KR-20260064709-A - Asymmetric adaptive edge for patient transfer platform

Abstract

A patient transport platform comprises a platform body and one or more leading edges disposed along the longitudinal side of the platform body. The leading edges comprise a plurality of plates disposed along the corresponding side of the platform body. One or more flexible connecting parts connect the plates to the platform body. Each plate has a range of movement, which is limited by a first plate position that is generally parallel to the platform body in a first direction. The range of movement extends in a second direction away from the first plate position. In some cases, the plates may sag due to pressure applied from the patient on the support surface while simultaneously pressing down on the patient support surface.

Inventors

• 뷔 크리스틴
• 뮐러 에이단
• 창 필립
• 왕 라이언

Assignees

• 에이블 이노베이션즈 인크.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20240628

Priority Date

20230905

Claims (20)

1. As a patient transport platform: A generally rectangular platform body including first and second longitudinal sides; and One or more leading edges located along the first and/or second longitudinal sides Includes, The above one or more leading edges are: One or more plates positioned along a first or second longitudinal side of the platform body; and It includes one or more flexible attachment parts that connect the above one or more plates to the platform body, and Each of the above one or more plates has a range of motion relative to the platform body, and The above range of movement is limited in a first direction by a first plate position in which an individual plate of the one or more plates is generally parallel to the platform body, and A patient transport platform in which the above movement range extends in a second direction away from the first plate position.
2. As a patient transport platform: A generally rectangular platform body including first and second longitudinal sides; and A first leading edge located along the first longitudinal side Includes, The first leading edge is: A plurality of plates positioned along the first longitudinal side of the platform body; and It includes a plurality of flexible attachment parts that connect the above plates to the platform body, Each of the above plates has a range of motion relative to the platform body, and The above range of movement is limited in a first direction by a first plate position in which an individual plate is generally parallel to the platform body, and A patient transport platform in which the above range of movement extends in a second direction away from the first plate position.
3. A patient transport platform according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first direction is an upward direction toward the first plate position and the second direction is a downward direction away from the first plate position.
4. A patient transport platform according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flexible attachment portion each comprises an elastic member that deflects an individual plate toward a first plate position.
5. A patient transfer platform according to claim 4, wherein the elastic member comprises a spring.
6. A patient transfer platform according to claim 5, wherein the spring comprises a torsion spring.
7. A patient transport platform according to claim 4, wherein the elastic member comprises a spring plate, and the spring plate comprises a first part attached to the platform body and a second part attached to an individual plate.
8. A patient transport platform according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the flexible attachment portion each includes a hinge that connects the platform body to an individual plate.
9. A patient transport platform according to claim 8, wherein the hinge has a maximum hinge angle that limits the range of movement in a second direction.
10. A patient transfer platform according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the hinge comprises a living hinge.
11. A patient transport platform according to claim 10, wherein the living hinge is integrally formed with one or more of the individual plates and the platform body.
12. A patient transport platform according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the flexible attachment portion comprises a flexible material including a first portion attached to the platform body and a second portion attached to an individual plate, and the flexible material limits the range of movement in a second direction.
13. A patient transport platform according to claim 12, wherein the flexible material comprises webbing.
14. A patient transport platform according to claim 12, wherein the flexible material comprises a conformal layer.
15. A patient transport platform according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the flexible material has elasticity.
16. A patient transport platform according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein interference between an individual plate and the platform body limits the range of movement in a first direction to the position of the first plate.
17. A patient transport platform according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein each plate has a width, and the widths of the plates vary along the longitudinal edge of the platform.
18. A patient transport platform according to any one of claims 2 to 17, wherein the plurality of plates form a plurality of adjacent plate pairs and further include adjacent flexible connecting members between one or more adjacent plate pairs to limit relative displacement between the one or more adjacent plate pairs.
19. A patient transport platform according to claim 18, wherein the adjacent flexible connection part comprises webbing.
20. A patient transport platform according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the adjacent flexible connection comprises an elastic material.

Description

Asymmetric adaptive edge for patient transfer platform Cross-reference to related application(s) The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/536,633 filed September 5, 2023, titled “Asymmetric conforming edge for patient transport platform,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technology field The present disclosure relates to patient transport and delivery, and to patient comfort during the transport and delivery process. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a platform or surface used to transport and support a human body during the process of moving the human body from one support surface to another or from one location to another. A patient transfer device generally has a transfer platform configured to move a human body from one support surface to another. The transfer platform may be physically operated and controlled by one or more persons, or the transfer platform may be part of the transfer device. As part of the transfer device, the transfer platform may be manually operated, or the transfer platform may be electromechanically driven to have the characteristics of a robot. A robotic transfer device may be controlled by a control system to control the movement of the transfer platform, for example, when moving a subject or a patient. As is generally understood, non-compliant surfaces are typically uncomfortable during physical interactions, such as patient transport. That is, hard surfaces are generally not comfortable when used to transport or move a person in a supine position. In this technology field, there is a demand for improved transfer and transportation devices and platforms. Various transfer platforms and related patient transfer devices, methods, and systems are disclosed in this specification. The disclosed platform comprises an asymmetric conformal edge consisting of a central rigid platform with one or more flexible plates disposed on its sides, wherein the plates are configured to resist upward forces and simultaneously deform in response to downward forces. Some embodiments of the disclosed technology include the following possible examples. In Example 1, the patient transport platform comprises a generally rectangular platform body, a plurality of plates on the longitudinal side of the generally rectangular platform body, and a flexible attachment portion for attaching each plate to the platform body, wherein the plurality of plates are configured to maintain directional rigidity until an external force is applied. In Example 2, in the patient transport platform according to Example 1, the flexible attachment includes an elastic member that returns a plate deformed from a base position to its base position. In Example 3, in the patient transport platform according to Example 1 or Example 2, the flexible attachment includes a hinge that allows a degree of rotational freedom around the longitudinal axis of the platform core. In Example 4, in a patient transport platform according to any one of Examples 1 to 3, the flexible attachment includes adjoining materials that are positioned between adjacent plates to combine the movement of the plates with one another. In Example 5, in a patient transport platform according to any one of Examples 1 to 4, the platform is covered with a conformal layer. In Example 6, in a patient transport platform according to any one of Examples 1 to 5, the platform is surrounded by an uncrowded (continuous) conveyor belt. In Example 7, in a patient transport platform according to any one of Examples 1 to 6, the platform is fixed to a manually operated actuator. In Example 8, in a patient transfer platform according to any one of Examples 1 to 6, the platform is fixed to a patient transfer device that performs patient transfer using a conveyor belt and an electromechanical actuator. In Example 9, in a patient transport platform according to any one of Examples 1 to 8, the plurality of plates are configured to maintain directional rigidity until an external force is applied in a desired conforming direction. One aspect of the disclosed technology provides a patient transport platform comprising a generally rectangular platform body including first and second longitudinal sides and one or more leading edges positioned along the first and/or second longitudinal sides. Each of the one or more leading edges comprises one or more plates positioned along the first or second longitudinal side of the platform body and one or more flexible attachments that connect the one or more plates to the platform body. Each of the one or more plates has a range of movement relative to the platform body, the range of movement being limited in a first direction by a first plate position in which the individual plate of the one or more plates is generally parallel to the platform body. The range of movement extends in a second direction away from the first plate position. Another aspect