Transfer Device with Front Support for Spine Injury
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wheelchairs and transfer devices pose challenges for individuals with disabilities, particularly those with weak legs or spine injuries, as they often require assistance, lead to back strain, and lack usability and stability, making it difficult for users to transfer independently and comfortably between beds, toilets, and wheelchairs.
Innovation Solution
A transfer and locomotion apparatus with a base part, seat part, breast pad, and drive mechanism that allows users to sit or stand, move forward and backward, and adjust positions, eliminating the need for backrests and enabling independent transfer and locomotion without straining the back or lumbar area, even for users with spine injuries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional wheelchair with backrest is used, then the user can be supported in a sitting position, but the backrest presses against the back causing blood circulation disorders and discomfort for spine-injured patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the backrest component from the wheelchair design. Instead of providing support through a backrest that contacts the user's back, the invention uses a front support structure that contacts the user's abdomen or chest area, thereby eliminating the harmful pressure on the back while maintaining sitting support stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional support approach by moving the support contact point from the back (posterior) to the front (anterior) of the user's body. The front support structure provides stability by contacting the abdomen or chest, reversing the conventional backrest location and eliminating back pressure
2Ease of operation
If a conventional wheelchair is used, then the user can locomote, but users with weak upper extremities cannot operate it with complete control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a power drive system that enables the wheelchair to move autonomously based on user input. Users with weak upper extremities can operate the wheelchair through minimal input (such as pushing a button or using a simple control mechanism), and the powered drive system performs the locomotion work, allowing users to independently control and operate the wheelchair without requiring strong upper body strength
3Ease of operation
If a conventional wheelchair is used, then the user can sit, but the user must turn around from the front side making transfer difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional wheelchair orientation by positioning the support structure at the front rather than the back. This allows users to transfer to and from the wheelchair by approaching from the front side and sitting down directly, eliminating the need to turn around or perform complex transfer maneuvers. The front support structure naturally guides the user into the correct sitting position
4Ease of operation
If a lifter is used to transfer a disabled person, then the transfer can be performed, but it requires significant preparation and space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the wheelchair with integrated transfer functionality built into the basic structure. The front support structure and adjustable components allow the wheelchair to serve multiple functions: locomotion, sitting support, and easy transfer. This eliminates the need for separate specialized transfer devices like lifters, reducing preparation requirements and space needs while maintaining transfer capability
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a transfer and locomotion apparatus with excellent functionality, stability, versatility, and user-friendliness such that a person requiring nursing care can transfer between the transfer and locomotion apparatus to a bed and a toilet seat, etc., keeping the orientation of the body. The apparatus has a simple structure, is operable by a single person, imposes no strain on the person's back and lumbar part, etc., and can comfortably be used even if the person has injured-spine and so forth. The apparatus comprises a base part having a driving part, a seat part provided on the base part and which a user can sit from a back portion or a side portion, and a breast pad part standing in a front end side of the seat part and contacting a breast of the user. At least one of the seat part and the breast pad part is held to be able to move forward and backward, and upward and downward with respect to the base part.