Patient Lifting Tension Sheet Leverage Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient lifting systems do not effectively improve leverage, resulting in increased effort and higher injury risks for caregivers and patients during patient positioning.
Innovation Solution
A patient lifting and positioning system utilizing a tension sheet and tension rollers at opposite ends, allowing caregivers to increase tension and leverage to move patients with less effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional manual lifting methods are used, then no additional equipment is needed, but the effort required by caregivers increases and injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the patient support function into multiple segments: a table surface for positioning, a separate tension sheet for lifting, and tension rollers for mechanical advantage. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while reducing the overall force required by the caregiver.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension sheet acts as an intermediary between the caregiver and the patient. Instead of the caregiver directly lifting the patient's weight, the tension sheet transmits force through the tension rollers, which provide mechanical advantage and reduce the effort needed to move the patient.
2Ease of operation
If tension rollers are added to increase leverage, then the effort to move patient decreases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tension rollers are designed to be rotated by the caregiver in either direction to increase or decrease tension as needed. The system allows the caregiver to self-adjust the tension level based on the patient's position and weight, providing ease of operation without requiring complex control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension sheet serves multiple functions: it provides a lifting mechanism through the tension rollers, acts as a positioning aid by distributing force across the patient's body, and can be adjusted to accommodate different patient sizes and positions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized devices.
3Reliability
If leverage is increased through tension mechanisms, then injury risk decreases, but the tension control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tension system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The tension rollers can be rotated during patient positioning to adjust tension levels in real-time, allowing the system to adapt to changing patient positions and weights. This dynamic adjustment maintains safety without requiring complex pre-programmed control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex motorized or electronically controlled tension mechanisms with simple manual rotation of tension rollers. This mechanical substitution maintains the necessary leverage and safety while significantly reducing the complexity of the control system.
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
The system reduces the effort required to position patients, thereby minimizing the risk of injury to both caregivers and patients, while also accommodating various patient positions and medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The tension rollers are configured to increase tension in the tension sheet, which creates leverage to assist positioning of the patient
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of lifting and positioning patients uses a patient's center of gravity for leverage to enable a caregiver to readily move a patient with less effort. The system includes a device with a tension sheet and tension rollers located at opposite ends of the device. The tension rollers are configured to increase tension in the tension sheet, which creates leverage to assist positioning of the patient. The patient lifting and positioning system aims to reduce injury risk for both the caregiver and any patient being assisted to lay down and sit up. Further, the system and method uses leverage to assist a patient lay flat on an exam table or bed from the sitting position to the laying position, and back to the sitting position with less effort.