Air Mattress Pressure Regulation for Faster Weight Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air mattress pressure regulation systems take a long time to reach steady state and require prolonged waiting periods, leading to a time-consuming and suboptimal user experience due to the delay in adjusting pressure according to varying patient weights.

Innovation Solution

An inflation and deflation pressure regulation system with a control unit that continuously detects instantaneous pressure values and employs either a first or second strategy to adjust air mattress pressure, using pre-defined time intervals or pressure differences to quickly achieve and maintain optimal support pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the air mattress waits for pressure to reach steady state before regulation, then pressure measurement accuracy is improved, but the time required for pressure regulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure measurement accuracyVSAvoidpressure regulation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary inflation of the air mattress to a preset pressure value before the patient lies on it. This preliminary action establishes a baseline pressure state, allowing the subsequent pressure changes to be measured more quickly and accurately without requiring a long steady-state waiting period after the patient is positioned.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the pressure regulation process by continuously monitoring pressure changes and comparing them against expected ranges. When pressure changes fall within the expected range, the system can proceed with regulation without waiting for complete steady state, thus reducing time while maintaining measurement accuracy through dynamic validation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the air mattress uses conventional pressure regulation method, then pressure stability is improved, but the response speed to weight changes decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure stabilityVSAvoidpressure regulation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs dynamic pressure regulation by continuously monitoring instantaneous pressure values and comparing them against expected ranges. When pressure changes are within the expected range, the system proceeds with regulation without waiting for complete steady state, thus improving response speed while maintaining pressure stability through continuous monitoring and validation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from pressure sensors to continuously monitor pressure changes and adjust the regulation process accordingly. By comparing actual pressure changes against expected ranges, the system can make real-time decisions about when to proceed with regulation, maintaining stability while improving response speed to weight changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

This system enables faster and more stable pressure regulation, reducing waiting times and improving user comfort by promptly adjusting air mattress pressure to match changing patient weights.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure detection unit for continuously detecting an instantaneous pressure value of the air mattress

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Data Source

PatentEP3072419B1Air mattress system and inflation and deflation pressure regulation system and method
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 APEX MEDICAL CORPORATION
  • EP3072419B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3072419B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3072419B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An inflation and deflation pressure regulation system (10) is applicable to an air mattress (14) with at least two air arrays (A, B), the inflation and deflation pressure regulation system (10) comprising an inflation and deflation device (11), a pressure detection unit (12) and a control unit (13). The inflation and deflation device (11) inflates or deflates the air mattress (14); the pressure detection unit (12) continuously detects an instantaneous pressure value of the air mattress (14); the control unit (13) determines whether the instantaneous pressure value detected by the pressure detection unit (12) when the air mattress (14) is in a weight-bearing state has reached a preset pressure value before a preset time has elapsed, and accordingly uses a first inflation and deflation strategy or a second inflation and deflation strategy to control the inflation and deflation device (11) to inflate or deflate the air mattress (14). An inflation and deflation pressure regulation method and an air mattress system (1) using the inflation and deflation pressure regulation system (10) are also provided.