Pivoting Cot Evacuation Device for Multi-Infant Stairwell Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
The rapid evacuation of neonatal intensive care babies, infants, and toddlers from multi-story buildings during emergencies is challenging due to their limited motor skills and the need for reduced operator requirements, especially in scenarios where elevators are unavailable and stairwells must be used.
Innovation Solution
A specialized evacuation device with a lower frame for horizontal and stairway movement, featuring upper frames with pivotably mounted cots or seats to maintain a constant orientation, allowing single-operator operation and optional assisted breathing support during evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple infants are evacuated simultaneously using a single device, then evacuation efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evacuation device is divided into multiple modular cot assemblies that can be independently configured. Each cot is a separate unit that can be attached to the main frame, allowing the device to transport multiple infants simultaneously while maintaining manageable complexity through standardization and modularity
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed with universal components that serve multiple functions - the same frame structure supports both horizontal movement across floors and vertical descent down stairs, while cot assemblies can be configured for different infant sizes and needs, reducing overall device complexity through multi-functionality
2Ease of operation
If the evacuation device is designed for single-operator control, then ease of operation is improved, but the safety and monitoring capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates automatic safety features including emergency release mechanisms that allow infants to be quickly freed if needed, and self-stabilizing cot designs that maintain proper positioning without constant operator intervention, enabling single-operator control while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The cot assemblies act as intermediaries between the operator and the infants, providing a stable, protected interface that allows the single operator to control the evacuation of multiple infants simultaneously while maintaining safety through the protective barrier and structured interaction point
3Reliability
If the cots are pivotably mounted to maintain constant orientation, then the comfort and safety of infants is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cots are mounted on pivotable joints that allow dynamic adjustment of cot orientation as the device transitions between horizontal and vertical positions. This dynamic mounting system automatically maintains infant comfort by keeping cots level during movement, resolving the contradiction between safety and complexity through automatic adaptation
4Adaptability or versatility
If the evacuation device accommodates both neonatal intensive care and general pediatric needs, then adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses universal cot assemblies that can accommodate different infant sizes and medical needs through adjustable configurations. The same basic cot design serves both neonatal intensive care requirements and general pediatric evacuation needs, achieving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into interchangeable cot modules that can be selectively attached based on the specific evacuation needs. This modular approach allows the system to adapt to different scenarios (neonatal vs. pediatric) by simply reconfiguring which modules are attached, rather than designing entirely different devices
Data Source
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AI summary
Rapid evacuation of individuals from any building can be problematic. A hospital even more so as patient's often have the necessary motor skills but limited mobility. However, babies within neo-natal intensive care, infants and toddlers are particularly problematic as even under imminent danger they exhibit limited or no coordinated motor skills. In such situations an embodiment provides for evacuation devices for use by a single operator to move multiple infants or toddlers simultaneously both across a floor and down one or sets of stairs. Another embodiment provides for evacuation devices for moving intensive care neo-natal babies allowing the evacuation device to be moved by a single operator but allow another to be adjacent to the evacuation device to manually assist breathing both across the floor and within a stairwell as the evacuation device is taken down one or more sets of stairs.