Bed Gap Filler Assembly for Continuous Patient Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hospital beds, particularly expandable width beds, often have undesirable gaps between mattress sections, which can compromise patient comfort and support.

Innovation Solution

A gap filler assembly comprising a deck plate, hinge, backing member, slider, and mattress components with angled surfaces, designed to fill gaps between mattress sections by extending beyond the midline and providing a continuous patient support surface when the bed is in a horizontal position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If mattress sections are used in expandable width beds, then the bed can be adjusted to different widths, but gaps appear between mattress sections reducing patient comfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebed width adjustmentVSAvoidpatient comfort continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A gap filler assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between adjacent mattress sections. The assembly includes a filler member with a top surface that contacts the mattress and a bottom surface that contacts the deck plate, effectively mediating the gap between mattress sections and providing continuous patient support while allowing the bed to maintain its expandable width capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If gap filler assemblies are added between mattress sections, then patient comfort is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient comfort continuityVSAvoidbed structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filler member is designed as a relatively thin component that can be easily installed between the mattress and deck plate. This thin-film approach provides effective gap filling without adding substantial structural complexity or bulk to the bed assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The gap filler assembly is designed as a separate, modular component that can be independently installed and removed. This segmentation allows the filler to be added only where needed between mattress sections, rather than requiring a complete redesign of the entire bed structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9320663B2Bed gap filler

Publication Date: 2016.04.26 KREG MEDICAL

AI summary

A gap filler assembly for filling a gap between adjacent sections of a bed. The gap filler assembly has a mattress portion that has an extension at one end thereof that extends between a gap between a first section of the bed and an adjacent second section of the bed. The mattress portion may be a supplemental mattress that is adjacent a side of a main mattress. The mattress portion may also have a hinged slider component on a bottom surface thereof.