AU2008295433A1

AU2008295433A1 - A patient transfer aid

Info

Publication number: AU2008295433A1
Application number: AU2008295433A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Willem De Nooyer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-09-03
Filing date: 2008-09-01
Publication date: 2009-03-12
Also published as: WO2009029975A1

Description

WO 2009/029975 PCT/AU2008/001298 1 A PATIENT TRANSFER AID 5 TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a patient transfer aid. BACKGROUND 10 The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 15 In hospitals and nursing homes, it is often necessary to transfer incapacitated patients from their beds to their wheelchairs and visa versa. Traditionally, hoists (or lifts) have been used to facilitate the transfer of patients, with the lifts being fitted with slings for carrying the patient. The slings tend to be quite flaccid and, in practice, can cut off blood circulation to the limbs of the patient 20 during transfer. US 4,138,750 discloses a patient transfer aid for use with a hoist. The transfer aid includes a seat and a backrest which is pivotally mounted relative to the seat. The seat and backrest are substantially firm to adequately support the 25 loaded patient during transfer. It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative transfer aid. Embodiments of the present invention provide for a transfer aid with improved patient loading and/or unloading capabilities. 30 WO 2009/029975 PCT/AU2008/001298 2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a patient transfer aid including: 5 an arcuate seat portion; and an arcuate backrest portion pivotally mounted relative to the seat portion. Preferably, the underside of the transfer aid includes the portions and has a 10 convex profile. Each portion may include a bent or bowed panel. Each panel may be formed from metal or plastics material. The seat portion and backrest portion may have the same radius of curvature. The backrest portion may include a handle at its free end. The handle may 15 include a defined aperture through which fingers can be inserted. The seat portion may be a toilet seat portion defining a hole therein. The transfer aid may include a seat, the seat including the seat portion and a 20 seat cushion for locating between the patient and the seat portion. The transfer aid may include a backrest, the backrest including the backrest portion and a back cushion for locating between the patient and the backrest portion. The seat and back cushions may be integrally formed. 25 The transfer aid may include fastening means for fastening the cushions to respective said portions. The fastening means may include a plurality of hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro

TM

). The transfer aid may further include strap means for fastening to said portions 30 and by which the aid may be hoisted. The strap means may include a pair of strap arrangements for fastening to respective sides of the transfer aid. The transfer aid may be sized to be loaded into a wheel chair.

WO 2009/029975 PCT/AU2008/001298 3 According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a patient transfer aid including: a seat portion; and a backrest portion pivotally mounted relative to the seat portion; 5 wherein the undersides of said portions are shaped to facilitate back and forth movement of the transfer aid during unloading and loading of a patient. In one embodiment, the undersides of said portions are shaped to have an arcuate profile. 10 In one embodiment, the back and forth movement includes a rocking movement. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 15 patient transfer aid including: a seat portion; and a backrest portion pivotally mounted relative to the seat portion; wherein the underside of said transfer aid has a substantially arcuate profile. 20 According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a patient transfer aid including: a seat portion; and a backrest portion pivotally mounted relative to the seat portion; 25 wherein said portions are shaped to form a cradle to facilitate cradling a patient. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wheelchair assembly including: 30 a wheelchair; and the patient transfer aid for loading into the wheel chair.

WO 2009/029975 PCT/AU2008/001298 4 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient 5 information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: 10 Figure 1 is an upper front perspective view of a patient transfer aid in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a lower rear perspective view of the patient transfer aid of Figure 1; 15 Figure 3a is a side view of a fastening ring to be fastened to the hoist from which a strap extends; Figure 3b is an upper side perspective view of the patient transfer aid of Figure 1 with straps attached; and 20 Figures 4a-e are schematic diagrams showing the loading and unloading sequence of a patient to and from the patient transfer aid of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERED EMBODIMENTS 25 According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a patient transfer aid 2 as shown in Figures 1 to 3. The patient transfer aid 2 includes an arcuate seat panel 4 and an arcuate backrest panel 6 which is pivotally mounted to the seat panel 4. The seat panel 4 and backrest panel 6 30 have the same radius of curvature and are thereby shaped to facilitate back and forth movement of the transfer aid 2 during loading and unloading of a patient as shown in Figure 4. A detailed description of the transfer aid 2 is provided below.

