Vibrational Panel Haptic Interface for Sanitizable Patient Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patient support apparatuses in healthcare settings face challenges with contamination and infection spread due to difficult-to-clean user interfaces and speakers that trap dust and microorganisms, leading to the need for a more sanitizable and effective control system.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a vibration generation system within a sanitizable barrier wall that provides haptic sensations and auditory outputs, allowing for contactless user interaction and reducing the risk of infection through a seamless, easy-to-clean interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional speakers with grills or mesh are used to deliver sound, then audible notifications can be provided to patients and caregivers, but the grill or mesh collects and traps dust, dirt, biomaterials, and microorganisms creating contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional speaker grill or mesh component entirely, extracting the harmful element that trapped contaminants. The speaker is enclosed in a sealed housing with no openings, eliminating the collection surface for dust, dirt, and biomaterials while maintaining sound delivery function through the sealed design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a sealed speaker enclosure that can be easily replaced or sanitized as a unit. Rather than attempting to clean complex grill structures, the entire speaker assembly is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component that maintains hygiene through its sealed construction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional user interfaces with separate modules and seams are used, then control functions can be provided, but the seams and joints make the interface difficult to clean and susceptible to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the user interface directly into the barrier wall structure, merging previously separate components (control panel, display, speaker) into a unified seamless assembly. This eliminates joints and seams between different modules, creating a continuous surface that can be easily sanitized while providing all necessary control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier wall is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, acts as a sanitary barrier, integrates the user interface for control, and houses the speaker for audio output. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components and their associated seams.
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 solution effectively reduces the risk of infection transmission by enabling contactless user interaction and providing a sanitary interface, while also enhancing user experience with tactile and auditory feedback.
Implementation Method 1
the vibrational exciter is a known entity and need not be described in detail herein. However, in one embodiment, the vibrational exciter comprises a voice coil, a permanent magnet, and a coupling plate
Implementation Method 2
the barrier wall and/or the panel may be adapted to transmit the pressure waves to a user of the barrier wall
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus comprises a base and a support structure coupled to the base and being configured to support a patient. The apparatus also comprises a panel having a surface and being physically adapted to vibrate at one or more frequencies, a controller configured to generate an electrical signal, and a vibrational exciter. The vibrational exciter comprises a surface coupled to the surface of the panel and being configured to receive the electrical signal from the controller and to convert the electrical signal into vibrational energy. The surface of the vibrational exciter is configured to transfer the vibrational energy to the surface of the panel to vibrate the panel at the one or more frequencies.