Apparatus and system for boosting, transferring, turning and positioning a patient
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices and methods fail to adequately protect bedridden patients from pressure ulcers, particularly in the sacral region, due to difficulties in turning and positioning patients, which is time-consuming and requires multiple caregivers, and often results in skin damage from friction and shear forces.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable patient support device with a gripping surface, an absorbent pad, and wedges that utilize airflow and directional stitching materials to reduce friction and facilitate movement, allowing for easier turning and positioning of patients while minimizing the risk of pressure ulcers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional manual turning and positioning methods are used, then patient repositioning can be achieved, but it requires multiple caregivers, is time-consuming, and causes skin damage from friction and shear forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes an inflatable device with an air cushion that creates a low-friction interface between the patient and support surface. Air is pumped into the device to form a cushion that reduces contact friction, enabling easier patient movement and repositioning while minimizing skin damage from shear forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable device with air cushion acts as an intermediary between the patient and the support surface. This intermediate layer reduces direct contact and friction, facilitating easier patient handling and repositioning while protecting the skin from harmful shear forces.
2Reliability
If frequent patient turning is implemented to prevent pressure ulcers, then pressure ulcer risk is reduced, but it increases caregiver workload and time requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable device with air cushion reduces friction during patient repositioning, making the turning process faster and less labor-intensive. This enables more frequent position changes to be implemented without proportionally increasing caregiver time investment, thereby improving pressure ulcer prevention.
3Ease of operation
If pillows are used to support patient positioning, then patient comfort is improved, but pillows are non-uniform, can slip out from underneath, and do not provide consistent turning angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an inflatable device where air pressure can be adjusted to provide consistent, uniform support. By controlling the inflation parameter, the device maintains stable positioning angles and prevents slipping, unlike non-uniform pillows, while still providing comfort support.
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 reduces the risk of pressure ulcers by providing a breathable and adjustable support that minimizes friction and shear forces, allowing for safer and more efficient patient handling, thereby reducing the risk of skin damage and caregiver injuries.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable device with an internal cavity configured to hold an air cushion that reduces friction between the device and a supporting surface
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of passages extending from the cavity to an exterior of the device, through the bottom sheet, configured to permit air to pass from the cavity to an exterior of the device and to flow between a bottom surface of the device and a supporting surface upon which the device is configured to rest
Data Source
AI summary
A system for use with an inflatable device includes an air output and a nozzle at a distal end of the air output. The nozzle includes a lip extending radially from the nozzle and configured to retain the nozzle in a port of the inflatable device. The lip has a non-circular shape around the nozzle.