Hospital Bed Touch Interface With Animated Therapy Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional user modules for patient supports are often cumbersome and non-intuitive, leading to inefficiencies and user frustration due to lack of clear feedback and complex interfaces, making it difficult for caregivers to manage automated therapy functions and patient data effectively.
Innovation Solution
A user module with a communication interface, input device, and output device featuring a visual display that uses graphical depictions and animated elements to convey information about patient support functions, alarms, and therapy status, along with touch-sensitive controls and a memory system for configuring settings and tracking patient data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional user modules are fixed in or coupled to siderail or footboard, then device stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome design and non-intuitive interface
Solution Approach 1:
The user module incorporates a display that dynamically changes graphical depictions based on selected functions. When a user selects a function, the display updates to show relevant controls and information, making the interface adaptive and intuitive rather than static and cumbersome.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback through the display showing graphical depictions of the patient support and animated elements that respond to user selections. This feedback mechanism confirms function selection and guides users through operation, improving ease of use.
2Productivity
If conventional user modules provide automated therapy functions, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple functions and controls
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface segments information and controls based on selected functions. The display shows only relevant controls and graphical elements for the currently selected function, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining access to multiple automated therapy functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The display dynamically reconfigures its content based on function selection. Animated elements and graphical depictions change to reflect the active function, presenting a simplified view for each function while providing access to comprehensive automated therapy capabilities.
3Loss of information
If visual display provides extensive informational content, then loss of information is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in verifying single changed parameter on compact display
Solution Approach 1:
The display emphasizes locally relevant information based on the selected function. Graphical depictions and animated elements highlight specific parameters and controls related to the active function, making it easy to verify changed parameters while maintaining access to comprehensive information.
Solution Approach 2:
The display dynamically adjusts its content presentation to highlight relevant information for the current function. Animated elements draw attention to changed parameters, and the graphical depiction updates to reflect current system state, making verification easy despite compact size.
4Ease of operation
If user module provides clear graphical feedback, then ease of operation is improved, but use of energy increases due to continuous display updates
Solution Approach 1:
The display updates graphical depictions and animated elements in response to function selections and system state changes rather than continuously. This periodic updating provides clear visual feedback when needed while conserving energy during stable states.
Solution Approach 2:
The display dynamically activates animated elements and graphical updates based on user interaction and system events. Energy-intensive display updates occur only when necessary to provide feedback, balancing ease of operation with energy conservation.
Data Source
AI summary
A user module for a patient support apparatus is provided. The user module has a user interface operably coupled thereto. The user interface includes an input device and an output device. The output device includes a visual display including textual and non-textual elements. The non-textual elements include enhanced, graphical, and animated portions relating to one or more operational features of the patient support or to a person positionable on the patient support. The input device includes one or more touch sensors corresponding to defined regions of the visual display.