Hospital Bed Positioning Mechanism for Collision-Free Side Tilt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hospital bed tilting and positioning mechanisms face challenges such as collision between the patient surface and undercarriage, structural complexity, and high investment costs, particularly when attempting to achieve side tilt and combine positions like Trendelenburg and anti-Trendelenburg tilts.
Innovation Solution
A positioning mechanism using at least two height-adjustable lifters mounted on the undercarriage frame, with one lifter intersecting the patient surface's longitudinal axis and connected in a swinging and sliding manner, and the second and third lifters interconnected via a transversal arm, allowing for reduced stress and minimized collision risk, along with position sensors for simplified control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If linear telescopic systems with two or four lifters are used for height adjustment, then the patient surface can be positioned at different heights, but the mechanism becomes structurally complex and collision risks increase during side tilting
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning mechanism is divided into three independent lifter units (first lifter at head end, second and third lifters at foot end connected via arm), each capable of independent height adjustment. This segmentation allows simplified control of each section while maintaining overall functionality, reducing the complexity compared to traditional two or four lifter systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The second and third lifters are connected to the patient surface frame through a transverse arm that enables swinging motion in addition to vertical movement. This adds a dimensional aspect to the lifter operation, allowing the patient surface to tilt sideways without requiring complex multi-axis control mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional tilting mechanisms are used to achieve ±30° side tilt, then the patient surface can be tilted for therapeutic purposes, but collision between patient surface and undercarriage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The first lifter is designed with swinging capability around the longitudinal axis of the patient surface frame, and the second and third lifters connect via a transverse arm that can swing around axes parallel to the longitudinal axis. This dynamic configuration allows the patient surface to tilt sideways freely without fixed collision points, enabling ±30° tilt range while avoiding undercarriage interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The height adjustment and side tilting functions are merged into a single integrated mechanism. The lifters simultaneously perform both vertical positioning and lateral tilting through their swinging and sliding connections, eliminating the need for separate tilting mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the patient surface is tilted sideways from the lowest position, then therapeutic positioning is achieved, but collision with undercarriage occurs in known mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The first lifter's swinging connection and the transverse arm's swinging connections allow the patient surface to dynamically adjust its position during tilting. This dynamic movement enables the surface to clear the undercarriage even when starting from the lowest position, achieving collision-free tilting that was not possible with rigid traditional mechanisms.
4Reliability
If electronic installation for sensing absolute position and evaluating collision status is implemented, then collision prevention is achieved, but the electronic installation becomes relatively complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical design itself provides collision prevention through the swinging and sliding connections that naturally avoid undercarriage interference during tilting. The mechanism's geometry ensures collision-free operation without requiring electronic sensors or control systems to detect and prevent collisions, making the system self-protecting.
Data Source
AI summary
A positioning mechanism of a bed comprising height adjustable lifters that are mounted between the undercarriage and patient surface frame. The first lifter is arranged so that its axis intersects the longitudinal axis of the frame. The first lifter is connected to frame oscillatingly around the longitudinal axis of the frame and in a sliding way in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the frame. The second and the third lifters are interconnected with an arm, oriented transversally to the longitudinal axis. The arm is oscillatingly connected to the frame and is connected at one end to the second lifter both oscillatingly around an axis, in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame and in a sliding way transversally to the frame. The other end the arm is connected to the third lifter, oscillatingly around the axis, in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame.