Removable Footboard Bladder Assembly for Lower Bed Egress Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hospital beds with inflatable bladder assemblies face challenges in minimizing seat height during the chair egress position to facilitate safe patient exit, as existing designs often require retraction of the foot end of the patient support surface, which may not adequately reduce the minimum seat height.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus featuring a removably coupled foot panel with an inflatable bladder assembly, where the foot panel includes a pneumatic conduit for inflation, and an air supply system with pressure and attachment sensors, allowing the bladder to remain inflated and adjust pressure for optimal height reduction during chair egress position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the foot end of the patient support surface is lowered to facilitate patient egress, then patient safety and ease of exit are improved, but the minimum seat height cannot be sufficiently minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The foot panel is segmented from the main deck structure, allowing it to be independently positioned. The foot panel includes a foot panel body and a foot panel deck portion that can be separately configured, enabling the support surface to be divided into functional segments that can be optimized independently for patient egress and seat height requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot panel body extends generally perpendicularly from the foot panel deck, creating a vertical dimension that allows the support surface to extend beyond the horizontal plane. This perpendicular extension enables the foot panel to provide support while allowing the deck to be positioned at a lower height, thus reducing minimum seat height while maintaining patient support functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the foot panel is removably coupled to the deck to allow flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional coupling mechanisms and sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The foot panel assembly is designed as a universal module that can be removably coupled to the deck and includes multiple integrated functions: structural support (foot panel body and deck portion), pneumatic coupling (connector with pneumatic conduit), sensing (attachment sensor), and pressure monitoring (pressure sensor). This multi-functional integration allows a single removable component to perform multiple tasks, reducing the need for separate systems and thereby managing complexity while enhancing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment sensor and pneumatic connector are pre-configured in the foot panel and deck coupling interfaces. When the foot panel is installed, the attachment sensor automatically detects the coupling status and the pneumatic connector is already positioned to establish pneumatic connections. This preliminary configuration of sensing and coupling mechanisms eliminates the need for complex real-time adjustments or additional control systems during operation.
3Reliability
If the inflatable bladder assembly is integrated with the foot panel for removal, then the bladder can remain inflated during foot panel removal, but the system requires additional pneumatic control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor is integrated into the coupling system and continuously monitors the pressure within the inflatable bladder assembly. When the foot panel is removed from the deck, the attachment sensor detects the separation and triggers the controller to maintain or adjust the pneumatic pressure through the pneumatic conduit, ensuring the bladder remains inflated. This feedback loop automatically maintains bladder integrity without requiring manual intervention or complex external control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The pneumatic system is designed to automatically regulate bladder inflation through the integrated pressure sensor and controller. When the foot panel is installed or removed, the system self-adjusts the pneumatic pressure through the existing conduit and valve mechanisms, maintaining optimal bladder inflation without requiring external intervention or additional complex control hardware.
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
Enables a reduction in the minimum seat height of the bed during the chair egress position by maintaining the inflatable bladder assembly's inflation and adjusting pressure, enhancing patient safety and ease of exit.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable bladder assembly coupled to the foot panel for removal therewith when the foot panel is removed from the deck
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus is convertible between a bed position, having a generally horizontal sleeping surface upon which a person lies in a supine position, and a chair egress position, allowing a person to exit the support from a sitting position. The patient support comprises a deck, a foot panel coupled to the deck, and an inflatable bladder assembly coupled to the foot panel. The inflatable bladder assembly is coupled to the foot panel and both the foot panel and inflatable bladder assembly are removable from the deck.