CA2149336A1

CA2149336A1 - Clamp connecting intravenous pole to mobile gurney

Info

Publication number: CA2149336A1
Application number: CA002149336A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Conrad H. Boettger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: ST FRANCIS RESEARCH INSTITUTE; ST FRANCIS RESEARCH INSTITUTE Inc
Priority date: 1993-01-19
Filing date: 1994-01-12
Publication date: 1994-08-04
Also published as: US5355539A; WO1994016601A1; US5699988A; AU6091094A

Abstract

A clamping assembly (10) is provided for releasably connecting a mobile support stand (52) with a patient transport device such as a gurney (54), in order to allow patient transfer with the support stand while eliminating the need for extra transport personnel. The clamping assembly (10) preferably includes a pair of opposed, laterally spaced apart jaws (20, 22) interconnected by a central bight section (24). A pair of oppositely extending elongated connection elements (14, 16) are secured to the opposed faces of the bight section (24), and permit the clamping assembly to be releasably and pivotally inserted into a tubular section (66) conventionally provided as a part of the gurney (54). A clamping screw (18) is threadably received by one of the jaws (20) and cooperates with the opposed jaw (22) for securely clamping the upright standard (60) of the pole unit (52) within the clamping assembly (10).

Description

~ WO94il6601 PCT~S94/00671 21~933`6 .
!;`,`
'5`
Cl.AMP CONNECTlNG INTRAVENOUS POLE TO MOBILE GURNEY

Backqround _ vention l. Field~o~the Invention ~
` The present invention is~broadly concerned with an improved clamping assembly~ adapted for releasably ~; ~ connecting a mobi~e~, free standing~support stand (e.g.~, a ; ~ l0 wheeled stand for supporting ;intravenous fluids and related equipment) to a patient transfer device such as a gurney, bed or wheelchair in~such~manner as~ to securely~
couple the support stand;and permit` movement of ;the~
~ ~transfer device~and~stand~in unison;by;~a~slngle attendant.
More particularly, the invention concerns such a~clamping assembly which preferably includes a clamp~body having a ~ ~
pair~ of spaced~apart, opposed~jaws~cooperat~ively defining ~-a recessed area;for receiving therein~the~uprig~t standard~
forming a part of the support stand,;wlth the body~also :~ 20 ~ including at least~one~upstanding,~elongated, transversely~
oriented connector element adapted;to mount the clamp;body ; onto the tubular~IV~pole adapters~typically found~ on gurneys, beds and~wheelchairs.~

2. Description of the Prior~Art `
~25 One of the~mosti common tasks in a hospital is ~ 1:: ~ :, ' : , , ; ~ : that~ of ~transporting si~tting or recumbent patients between~
wards~ or~to~various locations in ~the hospital. In~many cases,~ ~such~patie~nts~ are~ under~oing~ intravenous f~luid ~ therapy,~ and~it~ s~important~to~transfer the;~IV~assembly ; 30 along with the~patient, in~order~to eli~inate the necessi~
ty~ of terminati~g ~the ;IV ~infusion during transport~
5j; `~ Typica~ IV~ ~ass~emblies~; lnclude~a~;~free~ standing, wheeled;~
support~ stand~having~ a~ castered~base~with~an upright standard,~the~latte~r~hàving one~or~more~limbs~adjacent the 3 5~ upper~ end thiereof .

WO94/i6601 214933G PCT~594/00671 One response to this problem is to use two attendants ~or the patient transfer, one to push and guide the patient tra~sfer device te.g., a g~rneyj mobile bed or wheelchair), while the other attendant pushes and guides the IV assembly. Obviously, this is a costly approach, and is extremely inefficient from the standpoint of manpower utilization.

