Heated stretcher

An X-ray transparent, heated, foldable stretcher comprising:

• a base layer comprising a flexible plastic sheet;
• a set of three, foldable patient support panels mounted sequentially on the base layer having fold lines there between such that the base layer with the three patient support panels is foldable along each fold line into a shorter, generally flat folded configuration;
• wherein the set of three, foldable patient support panels, when unfolded, define an X-ray transparent, heated section of the stretcher comprising:
• two opposing electrically conductive elements positioned at, or towards, opposing sides of the stretcher, wherein the opposing electrically conductive elements are connectable to a power source;
• an electrically conductive layer comprising a sheet of electrically conducting material;
• wherein the sheet of electrically conducting material is radiolucent;
• wherein the sheet of electrically conducting material extends continuously over a two-dimensional patient-supporting region of the stretcher so as to avoid X-ray artefacts and local heating associated with linear conductive elements;
• wherein the sheet of electrically conducting material is in electrical contact with the opposing electrically conductive elements, to heat up when the opposing electrically conductive elements are powered by the power source to mitigate a risk of patient hypothermia;
• wherein the electrically conductive layer is X-ray transparent such that a patient is able to be X-rayed whilst on the stretcher;
• and
• wherein in an unfolded configuration the three patient support panels defining the X-ray transparent, heated section of the stretcher are configured to support, respectively the head, back, and legs of a patient;
• the stretcher further comprising
• a set of handles, each handle comprising a set of hollow, interconnecting poles, broken in the folded configuration and extending along each side of the stretcher in the unfolded configuration to provide rigidity for the unfolded configuration;
• and
• wherein, when bearing the patient, the stretcher bows along a longitudinal axis such that the combination of the base layer and patient support panels is inhibited from buckling in a region of the stretcher that supports a head, back, and legs of the patient, such that a combination of the poles on each side to the stretcher and the longitudinal bowing provides longitudinal rigidity sufficient to support the patient in the unfolded configuration.