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

M301.2.3 Transfer Sides

Proposed requirement:

The transfer surface shall be located to provide options to transfer from a mobility device onto one short side (depth) and one long side (width) of the surface.

• Sub-Committee Recommendation:
The transfer surface shall be located to provide options to transfer from a mobility device onto both long sides (length), right and left, of the surface.

Rationale: Revision is based upon the configuration and use of stretchers. The configuration of stretchers will not allow for unobstructed access to a transfer surface located at either the foot end or head. The location of the Transfer Side will be located on the patient right or patient left at roughly midway between the foot end and head end. This places the position at a desirable location along the length of the stretcher side so as when the transfer is completed, the patient is in the correct location relative to the articulation of the backrest. As a result, a patient can only access one long side of the transfer surface, the one short side will be inaccessible.

Proposed requirement:

Each transfer side shall provide unobstructed access to the transfer surface.

• Sub-Committee Recommendation:
Each transfer side shall minimize obstructions to the transfer surface. Obstructions shall not be vertically less than 1" (25 mm) nor be horizontally more than 3" (75 mm) from the edge of the patient support surface provide unobstructed access to the transfer surface.

Rationale: The position of obstructions has been discussed by the full committee and the Exam Table subcommittee and has established an obstruction protruding no more than 3" beyond the edge of the transfer surface.

It is proposed herein that an additional requirement be added to restrict how high the obstruction can exist in comparison to the top of the transfer surface. Guidance from IEC 60601-2-52 does establish the maximum vertical obstruction of being not less than 1" below the top of the transfer surface.