MAE 451: DESIGN PROCESS & METHODS

PATIENT SANITATION LIFT

MEMO 1

TEAM #35
ADVISOR: DR. RAHUL RAI
PREPARED BY:
BENJAMIN STORTZ
ZACHARY JANISH
LIAM FLYNN
LEANNE SKRABACZ
HUMPHREY CHI HSUN WU

OCTOBER 2, 2015

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 5
Project Motivation ............................................................................................................................. 5
Customer Needs ................................................................................................................................ 6
Current Devices ................................................................................................................................. 8
Patent Search .................................................................................................................................. 14
Ergonomics ..................................................................................................................................... 17
Materials ......................................................................................................................................... 18
QFD Analysis ................................................................................................................................... 19
Product Design Specification ........................................................................................................... 20
Project Schedule ............................................................................................................................. 22

Appendix A: Customer Need Survey Documents

Appendix B: Caregiver Interview Documents
Appendix C: Gantt Chart
Appendix D: Full QFD Matrix
Appendix E: Patent Documents
Appendix F: Team Meeting Minutes
Appendix G: References

List of Figures
Figure 1: Kano Diagram ...................................................................................................................... 8
Figure 2: Rollover Technique .............................................................................................................. 9
Figure 3: Rollover Technique Practiced on a Dummy ........................................................................... 9
Figure 4: 500 Freestanding Overhead Patient Lift ................................................................................ 9
Figure 5: ErgoNurse .......................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 6: ErgoNurse .......................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 7: Polaris King 550 Patient Lift ................................................................................................ 10
Figure 8: Novum 2000 Stretcher Lift.................................................................................................. 11
Figure 9: Hoyer Advance E-Lift .......................................................................................................... 11
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Figure 10: E-Lift Collapsed ................................................................................................................ 11

Figure 11: P-300 Portable Ceiling Lift ................................................................................................ 12
Figure 12: Invacare i-Lift 450............................................................................................................. 12
Figure 13: Maxi 500 Power Base Patient Sling Lift ............................................................................. 13
Figure 14: Medline Hydraulic Patient Lift .......................................................................................... 13
Figure 15: Lavin Lift Straps ................................................................................................................ 14
Figure 16: QFD House of Quality Matrix ............................................................................................ 19
Figure 17: WBS Chart ....................................................................................................................... 22

List of Tables
Table I: Needs Classification ............................................................................................................... 7
Table II: Potential Materials ............................................................................................................. 18

Abstract
The intent of this project team in the coming months is to design and prototype a more effective way to
maneuver incontinent bedridden patients during the cleaning process. In order to design a truly viable
and marketable product, a formal design process was followed which began with a customer needs
analysis. Customer surveys, as well as caretaker interviews, were conducted to gather these customer
needs, which were then categorized using both Kanos Model as well as a hierarchical model. The key
findings from this analysis were that patients were often difficult to move around by a single caretaker
during the cleaning process, and an easier, faster, safer and more comfortable method for doing so
would have clear market value.
A current device search and analysis was then performed to determine the advantages and
disadvantages of similar products currently on the market, which helped to highlight features that the
new device could incorporate or improve upon. Following the device search, a patent search was
conducted in order to discover any intellectual property rights that would limit certain design
considerations for the new product. Upon reviewing these, ergonomic considerations and potential
materials were discussed. A quality function deployment analysis was then performed, the results of
which motivated the product design specificationsprimarily that the lift and sling will be made from
comfortable and durable materials. The completed product design specifications mark the end of design
Memo 1.

