Hospital Bed Lockout Prevents Drainage Bag Floor Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patient support apparatuses, such as hospital beds, often cause urinary drainage bags to come into contact with the floor during adjustments, risking contamination and leading to catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), as existing systems lack effective mechanisms to prevent such contact.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus with a frame that includes a movable portion with a drainage bag support, controlled by control circuitry that enters a lockout mode to prevent lowering of the frame if a drainage bag is attached, ensuring the bag remains off the floor by limiting movement based on angle thresholds and providing user interface warnings and sensor-activated lockout mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the foot end of the bed is lowered to assist patient exit or adjust position, then patient comfort and accessibility are improved, but the drainage bag may come into contact with the floor causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuitry is programmed with a lockout mode that proactively prevents lowering of the foot end of the bed when a drainage bag is detected on the drainage bag support. This preliminary anti-action blocks the harmful effect (bag contact with floor) before it can occur, while still allowing raising movements that do not pose the same risk.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bed is placed in reverse Trendelenburg or seated position, then patient positioning flexibility is improved, but drainage bag contact with floor risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on real-time conditions. The control circuitry continuously monitors the position of the drainage bag support and activates the lockout mode only when the bag is present and the foot end is being lowered, allowing full positioning flexibility when the bag is absent or in safe positions.
3Device complexity
If the drainage bag support is coupled to the movable foot end of the frame, then the support system is simplified, but the drainage bag becomes vulnerable to floor contact during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensor feedback to detect the presence of a drainage bag on the drainage bag support. When the sensor detects the bag, it sends a signal to the control circuitry to activate the lockout mode, preventing lowering movements. This feedback mechanism allows the simple coupled support structure to operate safely without requiring a more complex isolated support system.
Data Source
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AI summary
A patient support apparatus includes an upper frame that is movable to raise and lower relative to a base frame frame. A mattress support deck is coupled to the upper frame and includes a foot deck section. The foot deck section is movable with respect to the rest of the mattress support deck to raise and lower. A drainage bag support is coupled to the foot deck section and is configured to support a drainage bag. Control circuitry controls movement of the upper frame and the foot deck section. The control circuitry has a lockout mode to limit the movement of the upper frame and foot deck section to prevent the drainage bag from touching a floor.