Modular Patient Support System with Integrated Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current patient support systems in healthcare facilities are cumbersome, unstable, and lack essential medical devices, requiring multiple staff members to assist patients, which increases the risk of injury for both patients and caregivers, and limits patient mobility, leading to complications such as deep venous thrombosis and prolonged hospital stays.
Innovation Solution
A modular patient support system with a stable mobile cart that integrates essential medical devices like oxygen sources, power supplies, suction pumps, monitoring equipment, and communication systems, allowing for single-staff movement and reducing the need for multiple devices, featuring a transmission system for adjustable mobility modes and secure attachment to beds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple unrelated treatment and monitoring devices are attached to the patient, then comprehensive medical support is provided, but the devices become entangled and create hazards requiring invasive intervention to replace
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple unrelated medical devices (IV pole, oxygen source, suction pump, monitoring equipment, communication devices) into a single integrated mobile cart system. This consolidation eliminates device entanglement hazards while maintaining comprehensive medical support functionality through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile cart is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate various medical devices simultaneously. The cart includes multiple receptacles, mounting surfaces, and integrated functions (oxygen delivery, suction, monitoring, communication) that can serve different patient needs without requiring separate devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are attached to the patient, then medical treatment is provided, but two staff persons are required to assist patient movement increasing injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
By merging all medical treatment devices onto a single mobile cart, the system allows one staff member to move both the patient and all associated equipment simultaneously. This eliminates the need for a second staff member to manage devices during patient transfers, reducing injury risk while maintaining full treatment capability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If conventional IV poles are made tall to hold IV bags, then fluid delivery is provided, but the poles become unstable and require widely spread wheels consuming floor space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical IV pole design to a horizontal mobile cart platform. This dimensional change allows IV bags to be positioned on the cart surface rather than suspended at height, providing stable fluid delivery while maintaining a compact footprint that does not require widely spread wheels.
4Stability of the object's composition
If conventional IV poles are made stable with widely spread wheels, then tipping is prevented, but a large amount of floor space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile cart uses a low-profile base design that provides stability through a wide but shallow footprint rather than tall widely spread wheels. This allows the cart to remain stable on uneven terrain while occupying minimal floor space, suitable for both indoor healthcare facilities and outdoor environments.
5Adaptability or versatility
If IV poles are adapted to include additional devices like monitors and pumps, then patient care is enhanced, but the pole becomes even more unstable due to added weight positioned high along the pole
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates all additional medical devices from vertical suspension on a pole to a horizontal platform configuration. This allows monitors, pumps, and other equipment to be positioned on the cart surface at low center of gravity positions, enhancing patient care functionality while maintaining stability despite added weight.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support platform provides a solution for healthcare facilities and nursing staff to address patient and staff safety, patient mobility, patient comfort, the availability of patient information, monitoring drugs and therapy provided, and controlling health care expenses. The patient support platform preferably includes a transmission system that allows the patient and/or medical staff member to choose a stop, walk or roll mode. The transmission system preferably includes a drag wheel for applying a braking force in response to a voltage generated by a braking motor. The platform supports a plurality of devices that may be attached or associated with a patient throughout their stay at a healthcare facility. The support platform also preferably includes a mechanism for releasably attaching the support platform to another structure, such as a bed. Embodiments of the present invention include multiple non-medical uses of the platform.