Rigid Mobility Support Structure for Even Upright Patient Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional mobility devices and caregiver assistance methods often result in instability and uneven weight distribution, potentially worsening injuries and prolonging recovery times due to height discrepancies between caregivers and patients, especially when carrying or supporting individuals with mobility issues.
Innovation Solution
A rigid mobility device with caregiver and patient support platforms, featuring U-shaped spaces for shoulder and arm engagement, allowing vertical alignment and offset support to distribute weight evenly and provide stable upright assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional carrying devices are used to support a patient in an upright position, then mobility assistance is provided, but stability issues occur and weight distribution becomes uneven due to height discrepancies between caregivers and patients
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate caregiver support platforms and a patient support platform, allowing independent positioning and adjustment. This segmentation enables each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient support platform acts as an intermediary between the caregivers and the patient, transferring and distributing weight evenly across multiple support points. This intermediary structure prevents direct transmission of unstable forces from caregivers to the patient.
2Device complexity
If traditional carrying methods are used without height adjustment, then simplicity is maintained, but uneven weight distribution occurs on the patient's injured areas
Solution Approach 1:
The caregiver support platforms feature localized engagement surfaces positioned at specific heights to match patient anatomy. These localized features concentrate support forces on appropriate body parts (shoulders, arms) rather than distributing them unevenly across injured areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates adjustable height parameters for the caregiver support platforms, allowing customization of support positions. This parameter adjustment enables proper weight distribution regardless of height differences between caregivers and patients.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed-height support platforms are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different caregiver-patient height combinations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support platforms incorporate adjustable and reconfigurable elements that allow dynamic adaptation to different user combinations. This dynamic capability enables the same device structure to serve multiple height configurations without requiring custom manufacturing for each case.
Data Source
AI summary
A rigid mobility device for supporting a person having an injury as a patient in an upright position relative to the ground includes a first caregiver support platform, a second caregiver support platform, and a patient support platform. The first caregiver support platform and the second caregiver support platform each rest on the shoulders of first and second caregivers. The patient support platform supports the arms of the patient.