Emergency Stretcher Track Drive Switching Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency stretchers are inadequate for transporting patients over uneven or loosely packed surfaces, as their wheels become obstructed, leading to difficulties in movement and increased risk of injuries for EMS providers, and often require specialized vehicles or manual lifting, which can be time-consuming and hazardous.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled emergency stretcher equipped with a track drive unit and caster wheel assemblies that can switch between contact and non-contact configurations with the ground, allowing for operation in both self-propelled and manually propelled modes, enabling navigation over varied terrain while reducing the risk of tipping and injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wheels are used for stretcher movement, then operation on smooth surfaces is efficient, but operation on uneven or loosely packed surfaces becomes difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The stretcher employs a dynamic wheel-track switching mechanism that allows the support structure to change its configuration based on terrain conditions. The wheels can be raised and tracks lowered to engage with uneven surfaces, providing continuous adaptability to different ground conditions while maintaining reliable patient transport capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The stretcher integrates multiple support modes (wheels for smooth surfaces, tracks for uneven surfaces) into a single device, making it universally applicable across diverse terrain types. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for specialized equipment for different terrains.
2Reliability
If specialized patient transport vehicle is used, then capability to handle uneven surfaces is improved, but availability and response time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The stretcher is designed to perform the function of both a standard wheeled stretcher and a specialized all-terrain transport vehicle by integrating track capability. This eliminates the need to wait for specialized vehicles while maintaining the ability to handle uneven surfaces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If stretcher is manually lifted over uneven surface, then movement capability is improved, but risk of injury to EMS providers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stretcher is equipped with self-propelled track drive capability that enables it to navigate uneven surfaces autonomously without requiring EMS providers to manually lift or carry it. The track system propels the stretcher over obstacles, eliminating the harmful physical strain on providers.
4Reliability
If two EMS providers are required to transport patient, then safety is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The self-propelled track drive system performs the physical work of moving the stretcher and patient, eliminating the need for multiple providers to manually transport the load. This reduces the provider role to monitoring and control, improving operational efficiency while maintaining safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-propelled emergency stretcher includes an elongate frame having a set of wheels a track drive unit mounted thereto. The set of wheels includes first wheels at a front end of the frame and second wheels at a rear end of the frame, and the track drive unit is mounted between the first wheels and the second wheels. A plurality of actuators is configured to raise and lower the first wheels and the second wheels relative to the frame, so as to selectively switch the emergency stretcher between a self-propelled configuration and a manually-propelled configuration. In the self-propelled configuration the first wheels and the second wheels are out of contact with a ground surface below the emergency stretcher and the track drive unit is in contact with the ground surface. In the manually-propelled configuration the first wheels and the second wheels are in contact with the ground surface and the track drive unit is out of contact with the ground surface.