Alternating Pressure Support Surface for Patient Orientation Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current support surfaces for preventing pressure ulcers lack the ability to control the spatial relationship between the patient and the therapeutic surface, leading to ineffective pressure distribution and increased risk of skin breakdown and infection in bed-bound or wheelchair-bound individuals.
Innovation Solution
A system that actively orients a patient over an anatomy-specific pressure-mitigating contact surface with independently pressurized relief chambers configured in a geometric pattern, using elevated side support portions to ensure optimal pressure distribution and reduce contact pressure between the patient and the support surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If current support surfaces are used, then basic pressure distribution is provided, but the spatial relationship between patient and therapeutic surface cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is divided into multiple independently pressurized chambers arranged in a geometric pattern, allowing different regions to be controlled independently. This segmentation enables precise spatial orientation control while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The support surface transitions from a static structure to a dynamic system with adjustable pressure in different chambers. This allows the therapeutic surface to adapt its spatial characteristics in real-time to maintain optimal patient orientation and pressure distribution.
2Reliability
If static pressure support is provided, then simple structure is maintained, but blood flow to pressure areas is not maximized
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies periodic pressure alternation to different chambers in a geometric pattern, creating cycles of pressure and relief. This periodic action maximizes blood flow to pressure-prone areas by systematically varying pressure over time, while the geometric pattern ensures efficient coverage with minimal energy expenditure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes pressure parameters in different spatial regions rather than applying uniform static pressure. By varying pressure magnitude and timing across the geometric pattern of chambers, the system optimizes blood flow promotion while managing energy consumption through intelligent parameter control.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform pressure chambers are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but anatomy-specific pressure mitigation is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
While chambers are manufactured uniformly for simplicity, the system achieves anatomy-specific adaptation through selective pressurization of local chamber groups arranged in geometric patterns. Different regions of the support surface can be independently controlled to match specific anatomical requirements, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving high 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 system effectively mitigates pressure ulcers by maximizing blood flow and reducing pressure on specific anatomic regions, thereby preventing skin breakdown and infection, while improving comfort and reducing the risk of complications.
Implementation Method 1
the independently pressurized relief chambers are configured in a geometric pattern that mitigates contact pressure between a support surface and a specific anatomic region of a user's body when pressure in the independently pressurized relief chambers is alternated
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are systems and apparatuses for enhanced comfort through contact pressure reduction. In particular, the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein prevent or otherwise mitigate pressure by actively orienting a patient over an anatomy-specific pressure-mitigating contact surface on which the patient rests. A pressure-mitigating contact portion of the contact surface includes a plurality of independently pressurized chambers configured in a specific geometric pattern that is designed to mitigate contact pressure between a support surface (e.g., bed or chair) and a specific anatomic region of a patient's body when the specific anatomic region of the patient's body is oriented over an epicenter of the geometric pattern. In one embodiment, the geometric pattern includes a first independently pressurized relief chamber that intersects the epicenter of the geographic pattern, and second and third independently pressurized relief chambers that collectively encompass the first independently pressurized relief chamber.