Continuous Lateral Rotation Preview for Patient Line Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Patient therapy on support surfaces, such as lateral rotation for pulmonary therapy or decubitus prevention, often results in patient lines becoming pinched or disconnected due to the rotation of the support surface, leading to fluid occlusion or disconnection.

Innovation Solution

A patient support apparatus with a rotation device controlled by a processor and memory device that performs a rotation preview sequence, allowing caregivers to assess patient positioning at various angles without dwell time, enabling them to cancel the sequence if issues are detected, and returning to a flat position before expiration of a predetermined time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the patient support surface is rotated to perform lateral rotation therapy, then the patient can receive pulmonary therapy or decubitus prevention, but the patient lines may become pinched or disconnected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient line safetyVSAvoidrotation therapy execution

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a preliminary rotation preview sequence before the actual rotation therapy. This preview sequence moves the patient support surface to evaluation positions for a predetermined period to allow caregiver assessment of patient lines and positioning, enabling potential cancellation before full rotation therapy begins, thus preventing line occlusion or disconnection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the rotation device moves the patient support surface to evaluation positions for a predetermined period, then the caregiver can assess patient positioning, but the rotation therapy cannot begin immediately

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecaregiver assessment capabilityVSAvoidrotation therapy initiation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation preview sequence is executed as a preliminary action before full rotation therapy. The controller moves the patient support surface to evaluation positions and holds them for a predetermined period (e.g., 5-30 seconds) to enable caregiver assessment, then returns to flat position before full rotation therapy begins

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides dynamic control with adjustable parameters including the predetermined period duration (0-30 seconds), evaluation positions (left rotation, right rotation, flat), and rotation angles (1-40 degrees). The controller can cancel the preview sequence at any time, allowing flexible adaptation to patient needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the caregiver cancels the rotation preview sequence, then the patient support surface returns to flat position quickly, but the rotation therapy is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient safety monitoringVSAvoidrotation therapy start time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides real-time feedback to the caregiver during the rotation preview sequence through the user interface, allowing monitoring of rotation angle, position, and timing. The caregiver can cancel the sequence at any time based on real-time assessment of patient lines and positioning, with the controller immediately returning the surface to flat position

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Prevents patient lines from being pinched or disconnected by allowing caregivers to evaluate and adjust patient positioning quickly, ensuring safe and effective rotation therapy without extended dwell times.

Implementation Method 1

The rotation bladders are inflated and deflated to rotate the patient support surface to a left or right angle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS20250262104A1Preview function for continuous lateral rotation therapy

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 HILL ROM SERVICES INC

AI summary

A patient support apparatus may include a patient support surface including a rotation device. A controller may be operable to control the rotation device. The controller may include a processor and a non-transitory memory device. The memory device may include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate the rotation device to perform a rotation preview sequence. During the rotation preview sequence, the controller may cause the rotation device to move the patient support surface to a first evaluation position for a first predetermined period of time.