includes a plurality of notches  36  that are adapted to engage end bar  38  so that the angular inclination of the head portion  28  of the first frame section  20  can be adjusted based upon the needs of the patient and/or the medical personnel.  
         [0023]     The second frame section  22  of the upper frame structure  12  includes support post  40  that is adapted to support the head portion  28  of the first frame section  20  when placed in a horizontal position. The torso portion  30  of the first frame section  20  of the upper frame structure  12  includes a mesh bedding surface  42 . The bedding surface  42  is adapted to support the patient and is preferably made from a polyester mesh having a pvc coating, which is designed to resist degradation during decontamination. The use of a polyester mesh also provides breathability, is easy to clean and dries quickly. While polyester is used, other bedding surfaces and materials may be used to reach the desired result. The mesh bedding surface  42  is adapted to extend over the tubular frame members  16 ,  18  of the first frame section  20  and is secured by a plurality of straps (not shown). The head portion  28  of the first frame section  20  also includes a bedding surface  44  that is made from a polyester mesh material. The bedding surface  44  of the head portion  28  is stretched over and retained to the tubular frame members  16 ,  18  by use of a plurality of straps (not shown). The bedding surfaces  42 ,  44  are designed so that they may be removed from the upper frame structure  12  for cleaning or replacement.  
         [0024]     The second frame section  22  is connected to the first frame section  20  by use of the connectors  24 . The second frame section  22  includes a pair of bracing members  46  that are secured to the second frame section  22  of the upper frame structure  12  by use of pivoting connectors  48 . The bracing members  46  are adapted to pivot from a horizontal position to a vertical position about the pivoting connectors  48 . The bracing members  46  include pass through supports  50  that are adapted to engage and support the lower frame structure  14  when the lower frame structure  14  is in a transport position.  
         [0025]     The upper frame structure  12  further includes a pair of patient securing straps  52  that are connected to the upper frame structure  12  and are used to secure the patient to the emergency management triage bed  10  while transporting the patient. The upper frame structure  12  of the emergency management triage bed  1 O also includes a plurality of triage flags  54 . The triage flags  54  are used in triage situations to allow the treating staff to rate the condition of the patient so that more severely injured patients can be treated first. In addition to the triage flags  54 , timers and or clocks may be used in place or in addition to the triage flags  54  in order to indicate the time the patient was admitted and the duration they have been waiting for treatment.  
         [0026]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate the emergency management triage bed  10  with the lower frame structure  14  removed from the upper frame structure  12 . In this position, the bracing members  46  are pivoted inward so that the second frame section  22  of the upper frame structure  12  rests firmly upon the ground. The bracing members  46  are pivoted inward when the lower frame structure  14  is connected in a storage position, as shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0027]     The upper frame structure  12  also includes a plurality of cross supports  56 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , that are joined with connectors  24 . The cross supports  56  of the upper frame structure  12  assist in maintaining the structural integrity of the emergency management triage bed  10 .  
         [0028]     The lower frame structure  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , includes a pair of parallel longitudinal members  58  that are connected to t-members  60  at the center of the longitudinal numbers  58 . Bracing member  62  is connected to the longitudinal members  58  by t-members  60 . The lower frame structure  14  includes end members  64  that are pivotally attached to the t-members  60 . The lower frame structure  14  includes a plurality of upstanding legs  66  that are connected to wheel connectors  68 . The wheel connectors  68  are rigidly connected to end members  64 . Also attached to the wheel connectors  68  are a plurality of casters  70  that permit the emergency management triage bed  1 O to be moved between locations. The casters  70  are of the lockable type to prevent unwanted movement of the management triage bed  10 . The legs  66  include a top end  72  that are adapted to pass through pass through supports  50  and into support tees  74  as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0029]     The casters  70  are pivotally connected to the wheel connectors  68  so that the bed  10  can be moved in multiple directions. The wheel connectors  68  include connection ports  76  that are adapted to be connected to the support tees  74  when the legs  66  are folded inward to a storage position, as shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0030]      FIGS. 10 through 13 , of the application, illustrate an alternate embodiment of a lower frame structure  78  that is adapted to be used in combination with the upper frame structure  12  of the emergency management triage bed  10 . The lower frame structure  78  of the emergency management triage bed  10  is adapted to be used in situations where transportation of an injured patient using an emergency management triage bed  10  with standard casters would not be possible. This arrangement is particularly useful in situations where a patient has been injured in a sandy area such as a beach or where uneven terrain would prevent use of standard casters.  
