Adjustable Pelvic Sling for Bedridden Waste Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current rotating mattresses are costly and do not effectively address the issue of waste elimination in bedridden patients, leading to prolonged exposure to waste that exacerbates bedsores, requiring significant time and effort from caregivers, which is inefficient and inhumane.

Innovation Solution

A flexible sling system with a tilting mechanism and integrated waste receptacle that allows for easy rotation and waste disposal, featuring a customizable pelvic support with adjustable openings and a removable waste bag, compatible with a mattress system that includes electronic or manual lifting mechanisms for efficient patient repositioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If expensive rotating mattresses are used, then patient rotation is achieved, but waste elimination is not provided and cost is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient rotationVSAvoidwaste elimination function

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: the rotating mattress mechanism is merged with a waste collection system that includes a receptacle, bag, and drainage components. This allows the device to simultaneously perform patient rotation and waste elimination, resolving the contradiction between achieving rotation functionality and adding waste management capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mattress system is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides patient rotation to prevent bedsores, collects waste through integrated receptacles and bags, and enables drainage. This multi-functional design addresses the versatility deficiency of conventional rotating mattresses while maintaining the rotation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If manual waste collection methods are used, then waste disposal is achieved, but significant time and physical effort are required from caregivers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaste disposal capabilityVSAvoidcaregiver time and effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The waste collection system is designed to function automatically without requiring manual intervention from caregivers. The receptacle and bag system self-collects waste through gravity and positioning, eliminating the need for caregivers to manually handle and dispose of waste, thus reducing time and physical effort required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The waste receptacle and collection bag are pre-positioned and integrated into the mattress system before waste accumulation occurs. This preliminary arrangement ensures that waste is immediately captured and contained, eliminating the need for subsequent manual collection and disposal actions by caregivers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If frequent manual intervention is provided for waste removal, then waste exposure time is reduced, but caregiver workload and patient handling complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaste exposure timeVSAvoidcaregiver intervention complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The waste collection function is extracted as a separate, self-contained subsystem with the receptacle and removable bag. This extracted design allows waste to be isolated and contained automatically, reducing exposure time without requiring complex coordinated interventions from caregivers, as the waste management operates independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If heavy patient lifting is performed for rotation, then patient repositioning is achieved, but physical strain on caregivers and risk of injury increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient repositioningVSAvoidpatient weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating mattress mechanism is designed to rotate the patient while maintaining a relatively stable center of gravity and weight distribution. The rotation occurs through a controlled mechanism that balances forces, reducing the physical strain on caregivers compared to manual lifting and repositioning, thereby addressing the contradiction between achieving repositioning and managing patient weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

Data Source

PatentUS11766371B2Method utilizing personal support sling and mattress system for managing waste collection for bed-ridden user

Publication Date: 2023.09.26 BRITTON ELAINE L

AI summary

In a method for managing human waste collection for a bed-ridden user, a pelvic support member with an aperture and another opening is suspended over a mattress. A bag fitting the aperture is removably attached to the pelvic support member below the aperture. The pelvic support member is adjusted to change a geometric parameter of the aperture and/or the opening. The pelvic support member includes longitudinally extending flexible elongate elements each slidably attached to transverse edge elements of the pelvic support member and further includes transversely extending flexible elongate elements each slidably attached to longitudinal edge elements of the pelvic support member. The adjusting of the pelvic support member includes sliding at least one of the flexible elongate elements along respective ones of the transverse edge elements and the longitudinal edge elements.