Patient Litter Height Control With Automatic Transport Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patient transport apparatuses lack a consistent and reliable method for adjusting the height of the litter, which can compromise patient safety during transportation, especially in varying scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A patient transport apparatus with a lift mechanism and control system that includes user interfaces and sensors, allowing for precise adjustment of the litter height between multiple configurations, including a standard transport configuration, with automatic correction features to ensure the litter is maintained at a safe height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual height adjustment is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of consistent height positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects when the litter reaches the correct transport height using height sensors and autonomously activates the lift mechanism to adjust the height, eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring consistent positioning without adding complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
Height sensors continuously monitor the litter position and provide feedback to the controller, which automatically activates the lift mechanism when the transport height is not achieved, ensuring reliable and consistent height positioning
2Reliability
If automatic height adjustment is implemented, then reliability of height positioning is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses height sensors to automatically detect when the litter reaches the correct transport height and autonomously activates the lift mechanism, eliminating the need for complex manual control interfaces while ensuring consistent positioning
Solution Approach 2:
Manual height adjustment operations are replaced with an automated control system that uses height sensors and electronic control to manage the lift mechanism, improving positioning reliability while keeping the control logic straightforward
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple height configurations are available, then adaptability to different scenarios is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines and achieves the appropriate transport height configuration based on sensor input, eliminating the need for operators to manually select between multiple height settings while maintaining adaptability to different transport scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-defines appropriate transport height configurations and automatically selects and achieves the correct height based on sensor detection, so operators do not need to manually determine or adjust between multiple height settings
Data Source
AI summary
A patient transport apparatus is provided with a lift mechanism to move a litter relative to a base between lift configurations, a user interface with an input control and an indicator, a height sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to compare signals generated by the height sensor against a value associated with a transport configuration, operate the indicator in a first state when the signal corresponds to the value to communicate to a user that the litter is arranged in the transport configuration, to operate the indicator in a second state when the signal differs from the value to communicate to the user that the litter is arranged in a lift configuration other than the transport configuration, and to drive the lift mechanism to move to the transport configuration in response to the signal being within a predetermined threshold of value upon user disengagement of the input control.