# US 11,432,976 B2 · Ambulance vehicle and method for providing an ambulance vehicle

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- Number: US 11,432,976 B2
- Document ID: US11432976B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/951,193
- Filed: 2020-11-18
- Published: 2021-06-03
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-29
- Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
- Applicants: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
- Inventors: Sebastian Baer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432976B2

## CPC

- A61G 3/0236: {by pivoting the support about a horizontal axis}
- A61G 3/001: {Vehicles provided with medical equipment to perform operations or examinations}
- A61G 3/029: {by powered support}
- A61G 3/0833: {using other support}
- A61G 2210/50: for radiography
- A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00)

## Abstract

An embodiment is directed to an ambulance vehicle, especially mobile stroke unit. The embodiment of the ambulance vehicle includes a support structure within an interior space of the ambulance vehicle for supporting a cot or stretcher used for transporting the patient. The embodiment of the ambulance vehicle further includes an actuator for tilting the support structure and/or the support structure being at least partially housed in a recess formed in a floor of the interior space.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ambulance vehicle, comprising:
a support structure, within an interior space of the ambulance vehicle, to support a cot or stretcher used for transporting a patient; and at least one of
an actuator to tilt the support structure, and
a recess formed in a floor of the interior space, the support structure being at least partially housed in the recess.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ambulance vehicle of claim 1, wherein the support structure is coupled to the actuator such that a front end of the support structure is liftable by actuating the actuator.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The ambulance vehicle of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises at least one air cushion and a compressor to inflate the air cushion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The ambulance vehicle of claim 1, wherein the ambulance vehicle has a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 t.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The ambulance vehicle of claim 1, wherein an upper edge of a back end of the support structure is less than 91 cm above ground in a loading state of the ambulance vehicle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The ambulance vehicle of claim 1, wherein the support structure is an air suspension or wherein the support structure comprises an air suspension.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The ambulance vehicle of claim 1, wherein the ambulance vehicle is a modified production vehicle, and wherein a modification of the modified production vehicle involves at least one of:
lowering a rear axle suspension,
using an intermediate frame between a vehicle frame and the floor of the interior space that is at least 5 mm thinner than the intermediate frame used in the production vehicle, and
removing a section of the floor to provide the recess.

### Claim 8

A method for providing an ambulance vehicle, comprising:
installing a support structure, for supporting a cot or stretcher used for transporting a patient, in an interior space of the vehicle; and at least one of
mounting an actuator, for tilting the support structure, within the interior space, and
at least partially housing the support structure, during the installing, in a recess formed in a floor of the interior space.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the ambulance vehicle is provided by modifying a production vehicle by at least one of:
lowering a rear axle suspension of the vehicle,
using an intermediate frame between a vehicle frame and the floor of the interior space that is at least 5 mm thinner than the intermediate frame used in the production vehicle, and
removing a section of the floor to provide the recess.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The ambulance vehicle of claim 1, wherein the ambulance vehicle is a mobile stroke unit.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the ambulance vehicle is a mobile stroke unit.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The ambulance vehicle of claim 2, wherein the actuator comprises at least one air cushion and a compressor to inflate the air cushion.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The ambulance vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a medical imaging device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The ambulance vehicle of claim 13, wherein the medical imaging device is a computer tomography device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 4)

The ambulance vehicle of claim 4, further comprising a medical imaging device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 2)

The ambulance vehicle of claim 2, wherein an upper edge of a back end of the support structure is less than 91 cm above ground in a loading state of the ambulance vehicle.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the actuator comprises at least one air cushion and a compressor to inflate the air cushion.