PATIENT TABLE ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to transferring patient in a hospital environment. More specifically the subject matter relates to a patient table for carrying patients.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]

Hospital environment needs transfer of patients from one location to another and thus patient table is a necessity. Patients are usually carried on a patient table from a location such as a room to any labs or operation theatre and so on. So frequently the patient may need to be shifted to the bed and other tables in labs and operations theatres from the patient table. Frequent shifting of the patient to the patient table makes it cumbersome and also inconvenient for the patient. Most of these patient tables have solid table tops and the patient needs to be held by people to move from the patient table to a table used in a lab or a patient bed. The patient may need to be frequently shifted between tables. If the patient is in a critical condition then moving the patient by manual handling can render the situation uneasy for the patient and even complicate patient's health condition. Moreover it may be tedious for the attenders in a hospital to move the patient from the table to another bed or table and consumes a lot of time in patient transfer.

[0003]

Accordingly, a need exists to an improved patient table for transferring the patient from one location to another conveniently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004]

The object of the invention is to provide an improved patient table assembly for transferring the patient from one location to another, which overcomes one or more drawbacks of the prior art. This is achieved by a patient table assembly including a flexible table top for holding the patient as defined in the independent claim.1

[0005]

One advantage with the disclosed is that the patient table with the flexible table top can carry the patient and the flexible table top along with the patient can be conveniently transferred to a different table or bed with less manual handling.

[0006]

In an embodiment a patient table assembly transferring a patient in a hospital environment is disclosed. The patient table assembly includes two elongated supporting members and a flexible table top. The flexible table top has two sides that are slidably engaged to the two elongated supporting members. The flexible table top is capable of receiving the patient thereon. A supporting frame is present for holding the two elongated supporting members.

[0007]

A more complete understanding of the present invention, as well as further features and advantages thereof, will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a patient table assembly for holding and transferring a patient in accordance with an embodiment;

[0009]

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a patient table assembly with a flexible table top in a disassembled configuration in accordance with an embodiment;

[0010]

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a patient table assembly holding a patient in accordance with an embodiment;

[0011]

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a patient table assembly for transferring the patient and the flexible table top onto another table in accordance with an embodiment;

[0012]

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of the patient and the flexible table top placed onto another table in accordance with an embodiment; and

[0013]

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method of transferring a patient in a hospital environment according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014]

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments that may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and other changes may be made wit rout departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0015]

As discussed in detail below, embodiments of the invention including a patient table assembly transferring a patient in a hospital environment is disclosed. The patient table assembly includes two elongated supporting members and a flexible table top. The flexible table top has two sides that are slidably engaged to the two elongated supporting members. The flexible table top is capable of receiving the patient thereon. A supporting frame is present for holding the two elongated supporting members.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a patient table assembly 100 for holding and transferring a patient in accordance with an embodiment. The patient table assembly 100 includes two elongated supporting members such as an elongated supporting member 102 and an elongated supporting member 104. The elongated supporting members are part of a supporting frame 106. The supporting frame 106 as shown in FIG. 1 includes wheels for example wheels 108, 110, 112 and 114 that enables the patient table assembly 100 to be moved from one location to another. A flexible table top 116 is provided in the patient table assembly 100 so that the patient can be placed thereon. The flexible table top 116 has a structure that allows it to pass through the two elongated supporting members. In an embodiment the flexible table top 116 is made of a cloth material. The cloth material is a fabric material. However it may be envisioned that the flexible table top can be made of other materials that render the table top to be flexible.

[0017]

In an embodiment the flexible table top 116 have loop structures 118 and 120 provided at two sides 122 and 124 of the flexible table top 116. The two sides 122 and 124 are opposite sides and are the longest sides of the flexible table top 116. The loop structures 118 and 120 may extend throughout the length of these sides 122 and 124. In an embodiment dimension of the loop structures 118 and 120 matches with dimension of the elongated supporting members 102 and 104 respectively. The dimension of the loop structures 118 and 120 are such that they can slide along the surface of the elongated supporting members 102 and 104 conveniently and be placed securely on the elongated supporting members 102 and 104. FIG. 2 illustrates the flexible table top 116 in a removed state from the patient table assembly 100. The flexible table top 116 can be slided back and forth through the elongated supporting members 102 and 104 to be assembled in the patient table assembly 100 or removed. A person i.e. an attender or nurse can slide the flexible table top 116 to pass through the elongated supporting members 102 and 104.

[0018]

The flexible table top 116 may slide over through the elongated supporting members 102 and 104 to disengage. Thus locking members 126 and 128 are provided at the ends of the elongated supporting members 102 and 104 respectively. These locking members prevent slipping of the flexible table top 116 from the elongated supporting members 102 and 104 when the patient is present on the patient table assembly 100 and support the elongated supporting members 102 and 104 and maintains the flexible table top 116 in horizontal position. As shown in FIG. 3 a patient 300 may lie down on the flexible table top 116. Now while transferring the patient 300, the patient table assembly 110 can be moved by a person to any location for example from a patient ward or a room of the patient 300 to an operation theatre or a lab. In order to shift the patient 300 to another table 302 as shown in FIG. 4, the patient table assembly 100 is moved to allow the table 302 to pass through the supporting frame 106. As illustrated in FIG. 4 the patient table assembly 100 is moved such that the supporting frame 106 allows the table 302 to be positioned there between. The locking members 126 and 128 are unlocked and thereafter the flexible table top 116 can be pulled by a person i.e. the flexible table top 106 can be slided through the elongated supporting members 102 and 104 to be placed on the table 302. Thereafter the patient table assembly 100 can be moved away from the table 302. In another scenario the flexible table top 116 and the patient 300 can be placed on the table 302 and the patient table assembly 100 can be pulled away from the table 302 so that the flexible table top 116 slides out from the elongated supporting members 102 and 104. As the flexible table top 116 can be slided the effort required for shifting the patient 300 to the table 302 is less. Moreover as the flexible table top 116 is a cloth material or a fabric material it can be conveniently placed on the table 302. During any procedure such as performing an operation on the patient, scanning and so on any dirt or discharges from patient or any spill overs falling on the flexible table top 116 can be washed and removed multiple times. Hence usage of such as table top is more convenient in a hospital environment.

