Chest compression system retainer with rigid brace for use with a patient transport apparatus

[0001] The subject patent application claims priority to and all the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/291,700, filed on Dec. 20, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving technique useful in many medical emergencies in which a patient's breathing and/or heartbeat has stopped, such as for example following a heart attack or a near drowning. Chest compressions are a primary aspect of CPR, and involve firmly compressing the chest of the patient to keep oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs until more definitive medical treatment can restore a normal heart rhythm. The administration of CPR requires the effort and attention of a caregiver, such an emergency medical technician (EMT), who is consequently generally unable to perform other treatment modalities that may benefit the patient suffering the medical emergency. The caregiver may also need to put themselves in danger in order to administer CPR, such as during ambulatory transport of the patient.

[0003] Devices have been developed which provide automatic chest compressions. One such device is the LUCAS™ family of chest compression systems, available from Physio-Control, Inc. This type of chest compression system utilizes a mechanical plunger to provide the chest compressions with the appropriate force and at the appropriate intervals. One notably useful application of the chest compression system is during transport of a patient supported on a patient transport apparatus, such as hospital bed, a stretcher, a cot, and the like. Additionally, it will be appreciated that providing automatic chest compressions during ambulance transport-often associated with high-speed driving, risky maneuvers, and/or hazardous road conditions—may mitigate the need for caregivers to perform CPR while standing unrestrained in a confined space.

[0004] Due to the elevation of the patient support surface on which the patient is supported, especially during ambulatory transport, the caregivers or other treating medical professionals may need to closely monitor the stability of the chest compression system (and the patient) supported on the patient transport apparatus, and may need to provide attention to or otherwise manually assist with stabilizing and/or repositioning the chest compression system. As a result, the medical professionals may be inhibited from performing other types of treatment or patient cate. Moreover, in some circumstances, the caregiver may not be able to assist with stabilizing the chest compression system, and may have to attend to other types of treatment or patient care.

[0005] A patient care system designed to address one or more of the aforementioned challenges is desired.

[0006] The present disclosure provides a patient care system for treating a patient. The patient care system includes a patient transport apparatus, a chest compression system configured to provide automatic chest compressions to a patient, and a retainer for securing the chest compression system to an intermediate frame of the patient transport apparatus. The patient transport apparatus includes a base arranged for movement along floor surfaces, an intermediate frame arranged for movement relative to the base between a plurality of vertical configurations, and a patient support deck operatively attached to the intermediate frame which defines a patient support surface for supporting the patient. The chest compression system includes a driver having a driver body movably supporting a plunger arranged for providing chest compressions to the patient. The chest compression system further includes a driver frame with a base driver mount disposed on the patient support surface and lateral driver mounts extending between the base driver mount and the driver body to support the driver adjacent to the chest of the patient. The retainer includes a collar shaped for releasable engagement with the driver of the chest compression system, and a brace including a retainer mount, an end effector, and a retainer frame. The retainer mount is operatively attached to the intermediate frame, the end effector is arranged to couple to the collar, and the retainer frame extends between the retainer mount and the end effector to brace the collar, together with the driver of the chest compression system, rigidly against the intermediate frame of the patient transport apparatus.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, a patient care system 100 is shown for treating a patient in a health care and/or transportation setting. The patient care system 100 generally includes a patient transport apparatus 110 for supporting the patient, a chest compression system 200 configured to provide automatic chest compressions to the patient, and a retainer 300 for securing the chest compression system 200 to the patient transport apparatus 110. The patient transport apparatus 110 illustrated in FIG. 1 is realized as a cot. In other versions however, the patient transport apparatus 110 may be a hospital bed, stretcher, table, wheelchair, chair, or similar apparatus utilized in the transportation and care of a patient.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the patient transport apparatus 110 includes an intermediate frame 112 configured to support the patient. The intermediate frame 112 may be coupled to a variety of components that aid in supporting and/or transporting the patient. For example, in FIG. 1, the intermediate frame 112 is coupled to a patient support deck 114 defining a patient support surface 116 upon which the patient directly rests. The patient support deck 114 may be defined by one or more articulable deck sections, for example, a fowler deck section, a seat deck section, a leg deck section, and a head deck section, to facilitate care and/or transportation of the patient in various patient positions. The various deck sections have been simplified in the present figures, however, the intermediate frame 112 and corresponding deck sections can be like that shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0303689 A1, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/488,441, filed on Apr. 21, 2017, entitled, “Emergency Cot With A Litter Height Adjustment Mechanism,” the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0019] The patient transport apparatus 110 includes a base 120. As shown in FIG. 1, the base 120 may include two opposing lateral base sides 122, 124 coupled to two opposing longitudinal base sides 126, 128. As shown in FIG. 1, the longitudinal base sides 126, 128 may include longitudinally-extending rails 130, 132 and the lateral base sides 122, 124 may include crosswise-extending rails 134, 136 which may be coupled at the ends thereof to the rails 46, 48.

