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What is Transfer Stretcher?  

A Complete Guide to Manual Transfer Stretcher, Hydraulic Transfer Stretcher, and Patient Stretcher Cart

Introduction  

Every day, thousands of patients must be moved from an ambulance into an emergency room, from the ER to imaging,or from a ward to an operating theatre. The piece of equipment that makes these moves safe, quick, and dignified is generically called a “transfer stretcher.”In modern hospitals three designs dominate the

landscape: the Manual Transfer Stretcher, the Hydraulic Transfer Stretcher, and the versatile Patient Stretcher Cart. This 1 500-word article explains what 

each type is, how it works, and why clinical teams choose one over another.

1. What Exactly Is a Transfer Stretcher?  

A transfer stretcher is a mobile platform whose primary purpose is to move a patient horizontally from one surface to another—bed to OR table, CT scanner to ward bed, or

ambulance cot to ER bay—with minimal lifting by staff and minimal discomfort for the patient. All transfer stretchers share four core requirements: 

 - Load capacity of at least 180–250 kg (400–550 lb)  

- Adjustable height so the stretcher can mate flush with beds, tables, or scanners  

- Side rails, straps, or locking castors to prevent falls or rolling during transfer  

- A mattress or pad that can slide or be removed to break the friction between patient and stretcher surface

2. Manual Transfer Stretcher – Simplicity, Reliability, and Low Cost  

2.1 How It Works  

Manual models rely on human power for every adjustment. A crank handle at the foot end drives a rack-and-pinion or screw mechanism to raise or lower the stretcher from 

roughly 560 mm to 870 mm off the floor . Once the two frames are aligned at the same height, the caregiver releases a latch and slides the 

bed-board—patient and all—onto the receiving surface. No motors, no pumps, no batteries are needed.

2.2 Key Features  

- Height range: 590–850 mm typical   

- Horizontal slide distance: 400–600 mm  

- Central-lock 150 mm castors with fifth steering wheel for tight corridors   

- Fold-down PP or aluminum side rails   

- Net weight: 90–100 kg, light enough for two staff to lift over a doorstep  

- Standard accessories: IV pole, drainage hooks, 5 cm foam mattress 

2.3 Typical Use Cases  

Manual stretchers are common in developing regions, small clinics with tight budgets, or any department where transfers are brief and power supply is unreliable. Because they have no

electronics, they can be hosed down for infection control without fear of damaging circuits.

3.Hydraulic Transfer Stretcher – Power Assistance Without Electricity  

3.1 How It Works  

A foot-operated hydraulic pump (or two independent pumps) drives oil through cylinders to lift or lower the stretcher frame smoothly. A separate gas spring adjusts the backrest

angle (0–75°) and leg section (0–45°) . Because the power source is mechanical (pedal force), the stretcher still works during power outages or when the battery is flat.

3.2 Key Features  

- Height range: 550–930 mm on most models   

- Safe working load: 180–200 kg   

- Electric-free Trendelenburg/Reverse-Trendelenburg (up to 15°) for shock positioning   

- X-ray translucent top allows imaging without transfer   

- Central-lock castors plus fifth wheel for 360° turning radius   

- Durable ABS or PP plastic bed platform, seamless for easy cleaning 

3.3 Typical Use Cases  

Hydraulic stretchers are the “Swiss Army knives” of the hospital. ICU teams love the Trendelenburg feature for hypotensivepatients; OR staff appreciate the ability to fine-tune 

height for sterile fields; and radiology departments leverage the X-ray top to complete scans without additional handling.

4. Patient Stretcher Cart – The All-Rounder for Intra-Hospital Logistics  

4.1 Definition  

The term “stretcher cart” is sometimes used interchangeably with “gurney” or “transport trolley.” In practice, a cart is a stretcher integrated with a full under-carriage that contains

storage baskets, oxygen-bottle holders, IV poles, and cable management hooks . It can be manual, hydraulic, or electric, but the defining factor is that it is optimized for long-distance

transport inside the facility rather than ambulance loading.

4.2 Core Specifications  

- Length: 1 900–2 100 mm; Width: 680–750 mm  

- Four 150–200 mm swivel castors with central brake and directional lock   

- Retractable or fold-down side rails, often padded to prevent limb entrapment  

- Push handles at both ends for two-person steering  

- Optional accessories: monitor shelf, portable suction unit, defibrillator tray, USB charger

4.3 Distinct Advantages  

- Everything the patient needs—oxygen, IV lines, drainage bags—travels with the cart, eliminating the need for extra trolleys.  

- Large wheels and fifth-wheel steering allow one nurse to move a bariatric patient through carpeted corridors and elevator thresholds.  

- Color-coded bumpers reduce wall damage in tight turns .

5. Choosing Between Manual, Hydraulic, and Cart Configurations  

5.1 Budget  

Manual < Hydraulic < Electric Cart. A basic manual unit can cost under US $1 000; a full-featured hydraulic cart with X-ray top

 and fifth wheel starts around US $3 000; electric ICU carts climb above US $8 000.

5.2 Staffing Levels  

Where staff-to-patient ratios are low, hydraulic pedals reduce physical strain and back injuries. In regions where labor is 

abundant and electricity unreliable, manual remains viable.

5.3 Patient Acuity  

High-acuity ICU or trauma patients benefit from hydraulic or electric stretchers that can tilt rapidly into Trendelenburg or Fowler position without repositioning lines.

Routine day-surgery or stable ward transfers can be handled by manual models.

5.4 Infection Control  

Manual frames contain the fewest crevices and electronics and can be steam-cleaned. Hydraulic systems use sealed cylinders and ABS covers that tolerate

hospital-grade disinfectants .

6. Maintenance and Longevity  

- Manual: Grease crank mechanism every 6 months; replace slide strips when worn.  

- Hydraulic: Inspect foot pump seals annually; bleed air if pedal feels spongy.  

- Cart: Service castor bearings quarterly; recharge electric batteries (if present) overnight.

7. Emerging Trends  

- Battery-assisted slide boards that move the mattress laterally at the push of a button, reducing shear on fragile skin.  

- RFID tags integrated into stretcher frames for automatic asset tracking.  

- Weight-scale sensors beneath the mattress to record patient weight during every transfer, feeding electronic health records automatically.

Conclusion  

Whether you call it a Manual Transfer Stretcher, a Hydraulic Transfer Stretcher, or simply a Patient Stretcher Cart, the mission is the same: move vulnerable people safely, quickly, and

with dignity. Manual devices win on price and simplicity, hydraulic models balance power with independence from electricity, and full-featured carts add storage and monitoring forcomplex 

intra-hospital journeys. Matching the right type to clinical need, budget, and local infrastructure ensures that every patient—and the staff who care for them—arrives

at their destination without incident.