Project Motivation
The term incontinent is used to describe a person who lacks the ability to voluntarily control their
urination and defecation, and a surprisingly large number of patients in hospitals and nursing homes are
afflicted with this condition. If these patients are not cleaned immediately and thoroughly, they can
quickly develop sores and rashes (termed incontinence associated dermatitis) that erode the skin and
are very difficult to prevent from worsening.
The standard procedure for cleaning these patients is largely the same as it has been for centuries:
rolling a patient on to his or her side and stiff-arming them with one arm while cleaning with the
other. Some of the biggest difficulties that nurses and caretakers face during this cleaning process are
that it can take a lot of time, can require multiple people and/or a lot of strength to maneuver the
patient, and is often very uncomfortable for both the patient and the caretaker.
While there are currently many devices on the market that assist a nurse or caretaker in lifting a
bedridden patient completely out of their bed, there are no devices that directly assist with this cleaning
process. Furthermore, some of the difficulties in using these lifts are that they are often very expensive,
not available for every room (or are time-consuming to transport), require multiple caretakers to
operate, are time-consuming to set up, and use slings that are easily soiled and must be machine
washed each time they are used.
Thus, it was determined that there was a clear market opportunity for a device that facilitated easier
cleaning of the patient by providing means for easier, faster, and more comfortable shifting of the
patients body in the bed, while not obstructing the bodily areas that the nurse needs to access while
cleaning the patient. Furthermore, the device would be easily washable (wipe clean), and low enough in
cost that it could be feasibly be installed in every hospital room. Documenting the process behind
designing such a product is the focus of this technical report.
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Customer Needs
When designing any product, determining customer needs is of utmost importance, as customers are
the people who will be making use of the product when it goes to market, and thus are the deciding
voice in whether a product is a success or a failure. Accordingly, one of the first steps in the design
process is determining customer needs, the documentation of which is the objective of this section.
While there are endless ways to determine customer needs, three such methods were considered for
this project: customer surveys, interviews with nurses and/or caretakers, and ethnographic studies.
After careful consideration, however, ethnographic studies were ultimately ruled out in favor of the
former two methods. The reasoning for this was twofold: first, the team decided that conducting such a
study would constitute a violation of privacy on behalf of the patients involved; and second, the team
was unable to find a facility that was comfortable with allowing pictures and/or videos of the process to
be taken with real patients. Thus, the remaining two methods were used in determining customer
needs: customer surveys and caretaker interviews.
The survey (Appendix A) consisted of six questions centered around gauging the various difficulties
involved with cleaning. Three of the questions were multiple choice, one was ranking, one was a dropdown time selection, and one was an open short response. The survey was created using an electronic
form and distributed to several nurses, nurse managers, and caretakers, who were then asked to pass
the survey along to their colleagues. In total, 16 individual responses were recorded, the results of which
are tabulated in Appendix A.
Next, responses from the survey were used to guide the formulation of the interview questions that
were used for the second customer need gathering method: caretaker interviews. The results from the
survey, which were largely consensual between respondents, provided a guide for where to focus the
interview questions so as to obtain a more detailed assessment of the requirements of the product. Two
career nurses and one nurse manager were contacted and interviewed. The interview questions,
information about the interviewees, and their responses can be found in Appendix B.
The customer needs that were gathered from each of these methods were grouped into categories
consistent with Kanos Model of customer satisfaction, and are classified as expecters, spokens,
unspokens, and exciters. Expecters are needs that the customer must have in a product to consider it
viable; spokens are requirements that individual customers say they would like to see in the product;
unspoken requirements are those that the customer has come to expect and is no longer excited about;
and exciters are features that were unexpected, but delight the customer and enhance their
appreciation of the product.
These same needs were also classified in a hierarchical model as primary (strategic), secondary (tactical),
and tertiary (detailed) needs. The results of these need categorizations are summarized in Table 1.

Kano's Model Needs

Hierarchical Model

Expecters
Safe for patient and caregiver
Reusable harness
Durable
Easy operation
Minimal required lifting

Primary
Easily disinfected (wipe clean)
Minimal required lifting
One-person operation
Safe for patient and caregiver
Reusable harness

Spokens
One-person operation
Readily available in each room
Unspokens
Comfortable harness
Long product life

Secondary
Faster than "rollover" method
Comfortable harness
Readily available in each room
Easy operation
Durable

Exciters
Easily disinfected (wipe clean)
Faster than "rollover" method
Attractive

Long product life

Tertiary
Attractive

Table I: Needs Classification

By applying the Kano Model Needs to the Kano Diagram (Figure 1), the expected consumer satisfaction
with the product can be estimated. (Exciters follow curve #3, expecters follow curve #2, and unspokens
follow curve #1 based on the definitions of each given previously. Spoken requirements can follow
either curve #3 or line #5, as the spoken requirements of any given customer may not be important to
other customers.) The farther to the top right corner of the diagram a given product can reach, the
greater the customer satisfaction.

Figure 1: Kano Diagram

Using these inputs, along with the combined results of the survey and caretaker interviews, has
provided valuable insight into the key requirements of the product, while also establishing a hierarchy of
importance. With this information in hand, the product design process now continues with an
examination of similar products currently on the market to determine their fulfillment of these
requirements.

Current Devices
When developing a new product, researching similar devices that are currently on the market is an
important step to complete early on in the design process, as it can uncover strengths and weaknesses
in these products that can inform the design of the new product. Observing what customers like (and do
not like) in similar existing products is an excellent feedback resource that requires relatively minimal
effort to extract. By finding the weak points in each product, the design team can learn from others
mistakes and be sure to address these weak points in the new design.
In this stage of the design process, the objective is to understand the disadvantages of similar
productsin this case, patient lifts in order to help in developing a new product that can improve
these shortcomings and build on the strengths. The next few pages show ten current devices of lifts
that are used to help bedridden patients (see Appendix G for references); the first of these is the
currently used method:

1. The Rollover Technique

Advantages:
-

Current method for cleaning a patient

Gets the patients on their side
No expensive equipment required

Disadvantages:
-

Causes physical stress on the nurse, which could lead to

possible injury
Could cause further injury to the patient if done the wrong
way
This technique involves a lot of shifting of the patient
Heavy patients may require multiple caregivers to move
Figure 2: Rollover Technique

Figure 3: Rollover technique practiced on a dummy

2. Traxx Mobility System Titan 500 Freestanding Overhead Patient Lift

Advantages:
-

A single caregiver can perform the lift without a risk of

injury
Fits in a bedroom therefore not large in size
The lift is a one-button lift
Lifts up to 500lbs
Portable patient solution, therefore easy to move and
relocate
The sling is washable and mildew resistant
The sling also has a selection of different sizes

Disadvantages:
-

Electronic motor that must be recharged

High cost of the device
Lifts the whole body (cannot lift individual limbs)
Would not work very well for shifting a patient around
during the cleaning process
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Figure 4: 500 Freestanding Overhead Patient Lift

