System Science and Engineering Helping Bedridden Patients

The world’s population is ageing. In fact, each country around the globe is experiencing a high growth rate in the number and proportion of older individuals in their entire population. This has become one of the most significant social changes of the twenty-first century (Lutz et al 2008). Statistics that was carried out by the World Population Prospects: the 2017 Revision, the number of older people aged between 60 years and above is expected to double by 2050 and it will triple in 2100. The number will rise from 962 million in 2017 to 2.1 billion in 2050 and 2100, the number will be 3.1 billion. The ageing population is growing faster than the younger age (Lutz et al 2017). Most of these older people are forced to be in beds because of some health issues. In many cases, they are confined to live in bed because of sickness or infirmity. Many of these individuals need extra care so as to avoid the development of pressure ulcers which can be caused by the long state on the same physical posture. This may lead to death if the individual is not turned regularly since the pressure applied to the skin can stop blood from flowing to the pressed skin region (Ikezoe et al 2011). This can be prevented by the use of special beds which in many cases are very expensive. Many people who are in beds due to various reasons cannot be able to afford such beds. A special bed needs to design which will enable the bedridden individuals to move around (Cameron et al 2012). Also, the available options for moving these people around have so many defects in their handling or use. Most of them have limited operational abilities rendering them useless in some situations (Yukawa et al 2010). Therefore, this project’s main aim is to develop a mechatronic system which will give a bedridden individual a chance to move from the bed and do basic things like bathing and help the persons taking care of them to collect the necessary physiological data of the patient.

The number of individuals who are being bedridden has been increasing at an alarming rate. Many of these individuals are suffering from various illness most of which are brain related. The brain disease accounts for almost 50 per cent of all the cases. Also, the number of older people has been increasing across the world. Data collected by World Population Prospects: Revision 2017 indicate that the number of older people aged between 60 years and above is expected to double by 2050 and it will triple in 2100. The number will rise from 962 million in 2017 to 2.1 billion in 2050 and 2100, the number will be 3.1 billion. Unfortunately, many of these sick and old people are very poor (Lutz et al 2017). World Poverty Statistic showed that almost half of the world’s population live in extreme poverty. This means that 3 billion people live on less than $2.50 a day. 1.3 billion Individuals live in extreme poverty. They spend less than $1.25 a day (Braithwaite & Mont 2009). many of the bedridden individuals fall under the 3 billion poor people. this means that they cannot afford the available expensive beds to help them move around.Staying in bed for so long is also associated with numerous health effects most of which are deadly if not handled in due time. For instance, it can lead to effects on muscles and bones. When muscles are not being used, they quickly begin to weaken and waste away and this can lead to death (Ikezoe et al 2011).Mission Statement Primarily, the mechatronic system for bedridden people is meant to help both the sick individuals who are unable to get out of bed and also the elderly. It will be able to withdraw them from the bed and for bathing and other necessary health care such as the collection of physiological data that will be used in the treatment of the patient.

The system will be designed in such a way that it will have numerous functions. The fitted conveyer belt framework will help the bed to move patients from one device to the other. The system will be adjustable to various positions (Bezerra et al 2015 February). This means that it can have the same features as those in the wheelchair. The system is also meant to provide some independence of movement hence improving the physical and psychological health of the patient. Performance and Physical Parameters The system is made up of a transport system which has the ability to lower or lift the patient to the elevator and later moves the person to the stretcher without the involvement of oscillations. It has the ability to move change into different positions such as a wheelchair and move the patient around (Bezerra et al 2015 February). Operational Requirement The mechatronic system bed will come in different designs. But the bed is specifically designed for only one person and it can last for more than 30 years if well handled. Utilization Requirement The mechatronic system bed only carries one patient and it can be operated by one caregiver.

Since most of the patients who are going to use the system cannot be able to move around, the system will enable them to take baths, move from one point to another and also provide the best safety for the patients. Since there will be the development of various beds, each customer (patient) must be mindful of the needs and requirements that they need such as adaptability, privacy, safety and versatility. By developing the mechatronic system for bedridden people, it will be possible for them to avoid various illness that is related to long periods of stay in bed (Peng et al 2010) Effective FactorsThe system will be designed in such a way that it will be comfortable for all its users. The bed width will be approximately 90 cm, seat depth of 46cm and mattress length of 210 cm. this is with an attempt to make sure that the people who are being bedridden are comfortable. The bed does not require a high level of tech know-how for it to be easily operated.