[0019]

As shown in FIG. 5 the patient 300 along with the flexible table top 116 is placed on the table 302. The table 302 may be a table used in an operation theatre or an observation room. The planned procedures can be performed on the patient 300 conveniently. Further if the patient 300 is in a critical condition then shifting the patient 300 along with the flexible table top 116 renders the whole patient transfer process easier and safer for the patient 300. Further to shift the patient 300 back on to the patient table assembly 100, this can be moved closer so as to position the table 302 between the supporting frame 106. The flexible table top 116 can be pulled to slide through the elongated supporting members 102 and 104 to be positioned in the patient table assembly 100. In another scenario the patient table assembly 100 may be moved closer to the flexible table top 116 so that ends of the elongated supporting members 102 and 104 enters the sides of the flexible table top 116. Then the patient table assembly 100 is pushed to allow the flexible table top 116 to slide over the elongated supporting members 102 and 104 thereby transferring the patient 300 on the patient table assembly 100.

[0020]

In an alternate embodiment the patient table assembly may have one or more transfer mechanisms (not shown in FIGs) for moving the flexible table top 116 in vertical and lateral directions. The transfer mechanism may be but not limited to a conveyor belt assembly, a gear drive assembly and pulley assembly. It may be envisioned that the transfer mechanisms provided herein are few examples and thus other embodiments may have different types of transfer mechanisms. In another embodiment the patient table assembly may have one or more extent variation mechanisms for varying the width of the flexible table top.

[0021]

The patient 300 can be also transferred in another way according to an exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment the patient table assembly 100 may have a lateral transfer unit configured to slide the flexible table top 116 along the two elongated supporting members 102 and 104 for transferring the patient 300 in a lateral direction. The lateral transfer unit may be a conveyor belt arrangement used for rolling the flexible table top 116 on the elongated supporting members 102 and 104. In this case the patient table assembly 100 may be placed adjacent to the table 302 at its longitudinal side. Then the conveyor belt may be operated to roll the flexible table top 116 so that the patient 300 is transferred on to the table 302. Here may be only a limited manual or external assistance may be required from the person such as the nurse or the attender.

[0022]

FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 of transferring a patient in a hospital environment according to an embodiment. A patient table assembly is provided at block 602. The patient table includes two elongated supporting members and a flexible table top. The flexible table top includes two sides that can be slidably engaged to the elongated supporting members. The flexible table top is capable of receiving a patient thereon. A supporting frame is present for holding the elongated supporting members. The supporting frame has a structure for accommodating a table there between the elongated supporting members. The patient table assembly is positioned at block 604 to accommodate a table there between the elongated supporting members. Thereafter for shifting the patient to a table, the flexible table top is slidably moved to place the flexible table top on the table.

[0023]

From the foregoing, it will appreciate that the above disclosed a patient table assembly for transferring a patient in a hospital environment provide numerous benefits to healthcare enterprises, such as improved way of transferring the patient from one location to another which less labor some for the user. Further as the flexible table top of the patient table assembly disclosed here is made of cloth material the flexible table top can be washed and cleaned easily in case there are any spillovers and becomes dirty when any procedures are done of the patient.

[0024]

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any computing system or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

We Claim:

1. A patient table assembly comprising: at least two elongated supporting members; a flexible table top, wherein two sides of the flexible table top are slidably engaged to the at least two elongated supporting members, the flexible table top capable of receiving a patient thereon; and a supporting frame for holding the at least two elongated supporting members.

2. The patient table assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible table top is a cloth material.

3. The patient table assembly of claim 1, wherein the supporting frame have a structure for accommodating a table there between the at least two elongated supporting members, wherein for shifting the patient to a table, the flexible table top is slidably moved to place the flexible table top on the table.

4. The patient table assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible table top comprises a loop structure provided at the two sides of the flexible table top, wherein an elongated supporting member of the at least two elongated supporting members passes through the loop structure for engaging and holding the flexible table top.

5. The patient table assembly of claim 4, wherein the elongated supporting member have a cylindrical cross-section.

6. The patient table assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two elongated supporting members are disengagable from the patient table assembly.

7. The patient table assembly of claim 1 further comprises at least one locking member, wherein a locking member is arranged to lock an end of the elongated supporting member thereby restricting the flexible table top from slidably disengaging from the elongated supporting member.

8. The patient table assembly of claim 1 further comprises: at least one transfer mechanism for moving the flexible table top in lateral and vertical directions; and at least one extent variation mechanism for varying the width of the flexible table top.

9. The patient table assembly of claim 1 further comprises a lateral transfer unit configured to slide the flexible table top along the at least two elongated supporting members for transferring the patient in a lateral direction.

10. A method of transferring a patient in a hospital environment, the method comprising: providing a patient table assembly comprising: at least two elongated supporting members; a flexible table top, wherein two sides of the flexible table top are slidably engaged to the at least two elongated supporting members, the flexible table top capable of receiving a patient thereon; and a supporting frame for holding the at least two elongated supporting members, wherein the supporting frame have a structure for accommodating a table there between the at least two elongated supporting members; and positioning the patient table assembly to accommodate a table there between the at least two elongated supporting members, wherein for shifting the patient to a table, the flexible table top is slidably moved to place the flexible table top on thetable.