3. ErgoNurse
Advantages:
-

The device is mobile and can move from room to room

Does not require a motor to operate
Does not require additional sling--uses bed sheets with
fabric clamps
A single caregiver can perform operation
There is minimal maintenance to the device
Smooth movements when moving patient
Uses the movement of the bed to help positioning of the
patient
Has the ability to hold a patient on their side with the
sheets already on the bed
Figure 5: ErgoNurse

Disadvantages:
-

The high cost for individual buyers

The use of the bed sheets. The sheets could be dirty (not
suitable for the cleaning process)
Use of pillows to stabilize the patient
Holding the patient on their side with the dirty sheets
would not be sanitary
Could possibly be uncomfortable for the patient

Figure 6: ErgoNurse

4. Polaris King 550 Patient Lift

Advantages:
-

A single caregiver can perform operation

Lift is easily to maneuver
Can slip under beds
Can use different lift slings for different needs
Hydraulic Lift--no power needed
Depending on the sling could lift half body

Disadvantages:
-

Expensive cost around $5000

The lift doesnt come with a sling--need to
buy separately
Bulky
The lift would get in the way when cleaning
needs to be done

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Figure 7: Polaris King 550 Patient Lift

5. Novum 2000 Stretcher Lift

Advantages:
-

Single caregiver can perform operations

Lift has a toilet opening
Easy to clean and disinfect
Lift is compatible with a wash station

Disadvantages:
-

Expensive
Has a scale attached which takes up extra space
Battery powered
Would not be of use when trying to clean a patient
in their bed--this lift is more for transporting a
patient to an actual bath
Figure 8: Novum 2000 Stretcher Lift

6. Hoyer Advance E-Lift

Advantages:
-

The lift is mobile

There are different harnesses for different types of lifts
The lift can collapse (compact)
The wide leg design of the base allows for the lift to get
close to large objects
Large handle for easy control
Depending on the sling could potential lift part of the
patient for cleaning

Disadvantages:
-

Expensive
The straps on the lift could get tangled
The straps could also get in the way when trying to clean a
patient
When moving patient possible jerking of the patient could
happen
Depending on the type of lift, two caregivers are needed
to operate

Figure 9: Hoyer Advance E-Lift

Figure 9: E-Lift collapsed

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7. P-300 Portable Ceiling Lift

Advantages:
-

Designed to be small and compact

Has the ability to transfer a patient from a low bed
Has special safety features such as an over speed
governor and load limits
Easy to use
Light and portable
A single caregiver can perform the lift without a risk of
injury

Disadvantages:
-

It is a ceiling lift so it involves some sort of track

Figure 10: P-300 Portable Ceiling Lift
Battery powered
Lifts the whole body so would not be ideal for the cleaning process
Possible of having unnecessary jerking of the patient

8. Invacare i-Lift 450

Advantages:
-

Foldable design--compact
Lift has high maneuverability, able to move in tight
space
Low base so can fit under low beds
Different harnesses can be used for different types
of lifts
Has safety features such as lift stops if it meets any
kid of resistance

Disadvantages:
-

2 caregivers needed for a safe lift

Has a remote with a heavy cord that could possible
get tangled
Harness straps could get tangled
Expensive
Lifts the whole body so would not be helpful
during the cleaning process

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Figure 11: Invacare i-Lift 450

9. Arjo Huntleigh Maxi 500 Power Base Patient Sling Lift

Advantages:
-

A single caregiver can operate the lift

The lift is easy to maneuver
The lift doesnt require battery power
The lift has safety features such as an emergency stop and
emergency lowering
There are different size/types of slings available
The base of the lift is low so has the ability to fit under the
bed

Disadvantages:
-

The whole body is lifted so wouldnt be helpful for the

cleaning process
The slings for the lift are cloth, which is not easy to disinfect
The harness straps could get tangled
Expensive
Has the possibility of have some unnecessary jerking of the
patient

Figure 12: Maxi 500 Power Base Patient Sling Lift

10. Medline Hydraulic Patient Lift

Advantages:
-

Low base can fit under low beds

Fairly affordable
The lift doesnt require battery power
The base of the lift is adjustable so can fit through
different size doorways
Depending on the sling used could lift part of the body or
keep on side during the cleaning process

Disadvantages:
-

2 caregivers needed for a safe lift

Involves some physical work from the caregiver for the
hydraulic pump
The 6-point cradle could possibly cause injury to the
patients or caregiver
Straps of sling could get in the way of the caregiver during the
cleaning process

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Figure 13: Medline Hydraulic Patient Lift

11. Reusable Lavin Lift Straps

Advantages:
-

A single caregiver can perform the lift without a risk of

injury
These straps only lift lower half of patients body
Straps are machine washable and can be cleaned with
disinfectants
The straps are adjustable to fit multiple sizes
Would be helpful when cleaning because only the legs are
lifted

Disadvantages:
-

Expensive
Cannot be wiped clean
The straps could possibly get tangled
When sending the straps for cleaning could get lost
Could cause possible discomfort to the patient depending
on how the sling is placed
Does not allow for turning of a patient on their side

Figure 14: Lavin Lift Straps

Upon completing the product search, it was determined that there seemingly no patient lifting devices
that were suited specifically for cleaning a bedridden patientand those lifts that had attachments
available for lifting just a patients legs (figure 15) had considerable shortcomings. Chief among these
was their requirement of needing to be machine washed after use. In interviews with nurses, it was
determined that a primary reason lifts were not used for the cleaning process was that the slings
became easily soiled and could not be wiped clean. When sent through laundry to be cleaned, these
slings would often be misplaced and not return to where they were originally deployed, resulting in a lot
of frustration and missing slings.
Additionally, none of the current devices reviewed were suitable for shifting a patient onto their side.
Current lifts only lift completely out of the bed, or lift just the legs (by the knees). Since shifting patients
onto their side is still the most widely used method of cleaning (figures 2-3), a lift that can accomplish
this movement would be of great utility for this purpose.
Building onto this initial product search, is the next step in the design process: the patent search.

