Patient Litter Basket Spin Control via Gyro Thrusters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Patient litter baskets used in medical airlifts and rescue operations often spin due to ambient wind and helicopter rotor downdraft, causing discomfort and safety issues for patients.

Innovation Solution

A patient litter basket assembly equipped with a gyroscope to sense spin and thruster units that discharge air to counteract spin, along with a wind deflector to deflect helicopter downwash, ensuring stability during transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a patient litter basket is lowered from a helicopter using a winch cable, then the patient can be rescued and transported to a hospital, but the litter basket may spin due to ambient wind and helicopter rotor downdraft, causing discomfort and safety issues for the patient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverescue operation capabilityVSAvoidspin induced by wind and downdraft

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies counterweight principle by using a wind deflector that redirects the helicopter rotor downdraft away from the litter basket. The deflector creates an opposing force to counterbalance the harmful spin-inducing forces from wind and downdraft, thereby stabilizing the basket during rescue operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful helicopter rotor downdraft into a beneficial stabilizing force. By positioning the wind deflector to redirect the downdraft, the system transforms what would otherwise be a spin-inducing harmful force into a controlled airflow that helps maintain basket stability during the rescue operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If the litter basket is stabilized against spin, then patient safety and comfort are improved, but additional devices such as thruster units and wind deflectors increase device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient safety and comfortVSAvoidadditional thruster units and wind deflectors

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a wind deflector as an intermediary device between the helicopter rotor downdraft and the litter basket. This mediator redirects the airflow before it reaches the basket, preventing spin without requiring direct active control systems on the basket itself, thereby balancing stability with relative system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The wind deflector is designed to automatically redirect downdraft based on its fixed or adjustable geometry, providing passive stabilization without requiring complex active control systems, sensors, or power sources on the litter basket itself. The structure serves its stabilization function through its inherent design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If thruster units are used to counteract spin, then basket stability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebasket stabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption of thruster units

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The thruster units function by generating counter-thrust forces that directly oppose the spin-inducing forces from wind and downdraft. By providing an equal and opposite force, the thrusters create rotational equilibrium, stabilizing the basket while consuming energy only when spin counteraction is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The thruster units operate in a periodic or on-demand manner rather than continuously, activating only when spin detection occurs and deactivating when stability is achieved. This periodic operation reduces overall energy consumption compared to continuous thruster operation, while still maintaining basket stability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 solution effectively reduces or eliminates spin, maintaining patient safety and comfort by continuously modulating thrust and deflecting air streams to counteract external forces.

Implementation Method 1

A patient litter basket assembly equipped with a gyroscope to sense spin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGyroscope: Gyroscope

Implementation Method 2

at least one thruster unit for discharging air in the appropriate direction, opposite to the direction of spin, and which is of sufficient force to slow or stop the spin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThrust: Reaction (physics)

Implementation Method 3

along with a wind deflector to deflect helicopter downwash

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic deflection: Aerofoil

Data Source

PatentUS11547617B1Patient litter basket with spin control

Publication Date: 2023.01.10 TYLER NELSON

AI summary

A patient litter basket spin control assembly for use on a patient litter basket is provided. The assembly comprises thruster unit for discharging an air stream and is mounted on the patient litter basket. At least one sensor is associated with the thruster unit for sensing rotational movement or spin of the patient litter basket, and a power source is provided for powering the thruster unit and the sensor. A clamp member mounts on the patient litter basket and releasably receives the thruster unit. The sensors modulate the force of the air stream from the thruster unit so that the air stream counters the rotational movement of the patient litter basket to stabilize the patient litter basket by preventing the spin.