Repositioning system for the safe repositioning of a patient

Abstract

The invention relates to a transfer device with a roll cloth for transferring patients, wherein the roll cloth has a tubular sleeve with two open ends. In order to satisfy high standards of hygiene and to permit easy cleaning, the roll cloth has, at each of the open ends of the sleeve, a peripheral end profile with an inner face and an outer face, which end profile is elastic, wherein, in the ready-to-use state of the roll cloth, the inner face of an upper portion of the end profile lies on the inner face of a lower portion of the end profile.

Claims

1. Transfer device for transferring a patient, comprising: a roll cloth which has a tubular sleeve with two open ends, wherein the roll cloth has, at each of the open ends of the sleeve, a peripheral end profile with an inner face and an outer face, which end profile is elastic, wherein, in the ready-to-use state of the roll cloth, the inner face of an upper portion of the end profile lies on the inner face of a lower portion of the end profile, wherein an inner body is received inside the tubular sleeve, wherein the sleeve of the roll cloth is longer than the inner body, wherein the end profile is designed as a hollow-chamber profile with at least one hollow chamber which extends parallel to the end of the sleeve, wherein the end profile has a flat fastening portion which is covered by the sleeve, and wherein the hollow profiles lie outside the sleeve.

2. Transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the end profile has a thickness of between 0.5 and 5 cm and a height of between 3 cm and 10 cm.

3. Transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the end profile has a rubber-like material.

4. Transfer device according to claim 1, wherein at least one concave recess is formed on the inner face and/or the outer face of the end profile.

5. Transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow-chamber profile has at least two hollow chambers which lie next to each other in the longitudinal direction.

6. Transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the end profile has a flat fastening portion which is in particular sewn to the sleeve.

7. Transfer device according to claim 5, wherein the hollow-chamber profile extends an equal distance on both sides of a plane in which the fastening portion lies.

8. Transfer device of claim 1, wherein the inner body has a first board and a second board which are connected pivotably to each other along a pivot axis via a connection element, wherein the connection element has a first holding profile and a second holding profile.

9. Transfer device according to claim 8, wherein the first holding profile and the second holding profile each have a receiving region, wherein an edge region of the first board is received at least in part with form-fit engagement in the receiving region of the first holding profile, and an edge region of the second board is received at least in part with form-fit engagement in the receiving region of the second holding profile.

10. Transfer device according to claim 9, wherein the edge region of the first board has a lesser thickness compared to the rest of the first board, and in that the edge region of the second board has a lesser thickness compared to the rest of the second board.

11. Transfer device of claim 8, wherein the first holding profile is fixed by a fixing device to the edge region of the first board, and in that the second holding profile is fixed by a fixing device to the edge region of the second board.

12. Transfer device of claim 8, wherein the first holding profile and the second holding profile each have a connection region, which is in each case designed in a direction counter to the receiving region.

13. Transfer device of claim 8, wherein the connection element has a flexible element with at least two profile ends, wherein the flexible element is arranged between the first holding profile and the second holding profile.

14. Transfer device of claim 1, wherein an outer cross-sectional periphery of the inner body corresponds substantially to an inner cross-sectional periphery of the tubular roll cloth.

15. Transfer device for transferring a patient, comprising: a roll cloth which has a tubular sleeve with two open ends, wherein the roll cloth has, at each of the open ends of the sleeve, a peripheral end profile with an inner face and an outer face, which end profile is elastic, wherein, in the ready-to-use state of the roll cloth, the inner face of an upper portion of the end profile lies on the inner face of a lower portion of the end profile, wherein an inner body is received inside the tubular sleeve, wherein the sleeve of the roll cloth is longer than the inner body, and wherein the end profile is designed as a hollow-chamber profile with at least one hollow chamber which extends parallel to the end of the sleeve, wherein the hollow-chamber profile has at least two hollow chambers which lie next to each other in the longitudinal direction, wherein the hollow-chamber profile extends by different distances on both sides of a plane in which the fastening portion lies, and wherein the hollow-chamber profile extends further in the direction of the inner face than in the direction of the outer face.

Description

(1) The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of a preferred illustrative embodiment and with reference to the schematic figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a transfer device in a perspective plan view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a sectional side view of the transfer device;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a connection element in a perspective plan view;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a sectional side view of the connection element;

(6) FIG. 5a shows a sectional side view of a hollow-chamber profile;

(7) FIG. 5b shows a sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of the hollow-chamber profile.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a perspective plan view of a transfer device 1 according to the invention. The transfer device 1 is in an unfolded state ready for use. In the ready-to-use state, the tubular roll cloth 2 is arranged around the inner body 4, not tightly, but also not loosely, such that it can be easily rolled around the inner body 4. A tubular sleeve 3 of the roll cloth 2 is in this case ca. 1 cm longer than the inner body, such that the inner body 4 cannot be seen in this view. The roll cloth 2 of the transfer device 1 can now be displaced or rolled relative to the inner body 4 by a pushing or pulling force being exerted in sliding direction R1.

