Expandable Hospital Bed Mattress for Variable Patient Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hospital bed mattresses lack the ability to dynamically adjust their size and configuration to accommodate varying patient needs, such as extending beyond the bed deck, which can limit comfort and mobility, especially for bariatric patients or those requiring specific support configurations.

Innovation Solution

A bed system featuring an expandable mattress with a compressible portion and a rigid portion that can contract or extend, allowing the mattress to cantilever over the bed edges, with actuated mechanisms for adjusting the size and position of the mattress to accommodate different patient requirements, including a powered actuator for efficient manipulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the mattress is made fixed-size to match the deck section, then manufacturing is simple and structure is stable, but adaptability to varying patient needs is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to varying patient needsVSAvoidmattress structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mattress is divided into a compressible portion and a rigid mattress portion that can move independently. The rigid mattress portion acts as a separate segment that can extend beyond the deck section, allowing the mattress to adapt to different patient needs while maintaining structural organization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rigid mattress portion is made movable relative to the compressible mattress portion through sliding engagement with the deck. This dynamic configuration allows the mattress to change its effective length and position, providing adaptability for various patient care scenarios such as transfers and positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the mattress extends beyond the deck section, then patient accessibility and comfort are improved, but the mattress becomes harder to control and position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of patient transfer and caregiver accessVSAvoidmattress control mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid mattress portion utilizes gravity and friction to maintain its extended position without requiring active control mechanisms. The portion naturally extends beyond the deck when needed and can be manually repositioned by caregivers, reducing the need for complex motorized control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The deck structure serves as an intermediary between the compressible mattress portion and the rigid mattress portion. The rigid portion slides along the deck, using it as a guide and support structure, which simplifies the control mechanism compared to having the rigid portion move freely in space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a rigid mattress portion is added to extend beyond the deck, then patient support is enhanced, but the overall mattress weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient support reliabilityVSAvoidmattress weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid mattress portion is localized only where needed beyond the deck section, rather than making the entire mattress rigid. This allows the majority of the mattress (the compressible portion) to remain lightweight and conformable, while adding rigid support only in the specific area required for patient extension and support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 provides a versatile patient support surface that can be tailored to various positions and orientations, enhancing comfort and mobility by allowing the mattress to extend beyond the bed deck, accommodating different patient sizes and needs, including bariatric patients, while maintaining ease of bed mobility.

Implementation Method 1

a compressible mattress portion (322) and a rigid mattress portion (324). The rigid portion contracts the compressible mattress portion therewith

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20060053562A1Mattress for a hospital bed

Publication Date: 2006.03.16 KREG MEDICAL

AI summary

A mattress for a hospital bed is provided. The mattress includes an encasing enclosing a compressible mattress portion and a rigid mattress portion. The compressible mattress portion has an integral construction extending from a head end of the bed to a foot end of the bed. The rigid mattress portion contracts from a first elongated position to a second retracted position, and the rigid portion contracting the compressible mattress portion therewith. The rigid mattress portion may be provided at any side or end section of the mattress. Accordingly, the width or length of the mattress can be modified.