Castor Base Load Sensor for Hospital Bed Weight Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional weight sensing methods for hospital patients are cumbersome and prone to errors, especially when patients are incapacitated, as they require transportation to a scale, which can lead to overmedication due to incomplete mass calculations.
Innovation Solution
A load sensing system integrated into the castor base of an adjustable hospital bed, using lever arms and load cells to detect mass without hindering the bed's adjustable functionality, allowing accurate weight measurement at any position, including during adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional scales are used to measure patient weight, then weight measurement is possible, but the patient must be transported to the scale which increases time loss and operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the weight measurement function with the hospital bed by integrating load cells into the castor base. This merging eliminates the need for separate scale equipment and patient transportation, allowing weight measurement to occur in-situ at the bedside, thereby resolving the time loss and operational complexity issues while maintaining measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The hospital bed becomes self-sufficient by incorporating weight measurement capability directly into its structure. The bed can now measure patient weight without requiring external scale equipment or assistance for patient transport, enabling the system to serve its own measurement needs and eliminating the time-consuming transportation process
2Measurement precision
If traditional scales are used to measure patient weight, then weight data can be obtained, but the mass of bed and ancillary objects must be separately accounted for which increases device complexity and potential for error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tare weight (weight of bed and ancillary objects) from the measurement equation by providing it as a separate input parameter. The load cells only need to measure the additional weight (patient weight), while the system separately receives tare weight information, thereby simplifying the measurement process and reducing potential for calculation errors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the total weight measurement into two distinct components: tare weight (bed and equipment) and payload weight (patient). By measuring these separately and combining them through simple addition, the system reduces computational complexity and minimizes error propagation compared to measuring total weight and attempting to subtract components
3Adaptability or versatility
If load cells are integrated into the castor base, then weight measurement can occur at any bed position, but the lever arms must be protected from rotation during bed adjustments which increases structural complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric design in the lever arm constraint mechanism where the bushing allows rotation in one direction (bed adjustment) while preventing rotation in the opposite direction (lever arm movement). This asymmetric constraint enables the system to accommodate bed position changes while maintaining measurement functionality, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity
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
Enables accurate and efficient weight measurement of patients without the need for additional transportation, reducing errors and improving patient care by providing precise mass data for medication and treatment purposes.
Implementation Method 1
a load cell mounted to each of said auxiliary beams via a main housing and having a lever arm extending therefrom; wherein a force applied to said lever arm in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction said lever arm extends from said main housing is detected by said load cell
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for a load sensing system that determines a mass on a bed. The systems generally are in the form of a castor base, particularly one that can be used as part of an adjustable hospital bed. The load sensing system serves to determine the mass of any object or objects (typically a human or animal patient) which is placed on the bed by having the mass create a force on lever arms of a plurality of load cells in the castor base. The load sensing systems are designed to work without hindering the adjustable functionality of the bed and can accurately determine mass (weight) at any position of the bed, and potentially even while the bed is adjusting between positions.