Articulating Patient Armrest for Stable Recline and Lateral Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patient support apparatuses lack an articulatable armrest that can effectively move out of the way for lateral patient transfers and maintain stability during reclination and flat positions.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus with an articulatable arm that pivots between an armrest position and raised positions, coupled with a locking mechanism to secure the arm in place, allowing it to move with the backrest section during reclination and remain stable, while also being easily unlocked for repositioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the arm is fixed in armrest position, then patient support and stability are improved, but lateral transfer capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The arm is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable between fixed and movable states. A locking mechanism allows the arm to be secured in a fixed armrest position for stability, or unlocked to move freely for lateral patient transfers. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to switch between stable and versatile states as needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the arm is made articulatable to move out of the way, then lateral transfer capability is improved, but armrest stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism provides dynamic stabilization. When locked, the arm becomes rigid and stable for patient support. When unlocked, the arm becomes mobile for lateral transfers. This resolves the contradiction by making stability conditional rather than fixed, allowing the arm to be stable when needed and mobile when needed.
3Manufacturing precision
If the arm is coupled to backrest section, then arm positioning consistency is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between arm and backrest section is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed. The arm can be coupled to the backrest when in raised position for consistent positioning during reclination, but this coupling is optional and can be disengaged. This reduces complexity compared to a permanently coupled system while maintaining positioning consistency when needed.
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
Enables safe lateral patient transfers and maintains a stable armrest surface across various chair positions, ensuring patient safety and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the arm in an armrest position adjacent the seat section and to selectively unlock the arm from its armrest position
Implementation Method 2
The pivot connection is configured to allow a controlled fall of the arm about the pivot axis but which is biased to provide a tight engagement at the pivot connection
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus including a seat section, a backrest section that is movable relative to the seat section, and an arm supported relative to the seat section. The arm is adapted to move between a first position adjacent the seat section for use as an arm rest for a person sitting on the patient support apparatus to a raised second position adjacent the backrest section. The arm and the backrest section are coupled together when the arm is in the raised second position wherein the arm moves with the backrest section.