Patent Search
The patent search provides a way to see what has already been designed to solve similar problems and
can act as a way to guide design maturity. From this one can take away advantages and disadvantages
from current and past designs and draw from that what is necessary to make a successful design. This is
the objective of this section.
This search showed relevant ideas and aided in helping mature what is already being sought out. The
following ten patents relate to similar goals that the proposed patient lift shares, and all give insight to
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ways that other designers approached a similar problem (see Appendix E for patent documents, and
Appendix G for references).
1. PATIENT LIFTING DEVICE - US 3205512 A The main features of this design are its pure
simplicity and ability to be portable. However, it has quite a few disadvantages. Due to its shape
and construction, it is large and cumbersome. The lifting mechanism is driven by a crank and
pulley with a ratcheting lock which will require to some extent user input strength and will need
even more when lowering. The saddle that holds the patient has a primitive design with little to
no adjustability that will have provide no real comfort gains.
2. Patient lift device - US 20120291197 A1 This design has a great deal of practicality in mind and
is very effective for patient transport. It is driven by actuators to move the whole system up and
down, giving it smaller overall dimensions compared to geared pulleys and multi-link suspension
arms. The whole system is on wheels that may swivel with adjustable foot posts to easily clear
doorways. Another benefit is the inclusion of a sliding mechanism to allow for lateral movement
of the hoist that connects to the patient sling. The only disadvantage to this feature is that it
must have user input to be moved when the patient is suspended and may require some
strength.
3. Patient lifting device - US 8397320 B2 A positive to this system is its electromechanical winch
system that can easily be controlled by the user. This lifting system also has the benefits of a
transvers beam to allow for better patient movement, but at the same time lacks a mechanical
control of its motion leaving it up to user input. The frame is also fixed and large which will
hinder its ability to be stored and moved easily.
4. Patient lifting device - US 8656529 B2 This design has a very streamlined look that makes it
particularly appealing to users and features a good amount of advantages compared to
competitors. It features an actuated lifting arm that reaches from a singular post as to be
positioned on only one side of the bed. This feature also allows it to be more portable and
versatile due to its configurability. Along with this it has folding support legs that extend
underneath the bed which when not in use will retract and allow for easy transport and storage
of the system. The only disadvantage is the need for a sling that is not included with the lifting
system. One would need to acquire ones that are compatible.
5. Patient lift device - US 4117561 A This design has the advantages of portability but may have
some trouble due to its large size. Nonetheless, it has a unique lifting system that allows for
lifting and transverse motion once the patient has been lifted to better position them. The only
downside to that is the fact that it is driven by a hand cranked pulley system that is not very user
friendly and may have more than average strength requirements to operate efficiently and
safely.
6. Patient lift with hanger bar attachment - US 8272084 B2 Similar to an earlier design, this
design has a fairly streamlined look. It features an actuated lifting arm that reaches from a
singular post as to be positioned on only one side of the bed. This feature also allows it to be
15

more portable and versatile due to its configurability. Along with this it has folding support legs
that extend underneath the bed which when not in use will retract and allow for easy transport
and storage of the system. For the sling attachment it has an adjustable design configuration. It
has a multi sling attachment that can lock in place, while also being allowed to extend its two
sling support arms to match the width of the patient. The only disadvantage is the need for a
sling that is not included with the lifting system. One would need to acquire ones that are
compatible.
7. Patient lift mechanism - US 5809591 A This lifting system incorporates a transverse bar which
carries a patient between two laterally extending bars that make up a squared frame. The
transverse bar has a mounted motor for lifting and lowering the patient from the bed with ease.
The patient lift bar includes four lift points with two forward lift points that provides greater
support to the rear of the patient, while the additional distance in the front facilitates entry and
removal of the patient lift system. The included sling provides a support for attachment to the
lift bar which comfortably lifts the patient.
8. Patient lifting device - US 4195375 A The patient lifting device is comprised of an open
rectangular frame structure that allows it to slide over the bed from one side. It has an adequate
amount of maneuverability, yet is very bulky to work with and access to the patient can be quite
limited. Flexible straps are arranged to be passed under spaced portions of the patient to allow
for adequate support and comfort. However, the system to lift theses straps are again driven by
a hand cranked mechanism.
9. Hospital bed having patient lifting device - US 20140096319 A1 This lifting device is intended
for use with a bed frame or similar apparatus has the advantage of saving space and increased
access to the patient when not in use due to a folding design. The lift includes a support
structure, a boom, and electronically driven belt lift. The electronic driven pulley allows for easy
use by the operator. It features a rotating joint at the elbow of the boom to allow for rotation of
the patients position. Unfortunately, there is no power assist for this feature. Aside from that it
has a versatile sling mounting interface to allow for multiple configurations.
10. Patient lift - US 3131404 A The main advantages to this design are its adaptability to lifting
multiple extremities of ones body and its portability. The multiple slings also allow for a great
variety of support to fully lift a patient from their bed for transport. A downside is the fact that,
due to its portability, it will take up floor space. But this may be a much better option than one
that is required to be bought for every room which is where prices willy really add up.

