Progressive Mobility Garment With Adjustable Elastic Straps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lifting and transfer devices for patients are limited in their ability to perform multiple functions, leading to high injury rates for caregivers and suboptimal patient rehabilitation, as they require frequent switching between different garments and devices for various mobility tasks, and existing garments do not allow for progressive resistance or versatile assistance angles.
Innovation Solution
A patient assistance garment with a pelvic belt and adjustable straps that can be attached and detached at multiple points, allowing for varying levels of assistance and resistance, including elastic components, to support patients in multiple positions and mobility tasks, enabling progressive resistance and adaptive support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate garments and devices are used for different mobility tasks, then specific function is achieved, but device complexity and time loss increase due to frequent switching
Solution Approach 1:
The garment integrates multiple functional components (pelvic belt, chest harness, arm slings, leg straps) into a single unified system that can perform various mobility tasks including lifting, transferring, positioning, and ambulation assistance, eliminating the need to switch between multiple separate garments
2Reliability
If fixed assistance is provided by traditional garments, then patient safety is improved, but rehabilitation progress is limited due to lack of progressive resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The garment incorporates adjustable straps and connectors that allow the level of support and resistance to be dynamically modified throughout the rehabilitation process, enabling progression from high support to progressive resistance as patient strength improves
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows changing of mechanical parameters such as strap tension, attachment points, and component configuration to provide progressive resistance that adapts to the patient's improving capabilities while maintaining safety
3Ease of operation
If traditional slings and garments are used, then lifting function is achieved, but caregiver injury risk increases due to limited assistance angles and lack of mechanical advantage
Solution Approach 1:
The garment divides the support function into multiple segmented components (pelvic belt for hip support, chest harness for upper body, arm slings for limb support) that can be independently adjusted to optimize mechanical advantage and distribute caregiver effort across multiple attachment points
Solution Approach 2:
The garment provides support in multiple spatial dimensions through its multi-component structure, allowing assistance from various angles and directions rather than being limited to a single vertical lifting vector
4Device complexity
If a single unified garment is used for multiple tasks, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to specific patient needs may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The unified garment is divided into separate adjustable components (pelvic belt, chest harness, arm slings, leg straps) that can be independently configured to match specific patient anatomical needs and rehabilitation requirements while maintaining overall system simplicity
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 garment allows for efficient and safe patient handling by reducing caregiver injury and enhancing rehabilitation by providing customizable support and resistance, enabling therapists to progressively challenge patients without risking their own safety, thus improving patient mobility and rehabilitation outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
including elastic components, to support patients in multiple positions and mobility tasks, enabling progressive resistance and adaptive support
Data Source
AI summary
An improved patient garment for assisting a caregiver in lifting, and performing therapy evaluation and treatment techniques on a patient, without having to change slings for each task is provided. The garment comprises at least a pelvic belt having a width and length configured to fit around the waist of a human below the rib cage and above the hips and said length having an open front that contains at least one adjustable strap and buckle combination to secure the garment around a human torso, a top rim and a bottom rim; multiple fastening means attached to the garment along the top and bottom rims, and additional fastening means attached to the surface of the garment along its length and located between the top rim and the bottom rim of said garment. The invention can include other pieces of garments that are attachable to the pelvic belt and detachable there from depending on the function desired by the caregiver.