Auxiliary Wheel Deployment for Patient Transport Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patient transport apparatuses face challenges in controlling movement, especially in congested areas, and require caregivers to manually manage auxiliary wheels, which can lead to collisions and inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
The patient transport apparatus incorporates an auxiliary wheel assembly with a lift actuator that moves the auxiliary wheel between retracted and deployed positions, and a throttle assembly with speed modes to control the auxiliary wheel's speed, enhancing control and safety during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the auxiliary wheel is deployed to help control movement of the patient transport apparatus, then the control capability is improved, but the risk of collision with objects and people increases in congested areas
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary wheel is designed to be dynamically deployable and retractable rather than fixed. The wheel can be selectively deployed when control is needed and retracted when not needed, allowing the system to adapt its control characteristics to different operational situations and reduce collision risk in congested areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of the auxiliary wheel from a fixed state to a variable state through deployment and retraction. This parameter change allows the control capability to be adjusted based on the operational context, improving reliability when needed while minimizing collision risk when the wheel is retracted.
2Ease of operation
If the auxiliary wheel is retracted to allow horizontal position adjustment of the patient transport apparatus, then the ease of position adjustment is improved, but the caregiver must remember to retract the wheel before adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that automatically detect when the patient transport apparatus is being manually positioned and autonomously retract the auxiliary wheel. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for the caregiver to remember to manually retract the wheel, simplifying the operational procedure while maintaining ease of position adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to provide feedback about the operational state of the patient transport apparatus. When manual positioning is detected, the feedback triggers automatic retraction of the auxiliary wheel, creating a closed-loop control system that simplifies operation without adding complexity to the user's mental workload.
3Productivity
If the auxiliary wheel is driven at higher speeds for efficient transport, then the productivity is improved, but the safety control is worsened in congested areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic speed mode changes based on the operational environment. A throttle assembly provides multiple speed modes that can be selectively activated, allowing the auxiliary wheel to operate at higher speeds for efficient transport in open areas and switch to lower speeds for enhanced safety control in congested areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The speed of the auxiliary wheel is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system can adjust the operational speed parameter in real-time based on environmental conditions, maintaining high productivity when safe to do so while prioritizing safety control when the environment becomes congested.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure and support wheels coupled to the support structure. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the support structure to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over the floor surface to assist users. An actuator is operatively coupled to the auxiliary wheel and operable to move the auxiliary wheel relative to the support structure from a retracted position to a deployed position. A user interface sensor is operatively connected to the actuator and configured to generate signals responsive to the user touching the user interface. A controller is operatively coupled to the user interface sensor and the actuator to operate the actuator in response to detection of signals.