A biomechanical analysis of electric nursing care beds basing on a virtual man-bed system

Relation between human and electric care beds (ECB) is complex and special. This study aims at reducing incidence of ulcer and improve comfort when using ECB. To quantify the force distribution exerted upon human body in process of following the care beds for a long period and evaluate the feasibility of new functions of care beds, a group of old people were asked to finish a series of experiments on three kinds of electric care beds. Pressure mapping system and a virtual man-bed system were utilized to quantify the forces in all postures and assess the influences of postures and body weight, explore the relationship between bed movement and force distribution. The results can be utilized to improve the pathological characteristics of ECB in all postures, and furthermore to evaluate or predict the feasibility of new functions added to electric nursing care beds.