Patient Bed Siderail Handle Assembly for Safer Egress Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients find it difficult to egress from conventional beds due to the need for coordinated movements that can be challenging, especially when transitioning from a bed to a chair position, as they require support and balance to move their weight effectively.
Innovation Solution
A siderail assembly with a guide, support, barrier, and handle that pivots between storage and egress positions, allowing patients to use the handle for support during egress, with a handle lock mechanism for secure positioning and a sensor for controlling bed movements to facilitate safe transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional bed structure is used, then the bed provides basic support functionality, but patients experience difficulty egressing due to lack of support during movement
Solution Approach 1:
A handle is introduced as an intermediary element between the patient and the bed structure. The handle is coupled to the barrier and positioned to provide a gripping surface that allows patients to support their weight during egress movements, serving as a mediator that facilitates safe transition from bed to chair position
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier is designed to pivot between raised and lowered positions, and the handle is coupled to move relative to the barrier between storage and egress positions. This dynamic configuration allows the support structure to adapt to different patient needs during various phases of the egress process
2Reliability
If the handle is always extended for support, then patient safety is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is designed with relative movement capability, allowing it to transition between a storage position (when not needed) and an egress position (when support is required). This dynamic positioning reduces unnecessary complexity and space requirements while maintaining safety functionality when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The handle serves multiple functions: it provides structural coupling to the barrier, offers a gripping surface for patient support, and can be positioned in different configurations based on operational needs. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components
3Ease of operation
If the handle extends away from the inward side of the barrier, then patient support during egress is improved, but the barrier width and device dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is designed to extend away from the inward side of the barrier only when needed for egress operations. When in the storage position, the handle lies in a vertical plane with the barrier, minimizing the overall width. The handle can then pivot to extend in a horizontal plane when patient support is required
Data Source
AI summary
A siderail assembly includes a guide, a support frame coupled to the frame and movable between first and second positions, and a barrier coupled to the support frame and movable therewith. The siderail assembly further includes a handle coupled to the barrier to move between a first position and a second position relative to the barrier. The siderail assembly may include electronic controls to change the position or limit movement of various portions of a patient support apparatus on which the siderail assembly may be coupled.