WO 2009/029975 PCT/AU2008/001298 5 Turning to Figures 1 and 2 in particular, each panel 4,6 is formed from a bowed or bent sheet metal plate. In use, the underside of the transfer aid 2 includes the panels 4,6 and thereby gives the transfer aid a convex profile. 5 The backrest panel 6 includes a handle 8 at its free end. The handle 8 includes an elongate aperture 10 defined in the backrest panel 6 through which fingers can be inserted. The handle 8 can be used to generally handle and transport the transfer aid 2. 10 The backrest panel 6 further defines a pair of fastening holes 12a,b on either side of the handle 8. In use, a pair of hooks or other like fastening means can be engaged in respective fastening holes 12a,b as shown in Figure 3. The seat panel 4 defines a quartet of fastening slots 16 in its corners. In use, 15 a strap assembly is fastened to a hoist (not shown) and used to hoist the transfer aid 2. Straps of the strap assembly pass thought the fastening slots 16 as shown in Figure 3. Turning to Figure 3, the strap assembly includes a pair of strap arrangements 20 18a,b for fastening to respective sides of the transfer aid 2 and the hoist. The strap assembly is arranged so that the backrest panel 6 is elevated from a reclined position and into an upright position when the transfer aid 2 is hoisted. Each strap arrangement 18 includes a fastening ring 22 to be fastened to the hoist, and a triplet of elongate straps 20 extending from the 25 fastening ring 22. Each strap 20 extends down through a respective fastening slot 16 or hole 12, and terminates in an endless loop 23. In use, locking members 24 are inserted within respective loops 23 to prevent the loops 23 from slipping upwardly through the slots 16 or holes 12. 30 Returning to Figure 2, the transfer aid 2 includes a pair of low profile hinges 26a,b which are coupled to either side of the transfer aid 2 to pivotally mount the backrest panel 6 and seat panel 4 together.

WO 2009/029975 PCT/AU2008/001298 6 The transfer aid 2 may include a seat cushion (not shown) for locating between the patient and the seat panel 4 to form a more comfortable seat. Similarly, the transfer aid may include a back cushion (not shown) for locating between the patient and the backrest panel 6 to form a more comfortable 5 backrest. The seat cushion and back cushion may be integrally formed together. The transfer aid 2 may include a plurality of hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro

TM

) for fastening the cushions to respective panels 4,6. Figure 1 shows that each panel 4,6 includes a triplet of hook-and-loop fastener halves 28 with corresponding other halves being affixed to the underside of the 10 cushions. A method for loading and unloading a patient from the transfer aid 2 is now described with reference to Figure 4. 15 Initially, as shown in Figure 4a, the patient 30 is lying in a supine position on a bed 32. The transfer aid 2 is also lying on the bed 32 and is aligned parallel to the patient 30. The strap arrangements 18 extend outwardly along the bed 4a from the transfer aid 2. 20 As shown in Figure 4b, the patient 30 is rolled sideways and the transfer aid 2 is moved along the bed 32 (in the direction shown by the arrow) to be positioned between the patient 30 and the bed 32. The arcuate underside of the transfer aid 2 facilitates sliding of the transfer aid 2 along the bed 32. The transfer aid 2 is rocked back and moved so that its leading edge is wedged 25 into the apex formed by the patient 30 and the bed 32. Next, the transfer aid 2 is permitted to rock forth so that the patient is gently returned to the supine position shown in Figure 4c and cradled within the transfer aid 2 during loading. 30 The strap arrangements 18a,b are fastened to the hoist using the fastening rings 22a,b. Once fastened to the hoist, the loaded transfer aid 2 can be hoisted so that the patient assumes a seated position and further maneuvered into a wheelchair (not shown) located next to the bed 32.