In performing the patent search stage of the design process, the requirements could be modified based
on what was found to be currently claimed for other designs that were granted a patent. Based off of
what was found during the search, one may conclude that the design needs to be user friendly while at
the same time providing adequate comfort and safety for the consumer and patient. A key feature of
the more modern patents showed a shift from mechanical user input to electromechanical and
hydraulically actuated systems. The main disadvantages that were observed are avoiding large
16

cumbersome structures that will impede staff and patient movement as well as designing for simplicity
so that it is more user-friendly. Knowing that no design resembled what was currently in place for the
teams new lift concept gives the design more market value due to its uniqueness, and could make it
more profitable when it comes to entering the market.

Ergonomics
Ergonomics are important to consider in the design of any device, but especially so for medical devices,
as creating safe, user-friendly products is of paramount importance in the often hectic hospital
environment. For the patient lift there are two primary aspects of ergonomics involved the ease of
use by the operator (nurse or caretaker), and comfort for the patientboth of which were identified as
customer needs in both the survey results and the caretaker interviews. The following section details
these factors as well as how they will be worked into the design.
List of Considerations:

Part of product that touches patient needs to be cleanable, durable, and comfortable
o Needs to be some type of sling which attaches to the pulley cables
Pulley handle and/or cable needs to be easy to grip and comfortable
No sharp edges or metal near patient
No possibility of cable coming off pulley and falling on patient
o Pulley system needs to be enclosed
4-point sling needs to be comfortable in all maneuvers
o Rolling to one side
o Lifting legs
Patient should be comfortable on their side (no back pain issues)
Locking mechanism (to lock legs in raised position, or to lock patient in rolled over position)
needs to be easy to use and similar ergonomic design with respect to the pulley handle

Potential Solutions:

Slings should be made of a padded, non-fibrous material

o Slings can be one long piece of material, or two larger pieces connected
o Sling should be longer than body width to account for when patient is rolled over
o Surface must be easy to wipe down and clean
Structural support to slings could be provided with plastic underneath padding
Pulley handle should be molded plastic with rubber for grip
o Could be separate - hanging from pulley cable
o Could surround pulley cable
Pulley cables should be insulated with rubber coating
Metal structure above patient should be encased in a smooth plastic or padded
Pulley system should be enclosed in plastic casing
The system must be adjustable to accommodate different patient heights
o Utilize rail system with locking mechanism
Pulley locking mechanism handle can be T-shaped
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Plastic body with rubber for grip

As demonstrated above, there are several important aspects of ergonomics that need to be designed for
in the patient lift system. The major priority is patient safety and sanitation, and secondary to this is
patient comfort and ease of operability. By utilizing non-fibrous slings with structural support, the
design will be both easy to clean and durable. Adding a protective layer of insulation and padding on
the cables and structural members ensures the patient will be safe throughout the maneuvering
process. This satisfies our design goals and criteria, and will play a big role in the ease of use of the final
product.

Materials
The selection of materials plays a key role in the design of any product. It is important that cost is kept
at a minimum, while design constraints such as strength in structural members are satisfied with an
appropriate factor of safety. There is a trade-off between cost and durability of materials, and a balance
must be achieved which satisfies all constraints. In addition, different materials have different physical
properties, and depending on constraints some may be desired over others.
For the patient lift system, it is vital that all materials chosen for the structure are durable enough to
withstand a specific loading. It is also important that materials which come into contact with the patient
are soft, non-abrasive, and easily cleanable without disassembly. Table II lists materials which will be
considered for use in the product, paired with the appropriate design constraints:
Categories

Strength

Weight
Safety
Comfort
Sanitation
Ergonomics

Component Constraints

Material(s) Considered

Cables withstand up to 500lb loading

Steel cable

Frame structure able to withstand loading

Steel or aluminum frame

Ceiling mount for frame

Steel bracket

Sling durability with loading

ABS plastic skeleton

Sling must be lightweight

Foam padding, thin vinyl-based surface

Cable insulation

Rubber, silicone

Metal structure

Plastic shell, foam padding

Sling comfortable

Air bubble padding, foam padding

Sling easily cleanable

Vinyl, polyethylene

Pulley handle easy to grip

ABS plastic, rubber inserts

Locking mechanism handle easy to grip

ABS plastic, rubber inserts

Table II: Potential materials

As shown in Table II above, the patient lift system incorporates several different types of materials for
specific purposes. The structure will most likely be made of steel or aluminum, as they have the desired
strengths and durability required to withstand the forces and moments created by the load of the
patient. After the loading is considered, sanitation constraints must be satisfied. After some research,
non-fibrous materials have been chosen for the sling surface in order to keep dirt and oils from sticking.
Another important factor to consider is the role material cost plays in the final price of the system.
18

Since the lift would ideally be low-cost enough to deploy in most patient rooms, cheaper air bubble
padding will be utilized for the sling, as well as polyethylene or vinyl for the sling surface as they are
both common materials which are widely used in industry. The challenge in designing for low-cost will
be to create the most comfortable system utilizing the least amount of material.

