Adjustable Mattress with Pneumatic Cells for Patient Morphology
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing therapeutic support devices for patients, such as mattresses, face challenges in adapting to individual patient morphologies and sizes, particularly in distributing pressure evenly to prevent bedsores, especially for patients with varying body dimensions and positions, as the current designs often fail to accommodate different patient sizes and positions effectively.
Innovation Solution
A therapeutic support device with adjustable length and width, featuring retractable and lateral inflatable cells that can be pneumatically adjusted to accommodate different patient sizes and positions, allowing for optimal pressure distribution and protection against bed frame barriers, using a combination of retractable areas and lateral cells that can be inflated or deflated to customize the mattress dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the mattress has a fixed geometry with non-elastic envelope, then the structural stability is maintained, but the adaptability to different patient morphologies is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the mattress geometry adjustable through inflatable and deflatable cells. The envelope can change its shape and dimensions dynamically to adapt to different patient morphologies, positions, and sizes. This allows the mattress to transform from a static structure to a dynamic one that responds to patient needs, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying the volume and pressure of air within the inflatable cells to alter the mattress's physical parameters such as length, width, and local support height. By controlling air pressure and volume, the mattress can be customized for different patient sizes and positions, achieving adaptability without requiring multiple fixed-geometry mattresses.
2Area of stationary object
If the mattress surface area is increased to accommodate larger patients, then the pressure distribution improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress employs dynamic adjustment of its surface area through inflation and deflation of cells rather than providing multiple fixed-size mattresses. The surface area can be expanded or contracted as needed, allowing the same mattress structure to serve patients of varying sizes without increasing permanent device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the mattress by adjusting air pressure and volume in the cells to modify the effective surface area. This allows the mattress to adapt its dimensions to match patient size requirements, achieving optimal pressure distribution for each patient without requiring a different mattress configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the mattress is made fully inflatable for maximum adaptability, then the adaptability to patient positions is improved, but the reliability of support is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the mattress into multiple independent or semi-independent inflatable cells that can be controlled separately. This segmentation allows different regions of the mattress to be inflated or deflated independently based on patient position and support needs, maintaining reliability in supported areas while providing adaptability in others. The segmented structure prevents total support failure if one cell is adjusted.
Solution Approach 2:
The mattress applies local quality by allowing different regions to have different inflation states. Areas requiring firm support can be kept fully inflated while areas needing adaptation to patient contours can be partially deflated. This localized control maintains overall support reliability while achieving position-specific adaptability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides enhanced comfort and prevention of bedsores by ensuring optimal pressure distribution and adaptability to various patient morphologies, while also protecting against bed frame entrapment, through the adjustable length and width features that can be customized to fit different patient sizes and positions.
Implementation Method 1
said mattress comprising at least one means for adjusting the surface of the mattress... means for movement of at least one end area of the mattress... allowing for optimal pressure distribution
Implementation Method 2
each cell is equipped in a known manner with an air feed opening and an air evacuation opening, which communicate in an airtight manner through hoses and by means of electromagnetic valves opening or closing said openings
Data Source
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Figure 5~5D
AI summary
A support device capable of supporting a patient, including a mattress (10) resting or capable of resting on abed base or bed frame (11) including, either a1) means for adjustment of the length of the mattress by means of pneumatically independent inflatable transverse cells (8-1, 8-4), forming a retractable area (8), and a2) means for grouped movement of an end area (9) adjacent to said retractable area, and/or b) means for adjustment of the width of the mattress, including at least one lateral inflatable cell (2, 2a, 2b), extending in the longitudinal direction (XX') of the mattress.