Articulable Bed Deck With Adjustable Mattress Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hospital beds with articulable and orientation-adjustable deck sections face challenges in accommodating occupants of varying anthropometric dimensions due to non-specific translations and rotations, leading to suboptimal support and comfort.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a volumetrically adjustable mattress element, such as inflatable bladders, that changes thickness in response to changes in the deck section's orientation, allowing for compensatory adjustments to better fit different occupant sizes by inflating or deflating bladders based on user input and occupant characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the deck section is made translatable and orientation adjustable with simplified kinematics, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but anthropometric performance deteriorates due to non-specific translations and rotations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the mattress assembly by introducing volumetrically adjustable elements (inflatable bladders) that can alter the thickness and contour of the mattress. This allows the mattress to adapt to different occupant anthropometrics despite the deck's simplified non-specific motion pattern, resolving the contradiction between simplified mechanics and anthropometric performance
Solution Approach 2:
The volumetrically adjustable mattress elements act as an intermediary between the deck section and the occupant. While the deck provides simplified non-specific motion, the adjustable mattress mediates the interaction by adapting its shape and thickness to compensate for the lack of specific anthropometric adjustments, thereby maintaining comfort and support
2Ease of operation
If the deck section undergoes non-specific translations and rotations, then the ease of operation is improved, but the support and comfort for varying occupant sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamically adjustable elements within the mattress assembly (inflatable bladders with adjustable volume) that can adapt in real-time to different occupant sizes. This dynamic adjustment capability ensures reliable support and comfort across varying anthropometrics, compensating for the non-specific deck motion while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the volume parameter of the inflatable bladder elements, the system adapts the mattress characteristics to match different occupant sizes. This parameter adjustment ensures that support and comfort requirements are met regardless of the deck's non-specific translation and rotation pattern
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 solution ensures improved comfort and support for a range of occupant sizes by dynamically adjusting the mattress thickness, optimizing the bed's configuration to match the specific needs of each individual, thereby enhancing anthropometric performance.
Implementation Method 1
a mattress assembly including at least one volumetrically adjustable element associated with the orientation adjustable deck section. The volumetrically adjustable element is adapted to change the thickness of a portion of the mattress assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A bed comprises a deck having at least one section that is orientation adjustable about a laterally extending, longitudinally translatable axis and a mattress assembly including at least one volumetrically adjustable element associated with the orientation adjustable deck section. The volumetrically adjustable element is adapted to change the thickness of a portion of the mattress assembly adjacent to the deck section in a direction nonparallel to the orientation of the section and in response to a change in orientation of the deck section.