Retractable Rail Assembly for Medical Table Patient Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients face difficulties in safely getting on and off medical examination tables due to their open sides, especially as the population ages and mobility issues increase, with existing tables often lacking support mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A rail assembly for medical examination tables, comprising a support frame and a connecting rail that can be retrofitted to existing tables, providing a handle or crutch for patients while allowing healthcare practitioners unobstructed access, and can be moved into a stored position when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the medical examination table has open sides to ensure practitioner access, then practitioner access is improved, but patient safety deteriorates due to lack of support during getting on and off
Solution Approach 1:
The rail assembly is designed to be movable between a deployed position (providing support) and a retracted position (allowing access). The rail can be positioned along the side of the table and moved out of the way when not needed, dynamically adapting to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail assembly acts as an intermediary support structure between the patient and the table. It provides a handhold or crutch-like support that mediates the interaction, allowing patients to safely get on and off the table without compromising the open side design for practitioner access.
2Reliability
If a support structure is added to assist patients, then patient safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into modular components: a rail assembly that can be independently deployed and retracted, and a mounting mechanism that allows flexible installation. This segmentation reduces overall complexity by allowing the support function to be added as a separate, manageable system rather than integrating it into the entire table structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail assembly is designed to be movable between a deployed position (providing support) and a retracted position (allowing access). The rail can be positioned along the side of the table and moved out of the way when not needed, dynamically adapting to different operational requirements.
3Reliability
If a rail assembly is added to existing tables, then patient safety is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into modular components: a rail assembly that can be independently deployed and retracted, and a mounting mechanism that allows flexible installation. This segmentation reduces overall complexity by allowing the support function to be added as a separate, manageable system rather than integrating it into the entire table structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting mechanism is designed to be universally applicable to existing medical examination tables. The rail assembly can be mounted on the side of the table using standard mounting holes or attachment points, making it compatible with a wide range of table models without requiring custom manufacturing for each table type.
Data Source
AI summary
A rail assembly for a medical examination table. The medical examination table having a main body including a side surface. The rail assembly having a support frame, a connecting rail, and a mount. The support frame having a set of rails. The connecting rail extending from the support frame to a distal end. The connecting rail being couplable to the side surface.