Cover System for Patient Restraint Mounts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Patient support apparatuses lack effective measures to prevent unauthorized objects from being inserted through restraint mounts, posing a risk of self-harm or damage in behavioral health settings.

Innovation Solution

A cover system with a brace, restrictor, and lock mechanism that can be operated between a restrict mode to block access and a permit mode to allow access, using an instrument to change the lock mechanism's state and facilitate the movement of the restrictor between these modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If restraint mounts with open apertures are used to facilitate patient restraint attachment, then ease of operation is improved, but patient safety deteriorates due to risk of unauthorized object insertion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of restraint attachmentVSAvoidunauthorized object insertion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is installed on the restraint mount before patient care activities, pre-establishing a protective barrier that blocks unauthorized object insertion while preserving aperture functionality when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cover acts as an intermediary component between the restraint mount aperture and potential unauthorized objects, providing a protective layer that can be selectively opened by caregivers using instruments while blocking patient access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If covers are added to restraint mounts to block unauthorized access, then patient safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunauthorized object insertion preventionVSAvoidrestraint mount structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The restraint mount system is divided into separate functional components: the base restraint mount structure and the removable cover with lock mechanism, allowing independent optimization of each component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lock mechanism is designed to be operated by caregivers using standard instruments already available in the clinical environment, eliminating the need for specialized tools or complex control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If lock mechanisms are implemented to control cover opening, then patient safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to additional locking steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunauthorized object insertion preventionVSAvoidrestraint mount access

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lock mechanism uses simple mechanical engagement between the keeper and receiver components, replacing complex electronic or multi-step locking systems with straightforward mechanical operation that caregivers can perform quickly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11918517B2Cover systems for blocking apertures of patient support apparatuses

Publication Date: 2024.03.05 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

A cover system for selectively blocking insertion of unauthorized objects through an aperture of a restraint mount of a patient support apparatus is provided. The cover system includes a cover and an instrument having an interface. The cover includes a brace and a restrictor coupled to the brace. The brace attaches to the patient support apparatus adjacent to the aperture and the restrictor operates in a restrict mode blocks access to the aperture and a permit mode where the restrictor permits access to the aperture. The cover also includes a lock mechanism, which includes a keeper movable between a locked state where movement of the restrictor is inhibited and an unlocked state where movement of the restrictor is permitted. The keeper moves from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to selective engagement between the interface of the instrument and a receiver of the lock mechanism.