Retractable Wheel Mechanism for Medical Examination Table Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical examination tables are difficult to move due to their size and weight, making it challenging to clean the floor underneath them, and existing mobility solutions can cause undesired patient movement during examinations.
Innovation Solution
A medical examination table with retractable wheels that can be selectively activated to facilitate movement during cleaning and then retracted to prevent movement during patient examinations, using a combination of lift mechanisms and actuating mobility assemblies to transition between mobility configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the examination table is made heavy and sturdy to support patient examinations, then patient safety and stability are improved, but the table becomes difficult to move for cleaning purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the table's mobility state changeable. The table transitions between a mobile state (with wheels extended for cleaning) and a stable state (with wheels retracted for examinations). This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same structure to satisfy both mobility and stability requirements at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheels are nested within the table base structure. When not in use, the wheels are retracted inside the base, making the table compact and stable. When mobility is needed, the wheels extend outward. This nesting approach allows the table to maintain a compact, stable form during examinations while enabling easy movement for cleaning when required.
2Ease of operation
If mobility features (wheels) are added to enable easy movement for cleaning, then ease of operation is improved, but patient safety is compromised due to undesired movement during examinations
Solution Approach 1:
The mobility system is made dynamic through a locking mechanism that can engage or disengage. During examinations, the locking mechanism engages to prevent any movement, ensuring patient safety. During cleaning, the lock disengages to allow easy movement. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt its mobility characteristics based on the operational context.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism acts as an intermediary between the mobility features and the patient support function. It mediates the interaction by selectively enabling or disabling movement based on the operational state. When the lock is engaged, it prevents the wheels from causing any movement, thereby ensuring patient safety while still allowing the table to be moved for cleaning when the lock is disengaged.
3Reliability
If the table structure is designed to be compact and stable during use, then patient safety is improved, but cleaning access becomes difficult due to the table remaining in place
Solution Approach 1:
The table design incorporates dynamic mobility features that can be activated when cleaning is needed. The locking mechanism can be disengaged to allow the table to be moved to different positions, providing access to previously unreachable floor areas. After cleaning, the table can be returned to its original position and locked, maintaining patient safety without permanently compromising it.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to be easily disengaged in advance when cleaning is needed. This preliminary action allows the table to be moved for cleaning purposes before the next examination session. The mechanism can be quickly re-engaged after cleaning to restore stability, minimizing the time the table is in a mobile state and maximizing cleaning efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical examination table includes a base assembly, a table assembly, a table actuation assembly, a wheel assembly, and an actuating mobility assembly. The base assembly configured to support the medical examination table in a first mobility configuration. The table actuation assembly is configured to raise and lower the table assembly relative to the base member to thereby transition the table assembly between a lowered position and a raised position. The wheel assembly is configured to support the medical examination table in a second mobility configuration. The actuating mobility assembly is configured to cooperate with the table actuation assembly to thereby actuate the wheel assembly relative to the base assembly to thereby transition the medical examination table between the first mobility configuration to the second mobility configuration.