Rotating Hospital Bed Sleep Surface for Safe Chair Egress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hospital and residential beds lack the flexibility and safety features to easily transition patients from a lying position to a seated or standing position, particularly in confined spaces, and do not provide adequate mobility and exit options.
Innovation Solution
A bed with a rotating sleep surface, hydraulic braking and steering systems, a twin scissor mechanism, and adjustable tilt and egress capabilities, allowing 360-degree rotation, 90-degree and 270-degree side egress positions, and 30-degree tilt, facilitated by casters, hydraulic cylinders, and spring-loaded mechanisms for easy maneuverability and comfortable patient transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional hospital bed is used, then the bed structure is simple and stable, but it lacks the ability to easily transition patients to seated or standing positions
Solution Approach 1:
The bed incorporates a rotating sleep surface that can dynamically change orientation from horizontal (lying position) to vertical (seated/standing position). The scissor mechanism enables the mattress to rotate 90 degrees or more, transforming the bed's configuration to facilitate patient transfer while maintaining structural stability through controlled mechanical movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The bed system performs multiple functions: it serves as a traditional lying bed, a seated chair, and a standing lift platform. The rotating mechanism and scissor lift system enable the same structure to adapt to different patient positioning needs, eliminating the requirement for separate transfer equipment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bed rotates 360 degrees to enable side egress, then patient transfer flexibility is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation system is divided into segmented components: the scissor mechanism provides vertical lift, the rotating platform enables horizontal orientation change, and the locking mechanism segments the motion into controlled phases. This segmentation allows complex 360-degree rotation to be achieved through coordinated simpler sub-mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating platform acts as an intermediary between the scissor lift mechanism and the patient. It receives vertical motion from the scissors, converts it to rotational motion, and provides the final positioned orientation for patient transfer, mediating the complex motion requirements.
3Ease of operation
If hydraulic systems are used for lift and braking, then positioning precision and ease of operation are improved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Hydraulic cylinders are used to power the scissor mechanism for vertical lift and the rotation mechanism for orientation change. The hydraulic system provides controlled, smooth motion with precise positioning capability, enabling easy operation of the complex mechanical structures through fluid power actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic braking system automatically locks the bed in position during patient transfer operations. The system self-regulates to maintain stability without requiring continuous manual input, and the casters with integrated brakes provide automatic stabilization when the bed is moved or positioned.
4Ease of operation
If the bed is designed for confined space maneuverability, then mobility in narrow areas is improved, but the mechanism space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical components are nested within each other: the scissor mechanism folds compactly when not in use, the rotating platform nests within the bed frame boundaries, and the hydraulic cylinders are integrated into the structural members. This nesting minimizes the volume occupied by the mechanisms while maintaining full functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle for use in hospitals, and the like, giving better mobility, steering, braking and passenger handling while providing comfort to the passengers from the time they lay down until they are standing on the side through the rotation and tilting ability of the frame.