[0020] The base 120 may further include a plurality of caster wheel assemblies 138 operatively connected adjacent to each corner of the base 120 defined by the longitudinally-extending rails 130, 132 and the crosswise-extending rails 134, 136. As such, the patient transport apparatus 110 of FIG. 1 includes four caster wheel assemblies 138. The wheel assemblies 54 may be configured to swivel to facilitate turning of the patient transport apparatus 110. The wheel assemblies 54 may include a swivel locking mechanism to prevent the wheel assemblies 54 from swiveling when engaged. The wheel assemblies 54 may also include wheel brakes (not shown) to prevent rotation of the wheel.

[0021] The patient transport apparatus 110 may also include a lift mechanism 140 interposed between the base 120 and the intermediate frame 112. The lift mechanism 140 may be configured to move between a plurality of vertical configurations including an extended configuration where the intermediate frame 112 is elevated relative to the base 120, as shown in FIG. 1, and a retracted configuration (not shown) where the intermediate frame 112 is lowered such that it is in closer proximity to the base 120. The lift mechanism 140 can be like that shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0303689 A1, incorporated above.

[0022] While moving between the plurality of vertical configurations, the lift mechanism 140 moves either the base 120 or the intermediate frame 112 relative to the other of the intermediate frame 112 or the base 120 depending on how the patient transport apparatus 110 is supported during use. For example, the patient transport apparatus 110 may be supported at the intermediate frame 112 when the patient transport apparatus 110 is being unloaded/loaded into an emergency response vehicle (not shown) and the patient transport apparatus 110 may be supported at the base 120 when the patient transport apparatus 110 is resting on a surface such as a hospital floor. In instances where the patient transport apparatus 110 is supported at the intermediate frame 112, the lift mechanism 140, while moving between the plurality of vertical configurations, moves the base 120 relative to the intermediate frame 112. In instances where the patient transport apparatus 110 is supported at the base 120, the lift mechanism 140, while moving between the plurality of vertical configurations, moves the intermediate frame 112 relative to the base 120.

[0023] The patient transport apparatus 110 may include a variety of components that allow the lift mechanism 140 to move between the plurality of vertical configurations. For example, the patient transport apparatus 110 may include a mechanism like that shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0303689 A1, incorporated above.

[0024] In FIG. 1, the lift mechanism 140 includes a first frame member 142 and a second frame member 144, both of which are coupled to the intermediate frame 112 and the base 120. More specifically, the first frame member 142 includes a first end 146 pivotably coupled to the head-end of the intermediate frame 112 at a first connection point 154 such that the first frame member 142 may pivot about the first connection point 154. The first frame member 142 also includes a second end 148, which is pivotably coupled to a second connection point 156 such that the first frame member 142 may also pivot about the second connection point 156. Similarly, a first end 150 of the second frame member 144 may be pivotally coupled to the head-end of the intermediate frame 112 at a third connection point 158 such that the second frame member 144 may pivot about the third connection point 158. A second end 152 of the second frame member 144 may be pivotally coupled to a foot-end of the base 120 at a fourth connection point 160 such that the second frame member 144 may also pivot about the fourth connection point 160. Furthermore, a first end 146 of the first frame member 142 may be pivotally coupled to a foot-end of the intermediate frame 112.

[0025] As noted above, the first frame member 142 is pivotally coupled to the intermediate frame 112 at the connection point 154. Also shown, a second end 148 of the first frame member 142 may be pivotally coupled to a head-end of the base 120 at a connection point 156 such that the first frame member 142 may pivot about the connection point 156. Furthermore, the first frame member 142 and the second frame member 144 may be pivotally coupled to each other at the pivot axle 83 to form an “X” frame 162.

