Patient Support Brake Control With Actuated Pedal Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient supports, such as hospital beds, lack advanced control systems for enhanced functionality, patient monitoring, and information management, which are crucial for effective patient care.
Innovation Solution
A patient support system equipped with a controller that integrates user interfaces, sensors, and actuators to provide enhanced control over bed functions, monitor patient conditions, and facilitate data input and output, including prompts for care protocols, alarms, and remote monitoring capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a controller with multiple functions (protocol reminders, vital sign monitoring, data collection) is integrated into the patient support system, then the monitoring precision and control capability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple monitoring functions (protocol reminders, vital sign monitoring, data collection) into a single controller unit that is embedded within the patient support system. This consolidation improves measurement precision by centralizing data collection while managing device complexity through integrated architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously including protocol reminders, vital sign monitoring, and data collection. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to improve monitoring precision across various parameters while avoiding the need for separate dedicated devices for each function.
2Reliability
If real-time feedback and alerts are implemented through sensors and actuators, then the reliability of patient monitoring is improved, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time feedback and alerts through sensors and actuators that operate periodically to monitor patient conditions. This periodic operation maintains reliability by continuously detecting vital signs and protocol compliance while managing energy consumption through intermittent rather than continuous active sensing and actuation.
3Productivity
If remote monitoring and data reporting capabilities are added to the patient support system, then the productivity of healthcare management is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves as an intermediary that collects data from sensors, processes information, and enables remote monitoring and data reporting capabilities. This intermediary function improves productivity by facilitating efficient data transmission to healthcare providers while managing complexity through a centralized communication interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface, a plurality of caster wheels supporting the patient support surface on a floor or ground surface, a brake for manually braking at least one caster wheel of the plurality of caster wheels, and a handle or pedal for manually operating the brake, with the handle or pedal at least having a brake position. The patient support apparatus also includes an electrical actuator configured to couple to the brake and to selectively output a driving force and a user interface in communication with the electrical actuator. In response to input at the user interface, the electrical actuator generating the driving force to actuate the brake to thereby brake the at least one caster wheel, and wherein the driving force of the actuator moves the handle or pedal to the brake positon when the actuator actuates the manually operable brake to brake the caster wheel.