Automated Ambulance Cot with Telescoping Legs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency patient transporters require manual support during loading processes, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, especially when handling bariatric patients or navigating uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
A powered ambulance cot with an automated cot control system that includes telescoping legs and synchronized actuators, allowing for independent or simultaneous actuation to manage weight and balance, facilitating easier loading into various rescue vehicles and terrain navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual support is used during loading processes, then operator control is maintained, but the process becomes cumbersome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cot system performs self-service by using its own actuators to lift and position itself during loading operations. The front and back actuators automatically extend to raise the cot to the appropriate height, eliminating the need for external manual support while maintaining full control over the loading process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning the cot at the optimal height before loading begins. The actuators extend in advance to match the vehicle floor level, so that when loading starts, no additional manual lifting or support is required, improving efficiency from the outset.
2Reliability
If complete cot is used for patient transport, then patient safety is ensured, but navigation over uneven terrain becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cot is segmented into separable components: the patient support stretcher can be detached from the wheeled undercarriage. This allows the stretcher to be used independently on uneven terrain while the wheeled base provides stable transport on flat surfaces, combining the advantages of both configurations for different terrain conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts its configuration based on terrain requirements. The separable design allows operators to switch between complete cot mode for stable transport and separated stretcher mode for difficult terrain, making the system versatile across different operational environments while maintaining patient safety.
3Quantity of substance
If stretcher is separated from transporter, then space and weight are reduced, but loading process requires manual support
Solution Approach 1:
The separated stretcher is equipped with its own actuation system that enables it to lift and position itself independently during loading. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual support even when the stretcher is separated from the transporter, maintaining ease of operation while achieving weight and space reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The stretcher performs preliminary positioning actions using its integrated actuator to reach the vehicle loading position autonomously. This preliminary self-positioning action eliminates the need for subsequent manual support operations, combining the benefits of separation with automated loading capability.
4Ease of operation
If automated actuators are added to manage weight and balance, then loading ease is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator system is designed with multi-functionality to justify its complexity. The same front and back actuators perform multiple functions: lifting the cot during loading, leveling the cot on uneven terrain, and positioning the stretcher for patient transfer. This universal application distributes the complexity across essential operations, making the added complexity worthwhile.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the functions of weight management, balance control, and positioning into a single integrated actuator system. By combining these functions rather than using separate systems for each, the overall device complexity is reduced while still achieving automated loading ease and terrain adaptability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a powered ambulance cot for transporting a patient above a surface, the cot comprising a support frame, four legs, each leg having a wheel for supporting the cot on the surface; an actuator of a cot actuation system which interconnects the support frame and a pair of the legs, and effects changes in position of the support frame relative to the wheel of each of the legs; and a cot control system communicatively coupled to one or more processors which are operably connected to the cot actuation system to control activation of the cot actuation system. The processors are operable to receive control signals associated with a pre-programmed cot function requesting a change in position of said support frame relative to the wheel of each of the legs, to cause the cot actuation system to move the pair of the legs relative to the support frame; wherein upon receipt of a control signal, the one or more processors can execute a cot function automatically. Also provided is a method of transporting a patient above a surface comprising utilizing a powered ambulance cot as described.