Medical Equipment Case with Detachable Support Member for Display Angling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical equipment, such as defibrillators and patient monitors, often have displays that are difficult to read during use due to their orientation relative to the user, especially when placed on a surface, leading to visibility issues, particularly with light incidence.

Innovation Solution

A medical equipment case with a support member that can be detached to incline the display, allowing easier viewing by positioning the display at an angle relative to the surface, reducing light interference and enhancing visibility while maintaining a compact form for storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the display is positioned perpendicular or parallel to the placement surface, then the medical equipment can be compactly stored, but the display becomes difficult to read due to user viewing angle and light incidence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay visibilityVSAvoidcase structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is designed to be movable between a retracted position (for compact storage) and an extended position (for optimal display viewing angle). This dynamic element allows the case to adapt between storage and usage states, resolving the contradiction between compactness and visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support member extends in a direction perpendicular to the display surface, creating a new spatial dimension for adjustment. By positioning the support member at the rear of the case and extending it backward, the display can be inclined at an optimal angle without increasing the case's front-to-back depth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If a support member is added to incline the display, then display visibility improves, but the case depth increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay visibilityVSAvoidcase depth
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The support member utilizes the rear space of the case by extending in a direction perpendicular to the display front face. This dimensional approach allows the support structure to be positioned at the back of the case, providing display inclination without increasing the case's front-to-back depth dimension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The support member is designed to be as thin and compact as possible, creating a minimal structural element that provides the necessary support function without adding significant depth. The support member essentially copies the minimal space required at the rear of the case to achieve the desired display angle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Length of stationary object

If the support member is positioned at the rear of the case, then display inclination is achieved without increasing case depth, but the case width must accommodate the support structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecase depthVSAvoidcase width
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is positioned locally at the rear center portion of the case, concentrating the structural requirement to a specific location rather than distributing it across the entire case width. This localized positioning minimizes the impact on overall case dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The support member is positioned asymmetrically at the rear center rather than symmetrically across the width, allowing the case to maintain a compact width while providing adequate support. The asymmetric positioning optimizes space utilization at the rear of the case.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP3097949B1Case for medical equipment
Publication Date: 2021.12.29 NIHON KOHDEN CORP
  • EP3097949B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3097949B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3097949B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A medical equipment case (100) is configured to cover at least a portion of a housing of a medical equipment (200). The medical equipment case (100) has a support member (120) configured to support a load of the medical equipment (200) from a side opposite to a side on which a display (210) of the medical equipment (200) is disposed.