[0026] The lift mechanism 140 may include a second, similarly constructed X frame 164, which may include a third frame member 166 and a fourth frame member 168. Similar to X frame 162, the third frame member 166 and the fourth frame member 168 of X frame 164 may be pivotally coupled to a side of the intermediate frame 112 and a side of the base 120. For example, the third frame member 166 and the fourth frame member 168 of X frame 164 may be pivotally coupled to a side of the intermediate frame 112 and a side of the base 120, which oppose a side of the intermediate frame 112 and a side of the base 120 to which the first frame member 142 and the second frame member 144 are coupled. In one such version, as shown in FIG. 1, X frame 164 is coupled to the intermediate frame 112 and to the base 120, and X frame 162 is coupled to the intermediate frame 112 and to the base 120. It will be appreciated that any reference herein to the first frame member 142 may also be a reference to the third frame member 166. Similarly, any reference to the second frame member 144 may also be a reference to the fourth frame member 168.

[0027] In FIG. 1, the frame members 142, 144, 166, 168 are hollow and include telescopic sections such that the length of the frame members 142, 144, 166, 168 may be adjusted. However, in other examples, the frame members 142, 144, 166, 168 may be of solid construction and of a fixed length. Additionally, while the lift mechanism 140 of the representative version illustrated in FIG. 1 includes four frame members 68, 70, 86, 88, the lift mechanism 140 may include any suitable number of frame members.

[0028] Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the lift mechanism 140 may move between the plurality of vertical configurations due to a patient care provider applying a manual action to the lift mechanism 140, or components thereof. Additionally, or alternatively, the patient transport apparatus 110 may include one or more actuators 170, which may be coupled to any suitable component of the lift mechanism 140 and may be configured to move the lift mechanism 140 between the plurality of vertical configurations. As shown in FIG. 1, the illustrated actuator 170 is realized as a hydraulic linear actuator. In this particular version, the hydraulic linear actuator includes a cylindrical housing 172 the cylindrical housing 172 including a reciprocal rod 174 having a piston (not shown) located within the cylindrical housing 172. Extension and retraction of the reciprocal rod 174 will facilitate movement of the frame members 142, 166 of the lift mechanism 140.

[0029] The actuator 170 is further described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,398,571, filed on Jun. 30, 2005, entitled, “Ambulance Cot and Hydraulic Elevating Mechanism Therefor,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Furthermore, techniques for utilizing actuator 170 to manipulate the components of the patient transport apparatus 110 can be like those described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0303689 A1, incorporated above.

[0030] In some versions, the actuator 170 may not be the hydraulic linear actuator shown in FIG. 1. The actuator 170 may be any actuator suitable for actuating the lift mechanism 140 such that the lift mechanism 140 moves between the plurality of vertical configurations. For example, the actuator 170 may be an electric motor, a servo motor, a pneumatic actuator, or any other suitable actuator.

[0031] As depicted in the drawings, the patient care system 100 may further include a patient harness assembly 176 for securing the patient to the patient transport apparatus 110. The patient harness assembly 176 includes a plurality of straps 180 for securing the patient to the patient transport apparatus 110. In order to secure the straps 180 to the patient transport apparatus 110 with sufficient strength to secure the patient, harness mounts 178 may be provided coupled to the intermediate frame 112 to secure the straps 180. In some versions, the harness mounts 178 may be realized as multi-piece connectors formed as a part of the straps 180 and/or the intermediate frame 112 and which interlock or otherwise releasably secure to each other. In some versions, the harness mounts 178 may be realized as “loops” of webbing which can be wrapped around, passed through, or otherwise secured with portions of the intermediate frame 112 or other parts of the patient transport apparatus 110. Other configurations are contemplated.

