Patient Height Measurement Device with Pivotable Head Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-contact measuring devices for determining patient height face challenges in accurately measuring restless children, as they require patients to remain still, and the need for two separate measuring arrangements for non-contact and contact measurements increases production costs.
Innovation Solution
The measuring device incorporates a pivotable head stop with a sensor to determine its position, allowing for either non-contact or contact measurements, and accounts for the head stop's thickness in calculations, enabling flexible measurement methods without compromising non-contact advantages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If non-contact measurement is used to eliminate patient discomfort, then patient comfort is improved, but measurement reliability deteriorates for restless patients
Solution Approach 1:
The head stop is made dynamically adjustable between two functional states: a first position for contact measurement and a second position for non-contact measurement. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the device to adapt to different patient conditions, maintaining reliability across both still and restless patients while preserving the comfort advantage of non-contact measurement when applicable.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single non-contact measuring arrangement is used, then production costs are reduced, but measurement versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A single non-contact measuring arrangement is designed to perform multiple functions: it can measure the distance to the patient's head directly, or measure the distance to the head stop when positioned in the first position. The control system automatically selects the appropriate measurement mode based on head stop position, enabling both contact and non-contact measurement capabilities with one measuring arrangement, thus reducing production costs while maintaining versatility.
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
This solution allows for reliable height measurements in both still and restless patients, reducing measurement inaccuracies and production costs by using a single device for both non-contact and contact methods.
Implementation Method 1
the measuring arrangement sends a measurement signal towards the head of a patient standing beneath it and receives a reflection signal reflected back from the patient
Implementation Method 2
the head stop is configured to reflect a measurement signal emitted by the measuring arrangement
Data Source
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AI summary
A measuring device for determining a patient's height is proposed, comprising a non-contact measuring arrangement (103) attached to a support column (102). The measuring arrangement (103) is configured to emit a measurement signal towards the head of a patient (104, 104') standing beneath it, to receive the reflected measurement signal, and to determine the distance of the patient's head (104, 104') from the measuring arrangement from this signal. A control unit (105) is configured to determine the patient's height (104, 104') from this determined distance and the known position of the measuring arrangement (103). To improve measurement accuracy in the case of restless patients (104'), the measuring device further includes a head stop (108) that can be moved along the support column (102).A measurement method for determining the height of a patient (104,104') is further proposed, in which the height of the patient (104,104') is determined optionally with or without the use of a head stop (108), whereby the thickness of the head stop (108) is taken into account when determining the height of the patient (104,104') if the head stop (108) is used.