Collapsible Rescue Stretcher with Segmented Frame for Confined Space Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lightweight rescue stretchers are difficult to deploy in tight spaces, lack sufficient support for injured persons, and are not suitable for air lift evacuations, leading to potential further injury during transport.
Innovation Solution
A rescue stretcher with an elongated, flexible base panel and securement straps for quick deployment, featuring loop handles, securement straps for immobilization, and lift sling straps for vertical and horizontal hoist capabilities, designed for compact storage and easy deployment in confined areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional lightweight stretchers are stored in rolled-up configurations to minimize storage space, then storage space is reduced, but the stretchers become difficult to stack and may become cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The stretcher is divided into multiple collapsible sections that can be folded into a compact configuration. The frame includes telescopic legs and segmented side rails that allow the stretcher to collapse into a small, stackable form factor while maintaining structural integrity when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The stretcher employs dynamic structural elements including telescopic legs with locking mechanisms and collapsible side rails that can transition between extended and retracted positions. This allows the stretcher to adapt its volume based on operational needs while minimizing storage footprint.
2Volume of moving object
If conventional lightweight stretchers are designed for compact storage, then storage efficiency is improved, but they cannot be easily deployed to reach injured persons in tight and enclosed areas
Solution Approach 1:
The stretcher frame is segmented into collapsible sections that can be compacted for storage and quickly expanded for deployment. The telescopic legs and collapsible side rails enable the stretcher to fit through narrow openings and be deployed in confined spaces while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic collapse and expansion mechanism allows the stretcher to transition from a compact storage configuration to a fully deployed configuration in tight spaces. The telescopic legs can be extended to provide stability even when the stretcher is deployed in confined areas with limited space.
3Weight of moving object
If conventional lightweight stretchers are used for transport, then mobility is improved, but they lack sufficient support for injured persons during transport over rough terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The stretcher employs composite materials including aluminum alloy frame components that provide high strength-to-weight ratio, and a padded mat constructed from durable, supportive materials that conform to the patient's body. This combination ensures the stretcher remains lightweight for mobility while providing sufficient support and protection over rough terrain.
Solution Approach 2:
The stretcher features localized reinforcement at critical support points including the head section, leg sections, and attachment points for restraints. The padded mat provides enhanced cushioning in areas where the patient's body contacts the stretcher, ensuring adequate support while maintaining overall lightweight construction.
4Weight of moving object
If conventional lightweight stretchers are used for air lift evacuations, then transport flexibility is improved, but they are not sufficiently sturdy to support air lift evacuations while firmly restraining the injured person
Solution Approach 1:
The frame construction uses high-strength aluminum alloys and reinforced joint connections that provide the structural strength necessary to support air lift evacuations. The composite material construction maintains lightweight properties while ensuring the stretcher can withstand the forces encountered during helicopter rescue operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The stretcher includes curved reinforcement elements and arched support structures that distribute loads more effectively across the frame. This structural geometry enhances the overall strength and rigidity of the lightweight frame, making it suitable for air lift evacuations while maintaining portability.
5Ease of operation
If conventional stretchers without adequate restraints are used, then ease of deployment is improved, but the injured person may not be properly immobilized, causing further injury
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint system is integrated directly into the stretcher structure with attachment points built into the frame at strategic locations. This integration allows for quick deployment of restraints while ensuring proper immobilization of the patient's head, torso, and limbs. The restraints are pre-positioned to work together as a coordinated system for effective immobilization.
Data Source
AI summary
A stretcher including a flexible base panel sized to support a person lying thereon during a rescue or extrication operation. The base panel includes a header end and an opposite footer end, and further includes a plurality of securement straps coupled to the base panel to help restrain the injured person and prevent further injury that may be caused such as by having the person roll off the sides of the stretcher. The disclosure further relates to a method of deploying the stretcher to access and remove an injured person from a confined area to provide treatment.