Patient Positioning Overlay Roller Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients tend to slide down their beds when in an inclined position, posing health risks and requiring manual repositioning by healthcare workers, which can lead to injuries.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an overlay wound around a roller that rotates to pull the patient back to an upright position, either manually using a crank or automatically with a motor and sensor system, to maintain the patient's position on an incline bed without risking injury to the patient or healthcare workers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a patient is placed in an inclined position on a bed, then respiratory health is improved, but the patient tends to slide down toward the foot of the bed
Solution Approach 1:
The overlay is pre-positioned between the patient and the bed mattress, wound around the roller in advance. When the roller rotates, the overlay is already configured to pull the patient upward, preventing the patient from sliding down before the repositioning action occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The overlay acts as an intermediary element between the patient and the bed mattress. It is wound around the roller and serves as the medium through which the roller transmits force to the patient, enabling controlled repositioning without direct contact between the roller and patient.
2Ease of operation
If manual repositioning is performed by a nurse to return the patient to inclined position, then patient positioning is achieved, but injury risk increases for the nurse or patient
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the patient to be repositioned automatically through the roller mechanism without requiring manual intervention. The overlay wound around the roller creates a self-contained system that pulls the patient upward automatically, eliminating the need for nurses to manually maneuver the patient and thereby preventing injuries to both nurse and patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical action of a nurse physically maneuvering the patient is replaced by an automated roller mechanism. The roller, driven by a motor or manual crank, substitutes for human physical effort, providing controlled and safe repositioning without direct human contact with the patient during the maneuver.
3Productivity
If an automated motor system is used to rotate the roller, then repositioning efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors detect the patient's position and trigger the motor to rotate the roller when the patient slides down. The system automatically responds to position changes, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that maintains patient positioning without requiring constant monitoring or complex manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system can operate in different modes (manual crank operation or automated motor operation) depending on the clinical situation. The motorized version provides automated repositioning with sensors, while the manual version offers simplicity, allowing the system to adapt its complexity level to the specific needs of the patient and healthcare setting.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for repositioning a patient in a bed includes an overlay that is positioned between the patient and the bed mattress. The overlay is wound around a roller that rotates to pull the overlay and the patient to a more upright position on the bed after the patient has slid down the bed. The roller is rotated either manually by a crank or automatically by a motor that is operable using a switch and/or a plurality of sensors.