Birthing Bed Foot Section Stowage With Self-Locking Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing patient-support apparatuses, such as birthing beds, often lack the ability to efficiently move or remove sections to enhance caregiver access during medical procedures, limiting access to critical areas during labor and delivery.

Innovation Solution

A birthing bed design featuring a removable and stowable foot deck section with a locking mechanism and storage structure, allowing the deck section to be secured and easily moved between use and stowed positions, with a cushion assembly activating the locking mechanism and a bias assembly maintaining the deck section in a horizontal storage position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the foot deck section is made removable to improve access to the perineal area, then caregiver access is improved, but the device complexity increases due to locking mechanisms and storage structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecaregiver access to perineal areaVSAvoidlocking mechanism and storage structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The foot deck section is divided as a separate removable component from the main bed frame. The deck section can be detached from the support frame and stored in a dedicated storage structure, allowing selective removal for perineal access while maintaining the overall bed structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The foot deck section is extracted as a removable component that can be taken out from the support frame when needed for access. The storage structure is designed to receive and hold the extracted deck section, enabling easy removal and return without permanent modification to the main bed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Volume of moving object

If the foot deck section is made stowable to reduce clutter and improve organization, then the storage space utilization is improved, but the device complexity increases due to guide structures and bias assemblies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage space utilizationVSAvoidguide structure and bias assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The foot deck section is nested within the storage structure when not in use. The storage structure includes a frame with guide structures that receive the deck section, allowing it to be stored compactly within the bed frame's footprint, utilizing otherwise wasted space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Guide structures and bias assemblies act as intermediary mechanisms between the deck section and storage structure. The guide structures facilitate smooth movement and positioning, while the bias assemblies provide gentle urging to maintain proper alignment and engagement without requiring complex active control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the locking mechanism is made simple to improve ease of operation, then the ease of securing the deck section is improved, but the reliability of the locking mechanism may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of securing deck sectionVSAvoidlocking mechanism reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through the cushion assembly. When the cushion assembly is positioned on the deck section, its protrusion automatically engages the locking mechanism to secure the deck section to the support frame. The mechanism self-latches and maintains secure engagement without requiring additional manual operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The locking function is merged with the cushion assembly positioning system. The protrusion on the cushion assembly serves dual purposes: it provides structural support when the cushion is in place and simultaneously actuates the locking mechanism. This integration eliminates separate locking operations while maintaining secure engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design enhances caregiver access by allowing the foot deck section to be securely removed and stored, maintaining patient safety and reducing clutter, while providing continuous support and easy repositioning for medical procedures.

Implementation Method 1

The bias assembly may comprise springs which urge the frame of the storage structure to a home position wherein the frame is configured to maintain the foot deck section in a generally horizontal storage position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The protrusion may be configured to engage the locking mechanism to actuate the locking mechanism into engagement with the support frame to secure the deck section to the support frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Fastener: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS20070143922A1Stowing birthing bed foot section

Publication Date: 2007.06.28 HILL ROM SERVICES INC

AI summary

A patient-support apparatus includes a patient-support deck movable from a use position to a stowed position. The patient-support deck is configured to engage receivers of the patient-support apparatus to support the deck in a cantilevered configuration. The patient-support deck may be secured to the patient-support apparatus by a locking mechanism. A storage structure is configured to support the patient-support deck in a stowed position. The storage structure is configured to deflect under load to prevent damage to the storage structure or patient-support deck.