(9) The tubular sleeve 3 of the roll cloth 2 comprises two openings 16a, 16b at its ends, at each of which a flexible end profile 17a, 17b is fastened. With the end profiles 17a, 17b according to the invention, the risk of substances, in particular liquid substances such as blood or other bodily fluids, getting into the interior of the roll cloth 2 can be reliably reduced and, as a result, strict hygiene requirements can be met. The end profiles 17a, 17b thus constitute a barrier to the abovementioned liquids and to other forms of contamination.

(10) The end profiles 17a, 17b are configured in such a way that they substantially close the openings 16a, 16b at the ends of the sleeve 3 when the roll cloth 2 surrounds the inner body 4. The two mutually opposite long portions of an end profile 17 lie closely on each other in such a way that they come into contact with each other and thus close the openings of the roll cloth 2. At the same time, a rolling movement of the roll cloth 2 around the inner body 4 is not impeded by the flexible or elastic end profiles 17 and is thus possible by application of a slight force.

(11) For a high degree of elasticity, the end profiles 17 of the transfer device 1 shown in FIG. 1 are produced from microcellular rubber. Such a material ensures a smooth rolling action of the end profiles 17a, 17b and therefore of the roll cloth 2. According to the embodiment in FIG. 1, the end profiles 17a, 17b are sewn firmly to the sleeve 3.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a sectional side view of the transfer device 1 with an outer roll cloth 2 and an inner body 4 received inside the sleeve 3. The inner body 4 has a first board 41 and a second board 42, which are connected pivotably to each other along a pivot axis 6 via a connection element 5. The connection element 5 is designed with a first holding profile 71 and a second holding profile 72, wherein the holding profiles 71, 72 each have a receiving region 8a, 8b in which an edge region 9a of the first board 41 and an edge region 9b of the second board 42, respectively, are received at least in part with form-fit engagement.

(13) In contrast to what is shown schematically in FIG. 2, the inner face of the roll cloth 2 and the inner body 4 are in contact with each other. Provision is made here that the coefficient of friction between the inner face of the roll cloth and the surface of the inner body is low, such that slight forces alone are sufficient to transfer heavy or overweight patients between beds. The inner body 4, together with the surrounding roll cloth 2, can have a height of 15 to 30 mm, for example.

(14) FIG. 2 additionally shows the flexible end profiles 17. In order to prevent undesired entry of unhygienic substances into the interior of the tubular roll cloth 2, the end profiles 17a, 17b shown in FIG. 2 protrude inwards. In contrast to what is shown in the schematic view, the upper portion of the end profile 17a, 17b and the lower portion of the end profile 17a, 17b come into contact with each other. In this way, penetration of contaminants into the interior of the roll cloth 2 is reliably prevented without the rolling movement of the transfer device 1 being adversely affected thereby. Strict hygiene requirements can thus be met.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a connection element 5 in a perspective plan view. In the embodiment variant shown here, the connection element 5 is designed in the form of a batten which extends substantially across the full width of the unfolded inner body 4. In this way, a gap-free transition is ensured between the first board 41 and the second board 42. The unfolded inner body 4 thus has a more or less complete board structure in which there are no gaps or spaces even in the region of the connection element 5. This results in a particularly comfortable support for the patient. The holding profiles 71, 72 are fastened to the boards 41, 42 via fixing devices 10, with rivets here being used as said fixing devices 10.

(16) FIG. 4 shows a sectional side view of the connection element 5. The connection element 5 shown has a first holding profile 71 and second holding profile 72, which are connected to each other via a flexible element 12. Each holding profile 71, 72 has a receiving region 8a, 8b in which an edge region 9a, 9b of the first or second board 41, 42 is received. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the edge regions 9a, 9b have a lesser thickness compared to the remaining part of the boards 41, 42. Edge regions configured in this way make it easier to insert the boards into the receiving regions of the holding profiles 71, 72. In the case of the embodiment shown, the difference in thickness between the edge region 9a, 9b of a board 41, 42 and the rest of the board 41, 42 corresponds approximately to the wall thickness of the receiving regions 8a, 8b. In this way, it is possible to ensure a substantially even and smooth transition between the board 41, 42 and the holding profile 71, 72.

