Ambulance cot system
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to ambulance cots, cot systems and methods of using the same. In particular, the present invention provides an ambulance cot comprising a hydraulic system and a tip angle monitoring, recording and alert system, and methods of using the same (e.g., to transport subjects and/or to detect and/or record operational data related to cot usage).
1. A method of monitoring, recording and analyzing information associated with use of an ambulance cot comprising providing an ambulance cot, wherein said ambulance cot comprises a tip angle monitoring, recording and alert system, wherein said system comprises a controller and a memory component, wherein said controller records information acquired from said tip angle monitoring, recording and alert system into said memory component.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said information comprises information regarding when said cot is removed from an ambulance and/or when said cot is loaded into an ambulance.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said information comprises information regarding whether a cot was taken up and/or down a surface.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said information comprises information regarding whether said cot traversed a surface in a foot-first or a head-first orientation.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said information comprises identification of a specific time at which a subject is placed upon and/or removed from said cot.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said information is utilized in an effort to assist a user of said cot to operate said cot according to one or more identified operating procedures.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said information associated with use of an ambulance cot is analyzed for a plurality of users.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tip angle monitoring, recording and alert system comprises an ultrasonic sensor.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said information associated with use of an ambulance cot comprises cot height measured by said ultrasonic sensor.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tip angle monitoring, recording and alert system comprises an accelerometer.
11. method of claim 10 , wherein said information associated with use of an ambulance cot comprises angle of movement of said cot measured by said accelerometer.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said controller of said tip angle monitoring, recording and alert system records cot operational use information into said memory component of said tip angle monitoring, recording and alert system.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said cot operational use information comprises information selected from the group consisting of cot angle, cot height, cot load weight, calendar date, and time.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said ambulance cot comprises a hydraulic system, wherein said hydraulic system comprises a cylinder powered by a hydraulic unit.