Overbed Table Trash Bag Holder for Bedside Infection Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Patients in hospital beds often generate contaminated trash that is not easily disposed of, leading to the risk of infection for healthcare workers who must handle and move it, as traditional trash receptacles are not conveniently located for bed-bound patients.
Innovation Solution
A disposable trash bag system with a holder that can be selectively attached to an overbed table, allowing the trash bag to be positioned at various locations around the bed, enabling easy disposal by the patient while minimizing contact and facilitating sanitation of the table top.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional fixed trash receptacle is used, then the structure is simple and stable, but the patient cannot easily access it when lying in bed
Solution Approach 1:
The trash receptacle is mounted on the movable overbed table rather than being fixed to the floor or bed frame. This allows the receptacle to dynamically follow the patient's needs as the table can be repositioned along the bed, making trash disposal accessible while maintaining a relatively simple attachment mechanism to the table surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The overbed table serves multiple functions: it provides a surface for food and beverages, supports medical equipment, and now also holds the trash receptacle. This multi-functional approach allows the receptacle to be positioned conveniently for the patient without requiring a separate dedicated structure, thus improving accessibility without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If healthcare workers manually collect and transport patient trash, then centralized disposal is achieved, but infection risk to workers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patient can independently dispose of their own trash by placing it in the receptacle mounted on the overbed table, eliminating the need for healthcare workers to manually collect and transport contaminated waste. This self-service capability directly reduces infection risk to workers while maintaining ease of operation for the patient through convenient access to the receptacle.
Solution Approach 2:
The trash disposal function is extracted from the centralized waste management system and placed directly at the patient's bedside on the overbed table. This extraction allows patients to handle their own waste without requiring contact with healthcare workers, thereby reducing infection transmission while maintaining simple operation through direct access to the receptacle.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the overbed table is frequently moved to accommodate patient positions, then patient comfort is improved, but the trash receptacle position becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The overbed table's movable design serves multiple purposes: it accommodates different patient positions and supports various medical equipment while also providing a consistent mobile platform for the trash receptacle. The receptacle moves with the table, maintaining its relative position and functionality across different table configurations without requiring additional positioning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The trash receptacle mounting system is combined with the overbed table structure itself rather than being a separate adjustable assembly. The receptacle attaches to the table surface or edge, so when the table is repositioned to accommodate patient needs, the receptacle automatically follows, providing adaptability without adding complex independent positioning mechanisms.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If manual disinfection of the table top is performed, then infection control is maintained, but contact with potentially contaminated surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trash receptacle is extracted from the table top surface and mounted on the table edge or side structure. This separation allows the table top to be easily removed or accessed for disinfection without having to navigate around a receptacle mounted on top, reducing contact with potentially contaminated surfaces while maintaining effective infection control through thorough sanitization of the table surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system divides the receptacle assembly from the table top surface, creating distinct separable components. This segmentation allows the table top to be independently accessed and disinfected with minimal obstruction from the receptacle, reducing the complexity and contact required for sanitization while maintaining infection control effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A disposable trash bag system that allows a patient to dispose personal trash when lying in a hospital bed thereby reducing contamination. The system includes a moveable overbed table, a bag holding member, an intermediate member disposed between the bag holding member and the table's perimeter side edge, and a ring element that receives a disposable trash bag. The ring element is connected to the intermediate member that temporarily snap fits against the perimeter side edge and over the table. During use, a disposable trash bag with an upper supportive ring member is placed in the ring element, the bag holding member and the intermediate member are connected together. The intermediate member is forced against the perimeter side edge at a desired location to hold the bag in place. The intermediate member may be easily moved to any location along the perimeter side edge and remove entirely for cleaning.