Conmedisys, Inc.

Ralph M Smucker

Richard A Patterson

A patient transfer device includes a table assembly having upper and lower tables with counter-rotating upper and lower belts. Means are provided to move the table assembly toward an extended position with the upper belt moving at a rotational speed which is greater than a translational speed of the table assembly. Faster movement of the upper belt may be in response to a determination that the patient has a characteristic whose value is within a predetermined range. The patient characteristic may be patient weight, e.g., with the predetermined range being less than 250 pounds. In the illustrative implementation a patient transfer device of the present invention includes a control system having a keyboard for receiving user input indicating that the upper belt should be moved faster, and control logic responsive to the user input which controls speeds of motors that independently drive the upper belt and the table assembly.

Patient transfer device with differential belt-table speed control

A patient transfer device has four casters and two counter-rotating steering wheels. The steering wheels provide a turning path whose center of curvature lies along a transverse centerline of the device. A foot pedal selectively lifts the steering wheels off the floor or brakes them. Another foot pedal at a back end of the device can lock the casters at the front end in a straight direction. The transfer table of the device may be inclined either longitudinally or transversely, and has an upper table whose edge rollers retract to introduce slack in the upper belt so that an air mattress can be inflated. The upper belt selectively disengages from the lower belt using movable, pneumatically-actuated pinch rollers. The outer surface of the upper belt is rough while the outer surface of the lower belt is smooth. The belts are constructed of a material which includes an antimicrobial agent.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Ralph M Smucker