Patient Transport Lift Force Detection for Obstacle Contact Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patient transport apparatuses lack the ability to detect whether their base will come into contact with an object during loading or unloading into emergency response vehicles, potentially causing damage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a first sensor to sense forces acting on the base and a second sensor to detect the presence of objects within a defined envelope, coupled with a controller to manage the lift mechanism's movement based on these inputs, ensuring safe operation by preventing contact with obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the base is lifted during loading or unloading, then the patient transport apparatus can be loaded into emergency response vehicles, but the base may come into contact with objects causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system performs preliminary detection of objects in the path of the base before the lift mechanism initiates movement. This advance detection allows the controller to prevent lifting operations that would result in contact with obstacles, thereby avoiding damage while maintaining loading efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor provides real-time feedback about the presence of objects near the base to the controller. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of the lifting operation, allowing the system to detect potential contact risks and interrupt the lifting process accordingly, preventing damage during loading operations.
2Reliability
If sensors and controllers are added to detect objects, then damage prevention capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor acts as an intermediary between the base and potential obstacles, detecting the presence of objects and transmitting this information to the controller. This intermediary component enables damage prevention through object detection without requiring complex mechanical modifications to the base or lift mechanism itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces potential mechanical protection mechanisms with an electronic sensing and control system. Instead of using mechanical buffers or protective structures, the system uses sensors and controllers to detect and prevent contact with objects, reducing mechanical complexity while improving reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents damage to the patient transport apparatus by interrupting lift mechanism movements when potential contact with objects is detected, enhancing safety and reliability during loading and unloading processes.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor configured to sense a force acting on the base
Data Source
AI summary
A patient transport apparatus for use with a vehicle, comprising a lift mechanism between a base and a support frame to move between an extended configuration defining a first distance and a retracted configuration defining a second distance. An interface generates a user signal. A sensor generates a sensor signal corresponding to force acting on the base relative to the support frame. A controller determines if the user signal corresponds to an extend or retract command; determines if the force acting on the base has exceeded a predetermined threshold value based on the sensor signal; drives the lift mechanism toward the extended configuration where the user signal corresponds to the extend command and toward the retracted configuration where the user signal corresponds to the retract command; and interrupts driving the lift mechanism to stop motion of the lift mechanism in response to the sensor signal exceeding the predetermined threshold value.