Movable Siderail Assembly for Bed-to-Chair Transition Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patient support systems, such as hospital beds, face challenges in transitioning between bed and chair positions without damaging siderail assemblies, as the foot siderails often interfere with the movement to the chair position.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus with a siderail assembly and a siderail mover that allows the siderail assembly to move from a first lowered position to a second lowered position in response to the pivoting movement of the foot section, utilizing a foot-section ramp and siderail ramp to prevent damage and facilitate the transition to a chair-egress position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the foot section is pivoted to a vertical position to achieve chair position, then patient access and comfort are improved, but the siderail assembly may be damaged or interfere with the movement
Solution Approach 1:
The siderail mover automatically lowers the siderail assembly to a second lowered position before the foot section reaches its vertical position, preventing interference and damage. This preliminary action ensures the siderail is clear of the foot section's path of movement throughout the entire articulation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the siderail assembly position based on the foot section's articulation state. The siderail mover responds to the movement of the foot section, automatically transitioning the siderail between raised and lowered positions to accommodate the changing spatial requirements during bed-to-chair conversion.
2Reliability
If the siderail assembly remains in the raised position during position change, then patient safety is maintained, but it interferes with the foot section movement and may cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The siderail assembly transitions from a static raised position to a dynamic system that automatically adjusts between raised and lowered positions. The siderail mover creates a dynamic response to foot section articulation, lowering the siderail when needed and raising it when safe, maintaining patient safety while enabling smooth position changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The siderail mover acts as an intermediary mechanism between the foot section articulation and the siderail assembly. It mediates the interaction by automatically positioning the siderail to avoid conflict with the foot section while maintaining patient safety through coordinated movement control.
3Productivity
If the siderail assembly is lowered to avoid interference, then smooth movement is enabled, but patient retention capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts siderail positioning based on the real-time state of foot section articulation. The siderail is lowered only during the critical phase when the foot section moves through positions that could cause interference, and raised again once the articulation is complete, maintaining patient retention capability while enabling smooth transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The siderail assembly undergoes periodic position changes (raised-lowered-raised) that correspond to the phases of foot section articulation. This periodic action ensures the siderail is in the appropriate position at the appropriate time, balancing patient safety with transition efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus includes a base, a frame coupled to the base, a deck supported by the frame and capable of moving relative to the frame, and a siderail assembly movable between a raised position above the deck and a first lowered position below the deck. The patient support apparatus further includes a siderail mover coupled to the deck to move the siderail assembly from the first lowered position to a second lowered position in response to movement of the deck relative to the frame.