Method for aiding people with reduced mobility in getting dressed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dressing hosiery on individuals with reduced mobility strains healthcare personnel due to the need for lifting legs and potential back strain, with existing assistive chairs not adequately addressing this issue.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a chair with tiltable leg rest and free-rolling rollers that support legs, allowing hosiery to be slid onto the person without lifting, reducing back strain and incorporating adjustable features for comfort and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the legs are lifted away from the support to dress hosiery, then the hosiery can be dressed onto the person, but the back of the health care personnel is heavily strained
Solution Approach 1:
A sliding support with free-rolling rollers is introduced as an intermediary device between the leg and the hosiery. The rollers enable the hosiery to be slid onto the leg while the leg remains supported, eliminating the need for personnel to lift the leg and reducing back strain.
2Device complexity
If the leg rest is fixed without rollers, then the structure is simple, but friction between the skin and leg rest causes discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
Free-rolling rollers are incorporated into the sliding support to replace direct contact between the leg and the leg rest. The cylindrical shape of the rollers reduces friction and allows smooth movement, improving comfort while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Device complexity
If the rotation axis of the rollers is longitudinal in relation to the legs, then the structure is simplified, but sideways friction is induced on the legs
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation axis of the rollers is positioned transversely (perpendicularly) to the longitudinal direction of the legs, creating an asymmetric configuration relative to the leg orientation. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that the rollers rotate in a direction that eliminates sideways friction and allows smooth sliding of hosiery onto the legs.
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 method significantly reduces back strain on healthcare personnel and enhances comfort for individuals with reduced mobility by minimizing friction and allowing independent dressing of each leg, making the process more efficient and comfortable.
Implementation Method 1
since the first and second free-rolling roller may roll, any unpleasant friction between the skin and the leg rest is avoided
Implementation Method 2
the first free-rolling roller rotates around a first rotation axis and the second free-rolling roller rotates around a second rotation axis and the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are transverse in relation to a longitudinal direction of the legs
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a method for aiding health care personnel in dressing hosiery on a person with reduced mobility, the method comprises the steps of: • placing the person with reduced mobility in a chair (1) comprising a tiltable leg rest (2), wherein the tiltable leg rest (2) comprises at least one first free-rolling roller (3) arranged to support a first leg of the person and at least one second free-rolling roller (4) arranged to support a second leg of the person, • tilting the tiltable leg rest (2) upward, • sliding the hosiery onto one of the first leg and the second leg of the person so that at least a part of the hosiery slides between the first leg and the first free-rolling roller (3), or between the second leg and the second free-rolling roller (4). Furthermore, disclosed is a chair for aiding health care personnel in dressing hosiery on a person with reduced mobility and a method for aiding health care personnel in dressing compression stockings on a person with reduced mobility.