Patient Bed Assembly With Pivoting Bed Board and Inflatable Tub
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients who require assistance with care, such as turning, cleaning, and using bed pans, face risks of falling or injury due to the challenges of moving them safely, and existing care services may not provide adequate comfort during showering.
Innovation Solution
A bed assembly with a waterproof pad and pivotable bed board unit, featuring a transmission device with gear reduction motor and pulley system, allows for easy patient care without removing the patient from the bed, including the option to use an inflatable tub or bedpan, and includes transverse bars for support and a pressurized air source for inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If patients are moved by assistants for turning and cleaning, then care activities can be performed, but patients may fall down or be hit by solid objects
Solution Approach 1:
The bed assembly enables patients to perform self-care activities through the inflatable tub and movable bed board unit, eliminating the need for assistants to physically move patients. The patient can be lowered into the tub while remaining on the bed, allowing self-cleaning without external handling that could cause injury
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable tub acts as an intermediary between the patient and the cleaning process. Instead of assistants directly handling patients, the tub provides a safe, cushioned environment where patients can be lowered and positioned safely for cleaning activities
2Reliability
If shower services are provided to patients, then hygiene can be maintained, but patients may not feel comfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The bed board unit can be dynamically adjusted between a horizontal bed position and a vertical lowered position. This dynamic movement allows the patient to be positioned comfortably in the inflatable tub for showering, then returned to the comfortable bed position, combining hygiene maintenance with patient comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the spatial parameters of the bed board unit (from horizontal to vertical orientation) to create optimal conditions for different activities. This parameter change enables comfortable showering positioning while maintaining the ability to return to a comfortable resting position
3Ease of operation
If bed board unit is pivotable for care activities, then patient care becomes easier, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bed assembly is segmented into independent functional modules: the frame, the pivotable bed board unit, the inflatable tub, and the transmission device. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall system while enabling complex care activities through coordinated module operation
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
Enables safe and convenient care of patients in bed, reducing the risk of accidents and providing a comfortable experience for bowel and urination needs without requiring the patient to be removed, while also allowing for efficient use and storage of care equipment.
Implementation Method 1
The gear reduction motor directly drives a first bevel gear
Implementation Method 2
The first pulley unit includes a first gear, a first pulley co-axially connected to the first gear, a first inside pulley, a first outside pulley and a first stationary pulley
Implementation Method 3
The slide has a rack which is threadedly engage with the threaded section so that the slide is movable along the threaded section
Implementation Method 4
The gear reduction motor directly drives a first bevel gear. The first bevel gear is engaged with the passive gear to control rotation of the bottom link
Implementation Method 5
A chain is connected to the top gear and the bottom gear of each of the two ends of the top link and the bottom link
Data Source
AI summary
A bed assembly includes a bed having a head end, a foot end and a frame which is connected between the head end and the foot end. A water-proof pad is located between the head end and the foot end. The water-proof pad can be tightened, loosened and movable up and down. A bed board unit is pivotably connected to two sides of the frame so that the bed board unit is opened and closed when needed. An inflatable tub or bedpan is located beneath the bed so that when the bed board unit is opened, the patient can use the inflatable tub or the bedpan and does not have to be removed from the bed.