Omni-Axis: Overbed Table Improvement

Abstract

Hospitalized adult inpatients and clinical staff are poorly served by current overbed table designs, which lack maneuverability, ergonomic adaptability, and adequate storage. Surveys of Mayo Clinic staff confirm this need, with over 96% reporting difficulty moving existing models, compromising patient independence and obstructing critical workflow during emergencies.

The AtlasWorks Omni-Axis Overbed Table reimagines the conventional overbed table through a wheelbase-mounted articulating arm system capable of precise, low-effort repositioning. Rather than requiring a nurse to reposition the table, patients are able to independently push or pull the table surface with minimal effort, directly improving patient autonomy and freeing clinical staff from routine repositioning tasks. The system is organized into three modular subsystems: a stable Wheelbase Assembly, an Articulation Subsystem with an integrated custom locking mechanism, and a Patient Interface Subsystem comprising a medical-grade table surface and ergonomic repositioning lever.

Deflection testing of a functional prototype demonstrated that the articulating arm supports 31.3 lbs (14.2 kg) at a 15-inch reach from the attachment point with 14 degrees of deflection, satisfying the team’s updated 20 lbs. load benchmark. Critical-to-Quality specifications further require less than 5 N of user repositioning force and less than 1 mm/hr of vertical drift under load, with validation testing ongoing.

The modular all-mechanical design simplifies manufacturing, assembly, and the regulatory pathway toward ISO 13485 and IEC 62366-1 compliance, targeting a unit cost of approximately $250. The Omni-Axis Overbed Table is positioned to measurably enhance patient independence and safety while reducing unnecessary demands on clinical staff.

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