Patient Bed Head Handles and IV Pole for Clear Caregiver Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient support apparatuses face challenges in providing adequate access and reducing interference for caregivers due to the design of handles, intravenous poles, and lift arms, which impede movement and access to patients, especially in the head portion with a recessed edge.
Innovation Solution
The patient support apparatus features a recessed edge with handles that pivot inwardly and over the frame, an intravenous pole that adjusts between deployed and stowed positions without interfering with the recessed edge, and a cover that aligns with the rear wall and sidewalls to minimize interference, along with bumpers on lift arms to prevent caregiver contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If handles are positioned on the head portion of the frame, then caregiver access to the patient is improved, but the handles interfere with caregiver movement and access to the recessed edge area
Solution Approach 1:
The handles are designed to be movable between a stowed position (extending laterally from the head portion) and a deployed position (pivoted inward toward the centerline). This dynamic configuration allows the handles to clear the recessed edge area when needed, resolving the contradiction between providing caregiver access and preventing interference with movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The handles pivot from a lateral extension configuration to an inward-pivoted configuration, changing their spatial arrangement from occupying the lateral dimension to occupying a more central position. This dimensional change allows the handles to clear the recessed edge area while maintaining their functional presence on the head portion.
2Productivity
If lift arms extend into the recessed edge space, then the lift arms can effectively adjust the upper frame position, but they interfere with caregiver access and movement
Solution Approach 1:
The lift arms are designed to selectively extend into the recessed edge space only when needed for frame adjustment, and retract or clear the space when not in use. This dynamic behavior allows the lift arms to perform their function without creating continuous interference with caregiver movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The interfering portions of the lift arms are extracted or removed from the recessed edge space when not needed for operation. This extraction eliminates the harmful interference while preserving the essential frame adjustment capability when required.
3Ease of operation
If the intravenous pole is positioned to extend over the upper frame, then it is easily accessible, but it interferes with the recessed edge area when stowed
Solution Approach 1:
The intravenous pole is designed to pivot between a deployed position (extending vertically for accessibility) and a stowed position (positioned to clear the recessed edge area). This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by allowing the pole to be accessible when needed while clearing the recessed edge when not in use.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus includes a base frame and an upper frame configured to support a mattress. The upper frame has a head portion including a recessed edge. Lift arms are coupled to the upper frame and configured to adjust a position of the upper frame. A first handle is coupled to the head portion on a first side of the recessed edge. A second handle is coupled to the head portion on a second side of the recessed edge. The first and second handles are configured to pivot inboard and toward one another to a lowered position extending over the upper frame adjacent to the recessed edge. An intravenous pole is pivotally coupled to the head portion and is adjustable between a deployed position and a stowed position. The intravenous pole extends along a rear wall of the recessed edge over the upper frame when in the stowed position.