Design and development of an elevating stretcher trolley.

The thesis describes the information search and development of a new design for an elevating stretcher trolley. The project was sponsored by F.W. Equipment Co., Ltd. of Bradford who required a new design for their existing stretcher trolley that has been on the market for the last ten years.The information search period consisted of the identification of a suitable method of information collection. This involved visits to ambulance stations to question ambulance crews and observe the trolley during use, where possible. The information gathered during these visits was analysed with emphasis on the ergonomic priorities and used to produce a performance specification against which both the existing and the new design could be eva luated. The design development comprised identification of design priorities that enabled the complex structure to be separated into related components within the whole context of the design. This was followed by the generation of ideas for solution to the problems identified, development of viable solutions to mock-up level and the development of a first prototype. The second prototype was developed from the first incorporating the improvements and design changes arising from the evaluation of this. A handling evaluation of the second prototype and suggestions for a production model conclude the project.