Patient Rotation Sheet Structure for Turning in Narrow Beds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turning patients 180 degrees in a bed is difficult due to limited space in standard hospital beds, especially for obese individuals, requiring multiple caregivers for manual shifting and lifting, which is physically demanding.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a base with an expandable volume and a sheet that can be actuated to increase its length, allowing for easy lateral movement and rotation of patients by anchoring to the bed frame and using an inflatable cushion or telescoping arm to extend the sheet, reducing the need for manual lifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple caregivers manually shift and turn the patient using current methods, then the patient can be turned 180 degrees, but the physical effort required from caregivers increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sheet system as an intermediary mechanism between the caregivers and the patient. The sheet is attached to the bed frame and used to mechanically assist in moving and rotating the patient, thereby reducing the direct physical effort required from caregivers while still achieving the desired patient repositioning
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation process is divided into multiple manageable steps: first moving the patient laterally using the sheet, then rotating them in stages. This segmentation of the complex 180-degree rotation into smaller movements reduces the force required at each step compared to attempting a single large movement
2Area of stationary object
If the bed width is standard hospital bed size, then the bed structure remains compact and space-efficient, but there is insufficient space for the patient to be fully turned onto their side
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by attaching the sheet to the bed frame structure, effectively creating additional operational space through the third dimension rather than requiring increased horizontal bed width. The sheet can be pulled and maneuvered in vertical and diagonal paths to achieve patient repositioning within the constrained horizontal space
3Adaptability or versatility
If the patient is positioned in the center of the bed, then the patient has access to both sides of the bed, but the distance to either side is insufficient for a full 180-degree rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet acts as a mechanical lever and intermediary tool that extends the effective working distance. By anchoring the sheet to the bed frame and using it to pull and rotate the patient, the system compensates for the insufficient horizontal distance from the center to the bed edges, enabling full 180-degree rotation even when the patient starts in the center position
Data Source
AI summary
Various other implementations include a device for rotating a patient. The device includes a bottom sheet and a top sheet. The bottom sheet is configured to abut a surface of a bed in use. An intermediate line of the bottom sheet extending from a head edge to a foot edge is disposed between its side edges. An intermediate line of the top sheet extending from the head edge to the foot edge is disposed between its side edges. The intermediate line of the top sheet is coupled to the intermediate line of the bottom sheet to couple the top sheet to the bottom sheet. The top sheet includes at least one first fastener coupled adjacent to its first edge and at least one second fastener coupled adjacent to its second edge. The at least one first fastener is couplable to the at least one second fastener.