Abstract
The aim of this work is to present the different aspects of modern high complexity electric beds of the period 1940 until 2000 exclusively. The chronology of the product has been strictly divided into three big stages: electric and semi-electric beds (until the 90’s), mechatronic beds (90’s until 2000) and, mechatronic intelligent beds of the last 15 years. The latter are not considered in this work due to the extension for its analysis. The justification for classifying the product is presented under the concepts of medical, assistive and mobility devices. Relevant aspects of common immobility problems of the different types of patients for which the beds are mainly addressed are shown in detail. The basic functioning of the patient’s movement generator and the implementation of actuators, together with IT programs, specific accessories and connectivity means and network-communication shown in this work, were those that gave origin to current mechatronic beds. We present the historical evolution of high complexity electric beds by illustrating cases extracted from a meticulous time line, based on patents, inventions and publications in newspapers and magazines of the world. The criteria adopted to evaluate the innovation were: characteristics of controls; accessories (mattresses, lighting, siderails, etc.), aesthetic and morphologic properties and outstanding functionalities.
Highlights
The design of high complexity beds constitutes a specific field of research in the area of medical products, presently in expansion and development
There is a whole chronology of products that start with the modern electric beds, in a strict sense, further moves to semi-electric models to arrive to the so called mechatronic beds, which incorporate software into specific motion programs, and display more advanced integrations between mechanics, electronics and computer science in its
The risk can appear in persons older than 70 years of age, or under dry skin conditions or confusion, among other difficulties [6]. Pressure ulcers occur both in particular housings and in long-term care environments, high complexity electric beds will no longer be strictly related to hospital areas but to private houses of users, with the corresponding aesthetic changes
Summary
The design of high complexity beds constitutes a specific field of research in the area of medical products, presently in expansion and development. A series of efforts converged, originating the so-called push-button hospital beds in the 40s, decade from which the present work commences. There is a whole chronology of products that start with the modern electric beds, in a strict sense, further moves to semi-electric models (that combine adjustments assisted by actuators with manual adjustment sections, still existing as alternatives of minor complexity) to arrive to the so called mechatronic beds, which incorporate software into specific motion programs, and display more advanced integrations between mechanics, electronics and computer science in its
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