Design and development of multifunctional patient bed with integrated toilet

Hebei Evenice Trading presents a new bed for bedridden patients. It has provision for using a commode by pulling it up to the bed height by a specially designed mechanism. For commode use, it has an opening in the bed. A mattress on the platform covers the commode opening. After use, the commode is pushed back to its position below the bed. Then, the commode opening gets covered. This bed also has provision for side turning of the patient. The left and right-side turning mechanisms can operate independently to allow the patient to sleep on the left or right side. It is possible to turn both sides together to avoid touching the middle part of the back to the bed surface to avoid pressure ulcers. The side turning may be simultaneously operated with the backrest. A separate mechanism is there for this purpose. In addition, the bed can be converted into a chair position and has other utilities like a washbasin, folding table, and cistern attached to it. The bed design and development are in two stages. First, a bed with a commode is designed. Later, this design is improved to add a side turning mechanism. Computer modeling, simulation, fabrication, and testing are employed to plan and check bed operations and positions. The mechanical performance of the bed is compared with the simulation results, and the errors are negligible. The bed is compared with the reported designs in the literature. It is a novel product. It will be excellent equipment for bedridden patients and caregivers.

This paper has presented a new bed integrating side tilting of the patient, attachment of commode, and seating position of the patient. New mechanisms were designed for side turning (rollover) of the patient in bed. The main highlight of the bed is that it allows simultaneous operation of the backrest and side turning. Further, it also has a commode to use as and when required. The bed can also be converted into a chair while using the commode. It also facilitates changing of clothes & bed sheets and helps to prevent bedsores. The use of this bed will result in less effort for managing bedridden patients. As the patients do not need to use a bedpan, all the problems associated with a bedpan are avoided. Patients will become more comfortable. Bedsores and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders to caregivers will be reduced.

The bed offers significant improvement in the management of bedridden patients. Two recent patents have confirmed the novelty of the bed and its features. This bed is mechanically operated and therefore will cost less. It is affordable for economically weaker sections of the population. The bed can also be motor-driven by providing a few controls to make it a remotely operated bed. As the load test and preliminary usage feedback are encouraging bed can be put to actual use.