System and method for moving, turning, and positioning a patient
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Solution Overview
Problem
Caregivers face challenges when rolling sedated patients from a supine to a prone position, as it requires lifting and bending, increasing the risk of injury to both caregivers and patients, and existing devices do not adequately manage stress on the patient's back or extremities.
Innovation Solution
A patient turning device comprising a sheet with removable, symmetrically connected sheet portions and pull straps that allow for smooth rolling between positions, reducing the need for lifting and bending, and incorporating features like low-friction materials and high-friction coatings to facilitate safe patient movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If caregivers manually roll sedated patients from supine to prone position, then patient positioning is achieved, but caregiver injury risk increases due to lifting and bending
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a patient turning device as an intermediary tool between the caregiver and the patient. This device includes a sheet with handles that wraps around the patient's body, allowing caregivers to apply force to the handles rather than directly to the patient's body. The device mediates the force application, enabling caregivers to roll the patient without direct physical contact and without requiring lifting or bending motions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient turning device segments the force application process by providing multiple handles at different locations on the sheet. These handles are positioned to allow caregivers to apply force at various points along the patient's body length, distributing the mechanical work and enabling coordinated rolling motion without requiring any single caregiver to exert excessive force or adopt awkward postures.
2Ease of operation
If caregivers manually roll patients, then patient positioning is achieved, but patient injury risk increases due to excessive stress on back or extremities
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet acts as an intermediary that contacts the patient's body surface rather than allowing direct manual contact. The sheet is positioned to wrap around the patient's torso and extremities, distributing the rolling force across a larger surface area. This mediation prevents concentration of force on vulnerable areas such as the spine or joints, reducing the risk of injury while achieving the desired positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a flexible sheet that conforms to the patient's body contours. This thin film structure allows the force to be distributed evenly across the patient's surface area, preventing localized stress concentrations. The flexibility of the sheet enables it to adapt to the patient's anatomy while maintaining uniform force distribution during the rolling maneuver.
3Ease of operation
If low friction material is used for the sheet, then patient movement is facilitated, but control during rolling may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface properties to different parts of the sheet. The portion of the sheet that contacts the patient's body is made with low friction material to facilitate smooth movement and prevent sticking. Meanwhile, the handles and edges are designed with higher friction surfaces or textured patterns to provide adequate grip for caregivers. This local differentiation of surface properties simultaneously achieves smooth patient movement and maintains control during the rolling operation.
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
The device enables safe and stable patient positioning by distributing the rolling force evenly, reducing the risk of injury to both caregivers and patients, while allowing for flexible use in various medical settings.
Implementation Method 1
using a material with low friction and rip-stop properties to facilitate safe patient movement
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for turning and positioning a patient includes a sheet having a top and a bottom surface, a first handle coupled to the sheet proximate a first side edge, and a second handle coupled to the sheet proximate a second side edge, opposite the first side edge. A first portion of the sheet is configured to be placed underneath a patient and a second portion of the sheet is configured to be wrapped on top of the patient. The first handle and the second handle are longitudinally offset such that when the first handle and the second handle are pulled across one another, the first side edge is positioned beneath the second handle and the second side edge is positioned beneath the first handle. Pulling the first handle across the second handle and across the top of the patient rolls the patient onto the second portion.