QFD Analysis
In order to organize the results from the costumer need studies, a quality function deployment matrix
was prepared to visualize these needs and their corresponding functional requirements, and to
benchmark them against competing products. A compressed form of this matrix is shown in Figure 16,
and a full version is available in Appendix D.

Figure 15: QFD House of Quality Matrix

Completing this QFD matrix yielded some interesting results. Firstly, it was found that, compared to
competing products, the proposed Patient Sanitation Lift (the pink line in Figure 16) outperformed its
competitors in most costumer needs, as shown by its right-side bias in the line chart to the right. This is
excellent news for the market viability of the product. Another key insight was the Relative Weight
section at the bottom which, after filling the chart in for the relative relationships in the roof of the
House of Quality matrix, conveyed that patient comfort holds a large weight in relationship to other
19

equally important customer needs. This is likely due to the relative ease in which customer comfort is
achieved, making it an easy target to hit in the design of the product. These results, along with others
from the chart, are clear indications that completing a QFD is an excellent exercise in the design process,
as it forces the designers to think about the relationship between different metrics while opening their
eyes to key performance targets that they may have otherwise overlooked.

Product Design Specification

The product design specification stage of the design process is critical to help sort and lay out the
requirements of the product being designed. The customer and engineering requirements are
determined using the surveys and interviews taken during the initial stages of the design process.
Similarly, the function of the product and certain design requirements such as the performance
requirements are laid out, using input from the QFD matrix as well as customer needs.
In this stage of the design process, listing all the requirements needed to make a strong product will help
later on when formally designing the product. These requirements will help determine which functions
are important to include and which are not, and thus are critical in future design stages.
Function:
The lift will be attached to the ceiling involving a pulley system that will have two easily wipeable
pads that are placed under the patient, one placed under the shoulders/upper back and the second
under the knees/upper calf. Instead of performing the rollover technique and stiff arming the
patient in the back to keep them on their side this lift will perform the technique using the pads
and the pulley system to keep the patient on their side or it can simply lift the lower half of the
body. The lift will be inexpensive so one can be in every room and will be easily disinfected by
wiping clean.
Customer requirements (in order of importance):
1. Must be able to be disinfected easily
2. Safety of both the patient and the caregiver
3. Must be readily available
4. Must be able to be operated by one person
5. Must have the ability to be performed fairly quickly
Engineering Characteristics (in order of importance):
1. Medical-grade, easily cleanable materials used
2. No sharp edges, points, or loose hanging loops that could be tripped on
3. Must have the ability to attach to the ceiling to have one in every room
4. <50 lbs force required for lifting
5. Must take less than 2 minutes to deploy under patient
Design requirements:
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1. Physical and Operational Characteristics:

a. Performance requirements: The lift will have the ability to roll a patient to their side or just
lift their lower half of their body for cleaning. The lift will have the ability to be operated by
one caregiver with minimal force required. The sling on the lift will be padded and have the
ability to be easily disinfected for repeated use.
b. Safety: The lift will have a locking system that will prevent the patient from being dropped
drastically so the patient stays in the position required for the cleaning. The sling will be easy
to clean to prevent spreading of diseases or infections. The straps will have the ability to be
moved to the sided to get out of the way of any other operations that need to be performed
or to prevent a patient accident with the straps.
c. Accuracy and Reliability: The lift should be able to perform the required lift of the patient
smoothly.
d. Life in Service: The lift should be able to function for a minimum of two years. The slings
of the lift should be able to function for a minimum of one year. The ideal service of the lift
shall be six years.
e. Shelf Life: The lift should be at least two years and the slings should be at least one year.
f. Operating Environment: The lift will be designed to be used indoors all of its product life.
The lift and slings will be designed to withstand a large temperature range and still be able to
perform the operation smoothly. The lift doesnt require any electricity so can be performed
if a power outage occurs.
g. Ergonomics: Allows for maximum patient comfort and easy operability by caretaker.
h. Size: The preliminary size goal of the mechanism that is attached to the ceiling would be
about 2x2 cube.
i. Weight: The preliminary weight goal of the total lift should be 80 pounds or less.
j. Materials: Utilizes steel and aluminum for the primary structure, steel cables to take on
loading of the patient, and a padded fabric sling with a rigid support skeleton. Other
materials utilized include plastics and rubber which will be optimized for low-cost.
k. Aesthetics, Appearance, and Finish: The lift shall be aesthetically pleasing and fit in with
the rest of the hospital rooms aesthetics. The slings of the lift should be aesthetically please
but also have a finish that allows for them to be disinfected easily.

2. Production Characteristics:
a. Quantity: 2,000 per year
b. Target Product Cost: $800 or under

21

In performing the product design specifications stage of the design process the customer and
engineering requirements were laid out. By considering these requirements, the specific design
specifications were determined. These requirements help with understanding what needs to be done to
create the lift and make it a successful product.

Project Schedule
Work Breakdown Structure (figure 17):

Figure 16: WBS Chart

The Gantt Chart can be found in Appendix C.

