초록 ▼

The present invention provides a low friction device for transferring patients from one surface to another. This system allows a patient to be immobilized on one supporting surface. The immobilized patient can then be transferred laterally onto the target modality using an air bearing that is thin,

The present invention provides a low friction device for transferring patients from one surface to another. This system allows a patient to be immobilized on one supporting surface. The immobilized patient can then be transferred laterally onto the target modality using an air bearing that is thin, homogeneously radiolucent and compatible with a variety of diagnostic imaging and treatment modalities.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A patient transfer device, comprising: a gas bearing bladder, the gas bearing bladder including: a top sheet and a bottom sheet sealed to one another along their outer perimeter relative to each other to form the gas bearing bladder, at least one of the top sheet and the bottom sheet being formed

1. A patient transfer device, comprising: a gas bearing bladder, the gas bearing bladder including: a top sheet and a bottom sheet sealed to one another along their outer perimeter relative to each other to form the gas bearing bladder, at least one of the top sheet and the bottom sheet being formed from a flexible material,at least one of spot connections or line connections connecting the top sheet and the bottom sheet, the spot connections or line connections being located inside the outer perimeter, andat least one gas inlet,wherein at least one section of the bottom sheet is gas permeable; anda patient surface coupled to the gas bearing bladder such that a perimeter of the gas bearing bladder does not extend beyond a perimeter of the patient surface, the patient surface being configured and dimensioned to support a patient thereon, wherein the patient surface is rigid. 2. The patient transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet are constructed from at least one of a flexible polymer sheet and a polymer coated fabric. 3. The patient transfer device according to claim 1, comprising a layer of a porous gas distribution material disposed between the top sheet and the bottom sheet. 4. The patient transfer device according to claim 3, wherein the porous gas distribution material defines a thickness of 3 mm or less. 5. The patient transfer device according to claim 3, wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet are welded directly through the porous gas distribution material disposed between the top sheet and the bottom sheet to form the at least one of spot connections or line connections. 6. The patient transfer device according to claim 5, wherein welding the top sheet and the bottom sheet directly through the porous gas distribution material disposed between the top sheet and the bottom sheet forms a constant amount of material of the gas bearing bladder through which a radiation beam passes. 7. The patient transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one gas inlet comprises at least one of a penetration between the top sheet and the bottom sheet, a penetration through the top sheet, a penetration through the bottom sheet, and a penetration of the at least one of spot connections or line connection between the top sheet and the bottom sheet. 8. The patient transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of spot connections or line connections between the top sheet and the bottom sheet control at least one of expansion of an inflated thickness of the gas bearing bladder and an airflow pattern through the gas bearing bladder. 9. The patient transfer device according to claim 1, wherein pressurized gas enters the at least one gas inlet through the patient surface. 10. The patient transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of spot connections or line connections located inside the outer perimeter form one or more inflatable interior regions and one or more inflatable perimeter regions, the inflatable perimeter regions surrounding the inflatable interior regions. 11. The patient transfer device according to claim 10, wherein the inflatable perimeter regions are wider than the inflatable interior regions. 12. The patient transfer device according to claim 10, wherein the inflatable perimeter regions are taller than the inflatable interior regions. 13. The patient transfer device according to claim 10, wherein the bottom sheet of the inflatable interior regions is gas permeable and the bottom sheet of the inflatable perimeter regions is not gas permeable. 14. The patient transfer device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the top sheet and the bottom sheet is coated with a low friction coating to reduce friction and improve sliding of the gas bearing bladder relative to a supporting surface on which the patient transfer device is positioned. 15. The patient transfer device according to claim 1, comprising one or more tabs attached to and extending around side edges of the gas bearing bladder. 16. The patient transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the gas bearing bladder exhibits an aluminum equivalence of less than 1 mm. 17. The patient transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the gas bearing bladder is removably attached to the patient surface by at least one of an adhesive, a touch fastener, an elastic band, and a button. 