Adjustable Patient Support for Bariatric Care
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard hospital beds are inadequate for bariatric patients due to insufficient structural strength and lack of necessary functionalities, and specialized bariatric beds are often underutilized as they lack the features of regular hospital beds.
Innovation Solution
A height and width adjustable patient support system that can convert between standard and bariatric sizes, featuring telescoping leg assemblies, a touch-sensitive obstruction sensor, and a controller for enabling/disabling actions based on sensed deck height and width, allowing for safe and efficient care of both average and bariatric patients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If standard hospital beds are used, then functionalities for patient care are adequate, but structural strength and size are insufficient for bariatric patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patient support system incorporates adjustable components including height-adjustable leg assemblies that can extend or retract, and width-adjustable deck sections that can expand or contract. This dynamic adjustability allows the same bed structure to accommodate both standard and bariatric patients, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural strength by enabling the bed to transform its configuration based on patient needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters such as deck width, support height, and leg assembly extension to adapt to different patient sizes. By adjusting these parameters, the bed can provide appropriate structural strength for bariatric patients when configured in expanded mode, while maintaining standard functionality for regular patients, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and strength requirements.
2Strength
If specialized bariatric beds are used, then structural strength and size are adequate, but functionalities for efficient care are reduced and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patient support system is designed as a universal bed that can function as both a standard hospital bed and a bariatric bed through adjustable components. The height-adjustable leg assemblies and width-adjustable deck sections enable the same device to serve multiple patient size categories, eliminating the need for separate specialized bariatric beds and reducing overall device complexity in hospital settings.
Solution Approach 2:
By incorporating dynamic adjustment mechanisms rather than fixed specialized structures, the system maintains relative simplicity while achieving bariatric-capable strength and size. The adjustable components allow the bed to transform its configuration as needed, avoiding the permanent complexity of dedicated bariatric bed designs.
3Strength
If specialized bariatric beds are used, then structural strength is adequate, but adaptability for general patient care is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic adjustment mechanisms including height-adjustable leg assemblies and width-adjustable deck sections that enable the bed to transform between standard and bariatric configurations. This allows the same bed to provide adequate structural strength for bariatric patients when expanded, while maintaining adaptability for general patient care when configured in standard mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The bed changes physical parameters such as deck width, support height, and overall size to adapt to different patient categories. By adjusting these parameters, the system provides appropriate structural strength for bariatric patients when needed, while maintaining full adaptability for general patient care during standard operations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of beds are maintained in stock, then adaptability for different patient sizes is improved, but loss of time and resources for bed management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable patient support system serves as a universal bed that can accommodate both standard and bariatric patients through its height-adjustable leg assemblies and width-adjustable deck sections. Hospitals can maintain a fleet of identical adjustable beds rather than separate specialized beds, eliminating the time and resources required for bed management, relocation, and inventory control of multiple bed types.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic adjustment capabilities allow a single bed type to fulfill multiple patient size requirements. By configuring the same bed differently based on patient needs rather than using dedicated bed types, hospitals reduce the complexity of bed management and eliminate time losses associated with locating and preparing appropriate specialized beds.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support may be adjustable in height, width, length or a combination thereof. The patient support may be useable with normal sized patients or with bariatric patients. The patient support has a variety of features to enhance operability and/or functionality, including a width adjustable caster frame, width adjustable deck portions, a width adjustable headboard and an extendible foot board to provide extra length. An enhanced lift mechanism can accommodate bariatric patients and alternative functionality in achieving deck positions improves patient comfort. Various parts of the patient support including deck panels and the footboard may be removed and replaced with ease without complicated connectors.