Patient transfer system

Abstract

A patient transfer system is provided. The patient transfer system comprises a lifting mechanism, an actuator unit attached to the lifting mechanism, two conveyors attached to the actuator unit such that they extend from the actuator unit in a forklift fork-like manner, wherein the conveyors respectively have a conveyor belt and opposite reversing ends reversing the conveyor belt. The actuator unit is configured to move the conveyors such that the reversing ends facing each other are linearly movable towards and apart from each other.

Claims

1. A patient transfer system comprising a lifting mechanism, an actuator unit attached to the lifting mechanism, and two conveyors attached to the actuator unit such that they extend from the actuator unit in a forklift fork-like manner, the conveyors respectively having a conveyor belt and opposite reversing ends reversing the conveyor belt, wherein the actuator unit is configured to move the conveyors such that the reversing ends facing each other are linearly movable towards and apart from each other, wherein each of the conveyors form a respective conveyor plane, each conveyor plane having an apex line, wherein each of the conveyors are configured to be moved: towards each other with respect to each apex line, away from each other with respect to each apex line, and at an obtuse angle with respect to each apex line.

2. The patient transfer system of claim 1, wherein the patient transfer system comprises a drive device driving the two conveyor belts in respective conveying directions opposite to each other.

3. The patient transfer system of claim 1, wherein the actuator unit comprises a locking device for locking the conveyors in positions in a state after being moved towards each other.

4. The patient transfer system of claim 1, wherein the patient transfer system comprises a sensor for detecting positions of the conveyors in a state after being moved towards each other.

5. The patient transfer system of claim 1, wherein the patient transfer system comprises a sensor for detecting positions of the conveyors in a state after being moved apart from each other.

6. The patient transfer system of claim 1, wherein the actuator unit is attached to the lifting mechanism in a manner rotatable around a horizontal axis perpendicular to motion directions towards each other and apart from each other of the reversing ends of the conveyors facing each other.

7. The patient transfer system of claim 1, wherein the conveyors respectively comprise a support structure, and the conveyor belt and the support structure, at least in the region of the conveyor belt, are made of a material permeable to X-rays.

8. The patient transfer system of claim 1, wherein the patient transfer system comprises a running gear, attached to the lifting mechanism for moving the patient transfer system.

9. The patient transfer system of claim 8, wherein the running gear comprises a drive mechanism for moving the patient transfer system.

10. The patient transfer system of claim 1, wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a robot arm.

11. The patient transfer system of claim 10, wherein the robot arm comprises an electromechanical drive or a hydraulic drive.

12. A method for operating a patient transfer system of claim 1, comprising the steps: placing the conveyors beside a patient; moving the reversing ends facing each other of the conveyors horizontally to each other by the actuator unit, thereby inserting the conveyors in a space between the patient and a patient support and conveying the patient onto the conveyor belts; lifting the actuator unit by the lifting mechanism, moving the patient transfer system to another patient support or exchanging the patient support, lowering the actuator unit by the lifting mechanism, and moving the conveyors apart from each other by the actuator unit, thereby removing the conveyors from the space between the patient and the patient support and conveying the patient from the conveyor belts.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step: moving the reversing ends facing each other of the conveyors horizontally to each other by the actuator unit, thereby inserting the conveyors in a space between the patient and a patient support and conveying the patient onto the conveyor belts, is performed by moving the conveyors parallel to a respective conveyor plane formed by apex lines of one of the reversing ends facing each other and apex lines of one of the reversing ends averted from each other of one of the conveyors, wherein, towards a space between the conveyors, the conveyor planes are downwardly directed.

14. The method of claim 12, including the step of: driving the conveyor belts by a drive device in conveying directions having a horizontal component opposite to the horizontal motion component of the motion of the respective conveyor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In particular,

(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a principle illustration of a patient transfer system according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a front view of a principle illustration of a first embodiment of the patient transfer system of FIG. 1 in a first state;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a front view of a principle illustration of the first embodiment of the patient transfer system of FIG. 1 in a second state;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a front view of a principle illustration of the first embodiment of the patient transfer system of FIG. 1 in a third state;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a front view of a principle illustration of a second or third embodiment of the patient transfer system of FIG. 1 in a first state;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a front view of a principle illustration of the second embodiment of the patient transfer system of FIG. 5 in a second state; and

(8) FIG. 7 shows a front view of a principle illustration of the third embodiment of the patient transfer system of FIG. 5 in a second state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(9) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a principle illustration of a patient transfer system 1 according to the invention.

(10) The patient transfer system 1 comprises a lifting mechanism 2. In the present embodiments, the lifting mechanism 2 comprises a robot arm provided with single robot arms 2′, 2″. Alternatively, e.g., a lifting column is provided. The robot arm comprises an electromechanical drive 3. The electromechanical drive 3 is configured to drive the single arms 2′, 2″ of the robot arm. Alternatively, a hydraulic drive is provided for driving the robot arms 2′, 2″. In a further alternative embodiment, several drives 3 for respectively driving one of the single arms 2′, 2″ are provided.