18. The patient transfer device according to claim 16, wherein the aluminum equivalence across a surface of the gas bladder has a variation of less than +/−0.25 mm. 19. The patient transfer device according to claim 10, wherein the inflatable perimeter regions increase the stability of the gas bearing bladder relative to a supporting surface on which the patient transfer device is positioned. 20. The patient transfer device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the top or bottom sheet is removably attached to an exterior of the patient surface with a fastener, the fastener being located below a top surface of the patient surface when the gas bearing bladder is in the attached condition. 21. The patient transfer device according to claim 1, the patient surface including a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the gas bearing bladder is attached to at least one of the bottom surface and the side of the patient surface. 22. The patient transfer device according to claim 15, wherein the tabs attach the gas bearing bladder to the bottom of the support surface. 23. The patient transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet are constructed from nylon fabric coated with thermoplastic polyurethane. 24. The patient transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the patient surface is x-ray homogeneous. 25. A patient transfer device for transferring a patient onto a target modality, comprising: a gas bearing bladder, the gas bearing bladder including:a top sheet and a bottom sheet sealed to each other along an outer perimeter region to form the gas bearing bladder,at least one gas inlet, wherein the gas bearing bladder has an inflated condition when gas is introduced into the gas bearing bladder through the at least one gas inlet, and wherein the outer perimeter region has a thickness equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the top sheet and the bottom sheet; anda patient surface configured and dimensioned to support a patient thereon, the patient surface being positioned relative to the gas bearing bladder such that the patient surface is interposed between a patient and the gas bearing bladder, the patient surface being coupled to the gas bearing bladder such that a perimeter of the gas bearing bladder does not extend beyond a perimeter of the patient surface, wherein the patient surface is rigid;wherein at least one of the top or bottom sheet is removably attached to an exterior of the patient surface with a fastener, the fastener being located below a top surface of the patient surface when the gas bearing bladder is in an attached condition. 26. The patient transfer device according to claim 25, further comprising at least one of spot connections or line connections between the top sheet and the bottom sheet located inside the outer perimeter forming one or more inflatable interior regions and one or more inflatable perimeter regions, the inflatable perimeter regions surrounding the inflatable interior regions, wherein the bottom sheet of the one or more inflatable interior regions is gas permeable,wherein the bottom sheet of the one or more inflatable perimeter regions is not gas permeable, andwherein the inflatable perimeter regions are wider or taller than the inflatable interior regions. 27. The patient transfer device according to claim 25, wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet are welded directly through a porous gas distribution material disposed between the top sheet and the bottom sheet to form the at least one of spot connections or line connections. 28. The patient transfer device according to claim 25, wherein the gas bearing bladder is removably attached to the patient surface by at least one of an adhesive, a touch fastener, an elastic band, and a button. 29. The patient transfer device according to claim 25, wherein the top sheet is rigid and has a top surface and a bottom surface, and the patient transfer device further comprises at least one of spot connections or line connections located within the outer perimeter region and connecting the bottom sheet to the bottom surface of the top sheet. 30. The patient transfer device according to claim 29, wherein the top surface of the top sheet provides the patient surface. 31. A patient transfer device, comprising: a gas bearing bladder, the gas bearing bladder including: a top sheet and a bottom sheet sealed to one another along their outer perimeter relative to each other to form the gas bearing bladder, at least one of the top sheet and the bottom sheet being formed from a flexible material,at least one of spot connections or line connections connecting the top sheet and the bottom sheet, the spot connections or line connections being located inside the outer perimeter, andat least one gas inlet,wherein at least one section of the bottom sheet is gas permeable,wherein the gas bearing bladder is inflatable from a collapsed condition to an inflated condition when gas is introduced into the gas bearing bladder, the gas bearing bladder having a substantially constant thickness in the collapsed condition to promote x-ray homogeneity of the gas bearing bladder during imaging or treatment; anda patient surface coupled to the gas bearing bladder such that a perimeter of the gas bearing bladder does not extend beyond a perimeter of the patient surface, the patient surface being configured and dimensioned to support a patient thereon.