Ergonomically safe inflatable patient bed positioning devices

Positioning a patient in bed correctly is a daily task for most nurses and doctors. It is a physical handling and can cause back pain for those involved. Belgium MedTech company Ergotrics has developed an inflatable medical device that can position patients using compressed air.

How do the products of Ergotrics work?

Ergotrics design and produce inflatable positioning devices, which tilt and lift patients quickly, easily, ergonomically, hygienically and safely. Positioning a patient before surgery is very important as it avoids complications and allows for better surgery. However, this requires manually positioning by four to six nurses. Ergotrics’ products were invented by neurosurgeon Dr. Paul Depauw, who saw that 60% of the nurses in his OR-team were suffering from lower back pain.

By using compressed air instead of manual force, Ergotrics wants to bring efficiency in hospitals and provide better support for patients without ergonomically burdening the healthcare worker. The products are used in the operating room (e.g. neurosurgery) and intensive care units (e.g. corona patients).

How do the products of Ergotrics impact the life of patients and healthcare professionals?

All products of Ergotrics work with compressed air, which has advantages for both patients and healthcare personnel. The compressed air contributes to beter patient positioning and better ergonomics for healthcare staff. 90% of Ergotrics users mentioned that no or minimal force was used to position patients in prone position by using Ergotrics. Besides these compressed air advantages, the solutions are fully X-ray radiolucent and have an optimal hygiene. The company have developed disposable single patient use and reusable inflatables depending on the infection risk.

A demo of how to use the IBO, a product of Ergotrics, can be watched below.