Inflatable Bladder Gap Filling for Patient Bed Deck
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern hospital beds with reconfigurable patient support apparatuses often struggle to properly cushion patients when the support surfaces are mounted on decks that are tilted, pivoted, or expanded, as the existing support surfaces fail to adequately cover gaps formed during these movements.
Innovation Solution
A patient support system featuring a movable deck with a seat-deck section and a head-deck section, where the head-deck section can move relative to the seat-deck section, and a support surface with inflatable bladders and a controller that adjusts the bladder pressure to cover the gaps formed between the deck sections during reconfiguration, ensuring continuous support and therapy delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the head-deck section is moved away from the seat-deck section to provide patient access, then patient care accessibility is improved, but a gap is formed that compromises support continuity
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface incorporates inflatable bladders that dynamically adjust their volume and position in response to deck section movements. When the head-deck section moves away from the seat-deck section, the bladders inflate to fill the resulting gap, maintaining continuous support for the patient throughout the range of motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The support surface changes its physical parameters (volume, shape, position) by inflating and deflating bladders based on the relative position of deck sections. This allows the support surface to adapt its configuration to maintain contact and support continuity while accommodating the movement of deck sections for patient access.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the support surface is made rigid to provide stable support, then support stability is improved, but the ability to accommodate deck movements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface uses inflatable bladders that can dynamically change their physical state between inflated and deflated conditions. When deck sections are in stable positions, the bladders remain inflated to provide stable support. When deck sections move, the bladders can deflate or shift to accommodate the movement, thus maintaining both stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support surface alters its physical parameters (firmness, volume, shape) by controlling bladder inflation levels. This allows the same support surface to provide rigid stable support when needed while simultaneously accommodating deck movements through controlled softening and deformation of the bladder structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the support surface is made flexible to accommodate movements, then adaptability is improved, but support firmness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable bladders provide dynamic support characteristics, remaining firm and stable when inflated during normal patient support, yet capable of deforming and accommodating deck movements when necessary. The system transitions between firm and flexible states based on operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The support firmness parameter is actively controlled by adjusting bladder inflation pressure. High pressure provides firm stable support, while reduced pressure allows the bladders to deform and accommodate deck movements. This parameter control enables the support surface to maintain both firmness and flexibility as needed.
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 provides consistent and effective support and therapy by inflating or deflating bladders in response to deck movements, maintaining patient comfort and safety across various configurations, and allowing for efficient transition between different bed positions.
Implementation Method 1
The controller may be configured to inflate the fill bladder in response to movement of the head-deck section from the first position to the second position so that the fill bladder covers the gap formed between the seat-deck section and the head-deck section
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to patient support systems, such as hospital beds, and particularly to reconfigurable patient support systems movable among a number of different positions. The present disclosure further relates to control algorithms and interfaces for use in patient support systems.