Patient Stand Assist Device Trajectory Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices for helping patients stand up from a sitting position either fail to effectively utilize the patient's muscular capacities, leading to muscle deterioration and psychomotor disadaptation, or put nursing staff at risk of musculoskeletal disorders due to excessive effort.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with an upper and lower portion, featuring a reception zone for upper limbs and an immobilization zone for lower limbs, controlled by an actuator and control unit to guide the patient through a natural motor pattern trajectory, promoting muscle engagement and reducing staff effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If electric standers or patient lifts are used to completely take over the effort of standing, then the risk of musculoskeletal disorders for nursing staff is reduced, but the patient's residual motor skills are not utilized leading to deterioration of motor skills and psychomotor maladjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables patients to actively participate in their own mobilization by reproducing natural motor patterns. The upper portion moves along a predetermined trajectory that encourages patients to use their own muscles for antepulsion and verticalization, rather than being completely passive. This self-service approach maintains and restores motor capacities while still providing mechanical assistance to prevent staff injuries.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from static support structures to a dynamic system where the upper portion moves along a predetermined trajectory. This dynamic movement reproduces the natural motor pattern of standing up, allowing the device to adapt to the patient's movement phase (antepulsion, extension, verticalization) and provide assistance at the appropriate moments rather than rigid support.
2Adaptability or versatility
If transfer handlebars are used requiring nursing staff to push on the patient's pelvis, then the patient can use their own arm strength to pull themselves up, but the nursing staff expose themselves to the risk of musculoskeletal disorders
Solution Approach 1:
The device introduces an intermediary mechanical system between the patient and the nursing staff. Instead of staff directly pushing on the patient's pelvis, the actuating member moves the upper portion along a predetermined trajectory to provide indirect assistance. This intermediary mechanism reproduces natural motor patterns while eliminating the need for staff to physically contact or support the patient during mobilization.
3Ease of operation
If patients are completely passive during standing assistance, then the effort required from nursing staff is minimized, but patients may refuse to use the device showing opposition to treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The device empowers patients to actively participate in their own mobilization by encouraging use of their residual motor skills. The predetermined trajectory reproduces natural motor patterns, allowing patients to feel in control and see progress in their own abilities. This active participation improves acceptance and motivation while still providing mechanical assistance to minimize staff effort.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Medical device (1) comprising an upper portion (2) and a lower portion (3), the upper portion (2) having a restraint zone for the patient's upper limbs (21, 22), and the lower portion (3) having a restraint zone for a portion of the patient's lower limbs (31). The upper portion (2) is movable between a lower position (EO), located towards the rear of the device, and a higher position (E3), located towards the front of the device and higher than the lower position (EO). The device (1) includes a control unit (4) and an actuating member (5), the control unit being configured to command the actuating member (5) to produce a displacement of the upper portion (2) relative to the lower portion (3) along a predetermined trajectory comprising a horizontal translation (T1) of the upper portion towards the front of the device followed by a displacement of the upper portion to the higher position (E3).