;Su~y of the Invention ;~ 10The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above, and provides a ~clamping ~assembly for ~ ~`
per~itting releasable interconnection for a mobile trans-rer device and~a separate moblle support stand, with the connection permitting the stand to be pulled along with the transport~device without the need of an extra atten-dant.
Broadly speaking, the cIamping assembly of the invention includes a~ clamp body presenting a pair of spaced apart jaws cooperatively ~defining à~recessed area configured for receiving the upright standard of a mobile ; ~support stand, with the jaws being equipped with structure~
for releasably maintaining the st~ndard therein. In addition,~the clamp body has at least~one, and preferably ; a pair of, transverse connectlon elements adapted~to be ; received within a t~pical upright,~tubular IV pole adapt~
ers~found on virtually~all patient~trans er devices.
In preferred~forms, the connection elements are in: the form of~oppositely extending members each present-ing a cyllndrical shank portion with~a tapered end remote from the clamp body. These eIements are moreover config-ured with shanks of different relative diameters, so as to permit the;clamp~;assembly to be~used~with~diff~erent sizes of tu~ular adapt~ers.~; Additional~ly~ one of the jaw ~sec~
tions~ of ~the clamp body~is~advantageously configured to 3~5~ present~a~ generally V-shaped~ segment~ in plan configura ~'.;l WO94/l6601 21 ~ 9 3 3 6 PCT~S94/0067l .;
;~i tion, and a clamping screw is mounted in the'other of the j aw segments; the clamplng screw includes an inner clamp-ing;end which is positioned adjacent the V~shaped segment, so that an upright standard can be securely clamped in S place between the clamping screw and V-shaped segment. At ~` ~ the same time,~insertion of a connector element within the ; ~ tubu'lar adapter of a patient transport device allows the coupled support stand to freely pivot durin~;~transport to thereby follow;the patient transfer device without the ~ need for an attendant. ~ ~ ~
: ~
Brief_Description OI ~the Drawinqs~
Figure l;is a perspective view~of the preferred `
clamping assembly in accordance~with the invention;
1~ Fig. 2 is a plan view of the clamping assem~ly, shown as it would; appear~when used to clamp an upright standar~
Fig. 3 lS a;side elevational' view of the~pre-ferred clamping assembly; and Fig. 4~ is a~fragmentary end;;view~illustrating the use of the~clamping assembly in~releasably securing a conventianal wheeled IV support stan~'to a patient gurney.

Detailed Descri tion~of the Preferred~Embodiments 25 ~ Turni~ng now to the drawings, and particularly~
Figs. 1-3, a clamping assembly 10 in;~accordance~with the~
6 ~ ~
;invention is illustrated.~ Broadly~speaking, the~'assembly~
lO includes a~'~main~body 12 together;with;a pair of oppo~
`~ s~itely extending,~ differently;configured~connector ~ele~
~30 , ments 14 and 1;6. In add~ition, the ~body 12 carries a threaded, axially rotatable clamping~screw 1 ;~ In~'~more~detail,~ the~bo~ ~12'~ s~ preferably~an;
~ integral unit~and~`is~ configured~ to~present:a palr ~of~
;~ opposed~, ~laterally ;~spaced~ apart jaws~;;20,~ 22 which~are '~ ;3S~ interconnected~ by~a central~bight section 24 of~somewhat WO94/16601 . '.: PCT~S94/00671 . 2..i~9336 ~
.
triangular configuration in plan. The jaws 20, 22 and bight section 24 cooperatively define a recessed area 26 as best seen ln Fig. 2. The inner defining surface of jaw 20 is substantially planar and is curvilinear as at 2~ at the transition between the jaw and the central~ blght section ~4. On the other hand, the inner~defining surface of opposed jaw 22 presents a pair of~:intersecting, gener-ally planar surfaces 30,~32 which cooperatively present a generally V-shaped segment 34 at the inboard region of jaw 22.
Connection element 14 is located at the apex of~
: the bight section 24 and: presents~ a~ cylindrical~ shank:
portion 36 as well as: a tapered outermost end 38 remote from:the body 12.: Likewise, it will~be observed that the connection element 16 is mounted at the apèx of the : sectIon 24, and includes:a cylindrical sha~nk portion 40 as well as a tapered outer end 42. :As~ best:ilLustrated in : Fig. 3, the respective shank portions 36, 40 forming a 'part of the elements 14~, 16 extend in opposite directions 20~ from the opposed~upper and lower surfaces~of the'body 12.:
: ; Moreover, these shank po:rtions are of ~different diameters, i.e, the shank portion 36:has a smàl~br diameter than that of the opposed shànk portion 40.
~ : Clamping~screw 18:is~threadably received by an~
: 2~ appropriately thre~aded~:~aperture 44 provided in jaw 20.. As ; ` best i}lustrated ~in~Fig.~ 2, the screw 18: includes an e~longated threaded shank 46 with a resLl~ient, cup-like cap 48 sècured on the:~inner:end thereof;within recessed~`area 26. It will also~ be:noted th~at the:longitudinal axis of ~: 30 the shan~ 4~ is substantial~y aligned~with the apex of V-~' : shaped segment 34, and is~of a length~:to~extend:~to:a :posit1on:~ery~close to surfaces 30,~3~2.~:The:outermo~st;end:
: of:the sh~nk 4:6~1Ocated~outside of the recessèd area~26 is:
equippeid~with: a~,handle~ 50 allowing ~easy;~manipulation of 35~ the clamping:;screw.~

