Strap Release Lever for Prone Therapy Bed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing strap systems for securing patients in prone therapy beds often require excessive tension, making it difficult for caregivers to release the straps quickly, especially when access to the patient is needed, such as during CPR, due to false indications of loose straps leading to over-tightening and increased operational difficulty.
Innovation Solution
A strap and release system featuring a connector with a release lever that can be pivoted from a closed to an open position, reducing strap tension and allowing easier operation of the buckle release, positioned away from the buckle for improved accessibility and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If strap tension is increased to ensure secure patient retention, then patient security is improved, but strap release difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strap system is divided into two independent functional components: a connector for joining strap ends and a release lever for tension control. This segmentation allows the connector to maintain secure retention while the release lever provides easy tension release, resolving the contradiction between patient security and strap release difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The release lever acts as an intermediary mechanism between the caregiver and the strap tension system. By positioning the release lever away from the buckle and using it to pivot and release tension, caregivers can easily control strap tension without directly manipulating the overloaded connector, solving the release difficulty problem while maintaining security.
2Device complexity
If release lever is positioned close to the buckle, then structural compactness is improved, but accessibility and ease of use deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The release lever function is extracted from the immediate buckle area and positioned away from it on the strap system. This allows the buckle to remain compact while the release lever is placed in a more accessible location, enabling caregivers to easily operate the release mechanism without compromising structural integrity.
3Measurement precision
If strap tension is excessive, then false loose strap indications are reduced, but operational difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release lever serves as an intermediary that allows precise control of strap tension. Caregivers can use the release lever to achieve the exact tension needed for accurate loose strap detection without over-tightening, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining ease of operation through the lever's mechanical advantage.
Data Source
AI summary
A therapeutic apparatus, such as a proning type bed or table, may include a plurality of support packs. The support packs may be disposed on support assemblies or arms that may be extended across the patient's body and connected so as to help support the patient during rotation. To connect the support assemblies together the assemblies may comprise securement straps and a connector. The support assemblies may further comprise a release lever so as help relax tension in a securement strap so as to help a user quickly release the connector.