Transporter Table System With Locking And Tilting Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical transfer systems fail to seamlessly interlock patient transporter tables and surgical tables, leading to potential patient trauma and discomfort during transfer, as they often lack mechanisms for tilting and secure locking, and do not facilitate smooth lateral movement of patients between tables.
Innovation Solution
A transporter table system that interlocks surgical and transporter tables using a coupling element with spring-loaded locking pins and tilts the surgical table by 3° to facilitate smooth patient transfer, utilizing an array of rollers on rocker arms that can extend through openings in the table surface for lateral movement, and includes a rack and pinion mechanism to secure the patient in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the transporter table and surgical table are not locked together, then the system is simple and easy to maneuver, but the patient may accidentally drop to the floor or experience discomfort during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element creates a locked connection between the transporter table and surgical table, establishing a stable, fixed relationship that prevents accidental separation and patient drops during transfer operations
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element acts as an intermediary component that mediates the connection between the transporter table and surgical table, providing secure attachment while allowing for controlled separation when needed
2Ease of operation
If the table tops are horizontal during transfer, then the patient support is stable, but the patient cannot be easily slid laterally between tables
Solution Approach 1:
The table top is designed to dynamically change its orientation from horizontal to tilted during patient transfer operations, allowing easy lateral sliding of the patient while maintaining stability before and after transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The tilt angle of the table top is changed from 0° (horizontal) to approximately 3° (tilted) to facilitate patient transfer, demonstrating parameter change as the table top transitions between different operational states
3Ease of operation
If rollers are always extended above the table surface, then lateral patient movement is facilitated, but the patient cannot be securely locked in position
Solution Approach 1:
The rollers are designed to dynamically transition between retracted and extended positions, being extended during patient transfer to facilitate movement and retracted afterward to allow secure locking of the patient in position
Solution Approach 2:
The rollers undergo periodic action by alternating between extended and retracted states throughout the patient transfer process, enabling both lateral movement and secure positioning at different stages
Data Source
AI summary
A transporter table system for rollably transporting a patient between two support surfaces comprising a transporter table and a surgical table, wherein each table includes a table top, having a plate surface mounted atop with an array of openings, a plurality of rocker arms freely vertically movable within the table top, and an array of rollers rotatably mounted atop the plurality of rocker arms. The transporter system further comprises a locking mechanism for securing the transporter table to the surgical table during use and at least one motor within each of the tables for the purpose of adjusting the height and tilt of plurality of rocker arms and associated table tops.