Pivoting Armrest Wheelchair Layout for Easier Patient Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheeled chairs, such as wheelchairs and transport chairs, face challenges in ease of use, storage, accommodating patients of different sizes, and securely carrying medical equipment like oxygen bottles and charts, with existing designs often being cumbersome or difficult to maneuver.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates pivotable armrests, adjustable footrests, a braking system, and specialized holders for medical equipment, allowing for easier patient access, storage, and transportation, with features like pivotable armrests that stow out of the way and a braking system that simplifies movement control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If armrests are fixed in position, then structural stability is improved, but ease of patient access and egress deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The armrests are designed to be pivotable between a use position and a stowed position, allowing them to change configuration dynamically. This enables the armrests to provide support when needed during patient access and egress, then move out of the way to facilitate patient transfer, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If armrests are positioned at seat height, then support function is improved, but ease of patient access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The armrests can pivot to a stowed position that is clear of the patient access path, eliminating obstruction. When not in use, they can be positioned to provide support. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction between providing support and avoiding obstruction to patient access.
3Adaptability or versatility
If chairs are designed with fixed configuration, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different patient sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable armrests allow the chair to adapt its configuration to different patient sizes and needs. Larger patients can have armrests in a different position than smaller patients, providing universal adaptability without requiring multiple chair models, thus balancing adaptability with manageable complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If medical equipment holders are integrated, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chair frame is designed to accommodate multiple types of medical equipment (oxygen bottles, charts, etc.) through integrated holders. This multi-functional design allows a single chair to serve multiple purposes, improving versatility while managing complexity through standardized integration points.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheeled chair for transporting patients includes a frame, a seat, a plurality of wheels, and a plurality of armrests. The armrests are pivotable about a common pivot axis that is oriented generally horizontally and that is positioned underneath the seat and forward of a back support. Each armrest may include a locking mechanism for holding the armrests in a use position. When locked in the use position, a user may apply an upward force on the armrests to lift the chair upwardly that does not cause pivoting of the armrests. The chair is designed to allow nesting with other chairs of similar design. The front wheels may be positioned laterally apart a greater distance than the rear wheels to allow a first chair to nestingly receive a rear portion of a second chair. Foley hooks may also be included on the chair for hanging a Foley catheter bag.