Bedside Commode Chair Transfer for Dignified Patient Toileting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Toileting patients in a bed-bound state is labor-intensive and undignifying for both medical staff and patients, often requiring multiple caregivers and involving manual lifting or use of hoists.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus with a movable support frame and a support portion that allows patients to be transferred onto a seated position without lifting, featuring a hand rail, back rest, and a bed pan for waste collection, enabling toileting and transportation without the need for hoists.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual lifting or hoists are used to transfer patients to commodes or toilets, then patient toileting can be achieved, but the process becomes labor-intensive and undignifying for patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a commode chair with a support frame that acts as an intermediary device between the bed and the patient. The support frame with legs that extend under the bed allows the patient to be rolled onto the commode chair without manual lifting, eliminating the need for hoists and reducing caregiver labor while maintaining patient dignity
Solution Approach 2:
The commode chair is designed to be positioned and adjusted by caregivers without requiring them to manually lift or support the patient's weight. The patient essentially transfers themselves by rolling onto the support portion, making the transfer process self-service oriented and reducing caregiver physical strain
2Adaptability or versatility
If patients are transferred to separate structures like wheelchairs or commodes, then toileting and transportation can be facilitated, but the transfer process requires hoists and multiple caregivers
Solution Approach 1:
The commode chair is designed as a multi-functional device that can serve both as a toileting facility and a transportation means. The support frame with movable legs and adjustable support portion allows it to be used for both commode and wheelchair functions, eliminating the need for separate specialized equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The commode chair is divided into distinct functional components: a support frame with legs, a support portion for the patient, and a bed pan portion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while keeping the overall device simple and manageable
3Productivity
If patients are kept in bed for toileting using bed pans, then patient mobility is maintained, but the process is undignifying and requires multiple caregivers
Solution Approach 1:
The commode chair with its support frame acts as an intermediary that elevates the patient above the bed surface, allowing toileting to occur in a more dignified seated position rather than lying in a bed pan. The bed pan portion can be moved underneath the patient when needed, but the patient remains elevated and visible to caregivers
4Ease of operation
If the support portion is positioned on the bed surface, then patient transfer is simplified, but the support frame must accommodate the bed structure
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame incorporates movable legs that can dynamically adjust their position. The legs can extend under the bed when the commode chair is positioned at the bed, and can be retracted or repositioned when the commode chair is moved to other locations, allowing the device to adapt to different operational contexts without structural complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A patient support apparatus is disclosed.