Disposable air-bearing patient mover and a valve employed therein
US4272856A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 28, 1979 |
| Grant date | Jun 16, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 28, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61G2200/32
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A thin flexible film bag, oriented horizontally or integral therewith and preferably bearing an absorbent material chuck on its upper wall, forms a plenum chamber. A lower wall underlying the chuck and including small diameter perforations to create an air bearing for supporting the patient mover. The patient borne thereby lies on the chuck, some distance from an underlying fixed planar support surface. This permits the patient to be readily moved in a frictionless manner when air under pressure fills the plenum chamber and escapes through the perforations. Air enters the plenum chamber through an outer tube of thin, flexible material. Paired, opposed, flat and less flexible tongues define a short inner tube, being positioned within the outer tube, to permit airflow entry to the plenum chamber with the tongues being deflected away from each other. The tongues are pressed against each other and one side of the outer tube wall, due to elastic memory, to prevent air escape from the chamber at that point. The patient mover includes features of controlled pillowing, use of a generally rigid backing member underlying the load, and air dispersion throughout the chamber to insure jacking o…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.