Convertible Therapy Mattress Structure Without Hammock Effect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mattress systems that provide therapies like rotation, vibration, and low air loss often create a hammock effect, which increases tissue interface pressure and makes it difficult to incorporate additional therapy devices, and they lack effective restraints to prevent patients from falling off.
Innovation Solution
A mattress system with a fluid bladder system surrounded by a crib that interconnects to prevent a hammock effect, allowing a second cushion to be inserted into an exterior cavity formed by the bladder bottoming out, providing different therapy functions while maintaining the crib as a restraint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluid bladders are used to provide therapy functions, then therapy effectiveness is improved, but tissue interface pressure increases due to hammock effect
Solution Approach 1:
A second cushion is introduced as an intermediary element between the patient and the fluid bladder system. This second cushion receives the patient's weight and distributes it to the crib structure, preventing direct contact between the patient and the hammock-effect creating bladder system, thereby eliminating the harmful tissue interface pressure while preserving therapy delivery
2Reliability
If fluid bladders are surrounded by crib structure, then patient restraint is improved, but additional therapy devices cannot be incorporated
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress system is divided into distinct functional layers: the crib structure provides restraint, the fluid bladder system delivers therapy, and the second cushion provides support and creates access space. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently, enabling multiple therapy devices to be incorporated without compromising patient restraint
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 effectively reduces tissue interface pressure, prevents patient fall-off, and allows for various therapy functions without compromising the crib's restraint functionality, enhancing patient safety and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid bladder system provides at least one conventional bladder therapy... The fluid bladder is also designed to bottom out to form an exterior cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A mattress system has a cover, a crib, and a fluid bladder system. The crib surrounds the perimeter of the fluid bladder system and the cover overlies the top surface of the crib and fluid bladder system. The fluid bladder systems provide at least one conventional bladder therapy to a patient positioned on the mattress system. The fluid bladder system interconnects to the crib to not form a hammock effect so the crib functions as a restraint. The fluid bladder is also designed to bottom out to form an exterior cavity. A second cushion is inserted into the exterior cavity and positioned so the crib continues to function as a restraint. The second cushion provides a therapy to the patient that is different from the fluid bladder system.