Powered Roll-In Cot Leg Control for Easier Vehicle Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency cots for bariatric patients require manual support during loading into ambulances, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, especially when dealing with uneven terrain or space constraints in vehicles like ambulances, vans, aircraft, and helicopters.
Innovation Solution
A multipurpose roll-in emergency cot with a support frame, sliding front and back legs, and a cot actuation system that allows for simultaneous or independent movement of the legs, equipped with sensors to manage weight and balance, enabling easier loading and unloading into various rescue vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual actuation is used for emergency cots, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the heavy weight (700 pounds) requiring manual support during loading
Solution Approach 1:
The powered actuation system enables the cot to lift itself with the patient without requiring external manual support, transforming a manually-operated system into a self-service system that eliminates the need for operators to physically support the heavy load during loading operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical actuation with an automated powered actuation system that uses motors or hydraulic actuators to raise and lower the cot, substituting human physical effort with automated mechanical systems while maintaining the overall mechanical structure
2Stability of the object's composition
If the cot is designed as a complete unit, then the stability is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates when needing to shuttle the stretcher separately into vehicles with space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The cot is divided into separable components - the stretcher portion can be detached from the wheeled undercarriage, allowing the stretcher to be independently shuttled into vehicles with limited space while the undercarriage remains outside, and then reattached once inside the vehicle
Solution Approach 2:
The cot design transitions from a static complete unit to a dynamic configurable system where the stretcher and undercarriage can be separated or combined based on operational requirements, enabling adaptation to different vehicle constraints and terrain conditions
3Ease of operation
If the cot is loaded at low position, then the ease of operation is improved for patient transfer, but the productivity deteriorates due to the time-consuming process of manual lifting and support
Solution Approach 1:
The powered actuation system preliminarily positions the cot at the optimal low loading position before patient transfer begins, and then automatically raises the cot to the vehicle loading position during or after patient transfer, eliminating the time-consuming manual lifting process and enabling simultaneous patient care and cot positioning
Data Source
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AI summary
A roll-in cot (10) comprises a support frame (12) for supporting a patient above a loading surface (500) of an emergency vehicle, the support frame (12) comprising a front end (17) and a back end (19); a pair of front legs (20) and a pair of back legs (40) slidingly coupled to the support frame (12), wherein each front leg (20) comprises at least one front wheel (26) and each back leg (40) comprises at least one back wheel (46). The roll-in cot (10) further comprises a cot actuation system operable to actuate the front legs (20) and the back legs (40) either simultaneously or independently and a control box (50) cooperative with the cot actuation system to switch between an independent mode and a synchronized mode. In the synchronized mode the front legs (20) and the back legs (40) are raised and lowered simultaneously, and in the independent mode the front legs (20) and the back legs (40) are raised and lowered independently.