PRECISION TRANSPORTING SYSTEM

Technical Field

The invention relates to a precision transporting system that provides shock absorption during transport for patient handling stretchers, newborn infant intensive care units, infant incubators, and medical electronic devices.

In particular, the invention relates to a precision transporting system that allows vibration and shock to be absorbed when moving sensitive objects such as patient handling stretchers or wheelchairs, newborn infant intensive care units, infant incubators, or sensitive electronic devices from one location to another.

State of the Art

Patients, newborn baby units, or sensitive medical devices used in the care of newborns, patients receiving treatment and care in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, health centers and so on generally need to be moved from one location to another for the necessary treatment procedures to be applied. The said medical electronic devices, stretchers, or units on which patients and newborn babies are carried for this handling process have a wheeled structure, making it easier to move the said stretchers or units by people in charge of the patient care. The transport of the said patient, newborn baby units or medical electronic devices must be carried out in a precise and meticulous manner, without being affected by any impact or concussion. However, the wheels on existing stretchers or units are easily shaken as they pass through bumps, obstacles, or pits on the ground during movement, causing damage to patients, newborn babies, or sensitive medical devices as a result of concussions.

The patent document US4629242A in the prior art describes a stretcher structure that prevents patients from being affected by the impacts that occur when moving from one location to another. The structure of the said vehicle includes a first member on which the patient is placed, and a frame structure disposed beneath the first member and in supporting engagement therewith. The said framing structure includes a flexible chassis, surface - engaging wheels and shock absorbing elements. The flexible chassis includes the vertical feet to which said wheels are connected and the fastening elements that provide the support of the lower and side surfaces of the said first member by interconnecting the vertical feet and said shock - absorbing elements are located between said vertical feet and fasteners. In this way, the aim is to make the stretcher structure to be affected minimally by the concussion and impacts that may occur during the changing of its position. However, due to the positioning of these flexible elements among the hard - built elements of the chassis, the absorption of the tremors caused by the entry of the said wheels into the bumps or pits on the ground during movement is reduced and may cause the center of gravity of the stretcher structure to shift. Furthermore, the said stretcher configuration is being developed for patient transport and does not offer a solution for carrying newborn baby units or sensitive medical devices without being affected by concussions.

The Aim of Invention

The present invention relates to a precision transporting system that meets the above - mentioned requirements, eliminates all disadvantages, and brings some additional advantages.

The main aim of the precision transporting system of the invention is to obtain a precision transporting system that ensures that vibrations and shocks due to the problems such as bumps and pits on the ground are absorbed during the transport of sensitive objects such as patient handling stretchers, neonatal intensive care units, newborn incubators, and portable precision electronic devices.

Another aim of the invention is to obtain a precision transporting system that prevents vibrations and shocks due to movements in both directions on the axis perpendicular to the ground to be transmitted to objects requiring precise transport.

Another aim of the invention is to obtain a modular precision transporting system that can be connected to different transport vehicles.

Another aim of the invention is to obtain a precision transporting system that is unaffected by dust and dirt.

Another aim of the invention is to obtain a precision transport system that ensures that environments such as hospitals and health centers remain hygienic.

In order to achieve the above mentioned objectives in the most general way, the precision transportation system suitable for use in objects that required precision transport, at least one connecting element that enables the connection of the system to the objects requiring sensitive transport; at least one wheel that allows objects to move freely on the ground during transport; at least one body member which is connected to the center of the wheel and suitable for connecting elements of the sensitive transport system; at least one first retaining member that provides connection of the shaft to the body member; at least one second retaining member associated with an end of the shaft away from the connecting member; at least one first bushing element located between the first holding element and the shaft, connected to the shaft, and allowing the wheel to move freely along the axis perpendicular to the ground and lubricating the surface of the shaft; at least one resilient element extending from the first holding element to the second holding element by wrapping around the shaft; at least one first fastening element that allows the end of the resilient element close to the first holding element to be fixed to the first holding element; at least one second fixing element that allows the end of the resilient element close to the second retaining member to be secured to the second retaining member; at least one second bushing element that provides lubrication of the shaft surface during movement of said wheel along said shaft and around said shaft; at least one bearing that allows the second holding element to rotate freely on the body member surface; it contains at least one protection element that prevents the system from being affected by dust or dirt.

The structural and characteristic features and all advantages of the invention outlined in the drawings below and in the detailed description made by referring these figures will be understood clearly, therefore the evaluation should be made by taking these figures and detailed explanation into consideration.

Brief Description of the Figures

In order to be able to understand the structure and advantages of the present invention, it is necessary to evaluate it with the figures explained below.

Figure - 1 : A section view of the precision transport system of the invention.

Figure - 2 : A perspective view of the precision transport system of the invention.

Reference Numbers

1 . Connector

1 a. Adaptor

2. Wheel

3. Body member

4. Shaft

5a. First retainer

5b. Second retainer

6a. First bushing member

6b. Second bushing member

7. Flexible member

8a. First fixing member

8b. Second fixing member

9. Bearings

10. Protection member Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the preferred structures of the precision transport system of the invention are described only for a better understanding of the subject.

The patients receiving treatment, newborn babies or sensitive medical electronic devices are required to be moved from one location to a different location from time to time to carry out the necessary treatment procedures. In order for this transportation process to be carried out easily, the said medical electronic devices, stretchers or units on which patients or newborn babies are transported should have a wheeled structure and in order to prevent the patients, newborn babies or medical electronic devices from being affected by any concussions, the moving procedures must be carried out precisely and carefully. However, the wheels on existing stretchers or units are easily affected as they pass through bumps, obstacles, or pits on the ground during the transport, causing damage to patients, newborn babies, or sensitive medical devices as a result of these concussions. In this context, with the invention, a precision transport system that allows vibration and shock to be absorbed when moving sensitive objects such as patient handling stretchers or wheelchairs, newborn infant intensive care units, infant incubators, or sensitive electronic devices from one location to another is developed.