~ WO94/16601 .' ,. 2 PCT~S94100671 S '~' S ,~ ~9~3 Fig. A, illustrates the use of clamping assembly lO for connecting a free standing IV pole unit 52 to a conventional patient gurney 54. The pole unit 52 includes a relatively wide base 5~ provided with caster wheels 58, as well as an elongated, upstanding, two-piece telescopi-~: cally inter~itted standard 60. ~lthough~not shown, those ` : skilled in the ar~t~wlll appreciate that:appropriate limbs : or other structure is provided at the ~upper end;of the ~; standard 60 for supporting supplies of IV~liquid or other '~ ~ lO : equlpment. Gurney 54 includes~a fr~ame assembly 62 as well as~a patient bed 64~. In addition, gurneys~ of this type are conventionally ~provlded with upstandlng, :upwardly opening~tubul;ar:~séct:ions adjacent the'corners thereof, .~ such as the section~66 illustrated:~
15: In.the~use~:ofi~clamping assembly lO, one of the connection elements.:~14~or 16 is inserted into a convenlent .~ ~ ~ :tubular:.sectlon~66 in-such mannér as to allow free pivot-ing of the clamping:assembly therein.:~At~this point,;the pole unit 52 is~wheèled to a pos'ition::adjacent the clamp~
~20~- ~ :ing assembly, and is moved so that~the standard 60 thereof: :~
; i8~ positioned wi;thin;~rècessed area 2:6,~ and~speciflcally adjacent the planar~sur~aces 30~ 32~ In~ordqr to complete ::~ . : the connection~ t~Ls:only necessary~to manipulate~handle 50:in order to;tighten~the~nner end;~of::the c;lamping screw~
;~ 2~5~ against' the ~standard;60, .thereby firmly~:clamping the :latter between-the~clamp:ing screw~and~:the V-shaped~:segment~
~ 34.~ In~thi~s orientation,:the gurney~'~54~.~can be convention~
;~ a:lly moved~and:~guided,:'~with the~pole~unit 52~being:secure~
ly attached and~Po~llowing~:the~gurney:,~ all~without the need:
30 :~ for an extra attendant.
It will~be appreciated~in~this~respect.that the .interfit~ etween~the:~connection:element;~l4:or~l:6~and~the ':~
:; tu~ular~ection~'66'~allowi the'~pol~e:.un~it:~52~to pivot~:about~
'~ the:~axis~::o;f:~the~connection~element.~ hus:, ~the~ coupled~
~ 3:5~ po~1e~unlt can eas~ily~negct1ate turns with~:the~gurney 54 ~ WO9q/1~601 . PCT~S94/00671 ~;.
214933`6 ~

while remàining completely stable. Use o~ differently siæed connection elements 14, 16 allows the clamping '.
. assembly to be universally employed on :virtually all commonly used patient transport devices, such as gurneys, wheelchairs or nospital beds.

