Removable Foot Panel Bed Structure for Low Chair Egress Height

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hospital beds require complex mechanical and electrical components to minimize seat height in the chair egress position, making them cumbersome and difficult to operate safely.

Innovation Solution

A patient support apparatus with a removably coupled foot panel that extends to form a second support surface, allowing the bed to adjust between conventional and chair egress positions, featuring a foot panel retainer that locks and unlocks based on angle, and an inflatable mattress extender for enhanced support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the foot-end of the patient support surface is retracted to minimize seat height in chair egress position, then patient egress safety is improved, but the mechanical and electrical components become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient egress safetyVSAvoidmechanical and electrical components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The foot panel is segmented from the main deck, allowing it to be independently positioned. The foot panel includes a foot panel body and a foot panel deck portion that can be selectively coupled to the deck using posts and receiving sockets. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex retraction mechanisms while achieving minimal seat height when the foot panel is positioned vertically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The foot panel configuration is made dynamic through the use of movable posts that can be inserted into receiving sockets at different positions. The foot panel can be selectively positioned in multiple configurations (horizontal, vertical, angled) depending on whether the deck is in conventional or chair egress position, providing adaptability without complex mechanical systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If a removable foot panel is used to minimize seat height, then device complexity is reduced, but the support surface area may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical componentsVSAvoidsupport surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The foot panel deck portion extends perpendicular to the foot panel body, creating an additional dimensional element that provides support surface area. When the foot panel is in the horizontal position, the foot panel deck portion extends toward the head-end of the deck, effectively increasing the support surface area beyond what a simple flat panel would provide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The foot panel serves multiple functions: it provides support surface area when horizontal, acts as a minimal-height terminator when vertical, and can be positioned at intermediate angles. The same structure accomplishes both area provision and height minimization depending on its orientation, eliminating the need for separate components for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8353071B2Removable integrated board and partial foot section

Publication Date: 2013.01.15 HILL ROM SERVICES INC

AI summary

A patient support apparatus is convertible between a conventional bed position, having a generally horizontal sleeping surface upon which a person lies in a supine position, and a chair egress position, allowing a person to exit the support from a sitting position. The patient support comprises a deck and a foot panel removably coupled to the deck. The foot panel may allow a low seated height while the bed is in the chair egress position.