The starting point for A. Ahlström Oy's new Activa patient bed was creating a bed for the needs of patients with multiple disabilities. The design needed to consider facilitating the work of the nursing staff, increasing the independent initiative of the patient and increasing the hygienic level. Several separate functions were connected to the patient bed, e.g. a special mattress for a bedsore patient, a hoisting device for a patient and the basic washing function of a bed patient.