Portable medical equipment suite

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a portable medical equipment suite. More specifically, but without limitation, the present invention relates a portable medical equipment suite that can be deployed on helicopters and can be used on patients known or assumed to be in critical condition and require trauma treatment.

There are many rescue operations and evacuation operations, particularly in military situations, that are made by helicopter. People or military personnel with life threatening injuries that need immediate evacuation from the point of injury are typically evacuated by helicopter.

Studies show that nearly 70 percent of deaths resulting from injuries received in battle occur within the first hour. Battle experts state that the most critical time for treatment of a casualty is the first ten minutes after an injury occurs. Therefore, for optimum survivability an injury should be treated within 10 minutes of occurrence.

Currently the United States military utilizes three different medical equipment suite configurations in military rotary wing aircraft (e.g. helicopters). The first type of suite configuration is the fully integrated suite, such as the U.S. Army's UH-60Q aircraft. This suite configuration is integrated within the aircraft and includes the best possible equipment. The aircraft is very expensive and there are not enough UH-60Q deployed to be effective.

The second type of suite is the partially integrated suite that can be found on the U.S. Army's HH-60L. Some equipment is integrated into the aircraft while other equipment remains separate. In the partially integrated suite, there are problems with the stowage of gear and equipment and the survivability of the suite on the military battlefield.

The third type of medical equipment suite configuration is non-integrated medical equipment, which is equipment taken by medical personnel on board the aircraft. This equipment is usually not properly stowed and/or not adequately protected from potential damage.

Prior solutions that have been used or proposed are generally unsatisfactory. One solution included a stretcher bridge which holds instruments, and straddles a stretcher (the stretcher bridge bridges over the patient on a stretcher). In this solution, the equipment is exposed to the elements, requires an outside or external power supply and is not a fully self contained unit. Another solution includes a single enclosure mounted to the rear wall of an aircraft to provide a flight surgeon with a full range of intensive care equipment. However, this system is not portable and the aircraft needs to be specially equipped with the system.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a portable medical equipment suite that can be transported quickly in and out of different airframes and/or vehicles.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a portable medical equipment suite that meets the needs enumerated above and below.

The present invention is directed to a portable medical equipment suite that includes a case, a power distribution system, a physiological monitoring and defibrillation system, a portable suction unit, a medical information management system and an oxygen dispenser. The case has a door and an interior, the door allows access to the interior of the case; the case is self contained and waterproof when the door is closed. The power distribution system, the physiological monitoring and defibrillation system, the portable suction unit, the medical information management system, and the oxygen dispenser are disposed within the interior of the case. The power distribution system powers the physiological monitoring and defibrillation system, the portable suction unit, and the medical information management system.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a portable medical equipment suite that is portable and can be moved easily from location to location and can be used or installed in multiple types of venues, aircraft, or vehicles.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a portable medical equipment suite where medical equipment is disposed within a case such that the medical equipment is not exposed to the elements. It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a portable medical equipment suite that is self-contained.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a portable medical equipment suite that an operator may utilize already purchased medical equipment.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a portable medical equipment suite that can support and/or monitor at least one critical trauma patient for treatment or transport.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein:

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a perspective view of an embodiment of the portable medical equipment suite;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a front view of another embodiment of the medical equipment suite;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the medical equipment suite; and;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is an exploded perspective view of the modular embodiment of the medical equipment suite.

