Integrated Siderail Line Manager for Preventing Medical Line Disconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients in hospitals often experience disconnection of medical lines due to movement, which can be caused by these lines getting caught on person-support apparatuses or other objects, highlighting a need for improved management of medical lines during patient movement.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a medical line manager into the siderail of person-support apparatuses, such as hospital beds, to receive and maintain medical lines, reducing tangling and strain, and facilitating easy removal during patient movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If medical lines are allowed to move freely during patient movement, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to disconnection risks
Solution Approach 1:
The medical line manager acts as an intermediary component between the patient and the medical equipment. It provides a dedicated pathway for medical lines to travel through, preventing them from contacting the bed frame or other objects while still allowing patient movement. The manager includes guides and channels that direct the lines smoothly without restricting necessary motion.
2Reliability
If medical lines are secured to prevent disconnection, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to tangling and strain
Solution Approach 1:
The medical line manager segments the path of medical lines into distinct sections with specific functions. Different portions of the manager provide different types of guidance - some sections offer flexible channels for movement, while others provide more structured pathways near the patient's body. This segmentation allows lines to be secured in critical areas while maintaining freedom of movement in other areas.
3Reliability
If medical lines are managed with additional components, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The medical line manager is merged with the existing siderail structure of the hospital bed. Rather than being a separate, standalone device, it is integrated into the siderail framework, utilizing the same materials and mounting mechanisms. This combining approach adds the line management function without significantly increasing overall device complexity or requiring separate installation procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A siderail assembly comprises a siderail and a medical line manager. The siderail includes a siderail body having a first surface, a second surface, and a side surface extending between about the first surface and about the second surface. The medical line manager is integrated into at least one of the first surface, the second surface, and the side surface of the siderail. The medical line manager includes a first side, a second side, and a bottom extending between about the first side and the second side. The medical line manager is configured to receive and removably retain at least one medical line therein.