Sensor-Controlled Hospital Bed for Autonomous Patient Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with reduced mobility in healthcare settings often experience discomfort and require frequent manual repositioning by healthcare personnel, leading to back pain and economic losses, as existing electric beds require manual actuation or remote control operation.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent hospital bed equipped with sensors and servo-motors that detect patient movements and adjust bed positions autonomously, using data multiplexing and image processing software to interpret patient intentions and actuate movable parts without external intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual handling of patients by healthcare personnel is used to change patient position, then patient position can be changed, but healthcare personnel suffer from back pains and economic losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The bed system performs position changes automatically by detecting patient movements through sensors and autonomously actuating servo-motors to adjust the bed frame, eliminating the need for manual handling by healthcare personnel and preventing back pain
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical handling system is replaced with an automated electromechanical system comprising sensors, control units, and servo-motors that detect patient intent and automatically adjust bed position, substituting human physical effort with automated mechanical actuation
2Ease of operation
If push button actuation systems are used for bed position changes, then bed can be moved, but patient autonomy is limited requiring healthcare personnel intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The bed system autonomously detects patient movements through distributed sensors and automatically actuates servo-motors to adjust bed position, enabling the system to serve itself and the patient without requiring external intervention or push button operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors patient position and movement intent through sensor feedback, processes this information through intelligent software, and automatically adjusts bed configuration in real-time, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to patient needs without manual input
3Extent of automation
If sensors and servo-motors are integrated for automatic bed adjustment, then patient autonomy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bed system is divided into modular functional units with sensors distributed along the mattress, control units at specific positions, and servo-motors at articulation points, allowing independent functionality and simplified integration of each component while maintaining overall system automation
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor network and control system serve multiple functions including detecting patient position, identifying movement intent, triggering appropriate bed adjustments, and monitoring patient safety, consolidating what could be separate systems into a unified multi-functional platform
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
Enhances patient autonomy and comfort by allowing independent repositioning, reducing the need for manual handling by healthcare personnel and minimizing back pain-related issues, while providing multiple adjustable positions for improved treatment access.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of sensors arranged along the mattress capable of measuring the initial force on the point at which the corresponding sensor is arranged
Implementation Method 2
a servo-motor associated with a corresponding sensor moving one of the movable parts of the mentioned upper frame is actuated
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an intelligent hospital bed comprising a lower main frame (1) and an upper frame (2) articulated to said lower main frame provided with movable parts, in which there is arranged a mattress (22) provided with several foldable sections, including a plurality of sensors arranged along the mattress (22) capable of measuring the initial force on the point at which the corresponding sensor is arranged, which sensors are interconnected to one another and associated with a control unit which controls servo-motors used for moving the movable parts of the upper frame (2) such that when a sensor detects a movement of the user in real time, a servo-motor which is associated with a corresponding sensor or a combination of sensors (S) moving at least one of the movable parts of the upper frame (2) is actuated.