(17) The connection element 5 is fastened to the boards 41, 42 by rivet connections 10, wherein rivet pins pass through the upper side of a respective receiving region 8a, 8b and the upper side of a respective board 41, 42. Analogously to this, the rivet seats pass through the underside of the receiving region 8a, 8b and the underside of the board 41, 42, such that the rivet seat can receive the rivet pin in the interior of the board 41, 42. In this way, the holding profiles 71, 72 are firmly connected to the two boards 41, 42.

(18) The two holding profiles 71, 72 are connected via a flexible element 12 which has two profiles ends 13a, 13b and which is arranged between the first holding profile 71 and the second holding profile 72. The profile ends 13a, 13b have recesses 14 for connecting a profile end 13a, 13b to the connection region 11a, 11b, respectively, of a holding profile 71, 72. By way of the recesses 8a, 8b of the profile ends 13a, 13b, the flexible element 12 can additionally be joined to the connection region 5 via a clamped connection, effortlessly and without additional components. The flexible element 12 permits the pivotability of the connection element 5, as a result of which the first board 41 is able to pivot relative to the second board 42. The flexible element 12 is preferably produced from an elastic and halogen-free material.

(19) According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the flexible element 12 is strip-shaped or batten-shaped and extends along the entire edge region 9a, 9b of the boards 41, 42. In this way, a gap-free transition is achieved between the first board 41 and the second board 42, as a result of which the unfolded inner body has a more or less complete board structure in which there are no gaps or spaces even in the region of the connection element 5. By using the flexible element 12, it is also possible to dispense with hinge elements, which results in simpler production of the connection element and therefore of the foldable inner body. The connection regions 11a, 11b for this purpose have webs, which are received by the recesses of the profile ends. In this way, it is possible to prevent the profile ends from accidentally slipping out of the connection regions.

(20) FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b show sectional side views of the end profiles 17, which are designed as hollow-chamber profiles 18. It is advantageous if the flexible end profile 17 is designed as such a hollow-chamber profile 18. A hollow-chamber profile 18 is particularly flexible and thus allows the roll cloth 2 to slide easily around the inner body produced from a foam, which inner body thus constitutes a relatively stiff inner core. Moreover, compared to a solid end profile 17 of the same volume but without a hollow chamber 19, it is possible to save on material and to provide a certain amount of pretensioning with which an upper portion of the end profiles lies on the lower portion. A good sealing action is thus obtained.

(21) In this illustrative embodiment, the hollow-chamber profile 18 has a flat fastening portion 20. By way of this fastening portion 20, which is preferably designed like a tab, the end profile 17 or the hollow-chamber profile 18 can be reliably fastened to the sleeve 3 of the roll cloth 2, for example by sewing or adhesive bonding.

(22) The embodiments of the hollow-chamber profile 18 shown in FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b each have two hollow chambers 19. However, it is also possible in principle to provide further hollow chambers. In this way, the closing action of the end profile 17 is strengthened. The hollow chambers 19 can in this case have an asymmetric geometry along a plane AA′, as shown in FIG. 5b. An asymmetric geometry of this kind improves the rolling properties of the end profile 17.

(23) The invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described above and can instead be modified in various ways. An essential aspect lies in the flexible design of the end profiles which, on the one hand, seal the interior of the roll cloth, and thus also generally of an inner body located therein, but which, on the other hand, also serve to ensure easy handling. They moreover ensure a soft finish of the transfer device, such that there are no hard edges on the transfer device. The roll cloth is equally suitable for non-foldable and foldable inner bodies with two or more boards connected pivotably to one another.

(24) The soft and thus flexible end profiles allow the omission of solid holding grips connected to the inner body and thus permit almost closed end faces. This permits simple cleaning and allows high standards of hygiene to be maintained.

(25) All of the features and advantages emerging from the claims, the description and the drawing, including design details, spatial arrangements and method steps, may be essential to the invention both on their own and in a wide variety of combinations.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(26) 1 transfer device 2 roll cloth 3 sleeve 4 inner body 41 first board 42 second board 5 connection element 6 pivot axis 71 first holding profile 72 second holding profile 8a, 8b receiving region 9a, 9b edge region 10 fixing device 11a, 11b connection region 12 flexible element 13a, 13b profile ends 14 recesses 151 outer cross-sectional periphery 152 inner cross-sectional periphery 16a, 16b open ends 17a, 17b end profile 18 hollow-chamber profile 19 hollow chamber 20 fastening portion AA′ plane