Stretcher Main Bars with Integrated Medical Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional stretchers lack the capability to provide comprehensive medical care during transportation due to limited space and accessibility for medical instruments and drugs, which complicates infusions, observation, and handling in emergency situations.

Innovation Solution

A multi-functional stretcher with main bars incorporating accommodation compartments for medical instrumentation and drugs, made from carbon-reinforced materials, featuring integrated lighting, power supply, infusion systems, self-warming elements, and sensor systems to enhance medical care and safety during transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If medical instrumentation and drugs are placed externally next to the patient or carried by bearers, then accessibility is maintained, but the stretcher lacks integration and reliability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of patient transportationVSAvoidintegration of instrumentation into stretcher

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates medical instrumentation and drugs directly into the stretcher structure by incorporating storage compartments within the hollow main bars. This merging of the stretcher and medical equipment eliminates the need for separate external racks or bearer-carried items, thereby improving reliability through integration while maintaining accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The main bars of the stretcher are designed to serve multiple functions: providing structural support, enabling transportation, and housing medical instrumentation and drugs through integrated compartments. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the stretcher a universal platform that combines transportation and medical care capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Stability of the object's composition

If main bars are made solid for strength, then structural stability is improved, but weight increases and ease of carrying deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of main barsVSAvoidweight of main bars

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs hollow main bars with thin-walled construction that provide sufficient structural stability while minimizing weight. The hollow structure acts as a shell that maintains strength-to-weight ratio, allowing the stretcher to be lightweight for easy carrying while remaining stable enough to support patients and medical equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The main bars are constructed from carbon fiber reinforced polymer material, which is a composite material that provides high strength and stiffness-to-weight ratio. This composite construction enables the hollow bars to maintain structural stability while keeping weight low for ease of transportation by bearers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If accommodation compartments are added to main bars, then medical care capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedical care capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing of main bars with compartments

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The accommodation compartments are designed as separate modular elements that can be inserted into or attached to the hollow main bars. This segmentation allows the compartments to be manufactured independently and then assembled to the main bars, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while providing versatile medical care capabilities through configurable storage spaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11517486B2Multi-functional stretcher

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 PLASS MEDTECH AG

AI summary

A stretcher (1) for transporting individuals (2) requiring medical care, comprising main bars (11) and a collapsible lying surface (12) arranged between the main bars (11), wherein the main bars (11) comprise at least one accommodation compartment for accommodating medical instrumentation (114, 1141, 1142, 1143, 1144, 115, 116) and/or drugs.