Powered Stretcher For Patient Transfer
Loading...
Date
2022-08-10
Authors
Lee, Shea Wen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Patient lateral transfers between two adjacent surfaces could pose high
musculoskeletal disorder risks for nurses and patient handlers. This dissertation
presents the conceptual design of a mechanical system devoted to helping caregivers
in handling and transferring bedridden patients. The chosen design comprises a
conveyer belt and mecanum wheel system, which serve to retrieve and relocate the
bedridden patient without causing discomfort and injuries. One of the objectives of
this design is to reduce the number of medical personnel to only one and change their
role from an active participant to that of an operational supervisor. A rough prototype
was built with a functioning conveyer that could carry a 14 kg load. A simulation was
also carried out to find the contact forces between the conveyer belt and dummy
patient at varying inclination angles, speed, and belt material of the conveyer bed. The
simulation results show that the least contact forces are experienced at an incline angle
of 7-degree, conveyer speed of 0.05m/s and wool as belt material. There many
limitations in the prototype design as this project represent the first step in developing
and exploring viable design solutions and the list of components of a mechatronic
system required in executing bedridden patient transport and repositioning.