Portable and modular transportation unit with improved transport capabilities

Abstract

A medical device, such as an intra-aortic balloon pump or carrier with an extendable wheel track and handle configured to be removably carried and integrated with a cart. The wheel track is configured to extend upon extension of the handle and to return to its original position upon retraction of the handle.

1 .- 80 . (canceled) 
     
     
         81 . A modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump, comprising:
 a wheeled cart comprising at least one caster for rolling on a ground surface;   a display device; and   a pump unit comprising
 a frame; 
 a pump disposed within the frame; 
 a control unit configured to control the pump; 
 a wheel assembly connected to the frame and comprising a first wheel and a second wheel rotatable about a wheel assembly axis; and 
 a retractable handle assembly; 
   wherein the display device is in electronic communication with the pump unit,   wherein the wheeled cart is configured to removably support and transport the pump unit so that the wheel assembly of the pump unit is elevated relative to the at least one caster of the wheeled cart, and   wherein, when the pump unit is supported by the wheeled cart, the wheel assembly axis extends parallel to a rear face of the wheeled cart.   
     
     
         82 . The modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 81 , wherein the retractable handle assembly includes one or more telescoping members. 
     
     
         83 . The modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 81 , wherein the retractable handle assembly is retractable toward the wheel assembly axis and extendable away from the wheel assembly axis. 
     
     
         84 . The modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 81 , wherein the pump unit is transportable independently of the wheeled cart in a tilted orientation via the first and second wheels when the pump unit is removed from the wheeled cart. 
     
     
         85 . The modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 81 , wherein the wheeled cart defines a cavity configured to receive the pump unit. 
     
     
         86 . The modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 81 , wherein the wheeled cart comprises a bottom surface on which the wheel assembly of the pump unit rests. 
     
     
         87 . The modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 81 , further comprising a first power source and a second power source each configured to power the pump unit when the pump unit is removed from the wheeled cart. 
     
     
         88 . The modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 87 , wherein the first power source comprises a first battery and the second power source comprises a second battery. 
     
     
         89 . The modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 87 , wherein the first power source comprises a battery and wherein the second power source comprises an AC to DC converter. 
     
     
         90 . The modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 87 , wherein the pump unit comprises the first power source and the second power source. 
     
     
         91 . A modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump, comprising:
 a wheeled cart comprising at least one caster for rolling on a ground surface;   a display device; and   a pump unit comprising
 a frame; 
 a pump disposed within the frame; 
 a control unit configured to control the pump; 
 a disc-shaped adapter extending from a top surface of the frame and configured for removable connection to the display device; 
 a wheel assembly connected to the frame and comprising a first wheel and a second wheel; and. 
 a retractable handle assembly; 
   wherein the display device is removably connectable to a portion of the wheeled cart and removably connectable to the disc-shaped adapter of the pump unit;   wherein the wheeled cart is configured to removably support and transport the pump unit so that the wheel assembly of the pump unit is elevated relative to the at least one caster of the wheeled cart.   
     
     
         92 . The modular intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 91 , wherein the disc-shaped adapter has a round configuration. 
     
     
         93 . The modular intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 91 , where the wheeled cart comprises a disc-shaped adapter extending from the portion of the wheeled cart, the disc-shaped adapter removably connectable to the display device. 
     
     
         94 . A modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump, comprising:
 a wheeled cart comprising at least one caster for rolling on a ground surface;   a display device; and   a pump unit comprising
 a frame; 
 a pump disposed within the frame; 
 a control unit configured to control the pump; 
 a wheel assembly connected to the frame and comprising a first wheel and a second wheel rotatable about a wheel axis; and 
 a first power source and a second power source each configured to power the pump unit; 
   wherein the display device is in electronic communication with the pump unit,   wherein the wheeled cart is configured to removably support and transport the pump unit so that the wheel assembly of the pump unit is elevated relative to the at least one caster of the wheeled cart, and   wherein at least one of the first power source and the second power source comprises a user-removable module.   
     
     
         95 . The modular intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 94 , wherein the display device is removably connectable to a portion of the wheeled cart and removably connectable to a portion of the pump unit. 
     
     
         96 . The modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 94 , wherein the first power source comprises a first battery and the second power source comprises a second battery or an AC to DC converter. 
     
     
         97 . The modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 94 , wherein the user-removable module is insertable into the pump unit in a direction perpendicular to the wheel assembly axis. 
     
     
         98 . The modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 94 , wherein the first power source and the second power source are configured for powering the pump unit when the pump unit is removed from the wheeled cart. 
     
     
         99 . The modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 94 , wherein the user-removable module comprises a cartridge or cassette. 
     
     
         100 . The modular portable intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 94 , wherein the pump unit further comprises a spring-based element to eject the user-removable module. 
     
     
         101 . The modular intra-aortic balloon pump of  claim 94 , wherein the first wheel and the second wheel are moveable between a retracted position defining a first wheel track and an extended position defining a second wheel track, wherein the first wheel and the second wheel are spaced apart by a first distance in the extended position and by a second distance in the retracted position, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.