Anyone is in a position to operate it because of its automatic features. The bed will also be designed to be able to accommodate individuals of all heights, weights and heights. This I because they will be custom made taking into account the user preferences. There will be regular maintenance of the bed to make sure that it is in perfect condition (Brodersen et al 2015). Conceptual DesignDesign Alternatives The first option for the mechatronic system was the rotoflex turning bed. The design allowed the bed to be operated electronically. It is adjustable in nature providing powered rotation for assisting the patient to get in and out of bed. The bed help individuals with mobility to access to bed by themselves and safely without being helped by a carer. The bed has a button that enables the patient to move from an upright seated position to a lying position and vice versa. The design was selected because its development cost was affordable, and it could easily be adjusted and operated by the patient (Brodersen et al 2015). . [image: Image result for rotoflex single bed turning]The second design option was the patient lift and ceiling lift. The ceiling lift involved a pre-laid track and a patient lift had an independent structure that was fitted with wheels. For this device to work efficiently, two caregivers must be present to help the patient in moving around (Schoenfisch et al 2015). The design has a portable motor which will make it possible for the patient to travel from one room to the other and also take a cruise. They offer the comfortability that the patient wants (Alamgir et al 2009). The design was rejected because of the many safety issues related to it. For instance, in situations where the net underneath the device breaks, it can cause serious damages to the patient.

The third option was the inflatable bed bathtub. The bed had an ability to be inflated by use of a vacuum. The device was basically designed for the elderly. Is a handheld showerhead which is connected to a sink tap and the system drain hose to the sink drain? The design also has the ability to stimulate both a shower and a bathtub by draining or not water in the bath (Yukawa et al 2010). The design was not selected because it was expensive and specifically designed for only older people instead of anyone who has a problem with mobility.[image: Image result for inflatable bed bathtub bedridden patients]The last option was the design that has Medical Terminal (MCT). The design had all the features such as the analysis systems for checking the health condition of the patient (Pereira et al 2015). The design had the ability to collect information that could be used to monitor the real-time condition of the patient. The data received can also be used in doing a various diagnosis on the patient (Pereira et al 2016). The design was rejected because of the development cost. When completed the system would be sold for $8600. This means that the system can only be afforded by a few rich people. [image: ]Modeling of the selected Option The rotoflex turning bed is set up to rotate to any specific direction that the patient may prefer. This makes it be compatible with any room situation. The design will be fitted with a device that will enable it to make lift the head and foot end of the mattress independently. This will offer the patient variable heights for easier standing and movement.

The technique will also help the carer to raise the bed in a position that is safe for working (Silva 2015). The bed can move from recumbent to a seated position independently. For instance, the Rotoflex 175 low has the ability to provide a distance of about 43.5cm between the floor and the mattress surface. Through this, patients or elderly people with shorter legs will be able to sit more comfortably by getting their bottom to the back of the seat. Each rotoflex turning bed will be designed according to client specifications. Some of them will be fitted with 50cm lift motors which will compensate for low starting heights. The bed width will be approximately 90 cm, seat depth of 46cm and mattress length of 210 cm. this is with an attempt to make sure that the people who are being bedridden are comfortable (Brodersen et al 2015). ConclusionThe number of patient’s older people with the inability to walk has been increasing over the past years. Due to staying in bed for long periods, most of them have developed numerous illness that is associated with the condition. This made it necessary to develop a mechatronic system for bedridden individuals that will enable them to move from one point to the other. During the development process of the bed, there were four options that were put forward. One of the options was the patient lift and ceiling lift bed which was rejected because of the safety issues related to the bed. The second option was the inflatable bed bathtub. The design was not selected because it was specifically for older people. The third option was the MTC bed which was also declined because of the high cost of development. The rotoflex turning bed was selected because it was cheap and also easy to operate for the users. Recommendations Firstly, the rotoflex turning bed should be fitted with a special alarm system which the users should be using when they need any help. Sometimes the users might be in a condition that needs attention and since there is no alarm system to alert the carers what is happening, it becomes impossible to help them. Advancements should be done on the system to enable the carers or medical officers to analyze the medical condition of the user. This will improve the health of the person using the bed. Due to the advancement of technology, it will be necessary to develop a wireless or voice recognition system of operating the bed without pressing the buttons.