22

Appendix A: Customer Need Survey Documents

Below (Figure A1) is the electronic survey that was distributed to the various nurses and caretakers
during the customer need survey:

Figure A1: Customer Survey

23

The results of this survey are tabulated below in Table A.i as well as the accompanying paper surveys on the
following pages:

Table A.i: Survey results

24

Appendix B: Caregiver Interviews

Interview Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

What is the current method you use in order to maneuver a patient during the clean-up process?
What are some common problems with this method?
How long does this typically take?
How many times per day does a patient require cleaning?
How many people are involved in the process?
What are the strength requirements of the people involved?
Our idea involves creating a pulley system that can be attached to the bed or stood upright next to
the bed which allows one person of average strength to easily lift the patient's legs in the air. The
patient's legs would rest comfortably in a sling and would stay there, allowing the same person to
carry out the cleaning process by their self. What are some concerns/feedback you have regarding
the idea?

Interview 1:
Name: Cheryl Melbrod
Occupation: Nurse at Erie County Medical
Response to Interview Questions:

Hoyer lift is main equipment currently used

o Only used when absolutely needed
Patient is overweight
Nursing resources are unavailable
o Designed mainly to remove patient from bed
When Hoyer lift is not needed, nurses roll patient over on their side
o Lifting legs is uncommon practice
o Only remove patient from bed completely when absolutely necessary
o If the sheets need to be changed, patient is rolled to one side, then the other, and back
again
Nurses have to be able to lift patient weight, some physical strength required
o If several nurses are available, they will all maneuver the patient together
Cleaning process needed multiple times per day per patient
o Nursing resources are limited

Interview 2:
Name: Holly Stortz
Occupation: Nurse Manager at Kaleida Health
Response to Interview Questions:

The rollover method

25

Patient is rolled on side, stiff armed, and cleaned with the other hand
Lifting legs-only is uncommon
Nursing resources are often limited, and large patients require multiple nurses
to maneuver
If the sheets need to be changed, patient is rolled to one side, then the other,
and back again
Nurses have to be able to lift patient weight, some physical strength required
o If several nurses are available, they will all maneuver the patient together
Cleaning process needed multiple times per day per patient
o Nursing resources are limited
Patient lift systems are sometimes used to move large patients from their beds in order to
change sheetsbut this is rare because the harnesses used become soiled and require machine
washing. When sent for machine washing, the slings often do not make it back to where they
were deployed from, resulting in many lost slings which is expensive.
If a patient harness was created, the primary concern should be to make it wipe-clean; i.e. not
requiring machine washing to clean. That would make the harness much more likely to be used
on a daily basis.

Interview 3:
Name: Lisa Flynn
Occupation: Nurse at Women and Childrens Hospital
Response to Interview Questions:

Hoyer lift is main equipment currently used

Only used when absolutely needed
Designed mainly to remove patient from bed
When Hoyer lift is not needed, nurses roll patient over on their side
Takes around 20 mins for cleaning process
Requires 1 2 nurses
Nurses have to be able to lift patient weight, some physical strength required
Need to be able to lift more than 50 lbs.
Cleaning process needed multiple times per day per patient
Patients need to be cleaned 4 times per day
Main design concern is how to keep the device clean.

26

Appendix C: Gantt Chart

27

Appendix D: Full QFD Matrix

28

Appendix E: Patent Documents

Patent 1 - US 3205512 A:

29

Patent 2 - US 20120291197 A1:

30

Patent 3 - US 8397320 B2:

31

Patent 4 - US 8656529 B2:

32

Patent 5 - US 4117561 A:

33

Patent 6 - US 8272084 B2:

34

Patent 7 - US 5809591 A:

35

Patent 8 - US 4195375 A:

36

Patent 9 - US 20140096319 A1:

37

Patent 10 - US 3131404 A:

38

Patent 10 - US 3131404 A cont.:

39

Appendix F: Team Meeting Minutes

Date
9/15/15

Time
Location
2:00pm Capen
Library

Attendance
Everyone

Minutes
Brainstormed
o Gyroscopic drink holder
o Car lift idea
o Creeper (working on cars)
o Frisbee golf trace-able frisbee
Discussed ideas
o Pros/cons of each

9/17/15

2:00pm Capen
Library

Everyone

Refined current ideas after meeting with professor

o Brainstormed three new ideas that fit project
scope/requirements
Adjustable hanger
Simple bike rack system
Medical lift for patients with fecal
incontinence

9/22/15

2:00pm Capen
Library

Everyone

Chose patient lift as product

Created survey questions
o Common issues
o Current system/method used to maneuver patients
o What needs to be lifted?
Legs
Torso
Entire body
Delegated/assigned work
o Patent search - Liam
o Materials & Ergonomics - Zack
o Additional Materials - Humphrey
o Current devices - Leanne
o QFD Analysis - Ben

9/24/15

3:00pm Capen
Library

Everyone

9/29/15

2:00pm Capen
Library

Everyone

Discussed survey
o Distribution method
o Use feedback to guide design requirements and
specs
Discussed Interviews
o Determined interview questions (similar to survey
questions)
Looked over QFD chart
o What is required?
Looked over Gantt chart
o How is this different that WBS?
Discussed pros and cons of current devices on market
o Had an in-depth discussion of Hoyer Lift
40