[0032] In some versions, the plurality of straps 180 includes leg straps 180a, hip straps 180b, waist straps 180c, and shoulder straps (not shown). The leg straps 180a, the hip straps 180b, and the waist straps 180c are spaced longitudinally from each other and attach via respective buckles 181a, 181b, 181c. Here, the buckle 181c which connects the waist straps 180c also releasably secures the shoulder straps (where included). It will be appreciated that patient harness assembly 176 may include different configurations and/or arrangements of straps, buckles, and the like. The harness mounts 178 may be movably coupled to the intermediate frame 112 such that they can be adjusted to fit the needs of the patient. Although not explicitly shown in the drawings, it will be appreciated that lengths of the plurality of straps 180 of the patient harness may be adjustable by any suitable length-adjustment apparatus. In some versions, the patient harness assembly 176 may further include a neck strap 182 for supporting the head and neck of the patient. The neck strap 182 may be secured to lateral driver mounts 208 of the chest compression system 200, described in greater detail below. In some versions, the neck strap 182 may be secured to at least one of the plurality of straps 180. Similar to the plurality of straps 180, a length of the neck strap 182 may be adjustable by any suitable length-adjustment apparatus. In this way, the neck strap 182 may be adjusted to meet the needs of the patient and/or the user.

[0033] Now referring to FIG. 2, and as noted above, the patient care system 100 includes the chest compression system 200 for providing automatic chest compressions to the patient. The chest compression system 200 generally includes a driver 202 with a driver body 204 for movably supporting a plunger 218, and a driver frame 206 for supporting the driver 202 adjacent to a chest of the patient. In order to support the driver 202 relative to the chest of the patient, the driver frame 206 includes lateral driver mounts 208 extending between the driver body 204 and a base driver mount 210. The base driver mount 210 is typically disposed on the patient support surface 116 such that the base driver mount 210 is between the patient and the patient support surface 116. In such a configuration, as the driver 202 is providing downward force via the plunger 218, the base driver mount 210 may provide a corresponding upward force. This ensures that the downward force provided by the chest compression system 200 is absorbed by the chest of the patient and is not instead dissipated to, for example, the patient transport apparatus 110 upon which the patient is supported. Handles 212 may also be coupled to the driver frame 206, such as to lateral driver mounts 208, at a suitable position for securing the upper extremities of the patient to, among other things, avoid interference with the operation of the chest compression system 200.

[0034] In the illustrated version, the lateral driver mounts 208 of the chest compression system 200 are releasably coupled to the base driver mount 210. Here, the lateral driver mounts 208 may also be pivotably coupled to the base driver mount 210. Additionally, the lateral driver mounts 208 are of a suitable length to at least partially define a patient volume of sufficient size to receive the torso of the patient. At a junction between each of the lateral driver mounts 208 and the base driver mount 210, a locking mechanism 214 may be provided to releasably couple an end of the lateral driver mounts 208 to the base driver mount 210. Consequently, the base driver mount 210 may be separable from the remainder of the chest compression system 200 for various reasons, such as storage, transport, and disengaging the chest compression system 200 from the patient. Here, it will be appreciated that separability of the base driver mount 210 facilitates quick positioning and engagement of the chest compressions system with the patient. During use, the base driver mount 210 may be situated on the patient support surface 116, and the patient may be positioned on top of the base driver mount 210. After the patient has been positioned on the base driver mount 210, other portions of the chest compressions system 200, including the lateral driver mounts 208, are positioned near opposing ends of the base driver mount 210, and the locking mechanisms 214 may then be engaged to retain the lateral driver mounts 208 to the base driver mount 210.

[0035] One or both of the locking mechanisms 214 may be disengaged to facilitate adjustment of the chest compression system 200 relative to the patient and/or to facilitate removal of the chest compression system 200 after use. Here, a releasing member 216 coupled to the lateral driver mounts 208 may receive an input from a user to disengage the lateral driver mounts 208 from the base driver mount 210. The illustrated versions show the releasing member 216 as a “ring” configured to be moved upwardly relative to the base driver mount 210 to disengage the locking mechanisms 214. As the releasing member 216 is moved upward, the locking mechanism 214 is rotated out of engagement with at least one of the base driver mount 210 and the lateral driver mounts 208.

[0036] It will be appreciated that the driver body 204 and the lateral driver mounts 208 may be formed from separate components that are coupled together, or may be formed integrally in some versions. The driver body 204 houses a number of the electromechanical components of the chest compression system 200, including a piston rod 220 which extends to the plunger 218 as shown in FIG. 2. The piston rod 220 is powered by a motor (not shown) which moves the piston rod 220, and therefore the plunger 218, between retracted positions and extended positions. The plunger 218 may also be actuated with any suitable form of propulsion, for example, electric, electromagnetic, pneumatic, and the like. As the plunger 218 moves between positions while situated on the patient, the patient receives automatic chest compressions analogous to those which would otherwise be provided by a physician performing CPR.