WO 2009/029975 PCT/AU2008/001298 7 The transfer aid 2 is sized to fit snugly into the wheelchair and thereby effectively forms part of the wheel chair. The strap arrangements 18a,b can be readily detached from the hoist so that the patient 30 can be wheeled around 5 in the wheelchair. When the patient 30 is to be returned to the bed 32, the reverse steps are performed. That is, the strap arrangements 18a,b are re-attached to the hoist and the patient 30 is hoisted, in a seated position, into the bed 32. The patient 10 is then re-turned to the supine position shown in Figure 4c. As shown in Figure 4d, the loaded transfer aid 2 is then gently rocked back until the patient 30 gently slides onto the bed 32. The transfer aid 2 is then permitted to rock forth and removed in the direction indicated by the arrow of 15 Figure 4d to leave the patient unloaded on the bed as shown in Figure 4e. It is apparent that the transfer aid 2 has improved patient loading and unloading capabilities when compared with other transfer aids of the prior art. 20 A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. For example, the skilled person will appreciate that the fastening rings 22a,b 25 can be readily replaced with fastening hooks for fastening the transfer aid 2 to the hoist. In an alternative embodiment, the seat panel 4 may be a toilet seat panel defining a hole therein. 30 In the preferred embodiment, the underside of the transfer aid 2 had a substantially arcuate profile by virtue of the arcuate backrest panel 6 and seat panel 4. In an alternative embodiment, the backrest panel and seat panel may WO 2009/029975 PCT/AU2008/001298 8 be planar and include a plurality of parallel ribs attached there-under which are arcuate. In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language 5 more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims 10 appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A patient transfer aid including: an arcuate seat portion; and an arcuate backrest portion pivotally mounted relative to the seat portion.

2. A patient transfer aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the underside of the transfer aid includes the portions and has a convex profile.

3. A patient transfer aid as claimed in claim 2, wherein each portion includes a bent or bowed panel.

4. A patient transfer aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat portion and backrest portion have the same radius of curvature.

5. A patient transfer aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the backrest portion includes a handle at its free end.

6. A patient transfer aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the seat portion is a toilet seat portion defining a hole therein.

7. A patient transfer aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the transfer aid includes a seat, the seat including the seat portion and a seat cushion for locating between the patient and the seat portion.

8. A patient transfer aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the transfer aid includes a backrest, the backrest including the backrest portion and a back cushion for locating between the patient and the backrest portion.

9. A patient transfer aid as claimed in any preceding claim, further including strap means for fastening to said portions and by which the aid may be hoisted. WO 2009/029975 PCT/AU2008/001298 10

10. A patient transfer aid as claimed in claim 9, wherein the strap means includes a pair of strap arrangements for fastening to respective sides of the transfer aid.

11. A patient transfer aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the transfer aid is sized to be loaded into a wheel chair.

12. A patient transfer aid including: a seat portion; and a backrest portion pivotally mounted relative to the seat portion; wherein the undersides of said portions are shaped to facilitate back and forth movement of the transfer aid during unloading and loading of a patient.

13. A patient transfer aid as claimed in claim 12, wherein the undersides of said portions are shaped to have an arcuate profile.

14. A patient transfer aid as claimed in claim 12, wherein the back and forth movement includes a rocking movement.

15. A patient transfer aid including: a seat portion; and a backrest portion pivotally mounted relative to the seat portion; wherein the underside of said transfer aid has a substantially arcuate profile.

16. A patient transfer aid including: a seat portion; and a backrest portion pivotally mounted relative to the seat portion; wherein said portions are shaped to form a cradle to facilitate cradling a patient.

17. A wheelchair assembly including: a wheelchair; and WO 2009/029975 PCT/AU2008/001298 11 a patient transfer aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and for loading into the wheel chair.