         [0031]     The lower frame structure  78  is comprised of a pair of front supports  80  that include a top end  82  and a space apart bottom end  84 . The top end  82  of the front supports  80  are adapted to be positioned within the support tees  74  of the upper frame structure  12 . The bottom end  84  of the front supports  80  are adapted to be connected to wheel connectors  86  that, in turn, are connected to a pair of pivoting wheel assemblies  88 . The wheel assemblies  88  are connected to a pair of semi-spherical pneumatic wheels  90 .  
         [0032]     The semi-spherical wheels  90  of the lower frame structure  78  include a semi-spherical tire  92  secured to inner and outer plates  94 ,  96 . The wheels  90  are connected to the wheel assemblies  88  by use of axles  98 . The wheels  90  are connected to a rear axle housing  100  by use of axle  102 .  
         [0033]     The lower frame structure  78  includes a pair of horizontal frame members  104  that are connected to angled connectors  106  which are, in turn, connected to down tubes  108 . The down tubes  108  of the lower frame structure  78  are connected to a second set of angled connectors  110  that are connected to a pair of frame rails  112 . The frame rails  112  are secured to a pair of tee connectors  114  and are stiffened by a pair of cross members  116  that are connected by tees  118 . The rear of the lower frame structure  78  includes a pair of offset support members  120  that are adapted to be connected with support tees  74 .  
         [0034]     In use, the emergency management triage bed  10  is arranged so that the bracing members  46  are vertically oriented and the legs  66  of the lower frame structure  14  are in an upright position. To connect the lower frame structure  14  to the upper frame structure  12 , the legs  66  of the lower frame structure  14  are inserted through the pass through supports  50  of the upper frame structure  12  and are secured within the support tees  74 . With the lower frame structure  14  securely in place, a patient can be positioned upon the bedding surface  42  and retained by securing belts  52 . If it is necessary, the head portion  28  of the upper frame structure  12  can be inclined and locked into position by use of the adjustable brace  34 . Depending upon the condition of the patient, various triage flags  54  can be raised to indicate to the medical personnel the condition of the patient. When the emergency management triage bed  10  is not in use, the lower frame structure  14  can be removed and the legs  16  can be pivoted inward so that connection ports  76  of the lower frame structure  14  are positioned in upward direction.  
         [0035]     Once the connection port  76  is positioned in an upward direction and the bracing members  46  of the upper member  12  are pivoted inward to a horizontal position the connection parts  76  can be connected with the support tees  74 . The storage position lowers the overall height of the emergency management triage bed  10  so that it is within close proximity to the ground. In this arrangement, the emergency management triage bed  10  can be stacked at least five units high to conserve storage space when multiple emergency management triage bed  10  are stored.  
         [0036]     The upper frame structure  12 , the lower frame structure  14  and the bedding surfaces  42 ,  44  are manufactured from a polymer material, allowing the emergency management triage bed  10  and the patient thereon to be decontaminated simultaneously in the event of a chemical spill. In instances of a biological outbreak, the emergency management triage bed  10  can be burned or incinerated to prevent further contamination. In situations where the terrain prohibits use of casters  70 , the lower frame structure  14  can be removed and the alternate lower frame structure  78  can be installed to allow the emergency management triage bed  10  to travel over uneven terrain. The use of wheels  90  minimizes the number of personnel needed to transport the patient to a treatment location from a remote area.  
         [0037]     Various features of the disclosure have been shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiment, however, it is understood that these arrangement merely illustrate, and that the disclosure is to be given its fullest interpretation.