Recommendations on Standards for the Design of Medical Diagnostic Equipment for Adults with Disabilities, Advisory Committee Final Report

M301.3 Transfer Supports

Proposed requirement:

Transfer supports shall be provided for use with the transfer sides required by M301.2.3 and shall comply with M305.2.

• Sub-Committee Recommendation:
No revision.

* Other Transfer Support Dimensions: (*not included in the Proposed Rule)

• Sub-committee Recommendation:
Length - At least 15 inches (300 mm) in length and located on the length of the transfer surface. Located on the opposite side of the access point.

Circular cross sections – Circular cross sections must have an outside diameter of 1¼ inches minimum and 2 inches maximum. Section may be discontinuous (see Rationale) along the length of the Gripping Surface not exceeding 20% of the length of the gripping surface.

o Rationale: Discontinuous allows for the vertical support structure that is necessary for supporting the grip.

Non-circular cross sections - Non-circular cross sections must have a cross section dimension of 2 inches maximum and a perimeter dimension of 4 inches minimum and 4.8 inches maximum. Section may be discontinuous* along the length of the Gripping Surface not exceeding 20% of the length of the gripping surface.

Transfer Supports Position

• Sub-Committee Recommendation:
Located longitudinally within the long side of the of the transfer surface. Transfer support will be located on the opposite side of the transfer side.

Length: Minimum of 15" of continuous support.

o Rationale: This is to accommodate the articulation that is necessary for the head and back support on stretchers.

Height: Located no less than 6 inches (150 mm) and no more than 19 inches (482 mm) above the patient support surface

Horizontal Distance from Transfer Surface: No more than 3 inches (75 mm) from the edge of the patient support surface.

o Rationale: Currently, and it is envisioned that transfer supports will continue to be enabled through the side rail systems currently employed on stretchers. Based on the nature of side rail mechanisms to allow them to fold and store properly. Currently, the state of the art for side rail have them placed just under 3" outboard of the mattress surface edge (transfer surface edge). Therefore, it is requested that this horizontal dimension allow for current designs to fall under the proposed rule.

Figure 3: Transfer Support Location – Plan View
(Drawings designef for Access Board by Stryker)

Figure 4: Transfer Support Location – Side View
(Drawings designef for Access Board by Stryker)