Deck Section Lift-Off Limiter for Patient Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patient support apparatuses in healthcare settings do not adequately prevent unauthorized movement or tampering by patients with behavioral health indicia, who may attempt to harm themselves using components of the apparatus.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus featuring an intermediate frame, a patient support deck with movable deck sections, and a limiter system comprising a track and a brace that allows movement between predetermined positions while preventing unauthorized movement of the deck sections, thereby ensuring patient safety and preventing tampering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If deck sections are made movable to adjust patient support configurations, then patient comfort and care quality are improved, but patient safety deteriorates due to risk of unauthorized movement or tampering
Solution Approach 1:
A limiter mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component between the deck section and intermediate frame. This limiter includes a movable brace that engages with a track to permit controlled movement between predetermined positions while physically blocking unauthorized movement, thus mediating between the need for adjustability and patient safety
Solution Approach 2:
The limiter mechanism proactively prevents unauthorized movement before it can occur by maintaining continuous physical constraint through the brace-track engagement. The brace is positioned to automatically engage with the track at predetermined positions, creating preliminary resistance against any attempted unauthorized movement of the deck section
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus for use in treating patients with behavioral health indicia, the patient support apparatus comprising an intermediate frame and a patient support deck having a deck section arranged for movement relative to the intermediate frame between a plurality of deck section positions to define a plurality of predetermined patient support configurations. A limiter interposed between the intermediate frame and the deck section and including a track and a brace movable along the track in response to movement of the deck section, wherein engagement between the brace and the track simultaneously permits movement of the deck section between the plurality of deck section positions and retains the deck section relative to the intermediate frame to prevent unauthorized movement of the deck section away from the plurality of predetermined patient support configurations.