Stretcher-Integrated Scale • Prototype

Real patient weight, right on the stretcher.

In prehospital care, weight-based medications are often dosed off a guess. We’re building a stretcher-mounted scale that measures true patient weight in seconds and turns it into clear, on-board dosing guidance—no extra devices, no added workflow friction.

Why this matters See the system

Target accuracy: ≤ ±5%
Stable reading: < 5 s
Battery life: 12-hr shift

Patient weight kg

82.3

Tare status Baseline locked

Stretcher load Warranty-safe

41% of rated capacity

Panels online 4 / 4

Sampling rate 100 Hz

Mode Weight + dose view

A panelized load-cell platform sitting between mattress and frame—no stretcher modification, wired to a detachable 7" touchscreen that keeps weight and mg/kg dosing in one place.

When minutes and milligrams matter.

EMS crews often give weight-based medications without ever seeing a real weight. Visual guesses and length-based tapes are fast—but often off by more than 15%, especially in kids and atypical body types.

The gap

On scene, there’s no standard, stretcher-integrated way to weigh a patient and instantly see a weight-based dose. Estimation biases toward underdosing to avoid harm, and every extra look-up step competes with airway, breathing, and scene safety.

Research and interviews with EMTs, paramedics, flight medics, and ED staff confirm the same story: dosing errors and weight uncertainty are still common in prehospital care.

Our response

We’re developing a stretcher-compatible accessory that quietly measures true patient weight during normal loading, then surfaces that weight and protocol-based dose ranges on a single high-visibility screen—no phone app, no manual math, and no changes to how crews use the stretcher.

The aim is simple: reduce ambiguity in the first minutes of care and make weight-based decisions safer, faster, and easier to document.

Under the hood.

Proven load-cell hardware, a stretcher-safe mechanical design, and a medical UI built for gloved hands and moving rigs.

Panelized scale • ESP32 • 7" touchscreen

Sensing platform

Panelized stretcher-top scale

Four birch-turned-metal panels each carry four strain-gauge load cells and HX711 amplifiers, summing weight across the stretcher frame while preserving manufacturer warranties and keeping added height minimal.

Compute + UI

Dual ESP32 + custom PCB

One ESP32 lives with the panels, fusing and calibrating weight data; another drives the 7" touchscreen using LovyanGFX and a PCA9557 I/O expander. ESP-NOW keeps the link fast, local, and router-free for ambulance use.

Workflow & safety

Tare, dose, and documentation

The UI always shows weight at the top. A single tap tares out stretcher + linens, then weight feeds directly into local drug and equipment tables. Outputs are positioned as decision support—final dosing remains with the clinician.

Designed for real EMS volume and risk.

U.S. EMS systems handle tens of millions of activations each year. Weight-based dosing errors—especially in pediatrics—remain a well-documented problem, with a large share tied to poor weight estimates and cognitive overload during calls.

Safer weight-based dosing for critical medications across age ranges.
Warranty-safe retrofit design that clamps to existing stretchers and can be removed without tools.
A UI tuned from interviews with 100+ stakeholders—fast, readable, and focused on reducing cognitive load, not adding another gadget to manage.

Where we are in the build.

Discovery & concept selection

Interviews with EMS field providers, flight medics, ED clinicians, and operations leaders; assessment of OneWeight/OneDose and other competitors; selection of a panelized stretcher-top scale architecture.
Prototype & stretcher integration

Iterative mockups from benchtop bathroom-scale rigs to a four-panel stretcher prototype, including custom brackets, calibration at the CRC, and a detachable screen housing.
Next: ruggedization & pilots

Transition to metal panels and injection-molded housings, IP-rated sealing, formal performance testing, and structured pilot deployments with partner agencies.

Meet the Scalable Solutions team.

A cross-disciplinary group from Georgia Tech’s Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and College of Computing, focused on EMS equipment that is both technically rigorous and field-ready.

Joseph Durante

Project Lead

Coordinates subsystem integration, project schedule, and documentation, keeping mechanical, electrical, and UI workstreams aligned.

Aditya Jacob

Testing & Experimentation

Leads experimental setups, calibration, and performance testing to validate that prototypes meet stakeholder specifications.

Tyler Larsen

Prototyping & Design

Owns mechanical architecture, CAD, and build iterations—from early plywood mockups to stretcher-integrated panels and housings.

William McCarley

Stakeholder & Outreach

Drives customer discovery with EMS agencies, manages external communication, and validates market assumptions with leadership.

Alejandro Pintado

Analysis & Compliance

Leads engineering analysis, regulatory pathway exploration, and alignment with relevant codes and standards for future commercialization.

Rohit Vivek

Software & Data Systems

Designs and implements the embedded software stack, touchscreen UI, and ESP32 firmware that ties the scale and medical interface together.

Interested in pilots, feedback, or collaboration?

We’re actively iterating on the stretcher-scale prototype and exploring partnerships with EMS agencies, hospitals, and mentors. If this aligns with your work, we’d love to connect.

Email the team Based at Georgia Tech • CREATE-X Capstone