Infection Control Bedding Vent With PTFE Membrane Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing infection control bedding products, such as pillows and mattresses, face challenges with 'strikethrough' where contaminated fluids penetrate, leading to cross-infection risks, and lack adequate ventilation, causing discomfort and material degradation.

Innovation Solution

A hermetically sealed infection control bedding product with a filter membrane and strengthening layer, integrated into the cover, allowing air permeability while maintaining liquid impermeability and microbial barrier properties, and featuring a gasket for enhanced sealing and mechanical strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a hermetically sealed cover is used to prevent liquid penetration and cross-infection, then liquid impermeability and microbial barrier properties are improved, but ventilation is insufficient causing discomfort and material degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid impermeabilityVSAvoidventilation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies porous PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) membrane material that contains micropores allowing air molecules to pass through while blocking liquid penetration. This porous structure enables the cover to provide both liquid impermeability for infection control and air permeability for ventilation, resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material construction combining PTFE membrane with supporting fabric layers to create a multi-functional cover that simultaneously achieves liquid barrier properties and air ventilation capabilities, resolving the contradiction between hermetic sealing and ventilation needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a hermetically sealed cover is used to prevent liquid penetration and cross-infection, then liquid impermeability and microbial barrier properties are improved, but the product lacks mechanical strength to withstand pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrobial barrier propertiesVSAvoidmechanical strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite material construction where the PTFE membrane is integrated with supporting fabric layers to create a multi-layer structure. This composite approach provides both the microbial barrier properties needed for infection control and the mechanical strength required to withstand pressure during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different material properties to different regions and layers of the cover - the PTFE membrane provides microbial barrier and liquid impermeability while the supporting fabric layers provide mechanical strength, with each layer optimized for its specific function within the composite structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If ventilation is provided to prevent ballooning and discomfort, then air permeability is improved, but liquid impermeability and microbial barrier properties are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair permeabilityVSAvoidliquid impermeability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes porous PTFE membrane material with carefully controlled micropore structure that allows air molecules to pass through for ventilation while the pore size and surface tension properties prevent liquid penetration, thereby achieving both air permeability and liquid impermeability simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the membrane material - specifically the pore size, porosity, and surface tension characteristics of the PTFE membrane - to optimize the balance between air permeability for ventilation and liquid impermeability for infection control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution prevents liquid and microbial ingress, provides ventilation to prevent ballooning and discomfort, and withstands pressure, ensuring a safe and durable product for infection control.

Implementation Method 1

a substantially liquid impermeable air permeable microbial barrier filter membrane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

a substantially liquid impermeable air permeable microbial barrier filter membrane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical barrier filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS8950028B2Infection control bedding product

Publication Date: 2015.02.10 PNEUMA PURE I P

AI summary

An infection control bedding product such as a pillow, duvet, mattress, cushion or such like having a sealed cover and having a deformable filling material, may comprise a liquid impermeable air permeable microbial barrier vent. The vent includes an oleophobic expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane extending past the perimeter of the aperture and a nonwoven layer extending past the perimeter of the aperture. A gasket may be bonded to the PTFE membrane, the nonwoven layer and the cover to form a liquid impermeable seal rendering the infection control bedding product liquid impermeable.