Self-locking Clamp Mechanism for Patient Helper Position Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patient helpers in patient support apparatuses often slip out of position when used by patients, posing a risk to patient health and safety.
Innovation Solution
A patient helper device with a clamp mechanism that includes pivotably coupled grip arms and a support pin, allowing the patient to easily position the helper and then self-lock it in place using a cam action, preventing slippage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the patient helper is designed to be movable along the support arm for patient positioning, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates as the device may slip out of position when used by the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp mechanism automatically locks itself into position through a cam action when the patient applies force via the tether and handle. The grip arms pivot to engage with the support arm and maintain clamping force without requiring manual locking by caregivers, enabling the device to secure itself during patient use.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam action mechanism pre-positions the grip arms in a locked state before patient use. When the patient pulls the tether, the cam geometry automatically transitions the grip arms from an open to a closed clamping position, preventing slippage before it can occur during patient manipulation.
2Ease of operation
If the clamp mechanism uses a cam action for automatic locking, then the ease of operation is improved as patients can self-secure the device, but the device complexity increases due to the additional mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The cam action locking mechanism is integrated directly into the clamp assembly, combining the positioning and locking functions into a single unified structure. The grip arms serve dual purposes as both the clamping elements and the cam followers, eliminating the need for separate locking components and reducing overall device complexity.
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
The device ensures that the patient helper remains securely locked in the chosen position, providing stable support to patients without requiring manual locking by caregivers, thus enhancing patient safety and independence.
Implementation Method 1
The grip arms are pivotably coupled at a first axis
Implementation Method 2
the grip arms apply a force to the support arm sufficient to prevent movement of the clamp along the support arm
Implementation Method 3
the support pin may induce a moment along a second axis that moves the grip arms to the first position and locks the clamp on the support arm
Implementation Method 4
the first pin may be a support pin that when loaded acts upon the grip arms to transfer a force applied to the tether by a patient
Implementation Method 5
the grip arms apply a force to the support arm sufficient to prevent movement of the clamp along the support arm
Data Source
AI summary
A patient helper includes a support arm configured to be secured to a patient support apparatus, a clamp movable along the support arm to a plurality of positions, a tether supported by the first pin, and a handle supported by the tether. The clamp includes a plurality of grip arms, the grip arms pivotably coupled at a first axis and a first pin. The grip arms are movable between a first position in which the grip arms apply a force to the support arm sufficient to prevent movement of the clamp along the support arm and a second position in which the clamp is free to move along the support arm.