[0037] In order to allow the user to control the chest compression system 200, a control panel 222 may be disposed on the driver body 204. The control panel 222 is configured to receive inputs from the user, which may have or facilitate carrying out various functions. For example, start, stop, reset, and similar functions may be used as inputs sent to the chest compression system 200 via the control panel 222. As shown in FIG. 2, the control panel 222 may include depressible buttons to provide these types of inputs. In other versions, the control panel 222 may be remote from the chest compression system 200. For example, the control panel 222 may take the form of a transceiver located anywhere on the chest compression system 200 which receives control signals from a remote source, such as a controller, smartphone, tablet, keyboard, and the like.

[0038] Certain operative and structural features of the chest compression system 200 are further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,226,427, issued Jul. 5, 2007, and entitled SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES FOR TREATING CARDIAC ARREST, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Additionally, other features of the chest compression system 200 are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0117502, published Apr. 25, 2019, and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING A CHEST COMPRESSION SYSTEM, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0039] It will be appreciated that, even with the weight of the patient properly positioned on the base driver mount 210, the weight distribution of the chest compression system 200 may render it prone to inadvertent movement on the patient transport apparatus 110, particularly during transport. This type of inadvertent movement may be especially undesirable when the patient care system 100 is situated in an ambulance or other vehicle used to transport the patient care system 100. More specifically, not only must the chest compression system 200 remain located adjacent to the chest of the patient to continue performing chest compressions on the patient, but must also remain retained relative to the patient and to the patient transport apparatus 110 under a number of different use case scenarios and/or operating conditions. Here, the retainer 300 facilitates reliably securing the chest compression system 200 to the patient transport apparatus 110.

[0040] Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, the chest compression system 200 is shown secured to the intermediate frame 112 of the patient transport apparatus 110 by the retainer 300. The retainer 300 includes a collar 302 shaped for releasable engagement with the driver 202 of the chest compression system 200, and a brace 304 to brace the collar 302 and the driver 202 of the chest compression system 200 rigidly against the intermediate frame 112 of the patient transport apparatus 110. The retainer 300 includes a retainer mount 308 operatively attached to the intermediate frame 112, an end effector 306 arranged to couple to the collar 302, and a retainer frame 312 extending between the retainer mount 308 and the end effector 306. The retainer frame 312 thus braces the collar 302 and the driver 202 of the chest compression system 200.

[0041] In order to secure the chest compression system 200 to the patient transport apparatus 110, the collar 302 is moved into engagement with the driver body 204 and the brace 304 is moved into engagement with the collar 302. To this end, the retainer frame 312 can be secured to the retainer mount 308 such that the retainer frame 312 is rigidly secured to the intermediate frame 112 of the patient transport apparatus 110, and the collar 302 can be moved into engagement with the driver 202 of the chest compression system 200, and the end effector 306 can be moved into engagement with the collar 302. Here, it will be appreciated that the components of the retainer 300 may be moved into engagement with the chest compression system 200 and the patient transport apparatus 110 in other orders (e.g., simultaneously, in different sequences, and the like). Other configurations are contemplated.

[0042] In the drawings, the collar 302 is depicted with a substantially rectangular profile so as to closely fit over or otherwise correspond to the profile of the driver 202 of the chest compression system 200. In certain versions, however, the collar 302 may be shaped to fit a differently-shaped chest compression system 200.

