Selectively Coupled Foot Section for Rehabilitation Exercise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hospital beds and rehabilitation equipment are inadequate for helping patients regain muscle strength and independence, as they often require manual lifting and do not effectively support patients in standing or exercising their leg muscles, especially for obese patients.
Innovation Solution
A person support apparatus with a base frame, primary support frame, and a foot section that is selectively coupled via a trunnion to the primary support frame or the thigh segment of a carriage, allowing for variable configurations such as a bed, chair, or exercise position, enabling patients to perform rehabilitation exercises with reduced manual assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional hospital beds are used to support patients, then patients can be positioned in bed or chair configurations, but patients cannot perform rehabilitation exercises independently and require manual lifting assistance
Solution Approach 1:
The foot section is made dynamically reconfigurable through a selectable trunnion mechanism that allows it to be coupled to different positions (primary support frame or carriage), enabling the bed to transition between various functional configurations suitable for different rehabilitation exercises
Solution Approach 2:
The foot section is designed to serve multiple functions by being selectively coupleable to different structural elements, allowing the same component to provide foot support in bed configuration, serve as exercise resistance in seated configuration, or provide additional support in various intermediate positions
2Adaptability or versatility
If the foot section is fixed to the primary support frame, then the structure is simple and stable, but the apparatus cannot be reconfigured for different exercise positions
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is divided into discrete coupling points (primary support frame attachment and carriage attachment) connected through a selectable trunnion, allowing the foot section to be segmented in its functional relationships and repositioned between different structural anchors
Solution Approach 2:
The selectable trunnion acts as an intermediary mechanism between the foot section and the structural elements it can couple to, providing a controlled interface that enables reconfiguration while maintaining structural integrity during each configured state
3Strength
If patients use conventional beds for recovery, then they can rest, but their leg muscles deteriorate and they cannot support their own body weight
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is configured to enable patients to perform rehabilitation exercises independently without requiring staff assistance for lifting or positioning, allowing patients to actively engage their leg muscles and progressively build strength through self-directed exercise
Data Source
AI summary
Person support apparatuses are disclosed. In one embodiment, a person support apparatus comprises a base frame and a primary support frame supported on the base frame. A carriage is freely translatable at least between a head end of the primary support frame and a foot end of the primary support frame. A support surface is supported on the carriage such that the support surface translates with the carriage. The support surface includes a support section which is collapsible in a length direction of the support surface. The support section may include an air bladder and a control valve fluidly coupled to the air bladder that regulates air pressure within the air bladder. The control valve has a normally closed position and a vent position, wherein the person support apparatus comprises an exercise configuration wherein the control valve is in the vent position and the air bladder is vented to atmosphere.