Body Pressure Sensor Bed with Independent Link Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical beds, both manual and electric, face challenges in preventing pressure ulcers and skin diseases due to prolonged pressure on specific body parts, leading to disrupted blood circulation and lack of air contact, especially for immobile patients.
Innovation Solution
A pressure ulcer prevention bed equipped with a multi-parallelogram link structure and body pressure sensors that independently control the raising and lowering of link modules based on sensed pressure, using servo motors and a motion control unit to adjust positions and prevent pressure ulcers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional medical bed with fixed or manually adjustable support units is used, then the bed structure is simple and cost-effective, but prolonged pressure on specific body parts causes disrupted blood circulation and pressure ulcers
Solution Approach 1:
The bed support surface is divided into multiple independently controllable link modules arranged in parallel, with each module capable of raising and lowering independently. This segmentation allows different body regions to receive differentiated pressure relief, preventing pressure ulcers while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The bed transitions from a static or manually adjustable structure to a dynamic system with multiple link modules that can automatically adjust their positions based on real-time pressure sensor feedback. The parallelogram link mechanism enables smooth, controlled movements that adapt to patient needs, improving pressure distribution without requiring complex manual operations
2Ease of operation
If electric actuators are used to enable automatic angle adjustment, then patient independence is improved, but the purchase cost becomes significant
Solution Approach 1:
The bed system uses pressure sensors to automatically detect when a patient is lying on specific link modules and triggers raising/lowering movements without requiring patient initiation or manual control. The system serves itself by using the patient's body weight as the activation signal, eliminating the need for expensive control interfaces while maintaining patient independence
Solution Approach 2:
Pressure sensors provide real-time feedback about patient positioning and pressure distribution to the control system. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment of link module positions based on actual patient needs, reducing the requirement for expensive manual controls while ensuring patient-specific care
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple link modules with independent control are implemented, then pressure distribution is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bed is divided into multiple link modules that can be controlled independently, allowing tailored pressure relief for different body regions. Each module has its own pressure sensors and actuation mechanism, enabling localized response to pressure needs while maintaining overall system coherence through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the position parameters of individual link modules based on real-time pressure sensor readings. By adjusting the height and angle parameters of specific modules independently, the system adapts to varying patient positions and pressure distribution needs without requiring complex global reconfiguration
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
Effectively prevents pressure ulcers and skin diseases by dynamically adjusting the bed's surface to alleviate pressure points, ensuring proper blood circulation and air contact, thereby improving patient comfort and health outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
body pressure sensors provided in the respective raising and lowering link modules and constantly collecting body pressure sensing information for each part of a human body applied to each raising and lowering link module
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure ulcer prevention bed using body pressure sensors and a control method thereof are proposed. The pressure ulcer prevention bed includes a plurality of raising and lowering link modules arranged in parallel adjacent to an upper surface of a bed support unit and whose raising and lowering is independently controlled by parallelogram links, the body pressure sensors provided in the respective raising and lowering link modules and constantly collecting body pressure sensing information for each part of a human body applied to each raising and lowering link module, a servo motor provided in the parallelogram links of each raising and lowering link module, and a motion control unit connected to the servo motor through wired and wireless communication and independently controlling each raising and lowering link module by using the body pressure sensing information individually transmitted from the body pressure sensors.