Continuous Belt Patient Transfer Bridge

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current patient transfer devices in hospital settings are uncomfortable for patients due to bumpy rides caused by open spaces between rollers, and inefficient for staff, requiring additional labor and increasing the risk of injury and operational costs, especially when handling large or heavy patients.

Innovation Solution

A patient transfer system with a continuous belt and support structure that includes individual rollers and a bridge cover, providing a smoother ride and reducing friction, along with a transfer sheet for additional cushioning and support, and a drive system with sensors for controlled operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a roller-based patient transfer device is used, then the patient can be moved between surfaces, but the open spaces between rollers cause a bumpy ride that stresses the patient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient transfer capabilityVSAvoidpatient stress from bumpy ride

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The transfer device is segmented into multiple individual rollers that can be independently controlled, allowing each roller to adapt to the patient's body contour and provide continuous support, eliminating the bumpy ride caused by fixed roller positions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rollers are made dynamically adjustable in position and rotation speed, enabling the system to smoothly accelerate and decelerate the patient during transfer, and to conform to the patient's body shape, thereby eliminating bumps and stresses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If manual pushing and pulling of the patient is required, then the transfer can be completed, but additional staff are needed and the risk of injury increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer completionVSAvoidstaff requirements and injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transfer device performs the transfer operation autonomously by controlling the rotation of rollers to move the patient from one surface to another, eliminating the need for staff to manually push or pull the patient and thereby reducing injury risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical effort of staff pushing and pulling is replaced by an automated roller system that uses controlled rotation and friction to move the patient, reducing the need for additional staff and minimizing physical strain on workers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If a roller-based transfer device is used, then patient movement is enabled, but friction between the patient and device surface reduces transfer efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient movement capabilityVSAvoidfriction loss during transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The surface properties of the rollers are optimized by changing parameters such as material composition, surface texture, and diameter to achieve the ideal balance between necessary friction for patient grip and minimal friction for smooth movement, thereby reducing energy loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9114050B2Systems and methods for transferring patients

Publication Date: 2015.08.25 CEGA INNOVATIONS INC

AI summary

An apparatus for transferring a patient or other body comprises a housing, a support bridge at least partially disposed within the housing, and a continuous belt disposed about the support bridge. The housing is formed with first and second sides coupled to first and second ends, and dimensioned to span between first and second surfaces. The support bridge is coupled to the housing, spaced from and supported between the first and second sides to define a channel through the housing. The continuous belt extends through the channel to transfer a body from the first surface at the first side of the housing to the second surface at the second side, with the body supported on the bridge in conveying relationship upon the continuous belt.