Patient Bed Extension Plate With Locking Beams for Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patient beds are cumbersome due to the need to accommodate various patient sizes, making them difficult to maneuver in medical environments.
Innovation Solution
A bed extension accessory with moveable beams and an actuating assembly that allows the patient support surface to be extended or stowed, featuring an extension plate connected via connection blocks and an actuating body that moves between locked and unlocked positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the patient bed is designed to accommodate various patient sizes, then the patient support surface area is increased, but the bed becomes cumbersome and difficult to maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The patient support surface is divided into a fixed portion and a moveable extension portion. The extension portion can be segmented into multiple sections that are independently adjustable, allowing the bed to provide full support for large patients when needed while maintaining a compact size for easy mobility when the extension is retracted.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient bed incorporates a moveable extension portion that can dynamically change between extended and retracted positions. This dynamic configuration allows the bed to adapt its size based on patient needs, providing a small footprint for easy maneuvering and a large support surface when required.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the patient bed is designed with a large support surface for all patient sizes, then all patients can be accommodated, but the bed requires more space and is harder to move through door openings and hallways
Solution Approach 1:
The bed employs a moveable extension portion that can be extended to accommodate longer patients and retracted to reduce the overall length for navigating through door openings and hallways. This dynamic adjustment allows the bed to adapt its length based on the specific patient and environmental constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The moveable extension portion can be nested within or alongside the fixed portion of the bed frame when retracted, minimizing the overall length and footprint of the bed for easy transportation through tight spaces while still providing extended support when needed.
3Ease of operation
If the patient bed is made compact for easy mobility, then the bed is easier to maneuver, but the support surface becomes insufficient for larger patients
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is segmented into a compact fixed portion that maintains ease of mobility and a separate moveable extension portion that can be added to increase the total support area when larger patients require additional space.
Solution Approach 2:
The bed features a dynamically adjustable extension portion that remains integrated with the compact fixed portion during movement, then can be extended to provide additional support area when the bed is positioned for patient care.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the bed includes an extendable support surface, then the bed can accommodate larger patients, but the mechanism for extending becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The extension mechanism utilizes a moveable beam assembly that can be easily positioned between fixed beams and locked into place, providing extendability without requiring complex mechanical systems. The moveable portion can be manually or mechanically adjusted to the required position.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension mechanism is divided into discrete, modular components including moveable beams, fixed beams, connection blocks, and locking mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function independently, simplifying the overall system while maintaining extendability.
Data Source
AI summary
An extension accessory for a patient bed includes an extension plate that has a peripheral edge defining a top surface for supporting a patient and a bottom surface with a plurality of holes extending through the top and bottom surfaces. A plurality of connection blocks each includes a top block surface spaced from a bottom block surface. An engagement profile is between the top block surface and the bottom block surface that is sized to be coupled to a moveable beam. An opening extends through the top block surface, and a plurality of fastening members are each configured to be inserted through one of the holes of the extension plate and the opening of one of the plurality of connection blocks.