Bariatric Lift Assist Device

Abstract

A patient lifting apparatus designed to facilitate the lifting patients off the ground having a backboard having a perimeter, a patient receiving surface and an opposingly located lower surface having opposingly located bases thereon, each of the bases having opposingly located curved sections and a flat middle section located in between the curved sections.

Claims

1. A patient lifting apparatus designed to facilitate the lifting of a patient off a surface comprising: a backboard having a perimeter, a patient receiving surface and an opposingly located lower surface having opposingly located bases thereon, each of said bases having opposingly located curved sections and a flat middle section located in between said curved sections.

2. The patient lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said bases is comprised of a pair of spaced-apart rockers, each of said rockers having a curved section that transitions into a flat section and said pair of rockers are spaced apart to form said flat middle section of said base.

3. The patient lifting apparatus of claim 2 wherein said backboard has a plurality openings around said perimeter.

4. The patient lifting apparatus of claim 4 wherein said openings are rectangular openings.

5. The patient lifting apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said rockers include a rectangular post that fits within said rectangular openings and are locked in place thereby preventing said rectangular posts from rotating within said rectangular openings.

6. The patient lifting apparatus of claim 5 wherein said rockers include a channel that runs internally and around said curved surface, said channel adapted to receive a strap.

7. The patient lifting apparatus of claim 6 wherein said strap binds said rockers to said backboard.

8. The patient lifting apparatus of claim 7 wherein the apparatus is adapted to lift patients to 14″ off the ground.

9. The patient lifting apparatus of claim 8 further including a lifting mechanism.

10. The patient lifting apparatus of claim 9 wherein said lifting mechanism is a scissors.

11. The patient lifting apparatus of claim 9 wherein said lifting mechanism is an inflatable bladder.

12. The patient lifting apparatus of claim 9 wherein said lifting mechanism is a hydraulic lifting mechanism.

13. The patient lifting apparatus of claim 9 wherein said lifting mechanism is a screw system.

14. The patient lifting apparatus of claim 9 wherein said lifting mechanism is a pulley system.

15. A method for lifting a patient off of a surface comprising the following steps: providing a backboard having a perimeter, a patient receiving surface and an opposingly located lower surface having opposingly located bases thereon, each of said bases having opposingly located curved sections and a flat middle section located in between said curved sections; positioning a portion of said perimeter in near proximity to said patient and an opposing portion of said perimeter away from said patient; raising said portion of said perimeter located away from said patient causing said portion of said perimeter near said patient to rotate downwardly toward said patient while said backboard is supported on said bases and rotates on said curved portion of said bases; positioning said patient against said backboard; and pushing downwardly on said perimeter causing said backboard to rotate on said curved edges lifting a patient upwardly until coming into an at-rest position on said flat middle sections of said bases.

16. The method for lifting a patient off of a surface of claim 15 further comprising the step of placing a lifting mechanism under said backboard and using said lifting mechanism to lift said backboard upwardly.

17. A method for lifting a patient off of a surface comprising the following steps: providing a backboard having a perimeter, a patient receiving surface and an opposingly located lower surface; releasably securing a first and second base to said lower section of said backboard, each of said bases having opposingly located curved sections and a flat middle section located in between said curved sections; positioning a portion of said perimeter in near proximity to said patient and an opposing portion of said perimeter away from said patient; raising said portion of said perimeter located away from said patient causing said portion of said perimeter near said patient to rotate downwardly toward said patient while said backboard is supported on said bases and rotates on said curved portion of said bases; positioning said patient against said backboard; and pushing downwardly on said perimeter causing said backboard to rotate on said curved edges lifting a patient upwardly until coming into an at-rest position on said flat middle sections of said bases.

18. The patient lifting method of claim 17 wherein each of said bases is comprised of a pair of spaced-apart rockers, each of said rockers having a curved section that transitions into a flat section, said pair of rockers are spaced apart to form said flat middle section of said base and further including a strap that secures said rockers to said backboard.

19. The patient lifting method of claim 18 wherein said backboard has a plurality of rectangular openings and said rockers include a rectangular post that are inserted into said rectangular openings to prevent said rectangular posts from rotating within said rectangular openings, said rockers include a channel that runs internally and around said curved surface, said channel adapted to receive said strap.

20. The patient lifting method of claim 19 further comprising the step of placing a lifting mechanism under said backboard and using said lifting mechanism to lift said backboard upwardly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of substantially similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, a detailed description of certain embodiments discussed in the present document.

[0047] FIG. 1A illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 1B illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 1C is a top view of the second embodiment of the present invention with portions removed.

[0050] FIG. 1D is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] FIG. 1E is a rear view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] FIG. 1F is another rear view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] FIG. 2A illustrates an embodiment of the present in a position to engage a patient to be lifted.

[0054] FIG. 2B illustrates an embodiment of the present in a position that is at rest on the flat edges of the bases with a patient raised above the ground.

[0055] FIG. 2C illustrates an embodiment of the present in which a patient has been raised by a lifting mechanism.

[0056] FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E provide various views of a rocker that may be used with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0057] Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed method, structure, or system. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.