9/30/15

2:00pm Capen
Library

Zack, Ben,
Leanne,
Humphrey

10/1/15

3:00pm Capen
Library

Everyone

o How our device would fit into the market

Discussed customer feedback
o How feedback relates to our product idea
o Narrowed the problem statement/definition to
reflect this feedback
Brainstormed based on new problem definition/customer
feedback to develop idea further
o Looked at different lifting mechanisms
o Looked at structure of device - whether it is ceiling
mounted, bed frame mounted, or portable
o Looked at different ways to maneuver patient on
the bed
o Looked at types of slings and materials which will
come into direct contact with the patient
Combined ideas from brainstorming to come up with a 4
point harness lift
o Ceiling mounted
o 4 cables, can be controlled in pairs of 2
o Purely mechanical system - no hydraulics,
pneumatics, or electronics
o Uses a pulley system
o Similar to pulling up window blinds, must be as
little strength required as possible
o Easily wiped down (important material selection)

Divided up final (unassigned) work for memo 1

o Abstract - Ben
o Specs - Leanne
o WBS - zack
o Gantt -zack
o Motivation - Ben
o Customer Needs - Ben
Finalized ideas for material selection
Discussed group portfolio and appendix section
Due date for all sections is Thursday 10/1/15
o Will print report Thursday
Discussed printed project
o sections still need completed - Ben
o materials - pool cover plastic instead of goretex
pool cover will provide all padding
necessary
still have plastic skeleton for support
o need one more product desicription - leanne
o format all meeting minutes into one table - zack
o adjust materials section - zack
o change table and figure numbers so they match ben
o references for materials - copy paste ben
41

format patent links with reference numbers - put

links at end - ben
works cited for above easy bib^^ - ben
meeting minutes for interviews - list main points
discussed in interview
names and title of people

Appendix G: References
References: Current Devices
"ErgoNurse | The No-Lift Patient Lift." ErgoNurse | The No-Lift Patient Lift. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.
"Folding Patient Lift | Invacare I-Lift 450." www.phc-online.com. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.
"Hoyer Advance-E Lift." EMed Patient Lifts. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.
"Lavin Lift Strap-Our Product for Lifting the Lower Portion of a Patient's Body or Limb Suspension, for Safe Patient
Handling." Lavin Lift Strap-Our Product for Lifting the Lower Portion of a Patient's Body or Limb Suspension, for Safe
Patient Handling. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.
"Medline Hydraulic Patient Lift with Sling." Default Store View. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.
"P-300 Portable Ceiling Lift." Prism Medical. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.
"Polaris King 550 Patient Lift." Patient Lifts. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.
"Polaris Medical, Inc." Polaris Medical, Inc. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.
"TITAN 500 OVERHEAD PATIENT LIFT." Traxx Mobility Systems Overhead Patient Lift Patient Lift Information. 30
Sept. 2015.

References: Patent Search

1.

"Patent US3205512 - Patient Lifting Device." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.
<https://www.google.com/patents/US3205512?dq=patient%2Blifting%2Bdevices&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDgQ
6AEwBGoVChMI2onP_e-ayAIVhRk-Ch0vaQ8f>.

2.

"Patent US8793822 - Patient Lift Device." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.
<https://www.google.com/patents/US8793822?dq=patient%2Blifting%2Bdevices&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CE0Q6
AEwB2oVChMI2onP_e-ayAIVhRk-Ch0vaQ8f>.

3.

"Patent US8397320 - Patient Lifting Device." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.
<https://www.google.com/patents/US8397320?dq=patient%2Blifting%2Bdevices&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CFQQ
6AEwCGoVChMI2onP_e-ayAIVhRk-Ch0vaQ8f>.

4.

"Patent US8656529 - Patient Lifting Device." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.
<https://www.google.com/patents/US8656529?dq=patient%2Blifting%2Bdevices&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDcQ6
AEwBDgKahUKEwiKlKnr4JvIAhXJHT4KHV9JBTc>.

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5.

"Patent US4117561 - Patient Lift Device." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.
<https://www.google.com/patents/US4117561?dq=patient%2Blifting%2Bdevices&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CFMQ
6AEwCDgUahUKEwjYmM_P4ZvIAhVIXB4KHTGAByg>.

6.

"Patent US8272084 - Patient Lift with Hanger Bar Attachment." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.
<https://www.google.com.ar/patents/US8272084>.

7.

"Patent US5809591 - Patient Lift Mechanism." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.
<https://www.google.com/patents/US5809591?dq=patient%2Blifting%2Bdevices&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEUQ
6AEwBjgeahUKEwiy86-44pvIAhWCHB4KHWNBCKU>.

8.

"Patent US4195375 - Patient Lifting Device." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.
<https://www.google.com/patents/US4195375?dq=patient%2Blifting%2Bdevices&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCkQ6
AEwAjgoahUKEwi0353I45vIAhUJmIAKHdeRCWc>.

9.

"Patent US20140096319 - Hospital Bed Having Patient Lifting Device." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct.
2015.
<https://www.google.com/patents/US20140096319?dq=patient%2Blifting%2Bdevices&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0C
EwQ6AEwBzgyahUKEwjE44SZ5JvIAhVKl4AKHb-hDmM>.

10. "Patent US3131404 - Patient Lift." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.
<https://www.google.com/patents/US3131404?dq=hospital%2Bbed%2Bpatient%2Blifting%2Bdevices&hl=en
&sa=X&ved=0CD4Q6AEwBTgeahUKEwjQ2Z7Y5ZvIAhUEcD4KHaISDRc>.

43