The sensitive transport system developed with the present invention, which is suitable for use for objects requiring precise transportation such as stretchers or wheelchairs, newborn intensive care units, infant incubators or sensitive electronic devices used for treatment, whose sample appearance is given in Figure 1 , comprises at least one connector (1 ) that connects said system to objects requiring precise handling; at least one wheel (2) that enables said objects to move freely on the ground when moving from one location to another; at least one body member (3) which is connected to the center of the said wheel (2) and is in the form of a plate suitable for fastening elements of the precise transport system; at least one shaft (4) that extends between said fastener (1 ) and said body member (3) on the axis perpendicular to the ground and acts as the center of the rotational movement of the said wheel (2) about the axis perpendicular to the ground when moving said objects in different directions; at least one first retainer (5a), preferably a sliding bearing which is positioned at a point close to the aforementioned body element (3), allowing the said shaft (4) to be deposited and connecting the said shaft (4) on and around the axis perpendicular to the ground, preferably via a sliding bearing; at least one second retainer (5b) which is connected to one end of said shaft (4) away from said connecting element (1 ) and which allows bearing and centering of the said shaft (4), preferably suitable for bearing placement; at least one first bushing member (6a), which is preferably made from bronze, positioned between the first retainer (5a) and the said shaft (4), the said body element (3) and the wheel (2) which are attached to the said shaft (4) move freely along the axis that is upright to the ground and to lubricate the said shaft (4) surface during this movement; at least one flexible member (7), a helix arc with a variable arc value that stores kinetic energy as potential energy, extending from said first retainer (5a) to said second retainer (5b) by surrounding the said shaft (4), preferably having a synchronous response to two - time, variable strength and strength aspects by applying force against the movements of the aforementioned wheel (2) on the ground, at least one first fixing member (8a) that connects the end of said flexible element (7) close to said first retainer (5a) to said first retainer (5a); at least one second fixing member (8b) that allows the end of said flexible member (7) close to said second retainer (5b) to be fixed to said second retainer (5b); at least one second bushing member (6b), which is preferably made from bronze, positioned between the said second fixing member (8b) and the shaft (4), for the reduction of friction resistance during the parallel movements of the said wheel (2) on the ground and parallel to the ground around the said shaft (4); at least one bearing (9) beared on the said second holder element (5b) and allowing the said flexible member (7) to transfer the energy to the said body member (3) and the second holder (5b) on the said surface, which allows the said body element (3) to move freely; at least one protection element (10) comprising at least one space, preferably made of plastic, which surrounds the precision transport system by preventing the system from being affected by dust or dirt and ensures that the environment in which the system is used remains hygienic, and which is conveniently positioned to pass through said shaft (4).

In an exemplary embodiment of the precision motion system developed in the present invention, the connection of the shaft (4) to an object requiring a precise transport is provided by the said connecting element (1 ). The said wheel (2) allows the object requiring precision transport to be carried comfortably on the ground. During the passage of the wheel (2) through a bump or pit on the ground, the object requiring precision transport such as a stretcher moves as it gets closer to or away from the ground. In the meantime, the flexible member (7), which extends between the first holder (5a) and the second holder (5b) connected to the said shaft (4), is connected to the first fixing member (8b) at one end and the second fixing member (8b) at the other end, applying a counter - force in the opposite direction to the movement of the wheel (2) on the steep axis to the ground. The flexible member (7) stores kinetic energy from the movement of the wheel (2) on the perpendicular axis due to ground disturbance by converting it into potential energy, so that the shaking or shock motion coming from the ground is not transmitted to the object requiring precision transport such as a stretcher. In this way, the second holder (5b) associated with the second fixing member (8b) and the shaft (4) is prevented from changing their position on the axis perpendicular to the ground, while the said wheel (2) moves freely on the axis perpendicular to the ground. With the help of said first bushing member (6a) and second bushing member (6b), the friction resistance is minimized by providing lubrication of the shaft (4) during movements on and around the axis perpendicular to the ground. In addition, since the said first retainer (5a) is connected to the shaft (4) in a way that can move freely in the direction perpendicular to the ground, the object requiring precision transport can rotate freely around the shaft (4) parallel to the ground (2) during the transport of the object in different directions on the ground is ensured. In addition, due to the linear movement of the shaft (4) only along the axis perpendicular to the ground and the rotational movement around the axis perpendicular to the ground, with the help of the first bushing member (6a) and the second bushing member (6b), the first holder (5a) and the second holder (5b), the first fixing member (8a) and the second fixing member (8b), a centering feature that prevents twisting or buckling is achieved by ensuring the stability of said flexible member (7). By means of the said protection element (10), the system is protected against dust and dirt, while the environment is kept hygienic.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the precision transport system comprises at least one adaptor element (1 a) comprising a slot suitable for fitting said shaft (4) and ensuring that if the end of said shaft (4) away from the said wheel (2) is suitable for the pin connection type, said shaft (4) is fixedly connected to said connector (1 ).

Due to the precision transport system developed with the present invention, damping of the vibrations and shocks caused by bumps and pits on the ground during the transportation of sensitive objects such as patient carrying stretchers, newborn baby intensive care units, baby incubators and portable sensitive electronic devices from one location to another is provided. In this way, a safe, effective, practical and modular precision transport system that prevents the transmission of vibrations to the objects requiring precise transport is obtained.