[0043] As briefly noted above, the brace 304 of the retainer 300 includes the retainer mount 308 operatively attached to the intermediate frame 112 of the patient transport apparatus 110 and arranged to engage the retainer frame 312. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the retainer mount 308 may be movably coupled to the intermediate frame 112. The movement allows the user to selectively position and/or reposition the retainer 300 relative to the patient and along at least a portion of the length of the intermediate frame 112 by moving the retainer mount 308. The retainer mount 308 may also include a retainer mount lock 310 to fix the retainer mount 308 relative to the intermediate frame 112 of the patient transport apparatus 110. This allows the user to move the retainer 300 longitudinally relative to the patient until the retainer 300 is disposed in a desirable position and subsequently engage the retainer mount lock 310 to secure the retainer 300 in said position.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 5, the retainer frame 312 may include a first frame member 314 coupled to the retainer mount 308 and a second frame member 316 disposed between the first frame member 314 and the end effector 306. The second frame member 316 may be, for example, adjustably mounted to the first frame member 314 such that the collar 302 is movable relative to the patient transport apparatus 110 (and the chest compression system 200 if secured to the patient) when the collar 302 is coupled to the second frame member 316 via the end effector 306. In the illustrated versions, the end effector 306 is similarly adjustably mounted to the second frame member 316 to allow the collar 302 to be positioned relative to the second frame member 316.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 6A-7B, the first frame member 314 may extend substantially perpendicular to the intermediate frame 112 (e.g., in a vertical direction), and the second frame member 316 may extend substantially parallel to the intermediate frame 112 (e.g., in a lateral or longitudinal direction). In this configuration, and as shown in the illustrated versions, the first frame member 314 may provide vertical and longitudinal adjustment of the retainer 300 relative to the patient, while the second frame member 316 may provide longitudinal and lateral adjustment of the retainer 300 relative to the patient and/or the first frame member 314. It will be appreciated that this allows adjustment of the collar 302 in lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions relative to the intermediate frame 112 to meet the needs of the patient and the user.

[0046] As noted above, the first frame member 314 may provide vertical adjustment of the retainer 300. To this end, the first frame member 314 may include a telescopic section 317 to permit adjustment of the first frame member 314 and the second frame member 316 relative to the intermediate frame 112 of the patient transport apparatus 110 (and the patient disposed thereon). More specifically, the telescopic section 317 of the first frame member 314 defines a detent channel 318 and a detent mechanism 320 arranged to engage the detent channel 318 so as to allow the user to adjust the length of the first frame member 314 and, therefore, the vertical arrangement of the second frame member 316 relative to the intermediate frame 112. The illustrated detent mechanism 320 includes a latch 322 arranged for movement along the detent channel 318, as well as a plurality of catches 324 defined by the first frame member 314. The plurality of catches 324 are each arranged for selective engagement with the latch 322 to limit lateral adjustment of the second frame member 316 relative to the patient support surface 116.

[0047] The retainer frame 312 may further include a first retainer frame lock 326 at the connection between the first frame member 314 and the second frame member 316, for example, for selectively permitting articulation of the collar 302 relative to the retainer frame 312. In other words, the first retainer frame lock 326 allows the user to rotationally lock the second frame member 316 relative to the first frame member 314. The retainer frame 312 may also include a second retainer frame lock 328 at the connection between the second frame member 316 and the end effector 306 to rotationally lock the end effector 306 relative to the second frame member 316. The retainer locks 326, 328 facilitate keeping the chest compression system 200 in a fixed location relative to the patient transport apparatus 110 and the patient. Further, the retainer locks 326, 328 may be arranged to resist the various forces experienced during transport or vehicular collision. In the illustrated versions, the frame locks 326, 328 are depicted generically, but it will be appreciated that the frame locks 326, 328 may be realized in a number of different ways to selectively limit rotational movement of the second frame member 316 relative to the first frame member 314, to selectively limit rotational movement of the end effector 306 relative to the second frame member 316, and/or to permit limited movement of the collar 302 relative to the end effector 306 (not shown). For example, the frame locks 326, 328 may allow for selective positioning between discrete radial positions (e.g., notched engagement, detents, and the like), or may be adjustable to other positions that are not necessarily pre-defined (e.g., via adjustable frictional engagement, tightening engagement, and the like). Other configurations are contemplated.

[0048] Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the collar 302 may be releasably coupled to the end effector 306 to make it easier for the user to move the retainer 300 into and out of engagement with the chest compression system 200. By making the collar 302 releasably engageable with the end effector 306, the collar 302 can be moved into engagement with the driver 202 of the chest compression system 200 before the brace 304 is secured to the collar 302. This is useful where the brace 304 needs to be adjusted relative to the intermediate frame 112. In some situations, it may be easier for the user to move the collar 302 into engagement with the driver 202 of the chest compression system 200 without the collar 302 being restricted by the brace 304 and, subsequently, the releasability allows the user to move the brace 304 relative to intermediate frame 112 (and thus the patient) and into engagement with the collar 302.