(11) The patient transfer system 1 is further provided with a running gear 4 attached to the lifting mechanism 2 for moving the patient transfer system 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1 by means of the direction signs 5, the patient transfer system 1 can be moved in any arbitrary horizontal direction by the running gear 4. The running gear 4 comprises a drive mechanism 6 for moving the patient transfer system 1. Alternatively, the running gear 4 is not provided with the drive and the patient transfer system 1 is to be moved manually. In a further alternative embodiment, the patient transfer system 1 is not provided with a running gear 4 but is fixedly attached, e.g., to a wall or to a column on a floor.

(12) Furthermore, the patient transfer system 1 is provided with an actuator unit 7 attached to the lifting mechanism 2. At the actuator unit 7, two conveyors 8, 8′ are attached such that they extend from the actuator unit 7 in a forklift fork-like manner. The forklift fork-like manner of attaching the conveyors 8, 8′ to the actuator unit 7 provides the two conveyors 8, 8′ such that they are disposed in a parallel or almost parallel arrangement. Furthermore, they extend from the actuator unit 7 in a horizontal or almost horizontal direction.

(13) The conveyors 8, 8′ accommodate a patient P who is lying on a patient support 10. In FIG. 1, a state of the patient P already lifted from the patient support 10 by the patient support system 1 is shown.

(14) Moreover, the conveyors 8, 8′ respectively comprise a support structure 9 for carrying and guiding the conveyor belts 11 and for attaching the conveyors 8, 8′ to the actuator unit 7.

(15) FIG. 2 shows a front view of the principle illustration of the first embodiment of the patient transfer system 1 of FIG. 1 in a first state. The first state corresponds to positions of the conveyors 8, 8′ moved apart from each other.

(16) The conveyors 8, 8′ respectively have the conveyor belt 11, 11′ for conveying the patient P onto the conveyors 8, 8′. The conveyor belts 11, 11′ are formed of a material permeable to x-rays. The support structures 9, shown in FIG. 1, at least in the region of the conveyor belts 11, 11′, are formed of a material permeable to x-rays. In an alternative embodiment, if not absolutely necessary, the conveyor belt 11, 11′ and the support structure 9 are made of materials not being permeable to x-rays.

(17) The conveyors 8, 8′ respectively also have opposite reversing ends 12, 12′ reversing the conveyor belt 11. The reversing ends 12 of the conveyors 8, 8′ are facing each other and the reversing ends 12′ are averted from each other. The actuator unit 7 is configured to move the conveyors 8, 8′ such that the reversing ends 12 facing each other are linearly moved towards and apart from each other in motion directions as shown by the double arrows 13.

(18) The patient transfer system 1 further comprises drive devices 14 respectively driving the conveyor belts 11, 11′ in respective conveying directions opposite to each other. In an alternative embodiment, the patient transfer system 1 is provided with only one device 14 driving both of the conveyor belts 11, 11′.

(19) Furthermore, the patient transfer system 1 comprises sensors 15 for detecting positions of the conveyors 8, 8′ in a state moved apart from each other. These positions can be end positions of the way of the conveyors 8, 8′ apart from each other or, alternatively, they can be positions not being end positions of the conveyors 8, 8′ but ensuring that a distance between the conveyors 8, 8′ is sufficient for providing a space for the patient P without touching the patient P by the conveyors 8, 8′. Alternatively, only one sensor 15 is provided for detecting these positions of the conveyors 8, 8′.

(20) FIG. 3 shows a front view of a principle illustration of the first embodiment of the patient transfer system 1 of FIG. 1 in a second state. The second state corresponds to positions of the conveyors 8, 8′ moved to each other, wherein the patient P is accommodated on the conveyors 8, 8′.

(21) Moreover, the actuator unit 7 is attached to the lifting mechanism 2 (not shown in FIG. 2) in a manner being rotatable around a horizontal axis H perpendicular to the motion directions, shown by double arrows 13, of the conveyors 8, 8′ towards and apart from each other.

(22) FIG. 4 shows a front view of a principle illustration of the first embodiment of the patient transfer system 1 of FIG. 1 in the third state. The third state corresponds to a position of the actuator unit 7 and the conveyors 8, 8′ in a lifted state so that the patient P accommodated on the conveyors 8, 8′ is lifted with respect to the patient support 10.

(23) The actuator unit 7 comprises locking devices 16 for locking the conveyors 8, 8′ in positions moved towards each other. The position moved towards each other can be an end position of a way of the conveyors or, alternatively, a position of the conveyors ensuring that there is no risk that a patient P falls through or is squeezed in a gap between the conveyors. Alternatively, in connection with a specific coupling for moving the conveyors 8, 8′ towards and apart from each other, only one locking device 16 can be provided. In a further alternative embodiment, a drive (not shown) for moving the conveyors 8, 8′ to each other and apart from each other is self-locking so that the locking device 16 is not provided. In yet another alternative embodiment, locking devices for locking the conveyors in a state moved apart from each other are additionally or alternatively provided.