: :

: ~

. ~ ~ :
.
, ~

Claims

Claims:

1. In combination:
a mobile patient transfer device presenting a frame and an upstanding, upwardly opening tubular section;
a support stand including a wheeled base and an upright standard secured to said base; and means for releasably coupling said support stand to said transfer device in order to permit movement thereof together, including a clamp body pre-senting a pair of spaced apart jaws cooperative-ly defining a recessed area receiving said standard, an elongated connector element secured to said body and oriented transverse to said jaws and positioned within said tubular section, and means for releasably maintaining said stan-dard within said recessed area, said connector element and tubular section permitting relative pivoting movement between the transfer device and support stand.

2. The combination of claim 1, said patient transfer device comprising a gurney presenting a generally horizontal patient support bed, said tubular section being adjacent a side margin of said bed.

3. The combination of claim 1, said clamp assembly including a pair of oppositely extending connec-tor elements each oriented transverse to said jaws and secured to said clamp body, said pair of connector ele-ments having different maximum cross-sectional dimensions respectively for alternate placement of the elements in tubular sections of different diameter.

4. The combination of claim 1, said standard-retaining means comprising a clamping screw operatively secured to and extending through one of said jaws and into said recessed area, with the inner end of said clamping screw engaging said standard and clamping the latter against the other of said jaws.

5. A clamping assembly for permitting releas-able interconnection of a mobile patient transfer device and a separate support stand, said transfer device pre-senting an upstanding, upwardly opening tubular section, said support stand including a wheeled base, and an upright standard secured to said base, said clamping assembly comprising:
a clamp body presenting a pair of spaced apart jaws cooperatively defining a recessed area and configured for receiving said standard;
an elongated connector element secured to said body and oriented transverse to said jaws, said connector element being configured for receipt within said tubular section in order to permit relative pivoting movement between said transfer device and support stand when the latter are moved in unison; and means for releasably maintaining said standard within said recessed area.

6. The clamping assembly of claim 5, said clamp body including a pair of oppositely extending connector elements secured thereto and each oriented transverse to said jaws, said pair of connector elements having different maximum cross-sectional dimensions respectively for alternate placement of the elements in tubular sections of different diameter.

7. The clamping assembly of claim 5, said standard-retaining means comprising a clamping screw operatively secured to and extending through one of said jaws and into said recessed area, with the inner end of said clamping screw being configured for engaging said standard and clamping the latter against the other of said jaws.

8. A clamping assembly for permitting releas-able interconnection of a mobile patient transfer device and a separate support stand, said transfer device pre-senting an upstanding, upwardly opening tubular section, said support stand including a wheeled base, and an upright standard secured to said base, said clamping assembly comprising:
a clamp body presenting opposed upper and lower surfaces, and a pair of laterally spaced apart, opposed jaw sections interconnected by a bight section, the inner defining surfaces of one of said jaws being configured to present a generally V-shaped segment in plan configuration;
a pair of oppositely outwardly extending connector elements secured to said bight section between said jaw sections, each of said elements having a substantially cylindrical shank and a tapered outer end remote from said clamp body, the shank of one of said elements having a diameter greater than the shank of the other of said elements;
an axially rotatable clamping screw extending through and being threadably coupled to the other of said jaw sections, said clamping screw including an inner end adjacent said generally V-shaped segment of said one jaw section, said V-shaped segment and inner end of said screw being cooperatively configured for engaging and clamping said standard with said inner end of said screw clamping the standard against the defining walls of said V-shape segment.