Modular Dispenser with Hinged Attachment for Bedside Hygiene Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bedridden patients in healthcare settings often lack convenient access to hygiene products, leading to increased likelihood of hospital-acquired infections due to the inconvenience of reaching for sanitization stations.
Innovation Solution
A modular dispenser with hingedly coupled cover bodies and attachment mechanisms that can be attached to hospital beds or other structures, providing 24-hour access to hygiene products like wipes and sanitizing gel without obstructing caregiver access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hygiene products are placed on nearby tables or moved to bedside tables, then caregiver access is maintained, but patient access becomes inconvenient and products may be out of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is divided into two separate cover bodies (first and second cover bodies) that are hingedly coupled. The first cover body contains the aperture facing the patient, while the second cover body houses the attachment mechanism. This segmentation allows the dispenser to be mounted on hospital equipment (improving patient access) while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispenser transitions from a surface-mounted configuration (on tables) to a three-dimensional mounting on hospital bed rails or equipment. The aperture is positioned on the first cover body to face the patient directly, creating a spatial arrangement that improves accessibility without requiring complex mechanical structures.
2Reliability
If hygiene products are placed within patient reach, then infection risk is reduced, but caregiver access may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is designed with differentiated local qualities: the first cover body with aperture is positioned and oriented to face the patient for easy access, while the second cover body with attachment mechanism is oriented toward the caregiver side. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization for both patient accessibility and caregiver access without obstruction.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the dispenser is mounted on hospital beds, then 24-hour access is provided, but the mounting structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism on the second cover body is designed to be universally applicable to various hospital equipment including bed rails, gurneys, and other medical equipment. This multi-functionality allows the dispenser to be mounted on different types of equipment without requiring complex specialized mounting structures, thereby providing continuous 24-hour access while maintaining relative simplicity.
4Ease of operation
If the aperture is positioned on the first cover body, then patient visibility and access are improved, but sealing effectiveness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
An aperture seal acts as an intermediary element between the aperture on the first cover body and the internal cavity. The aperture seal maintains moisture containment within the cavity while allowing the aperture to remain positioned on the first cover body for optimal patient visibility and access. The seal effectively mediates between the conflicting requirements of accessibility and sealing integrity.
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
Ensures easy and convenient access to hygiene products for immobile patients, reducing the risk of infections by ensuring products are always within reach.
Implementation Method 1
a moisture lock comprising silicone and coupled to one of the first cover body and the second cover body and disposed along the interface between the first cover body and the second cover body when in the closed position
Implementation Method 2
The aperture seal may include an elastomeric material and may have a slit that may be biased closed
Data Source
AI summary
A modular dispenser is disclosed, having a first cover body with a first face having an aperture, and a second cover body hingedly coupled to the first cover body through at least one hinge. The first cover body and second cover body are movable between an open position and a closed position. The second cover body includes a second face that is opposite the first face of the first cover body when in the closed position. The first cover body and second cover body together define a cavity that may hold hygiene wipes or sanitizing gel. The modular dispenser also includes at least one attachment mechanism coupled to the second cover body, and a moisture lock coupled to one of the first cover body and the second cover body and disposed along the interface between the first cover body and the second cover body when in the closed position.