[0058] As shown below in FIG. 1A, in one embodiment the present invention provides a patient lifting system 100 which may be used as a bariatric lift system to improve the ergonomics as well minimize emergency medical personnel needed to recover and stabilize a patient in the field. System 100 includes a backboard 120 having an opposingly located first base 102 and second base 104.

[0059] In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1F, apparatus 100 includes backboard 120 having a perimeter 122, a patient receiving surface 124 and an opposingly located lower surface 126 having and opposingly located first base 102 and second base 104. The first and second bases having opposingly located curved sections 140A and 140B and a flat middle section 142 located in between curved sections 140A and 140B. The device is designed to eliminate or reduce personal risks associated with lifting a bariatric patient onto the stretcher by having the system lift the patient level with a stretcher using the curved and flat sections of the bases.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, first base 102 and second base 104 are comprised of sections 110-113 that are in the form of rockers that may be releasably or permanently attached to backboard 120. As shown in FIGS. 1C-1D, backboard 120 may be rectangular and planar. As further shown in FIG. 1C, backboard 120 includes a plurality of rectangular openings 130-133 around perimeter 122 which function as handgrips. As shown, opening 130 is opposingly located from opening 133 and spaced apart from opening 131 which, in turn, is opposingly located from opening 132. The openings are also adapted to receive posts on rockers 110-113 which will be described below.

[0061] As shown in FIGS. 1E and 1F, rockers have curved edges 140A and 140B that terminate in a flat edge 142. As further shown rocker 111 is spaced apart from rocker 112 so as to align the flat edges 142 thereby allowing backboard 120 to rest in a stable position on a flat surface by creating a flat middle section. Rocker pairs 110 and 113 and rocker pairs 111 and 112 form bases under backboard 120 that support the backboard above a surface while allowing backboard 120 to be moved from a horizontal position to an angled position as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C.

[0062] In other embodiments, the present invention uses a mechanical lifting apparatus 160. In a preferred embodiment, the lifting apparatus is a mechanical (e.g. scissor) lift actuated by a battery-powered tool (e.g. hand drill) designed to facilitate the lifting of patients to 14″ off the ground. A carbon fiber backboard may be used as well to decrease weight and height of the backboard and to support spinal injuries for bariatric patients. Accordingly, this embodiment of the present invention is adapted to be operated by 2 people. In other embodiments, lifting apparatus 160 may include an inflatable bladder, hydraulic lifting mechanisms, screw systems, pulleys and in other ways known to those of skill in the art.

[0063] To transfer patient 200, the following methods may be used with the embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2A, backboard 120 is positioned adjacent to patient 200 and rolled to one side using the curved surfaces on the rockers to hold the backboard stable on a surface. A patient 200 that is already rolled onto their side can now be captured by backboard 120 and rolled back flat to a resting height 3-6″ above the ground as shown in FIG. 2B. Lifting mechanism 160 is then deployed to raise patient 200 to a desired height as shown in FIG. 2C.

[0064] In a preferred method for lifting a patient off of a surface, a first step is to provide a backboard having a perimeter, a patient receiving surface and an opposingly located lower surface having opposingly located bases thereon, each of the bases having opposingly located curved sections and a flat middle section located in between said curved sections as described above. The next step is positioning a portion of the perimeter in near proximity to the patient and an opposing portion of the perimeter away from the patient. The next step is raising the portion of the perimeter located away from the patient causing the portion of the perimeter near the patient to rotate downwardly toward the patient while the backboard is supported on the bases and rotates on the curved portion of the bases. The next step is positioning the patient against the backboard. Lastly, the side of the perimeter that has been raised is pushed downwardly causing the backboard to rotate on the curved edges lifting a patient upwardly until coming into an at-rest position on the flat middle sections of said bases.

[0065] In yet another preferred embodiment, the rockers may be configured to quickly attach without the need for tools. Small slots on the sides of the custom backboard will allow the rockers to be strapped to backboard 120 and secured in place. For this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1C, 1E, 1F and 3A-3E the attachment of a pair of rockers 111 and 112, with an emphasis on rocker 112, will be discussed but the same methodology applies to other rockers as well. As shown, rocker 112 includes rectangular post 314 that is sized to fit within rectangular opening 310. This configuration of the openings may be used along the perimeter of backboard 120. Configuring opening 310 and post 314 to be rectangular prevents rocker 112 from rotating within opening 310 when post 314 is inserted.

[0066] Channels or notches 316A-316D are in communication with each other to form a recessed channel in rocker 112. This configuration may be used with the other rockers as well. By doing so, as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1F strap 312 may be wound around a pair of rockers (rockers 111 and 112 are depicted as examples) and through and around the corresponding openings in which the rockers are seated. Strap 312 may then be tightened to create a force that secures the rockers in place. Recessed channels 316A-316D provide a continuous channel that extends through the middle of a rocker and along the curved surface of a rocker to provide a pathway for strap 312. This further provides a track which secures the strap in place and in position during tightening and locates the strap a space distance away from a surface upon which the apparatus rests thereby preventing abrasion of the strap.

[0067] While the foregoing written description enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The disclosure should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiments, methods, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.