Patient Transfer Arms with Side Protector Guide Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient transfer apparatuses are complex, expensive, and difficult to operate, often requiring external power and separate devices, which cause inconvenience to patients with mobility issues, especially those who are obese, due to high frictional forces and cumbersome installation procedures.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus with a top movable board, transfer arms connected to the board, and side protectors that serve as a guide rail, allowing easy movement over the patient bed without separate device installation or external power, using linkages for inclining the board for loading and unloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If transfer arms are separately installed and withdrawn to enable easy movement of the top movable board, then the top movable board can move easily over the patient bed, but a complex installation and withdrawal step is required
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer arms are merged with the top movable board through fixed connection, forming an integrated structure. This eliminates the need for separate installation and withdrawal of transfer arms, as they move together as a single unit, thereby simplifying the operational procedure while maintaining ease of movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The side protectors are designed to serve dual functions: they act as safety barriers to prevent patient falling, and simultaneously function as guide rails to enable easy movement of the transfer arms and top movable board. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate guide rail components, reducing device complexity.
2Device complexity
If the top movable board is moved directly over the patient bed mattress, then the structure remains simple, but great frictional force occurs due to patient weight making movement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The side protectors serve as intermediary guide rails between the transfer arms and the patient bed mattress. Instead of the transfer arms moving directly over the high-friction mattress surface, they are guided along the smooth side protectors, significantly reducing frictional force and enabling easy movement while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Reliability
If complex power-transmitting devices are used in patient transfer apparatus, then transfer capability is improved, but the apparatus becomes expensive and difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patient transfer apparatus utilizes the patient's own body weight and gravity as the driving force for movement. When the top movable board is pushed or pulled, the patient's weight provides the necessary force to move the board and transfer arms along the side protector guide rails, eliminating the need for complex power-transmitting devices while maintaining reliable transfer capability.
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 safe and easy patient transfer with minimal inconvenience, reducing the need for multiple personnel and avoiding complex installation steps, suitable for patients with mobility issues, including those who are obese, by minimizing friction and simplifying the transfer process.
Implementation Method 1
a great frictional force occurs between the top movable board and a mattress of the patient bed due to the weight of the patient
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is a patient transfer apparatus capable of easily transferring a patient while causing minimal inconvenience to the patient when transferring the patient between a patient bed and a patient-moving bed, or between the patient-moving bed and various inspection apparatuses. The patient transfer apparatus of the present invention comprises: a transfer arm for moving a top movable board on which the body of the patient is supported; a transfer arm housing fixed on a patient-moving bed frame so as to move the transfer arm; and a side protector laid on a patient bed so as to serve as a guide rail for enabling the transfer arm to easily move over the patient bed. The patient transfer apparatus of the present invention enables the patient to simply lie on his/her side from a recumbent position such that the patient can be loaded or unloaded onto/from the patient-moving bed, thus minimizing inconveniences to the patient and easily moving the patient with fewer staff members. Further, the patient transfer apparatus of the present invention eliminates the necessity of separate external power and eliminates the necessity of installation and withdrawal of a separate auxiliary device to thus enable easy operation, and the apparatus of the present invention has a simple configuration and thus can be provided in an inexpensive manner.