Retractable Low-Friction Patient Transfer Sheet Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for repositioning patients on transfer surfaces, such as hospital beds, often require significant force, time, and personnel, and can pose a risk of injury due to high friction and manual handling.
Innovation Solution
A patient transfer apparatus comprising two rollers and a retractable low-friction transfer sheet that forms two layers between the patient and the transfer surface, allowing for easy sliding and repositioning with reduced friction, and optionally includes inflatable chambers for additional patient repositioning assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a traditional slide sheet is used for patient repositioning, then the patient can be moved across the bed, but significant force and time are required due to high friction between the sheet and the bed surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a low-friction transfer sheet as an intermediary between the patient and the hospital bed. This sheet has a specialized surface coating that dramatically reduces friction, allowing the patient to be moved with minimal force. The transfer sheet acts as a mediator that facilitates smooth movement without requiring direct friction-based interaction between the patient's clothing/bedding and the bed surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the friction parameter of the interface between the transfer surface and the patient by introducing a transfer sheet with low-friction coating. This parameter change (from high friction to low friction) enables the same repositioning action to be performed with significantly less force and time, directly resolving the contradiction between force requirement and ease of operation.
2Reliability
If manual handling methods are used to reposition patients, then personnel can move patients, but the risk of injury increases due to high friction and manual strain
Solution Approach 1:
The low-friction transfer sheet serves as a protective intermediary that reduces the force needed for patient handling. By minimizing friction between the sheet and bed surface, the system reduces strain on healthcare personnel's muscles and joints, thereby lowering the risk of work-related injuries while maintaining safe and effective patient repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical friction-based dragging system with a low-friction sliding system. This substitution changes the fundamental mechanics of patient movement from high-friction dragging to low-friction sliding, reducing the effort and force required, and consequently decreasing the risk of injury to both patients and healthcare workers.
3Ease of operation
If a retractable transfer sheet system is used, then sheet management is facilitated, but the device complexity increases with additional rollers and mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer sheet system is designed to be self-managing through automated retraction and deployment mechanisms. The sheet automatically retracts into storage and deploys when needed, reducing the need for manual sheet handling and management by healthcare workers. This self-service capability simplifies operation despite the added mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer apparatus with rollers and retraction mechanisms serves multiple functions: it stores the transfer sheet when not in use, deploys the sheet smoothly, retrieves the sheet after use, and maintains it in readiness for the next patient transfer. This multi-functionality justifies the increased device complexity by consolidating multiple operations into a single integrated system.
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 patient repositioning with less force, in less time, and with fewer personnel, while reducing the risk of injury by minimizing friction and facilitating easier sheet management through motorized or manual operation.
Implementation Method 1
the transfer sheet forms two layers between the patient and the transfer surface that can slide against each other with reduced friction
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system is provided for repositioning a patient on a transfer surface (e.g., a hospital bed, a stretcher, an imaging system, or the like). The system comprises two rollers positioned on one side of the surface, and a retractable transfer sheet wound around the rollers. The transfer sheet may be unwound from the two rollers to form two layers between the patient and the transfer surface. The patient may then be moved by sliding a top layer of the transfer sheet relative to a second layer of the transfer sheet. After use, the sheet can be retracted around the roller(s), allowing it to be stored in a location that is convenient but out-of-the-way. Such a system may allow a patient to be moved with less force, in less time, with fewer personnel, or with some other benefit.