DESCRIPTION

Several embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1-4</figref>. As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the portable medical equipment suite <b>1</b> includes a case <b>100</b>, a power distribution system <b>200</b>, a physiological monitoring and defibrillation system <b>300</b>, a portable suction unit <b>400</b>, a medical information management system <b>500</b>, a bio-waste disposal container <b>600</b>, and an oxygen dispenser <b>700</b>. The case <b>100</b> includes a door <b>105</b> and an interior <b>110</b>, the door <b>105</b> allowing access to the interior <b>110</b> of the case <b>100</b>. The door <b>105</b> may be hinged (as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>) and/or removable (as shown in FIG. <b>3</b>). In the interior <b>110</b> of the case <b>100</b>, the case <b>100</b> may include an adjustable rack system <b>120</b> and a zippered storage pouch <b>130</b> for accessories. In one of the embodiments of the invention, the zippered storage pouch <b>130</b> may be disposed on the inside portion <b>108</b> of the door <b>105</b>. The inside portion <b>108</b> of the door may be described as the side of the door <b>105</b> that faces the interior <b>110</b> of <b>100</b> of the case when the door <b>105</b> is closed. The case <b>100</b> may be self contained, and waterproof when the door <b>105</b> is closed. The power distribution system <b>200</b> is disposed within the interior <b>110</b> of the case <b>100</b> and powers the physiological monitoring and defibrillation system <b>300</b>, the portable suction unit <b>400</b>, and the medical information management system <b>500</b> (as well as any additional components that require a power source). The physiological monitoring and defibrillation system <b>300</b>, the portable suction unit <b>400</b>, the medical information management system <b>500</b>, the bio-waste disposal container <b>600</b>, and the oxygen dispenser <b>700</b> may all be disposed within the interior <b>110</b> of the case <b>100</b>.

In the description of the present invention, the invention will be discussed in a military rescue helicopter environment; however, this invention can be utilized for any type of need that requires use of a portable medical equipment suite. The portable medical equipment suite <b>1</b> may be used, but without limitations, in disaster preparedness/response operations, fire rescue units and emergency medical operations.

The case <b>100</b> may have an outer shell <b>101</b> that is water proof, shock proof and/or non-corrosive. The case <b>100</b> may be manufactured from rotomolded polyethylene, injection-molded polymer, or any material practicable. As seen in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, in one of the embodiments of the invention, the case <b>100</b> may include two doors <b>105</b>. The doors <b>105</b> may include retractable door handles <b>106</b> to close and open the doors <b>105</b>. Optionally, as seen in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the case may include lockable casters <b>115</b> or wheels and/or rollers so that the suite <b>1</b> may be easily moved, and then locked into place. The case <b>100</b> may also include grips <b>125</b> for moving the suite <b>1</b>. The grips <b>125</b> may be manufactured from zinc, yellow chromate, plastic, a combination thereof, or any material practicable. The case <b>100</b> may also include, but without limitation, a lid hanger, an airtight breather valve/humidity indicator, lifting/tie down rings, a lockable cable/hasp, a purge valve and/or a desiccant basket. Also, disposed within the interior <b>110</b> of the case <b>100</b> there may be additional adjustable rack systems <b>120</b> for housing any additional components or medical supplies.

The portable medical equipment suite <b>1</b>, as well as the case <b>100</b>, may be arranged vertically, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 2</figref>, or horizontally as shown in FIG. <b>3</b>. In the horizontal configuration, the top <b>102</b> of the case <b>100</b> may function as a gurney. The case <b>100</b> may also be modular in nature. As seen in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, each specific medical component (the physiological monitoring and defibrillation system <b>300</b>, the portable suction unit <b>400</b>, the oxygen dispenser <b>700</b>, etc.) may be disposed within a separate module <b>150</b>. Each module <b>150</b> may be openable and have a module door <b>107</b> to protect the component from the environment and allow access to the individual component. The module doors <b>107</b> may be hinged (not shown) or completely removable (as shown in FIG. <b>4</b>). Each module <b>150</b> may be water proof, shock proof and non-corrosive. The modules <b>150</b> can be arranged in a vertical, a horizontal fashion or in a combination of both configurations. The modules <b>150</b> may be connectable to each other via a module connection system <b>160</b> and can be configured to allow electronic communication between the components. The module connection system <b>160</b> may be snap system, a male female connection, a quick disconnect system, or any type connection system that attaches the individual modules <b>150</b> to each other.

The power distribution system <b>200</b> supplies power to all the components of the portable medical equipment suite <b>1</b> that require any type of power. The power distribution system <b>200</b> may be, but without limitation, a universal power pack, a battery, or any other type of self sustaining power distribution system. The power distribution system <b>200</b> may include an outlet power strip (e.g. a 6 or 8 outlet power strip) so that it can power several components at the same time. In addition, the power distribution system <b>200</b> may be attachable to an external power supply such as an outlet or the airframe power supply. The power distribution system <b>200</b> may be attached and powered by alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) sources or any type of power practicable.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to a certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiment(s) contained herein.