Patient repositioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient repositioning systems in healthcare settings are inadequate, as they often require manual labor that can lead to caregiver injury and do not effectively address the issue of patient migration towards the foot end of the bed, with no commercially viable solution providing a safe, efficient, and user-friendly method for repositioning patients.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a mattress with a movable head end piece, a sheet with beaded edges retained by spaced retainers, and a sheet receiver housing with a drive mechanism that allows the sheet to be pulled towards the head end of the bed without articulating the bed, facilitating easy access for infection control and multiple repositioning without entanglement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pulling or lifting devices are used to reposition patients, then patient repositioning can be achieved, but caregiver injury risk increases and operational safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical pulling with an automated sheet pulling device that uses a motorized reel mechanism. The device winds the sheet around a reel and pulls it through guides to move the patient, eliminating the need for caregivers to manually lift or pull patients, thereby preventing caregiver injury while maintaining reliable patient repositioning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sheet as an intermediary element between the pulling device and the patient. The sheet pulling device does not directly contact the patient but instead pulls the sheet, which in turn moves the patient. This intermediary approach enhances safety by removing direct mechanical interaction between the device and patient while still achieving effective repositioning
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex lifting devices are deployed to solve patient migration, then repositioning capability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of patient repositioning from complex multi-component lifting devices and implements it through a simplified sheet pulling mechanism. By removing unnecessary components and focusing only on the core pulling function, the device achieves effective patient repositioning with minimal complexity, using primarily a motorized reel, sheet guides, and a pulling mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex devices that directly lift or move the patient, the patent inverts the approach by using a simple sheet pulling mechanism that moves the sheet, which in turn moves the patient. This inversion of the direct action approach simplifies the device structure while maintaining repositioning effectiveness
3Ease of repair
If the bed is articulated to access components for cleaning, then component accessibility improves, but patient comfort and bed position stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bed structure by making the head section movable relative to the rest of the bed. The head section can be folded back to expose the sheet pulling device components for cleaning and maintenance, while the patient remains on the stable main bed structure. This segmentation allows component access without requiring the entire bed to be articulated or repositioned
4Productivity
If sheets are pulled through complex mechanisms, then patient repositioning is achieved, but sheet entanglement and operational reliability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sheet guides that pre-position and align the sheet as it enters the pulling mechanism. The guides ensure the sheet is properly oriented and tensioned before being wound onto the reel, preventing entanglement and ensuring smooth, reliable operation throughout the repositioning process
Data Source
AI summary
A patient repositioning system for pulling a patient toward a head end of a bed includes a sheet, a mattress, and a housing which contains at least a part of a drive mechanism for operatively coupling to and pulling the sheet. The housing resides below a head end piece of the mattress, and is secured to the bed deck. The sheet pulling structure extends out of the housing via a slot and releasably attaches to the sheet, in a manner which has a low profile so as to pass through the slot. The sheet is longer than and wider than the mattress, and has beaded longitudinal side edges which are retained within rows of spaced retainers located on opposite sides of the mattress. During pulling of the sheet, the contoured shape of the housing facilitates movement of the sheet into the housing via the slot, even though the sheet width extends beyond the lateral edges of the mattress. The sheet may include indicia for indicating a “loaded” condition, and also usage indicia to indicate that it is time for a new sheet to be used.