PORTABLE MODULAR UNIT FOR URGENT FIRST AID TO A PATIENT

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to a portable modular unit for emergency patient attention, which offers essential new characteristics and notable advantages to known methods used in the current state of the art.

More specifically, the invention has foreseen the embodiment of a unit for urgent attention by combining a minimum of necessary elements to provide specific first aid to a patient who could need it for different reasons, in such a way that the aforementioned unit can be moved independently within the hospital area and, if necessary, outside it. The unit is a compact unit and can be attached to the patient's bed.

The application field of the invention is obviously included within the industry dedicated to the manufacture and commercialisation of articles used for medical attendance and treatment.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that when a patient is admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ITU), generally with assisted respiration, it is usually necessary to carry out certain tests outside the ITU, such as, for example, any form of CAT, echography or tests of any other type, requiring the patient to be moved outside the unit.

In order to move the patient a number of persons and medical attendance equipment, such as a cardiograph, a portable respirator, O₂ bottle etc. are needed. In particular, the quantity and duration of the O₂ in the bottle, and the monitor's battery can be a considerable lmitation when the distance to be travelled is long or requires considerable time, which could cause that the patient's return journey has to be made without cardiographic control or oxygen.

Therefor, it is clear that there is a practical problem, requiring solutions to the disadvantages found by medical professionals in situations of the kind described above.

The object of the invention is to create a unit which effectively solves the given problems and combines the characteristics which could be considered desirable in an article of this kind.

To this effect, the invention has forseen the creation of a unit built on a support, capable of being moved on its own, independently, and also able to be adapted to a patient's bed, conveniently attached to it, and this support being able to hold different devices and instruments necessary to carry out their desired function. For this purpose, the support is supplied with a receptacle, with a lower base, preferably flat, onto which the various pieces of equipment making up the unit can be placed; part of this equipment can be varied according to its specific application and particular needs. The support has two lateral posts, each of which will preferably consist of individual sections which fit together like a telescope, with a fixing screw that can be operated manually, and which hold the upper part of the aforementioned receptacle which holds the various pieces of equipment, while in the lower part they are attached to their respective arms which extend forwards forming a right angle with the aforementioned lateral posts, equipped with lower wheels, and joined together at the corresponding bracing angle by a suitably locked rigid cross bar. At the front part, each of the mentioned posts has a couple of means of attachment, in respective inverted position, provided with openings for inserting the transversal bars of the foot of the bed when the unit is adapted to the patient's bed. There is a handle on each side of the receptacle, that is, on the exterior part of each lateral wall of the receptacle, while the rear wall of the receptacle contains sockets for electrical or other connections.

The invention has provided that, usually in all cases, the unit has a control and measuring device and a current supplying device next to it. In addition, the unit preferably consists of a respirator device for the patient and a monitoring and defibrillation device, the latter two being interchangeable with others that might be more appropriate for each specific application, although, as has been mentioned above, the preferred embodiment of the invention would include all four previously mentioned devices. These devices would be conventional in type and correspond to models which adapt best to the practical needs because of their functional and dimensional characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description following the object of the invention, refers to the attached drawings, in which, serving as example only and thus being of unlimiting nature, a preferred form of embodiment is shown. In the diagrams:

• Figure 1 is a drawing of the view of the upper part of the invention unit,
• Figure 2 shows a similar view to that of Figure 1, but with the four devices of the preferable embodiment in place.
• Figure 3 illustrates a drawing of a perspective view of the invention support, and
• Figure 4 shows a partial view, in diagram, in lateral profile, of a unit of the invention attached to a patient's bed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

