Rollable Rescue Stretcher with Deployable Buoyancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rescue stretchers are either too rigid to navigate through cramped spaces or too flexible to provide adequate stabilization for individuals with spinal injuries, and they lack buoyancy in aquatic rescue scenarios, posing risks of further injury and drowning.
Innovation Solution
A compact, rollable rescue stretcher with deployable buoyancy and adjustable straps for longitudinal fixation, integrated with a tubular buoyancy device that deploys automatically to prevent slipping and drowning, and features like adjustable footrests and stiffening elements for stabilization, allowing single-person transport in tight spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid stretcher is used, then a person can be easily placed and transported safely, but it cannot be stored and moved in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The stretcher transitions from a rigid state during transport to a flexible, rollable state for storage and navigation through confined spaces. The stretcher can be rolled up like a mat when not in use, allowing easy storage in small spaces while maintaining structural integrity during actual rescue operations.
2Area of stationary object
If a flexible stretcher is used, then it can be packed tightly and is easy to store and transport, but it cannot provide adequate stabilization for persons with spinal injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The stretcher dynamically changes its mechanical properties based on operational needs. During transport and storage, it remains flexible and can be rolled up. During rescue operations, it provides rigid stabilization to prevent movement of injured persons, particularly those with spinal injuries.
Solution Approach 2:
The stretcher is pre-equipped with attachment points and structural features that enable rapid deployment and stabilization. The design anticipates the need for both flexibility during storage and rigidity during use, preparing the structure to transition between these states efficiently.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional stretchers are used, then they provide basic transport functionality, but they lack buoyancy in aquatic rescue scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The stretcher integrates buoyancy elements directly into its structure, combining the transport function with aquatic rescue capability. This merger eliminates the need for separate buoyancy devices while providing both land and water rescue functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The stretcher is designed to perform multiple functions: land-based transport, aquatic rescue with buoyancy, and storage in confined spaces. The universal design allows it to adapt to different rescue scenarios without requiring specialized equipment for each situation.
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 safe and stable transport of individuals through narrow environments, prevents further injuries, and ensures buoyancy in aquatic rescues, reducing the burden on the person and rescuers, while allowing for efficient storage and use in confined spaces like submarines.
Implementation Method 1
A deployable buoyancy device is attached to the rescue stretcher. When deployed, this device generates buoyancy to prevent drowning.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a stretcher (10) that can be rolled up and comprises at least two straps for attaching a person in the longitudinal direction of the stretcher. The straps for attaching a person in the longitudinal direction of the stretcher are arranged in such a way that the straps are secured above a first region designed to accommodate the person's shoulders on the stretcher. The stretcher further comprises a bottom transverse member that is adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the stretcher. An unfoldable buoyancy device (50) is secured to the stretcher in a second region designed to accommodate a person's neck. The unfoldable buoyancy device (50) has a tubular shape and is connected, in the second region, to the straps for attaching a person in the longitudinal direction.