Insulating Stretcher Shell Design for Patient Warmth and Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stretcher apparatuses do not effectively keep patients warm, as they lack insulation and a flexible shell to enclose the patient.
Innovation Solution
A stretcher apparatus with a flexible shell made of water-impermeable fabric, featuring a base wall, perimeter wall, and top wall with interior insulation layers, and handles for carrying, allowing for easy patient insertion and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a stretcher uses a rigid enclosed structure to keep patients warm, then thermal insulation is improved, but flexibility and ease of handling deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible shell made of insulating material that can be collapsed into a compact bundle for easy transport and storage, yet forms a warm enclosed space when deployed. The shell includes a collapsible tubular portion and end caps that can be compressed together, providing thermal insulation while maintaining portability and ease of handling.
2Temperature
If a stretcher provides full body enclosure to keep patients warm, then thermal insulation is improved, but ease of patient insertion and removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a collapsible tubular portion that can be compressed into a compact state for transport, then expanded to form a full enclosure for patient warmth. The dynamic collapse and expansion mechanism allows the stretcher to transition between a compact transport state and a full enclosure state, providing both ease of handling and thermal insulation.
3Temperature
If a stretcher uses thick insulation material to keep patients warm, then thermal insulation is improved, but device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining an insulating material with a flexible shell and collapsible tubular portion. The insulating material is integrated into the shell structure, providing thermal insulation while maintaining flexibility and portability. The composite design allows the stretcher to be both insulating and lightweight enough for easy transport.
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
The apparatus effectively keeps patients warm and dry by enclosing them in an insulated space, while also being flexible for easy handling and storage.
Implementation Method 1
The base wall, the perimeter wall, and the top wall each include an interior insulation layer
Implementation Method 2
The shell comprising a flexible fabric material which is water-impermeable
Data Source
AI summary
A stretcher apparatus for transporting a patient while keeping the patient warm includes a flexible shell with an insulating layer and handles distributed along a perimeter of the shell. The shell may receive the patient into an interior space enclosed by the shell so that the patient may be carried by lifting via the handles. The insulating layer keeps the patient warm during transport.