To carry out the preferred embodiment of the unit of the invention, permanent reference will be made to the drawings of the figures, in which similar parts have been designed with the same numerical references. Thus, firstly regarding Figure 1, a perspective view in diagram can be seen, of the upper part of the means (1) of support containing the devices (2, 3), of which device (2) will preferably be a control and measuring device, while device (3) will preferably be an electrical energy administration and supply unit. In accordance with the characteristics of the invention, the control and measuring device will be of the type incorporating pressure and O₂ content indicating manometers (4), which also incorporate a speaker (5) through which the operator can hear the phonendoscope pulses; this device will also preferably include sockets (6) for the respective aspiration, phonendoscope and pressure connections and it will have a conventional on/off switch (7) with a pilot light which indicates the condition of this device. The device itself (3) will consist of a current converter, with batteries assuring independent functioning for more than 120 minutes, a time which in normal conditions is considered to be longer than that usually necessary for the movement of the patient. This device is supplied with sockets (8). pilot lights (9) which indicate whether the electrical supply comes from the batteries or directly from the mains, and an on/off switch(10) with its own pilot light.

As can be seen in said Figure 1, both devices are placed adjacently onto the base (11) of a receptacle formed in the said support (1), with preferably frontal and upper openings, the posterior wall of which (12) includes sockets(13) for electrical connections and other bases (14) for connections of other types. Moreover, on each side (15) there is a handle (16) for facilitating handling of the whole apparatus.

Figure 2 shows a similar view to that of Figure 1, but with all four devices placed in position. In this case, apart from the control and measuring unit (1) and the energy supply unit (2) there is a breathing unit (17) and a monitor and defibrillator device (18), adjacent to the previous ones and occupying the rest of the space in said receptacle. Said breathing device (17) allows ventilation of the patient during movement and it is a conventional one, thus being provided with all the necessary means of control of the patient. Said monitor and defibrillation device itself includes the possibility of carrying out electrocardiograms on the patient when it is considered convenient.

As previously described, said apparatus can be easily transported to places independent from whether there is or not an electric supply socket nearby. As has been said, with normal apparatus consumption being of the type commented upon, it has been foreseen that the inventin has an electric autonomy of about 120 minutes, just, the same as the autonomy of the oxygen bottle. On the other hand, since these devices are separate, they may be easily exchanged according to the specific needs of every case.

As can be seen better in Figure 3, the base (11) is joined to the support (1) at the underside of the latter, to two support posts (19, 19'), each of which has a pair of support and holding means (20) with openings opposite to one another, those of each pair, due to the inverted positioning of each of said support means. The support posts (19, 19') are parallel to one another and linked uniformly to their respective parts (21) which go towards the front, being parallel to each other and forming a right angle with said support posts. Between both bracings or linkage areas of each post to its respective horizontal part, there is a cross bar (23) which reinforces and provides rigidity to said means of support. Moreover, each horizontal part (21) has at least a pair of wheels (24) which facilitate the movement of the apparatus as a whole.

As has been previously stated, each support post (19,19') will preferably consist of its respective portions which can be coupled in telescopic form, and be fixed in their desired positioning by means of screws (25) of any type, which can be manually adjusted. This logically means that it will be possible to adjust the height of the container receptacle of the various control and patient attendance devices.

Lastly, with respect to Figure 4, this a detailed, partially cut side view of the invention adapted to the patient's bed (26). In accordance with this Figure, the fixing means (20) fit with their respective openings into the transversal edges of the foot (27) of said bed (26), resulting in locking and thus allowing for the unit to be moved at the same time as the bed and accompany the patient wherever circumstances demand. This disposition is improved by the open lower front space, between both horizontal parts (21), since it can be adapted to very variable conditions in the absence of any transversal element on the bed.

Naturally, the unit can include all the conventional means of mechanical, electrical and/or electronic means considered necessary to conduct the various external connections which are self operating, plus all the pertinent supplementary means, depending on the specific application it is designed for.

It is not considered necessary to make the content of this description longer since an expert in the matter may understand its scope and the advantages derived from the invention, as well as develop and put into practice the objective of the same.

It should however be understood that the invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment, and may be susceptible to modifications without any essential alteration of said invention, said modifications may affect shape, size and/or materials used in manufacturing.