Inflatable Stretcher Perforation Pattern for Patient Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inflatable stretchers require longer times to lift patients due to uneven weight distribution and lack of stability during transfer, necessitating improvement for urgent medical situations.
Innovation Solution
The inflatable stretcher features perforations arrayed to match a human body's shape, providing increased air lifting force at weight-bearing areas, with two opposite air inlets for quicker inflation and holding elements to secure inflation devices, ensuring stable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the conventional inflatable stretcher uses uniform perforation distribution across the bottom surface, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the patient transfer time is long due to uneven weight distribution compression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring perforations with different densities in different regions of the bottom surface. Specifically, the first region (head area) has higher perforation density while the second region (foot area) has lower perforation density, matching the non-uniform weight distribution of the human body. This allows the stretcher to provide appropriate lifting force where needed while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the bottom surface into multiple regions with different perforation characteristics. The first region corresponds to the head area with higher perforation density, and the second region corresponds to the foot area with lower perforation density. This segmentation enables optimized air flow distribution to match patient weight distribution patterns.
2Productivity
If the conventional inflatable stretcher uses a single air inlet, then the device structure is simple, but the inflation time is long reducing emergency response efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the air supply system into multiple independent air inlets (first air inlet and second air inlet). This segmentation allows parallel inflation from multiple sources, significantly reducing the time required to inflate the stretcher compared to using a single air inlet, while keeping each individual inlet structure simple.
3Reliability
If the conventional inflatable stretcher lacks stability during transfer, then the device is simple to operate, but patient safety is compromised during urgent transfers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a holding element that is preliminarily configured to engage with the air hose before inflation begins. This holding element prevents the air hose from becoming detached during the inflation process and subsequent patient transfer, ensuring operational stability without adding complex control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables faster and more efficient patient transfer by distributing air lifting force effectively and preventing inflation device separation, thus reducing the time needed to move patients to a support surface.
Implementation Method 1
When the inflatable stretcher filled with air is subjected to pressure, the air in the inflatable stretcher will be automatically released from the inflatable stretcher via the perforations to produce continuous pressurized air streams, which together form supporting airflow with an upward lifting force
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable stretcher includes an upper and a lower cover member connected along their outer peripheral edges to define an internal air space. The lower cover member has a plurality of perforations forming an overall pattern contoured to the shape of a human body. First and second partitioning member are disposed in the air space and connected to the upper and lower cover members to divide the air space into a plurality of widthwise-extended air release passages and two lengthwise-extended air flow passages located at two lateral sides of the air release passages. A flow opening is formed between each second partitioning member and each corresponding first partitioning member. The flow openings respectively have a cross-sectional area smaller than that of each air release passage, enabling air supplied from an inflation device into the air space to produce an increased air lifting force at positions corresponding to a patient's hips.