Patent ID: 7814592

Claim:
A backboard for transporting medical patients, said backboard comprising a) an elongated substantially rectangular body portion having a width, a length, a substantially planar upper surface and a substantially planar lower surface, wherein said substantially rectangular body portion is made of high density polyethylene (HDPE), said substantially rectangular body portion being hollow and filled with a rigidifying foam; b) integral handles molded around a periphery of said body portion; c) a pair of bamboo stiffening elements running substantially said length of said backboard positioned adjacent said integral handles along each lateral edge of said body portion and between said upper and lower surfaces, said pair of bamboo stiffening elements being spaced by more than half said width of said rectangular body portion and reducing an amount of deflection of said backboard when placed under load; whereby said rigidifying foam embeds said pair of bamboo stiffening elements and said backboard has improved strength, stiffness and flexibility as compared to backboards reinforced with carbon fibers.