Overhead Patient Repositioning System with Flexible Cable Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current patient repositioning systems are inefficient and cumbersome, especially when moving patients towards a bed's headboard in limited spaces, as they are bulky, require special attachments, and can be obstructed by medical equipment, making them difficult to use in emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A patient lateral repositioning system supported by a surface independent of the transfer surface, featuring a pulling system with a flexible drive and gripper mechanism that allows for adjustable positioning to minimize space requirements and interference with patient care, enabling safe and efficient movement of patients towards the headboard.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If known lifting devices are used to support patient weight in suspended position, then patient lifting capability is achieved, but device weight and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical lifting systems with a pulley-based mechanical advantage system. The pulley system distributes patient weight across multiple cable segments, reducing the force required at any single point and eliminating the need for heavy motorized lifting mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient transfer system is divided into separate functional components: the overhead pulley system, the lateral transfer device, and the cable mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the pulley system handling vertical support and the lateral device handling horizontal transfer.
2Ease of operation
If lateral transfer devices are attached to bed or positioned behind headboard, then patient transfer function is provided, but space requirements increase and service access is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the transfer device from the horizontal plane (behind headboard or beside bed) to the vertical plane (overhead suspension). This dimensional change allows the device to utilize unused vertical space while keeping the patient's side access clear for medical personnel.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer mechanism is extracted from the bed structure itself and positioned as a separate overhead system. This separation eliminates the need for attachments to the bed or headboard, freeing up space around the patient for medical equipment and personnel access.
3Stability of the object's composition
If special attachment mechanisms are used to connect transfer device to bed, then device stability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The overhead support structure is designed to function both as a mounting point for the pulley system and as a structural element of the bed framework. This universal design allows the same structure to serve multiple purposes, eliminating the need for separate attachment mechanisms.
4Loss of time
If transfer device is quickly removed from bed for emergency access, then emergency response time is reduced, but device stability and transfer reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer device is completely extracted from the bed structure and positioned as a free-standing overhead system. This allows the device to be quickly removed or repositioned without affecting the bed's integrity, while the overhead support provides stable anchoring points for the pulley system.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient lateral repositioning system to move a patient positioned on a patient support of a bed. The system includes a mounting and a pulling system. To enable strength and compactness of the entire system, the mounting is a constructive element removably attached to the support surface to form an integrated structure able to withstand a pulling force to move the patient on any type of a bed positioned apart and independent from the patient lateral repositioning system and the support surface. The pulling system is a set of components including at least one retainer, a guiding element, a drive, a gripper and at least one flexible pulling cable supported by the guiding element and connecting the drive with the gripper.