Patient Support Remote-Control Alerts Before Actuator Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient support apparatuses face issues with remote control functions causing unnecessary anxiety in patients and safety concerns for both patients and persons in the vicinity due to their remote nature, leading to inadequate adaptation and potential hazards.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus equipped with a notification system that alerts persons within the vicinity of impending remote control functions, using visual, audio, or tactile alerts based on patient data, environmental conditions, and medical procedures to prepare individuals for potential movements or therapy protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote control functions are implemented for patient support apparatus, then ease of operation is improved, but safety and patient comfort deteriorate due to anxiety and lack of awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by notifying persons of impending remote control functions before they execute. The notification is generated and communicated to persons within the vicinity prior to the actuator activation, allowing them to prepare for potential movements or therapy protocols, thus eliminating surprise and enhancing safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the control system state and providing real-time notifications to persons when remote control functions are activated. This feedback loop ensures that persons are informed of the impending actions, allowing them to adjust their behavior accordingly and maintain safety awareness.
2Ease of operation
If remote control functions are implemented for patient support apparatus, then ease of operation is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to unnecessary anxiety
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system performs preliminary action by informing persons of impending remote control functions before they occur. This advance notice eliminates surprise and allows persons to mentally prepare, significantly reducing anxiety and improving patient comfort while maintaining the ease of remote operation.
3Extent of automation
If remote control functions are implemented for patient support apparatus, then automation is improved, but safety deteriorates due to lack of awareness of impending movements
Solution Approach 1:
The system enhances safety through feedback by continuously monitoring the automated control system and providing real-time notifications to persons when remote control functions are activated. This feedback mechanism ensures that even though the system is highly automated, persons remain aware of impending movements and can take necessary precautions.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system performs preliminary action by alerting persons before automated remote control functions execute. This advance notification bridges the gap between high automation and human awareness, ensuring that persons are informed of impending actions and can prepare accordingly, thus maintaining safety despite the automated nature of the control system.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus and a method of notifying persons within a vicinity of the patient support apparatus are disclosed. The patient support apparatus includes a patient support structure for supporting a patient, an actuator for moving the patient, a notification system, and a controller coupled to the notification system and the actuator. The controller receives a selection of a remote control function via a communication network, generates a notification in response to receiving the selection of the remote control function, and transmits an output signal to the actuator based on the selection of the remote control function. The notification system executes the notification prior to the controller transmitting the output signal to the actuator.