(24) The patient transfer system 1 comprises sensors 17 for detecting positions of the conveyors 8, 8′ in a state moved towards each other. The position moved towards each other for being detected is also defined as above concerning the lockable position. Alternatively, in connection with the specific coupling of the conveyors 8, 8′ for moving the conveyors 8, 8′ towards each other and apart from each other, only one sensor 17 detecting positions of the conveyors 8, 8′ in the state moved towards each other is possible. In a further alternative embodiment, the sensor 17 can also be integrated in the drive device (not shown) for moving the conveyors 8, 8′ towards each other and apart from each other.

(25) FIG. 5 shows a front view of a principle illustration of a second or third embodiment of the patient transfer system of FIG. 1.

(26) The reversing ends 12, 12 of the conveyors 8, 8′ respectively have an apex line 18, 18′. The apex line 18 of one of the reversing ends 12 facing each other and the apex line 18′ of one of the reversing ends 12′ averted from each other of one of the conveyors 8, 8′ respectively form a conveyor plane 19, 19′ of one of the conveyors 8, 8′. The conveyor planes 19, 19′ encompass an obtuse angle a on a side accommodating the patient P. The provision of the obtuse angle a can be done by providing a fixed angle of the conveyor planes 19, 19′ with respect to the actuator unit. Alternatively, the obtuse angle α can be provided by flexibly adjusting an angle of the conveyor planes.

(27) FIG. 6 shows a front view of a principle illustration of the second embodiment of the patient transfer system 1 of FIG. 5 in a second state. The second state corresponds to positions of the conveyors 8, 8′ partially moved to each other, wherein the patient P is accommodated on the conveyors 8, 8′.

(28) In this embodiment, the conveyors 8, 8′ are supported such that the reversing ends 12 facing each other of the conveyors 8, 8 are linearly moved towards each other in a horizontal direction.

(29) FIG. 7 shows a front view of the principle illustration of the third embodiment of the patient transfer system 1 of FIG. 5 in a second state. The second state corresponds to positions of the conveyors 8, 8′ partially moved towards each other, wherein the patient P is accommodated on the conveyors 8, 8′.

(30) The conveyors 8, 8′ are supported such that they are movable parallel to the respective conveyor plane 19, 19′ to perform the linear movement of the reversing ends 12 facing each other to each other and apart from each other. Alternatively, the conveyors 8, 8′ can be moved on a curved way as long as the reversing end 12 facing each other are moved to each other and apart from each other in a linear manner.

(31) In use, firstly, the conveyors 8, 8′ are placed beside the patient P. Then, the reversing ends 12 facing each other of the conveyors 8, 8′ are moved horizontally to each other by the actuator unit 11. Thereby, the conveyors 8, 8 insert in a space between the patient P and the patient support 10 and convey the patient P onto the conveyor belts 11, 11′. Preferably, the conveyors 8, 8′ do not lie on the patient support 10 but have a distance such that there is no or small friction between the patient support 10 and the conveyor belts 11, 11′. Thus, the motion of the conveyor belts 11, 11′ is not or little influenced by a contact with the patient support 10 so that the conveyor belts 11, 11′ can freely move by the friction between the patient's body and the conveyor belts 11, 11′ according to the motion of the conveyors 8, 8′ towards each other. Optionally, the conveyor belts 11, 11 are driven in a conveying direction having a horizontal component opposite to a horizontal motion component of the motion of the respective conveyor 8, 8′ by a drive device 14.

(32) In one of the embodiments, the conveyors 8, 8′ move parallel to the respective conveyor plane 19, 19′ formed by the apex line 18 of one of the reversing ends 12 facing each other and the apex line 18′ of one of the reversing ends 12′ averted from each other of the conveyors 8, 8′, wherein, towards the space 20 between the conveyors 8, 8′, the conveyor planes 19, 19′ are downwardly directed (see FIG. 7).

(33) Subsequently, the actuator unit 7 and, therefore, the conveyors 8, 8′, are lifted by the lifting mechanism 2.

(34) Then, the patient transfer system 1 is moved to another patient support 10 or the patient support 10 is exchanged.

(35) Next, the actuator unit 7, and, therefore, the conveyors 8, 8′ are lowered until, preferably, a small distance between the conveyors 8, 8′ and the patient support 10 remains and the conveyors 8, 8′ move apart from each other by the actuator unit 7. Thereby, the conveyors 8, 8′ are removed from the space between the patient P and patient support 10 and the patient P is conveyed from the conveyor belts 11, 11′.

(36) The invention has been described in conjunction with various embodiments herein. However, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from the study of the drawings, the disclosure and dependent claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.