[0049] In the illustrated version, the end effector 306 includes a projection 330, and the collar 302 defines a void 332 shaped to receive the projection 330. Here, the collar 302 includes a collar securing member 334 to allow the collar 302 to be removably coupled to the end effector 306. The collar securing member 334 includes a proximal end 336 arranged to couple to the collar 302, and a distal end 338 defining the void 332 and arranged to receive the projection 330. The proximal end 336 of the collar securing member 334 is removably coupled to the collar 302. To that end, the collar 302 may further include a collar release feature 340 arrange for releasable engagement with the proximal end 336 of the collar securing member 334. When the collar release feature 340 is moved out of engagement with the proximal end 336 of the collar securing member 334, relative movement between the collar 302 and the collar securing member 334, and therefore the brace 304, is allowed. The collar release feature 340 is illustrated as a U-shaped bar in the drawings, may be configured in other ways. In some versions, the collar 302 and the end effector 306 may be at least partially unitarily formed (e.g., defined by a common component). Other configurations are contemplated.

[0050] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7A-8B, it will be appreciated that the configuration of the retainer 300 allows the user to secure the chest compression system 200 to the intermediate frame 112 in numerous orientations, positions, and/or configurations based on the position of the retainer mount 308, the arrangement of the retainer frame 312, and/or the arrangement of the collar 302. For example, the user is able to slide the collar 302 over the driver 202 of the chest compression system 200 and then couple the proximal end 336 of the collar securing member 334 to the collar 302, and can then move the first and second frame members 314, 416 so that the end effector 306 is received by the distal end 338 of the collar securing member 334. This can be accomplished by sliding the retainer frame 312 along the at least a portion of the intermediate frame 112, rotating the second frame member 316 relative to the first frame member 314, and rotating the collar securing member 334 relative to the end effector 306, and then the retainer mount lock 310 and the retainer frame locks 326, 328 can be engaged such that the retainer 300 is fixed relative to the intermediate frame 112. Although the above process is described in an exemplary order, it will be appreciated that the various components of the retainer 300 can be positioned or adjusted in various sequences as noted previously.

[0051] In order for the retainer 300 to secure the chest compression system 200 to the patient transport apparatus 110 with sufficient rigidity to withstand the forces of transport (or even to sustain rigidity and stability during an ambulance accident, collision, and the like), the retainer 300 and/or the collar 302 may be at least partially formed of relatively rigid materials. However, other configurations are contemplated. The retainer frame 312 and/or the collar 302 may be formed of metal, rigid plastic, polymers, combinations thereof, and the like. Further, in some versions, the collar 302 may be at least partially formed of a suitably resilient material in order to permit limited, resilient movement between the driver body 204 and the retainer frame 312. In some versions, the collar 302 may be manufactured from elastomers, such as rubber. Other configurations are contemplated.

[0052] It will be appreciated that certain components of the retainer 300 may be formed integrally, or may be realized as separate components. For example, the retainer frame 312 may embody a singular construction such that the first and second frame members 314, 316 are at least partially unitarily formed as a combinational frame member (not shown). The combinational frame member may allow lateral adjustment similar to the first frame member 314, as well as longitudinal adjustment similar to the second frame member 316. In such versions, the combinational frame member may be movably coupled to the intermediate frame 112 by the retainer mount 308, and may extend between the retainer mount 308 and the end effector 306 to brace the collar 302 rigidly relative to the intermediate frame 112. As explained above, by bracing the collar 302, the chest compression system 200 will also be braced relative to the intermediate frame 112 of the patient transport apparatus 110 when the collar 302 is engaging the chest compression system 200.

[0053] It will be further appreciated that the terms “include,” “includes,” and “including” have the same meaning as the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” and “comprising.” Moreover, it will be appreciated that terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” and the like are used herein to differentiate certain structural features and components for the non-limiting, illustrative purposes of clarity and consistency.

[0054] Several configurations have been discussed in the foregoing description. However, the configurations discussed herein are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to any particular form. The terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings and the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.