Bed-Mounted Sheet Pulling for Safe Patient Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient repositioning systems in healthcare settings are inadequate, as they often require manual labor, which can lead to caregiver injury and do not effectively address the challenge of safely and efficiently moving patients towards the head end of a bed, especially with obese or uncooperative patients.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a mattress, sheet, and sheet receiver with a drive mechanism that allows for the sheet to be pulled towards the head end of the bed without articulating the bed, featuring a housing with a slot and connector system that facilitates easy access and infection control, and includes a drive mechanism with a roller and straps to manage the sheet and patient movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual pulling method is used to reposition patient, then device complexity is reduced, but caregiver safety deteriorates due to potential injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical pulling system with an automated mechanical system. A motorized winch mechanism (component 140) with drum (component 142) and winding strap (component 138) automatically pulls the sheet and patient toward the head end, eliminating the need for caregivers to manually pull. This substitution of manual mechanical action with automated mechanical action resolves the contradiction by improving caregiver safety while maintaining system functionality.
2Reliability
If lifting device is used to move patient, then caregiver safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex lifting mechanism from the repositioning system and replaces it with a simpler pulling mechanism. Instead of using a complex overhead lifting device with rails and hoists, the system uses a relatively simple winch mechanism (components 140, 142, 138) that winds a strap to pull the patient. This extraction of the lifting function and replacement with a pulling function reduces device complexity while maintaining caregiver safety through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sheet (component 115) as an intermediary between the pulling mechanism and the patient. The winding strap (component 138) pulls the sheet, which in turn pulls the patient along the sheet. This intermediary approach allows the complex lifting function to be replaced with a simpler pulling function while still achieving safe patient repositioning.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If bed articulation is required to access components, then infection control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bed structure by making the head end piece (component 104) foldable about a fold line (component 103). This allows the head end section to be independently articulated to provide access to the housing (component 125) and its components. The segmentation enables caregivers to access components for cleaning and maintenance without articulating the entire bed, thus maintaining infection control while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the head end piece (component 104) dynamically foldable rather than fixed. The foldable design with fold line (component 103) allows the head end section to be articulated open to expose the housing (component 125) for cleaning access, then folded closed during normal operation. This dynamic design enables easy access to components without requiring full bed articulation, resolving the contradiction between infection control and ease of operation.
4Ease of operation
If head end piece is made foldable to enable access, then ease of operation is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mattress structure into a foldable head end piece (component 104) and a stable main body. The foldable head end piece contains the housing (component 125) and can be articulated for access, while the main mattress structure remains stable. This segmentation allows the unstable (foldable) portion to be isolated from the stable portion, resolving the contradiction between ease of access and structural stability.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A patient repositioning system (10) for pulling a patient toward a head end (114) of a bed (12) includes a sheet (16), a mattress (14), and a housing (214) which contains at least a part of a drive mechanism (252) for operatively coupling to and pulling the sheet (16). The housing (214) resides below a head end piece (124) of the mattress (14), and is secured to the bed deck (22). A sheet pulling structure (222) extends out of the housing (214) via a slot (216) and releasably attaches to the sheet (16), in a manner which has a low profile so as to pass through the slot (216).