Forward-Facing Door Hyperbaric Chamber for Mobility Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hyperbaric chamber devices with longitudinal zipper fasteners pose difficulties for users with limited mobility, those in wheelchairs, or requiring gurneys, as they are hard to enter and exit, and for caregivers to transport users from stretchers into the chamber.
Innovation Solution
A portable hyperbaric chamber with a forward-facing door and dual-sided zipper fasteners for efficient air-sealing, allowing easier access and transportation of users and medical equipment, featuring an inflatable vessel integrated with transparent windows, pressure gages, and a frame for structural support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a longitudinal zipper fastener is used for entry, then the chamber can be sealed, but users with limited mobility or in wheelchairs cannot easily enter or exit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional longitudinal entry orientation by implementing a forward-facing door at the front of the chamber. This allows users in wheelchairs or on stretchers to be rolled directly into the chamber from the front, eliminating the need to maneuver through a side opening and making entry/exit significantly easier for mobility-impaired users.
2Ease of operation
If a forward-facing door is implemented, then accessibility for wheelchair users improves, but air-sealing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air-sealing function into two separate doubled-sided zipper fasteners instead of using a single complex sealing mechanism. This segmentation allows each zipper to handle a portion of the sealing task, making the overall system more manageable and effective while maintaining the forward-facing door configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two zipper fasteners into a single integrated door sealing system. By merging the sealing function of both zippers, the design achieves robust air-sealing capability while maintaining relative simplicity in the overall door structure and operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a larger opening is provided for stretcher access, then user comfort and equipment transport improve, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an inflatable chamber structure that uses flexible material to create a large opening for stretcher access. The inflatable nature of the chamber allows it to maintain structural integrity through internal pressure while providing a sufficiently large opening for equipment transport and user comfort.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable hyperbaric chamber device with forward-facing door includes a frame, an inflatable chamber, a dump valve, at least one primary pressure relief valve, at least one secondary pressure relief valve, a plurality of fill valves. Access to the inflatable chamber is gain through a door panel of the inflatable chamber. The inflatable chamber is positioned within and secured to the frame. The plurality of fill valves is in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber so that the inflatable chamber can be pressured for usage. The dump valve is in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber to deflate the inflatable chamber. The primary pressure relief valve and the secondary pressure relief valve are in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber to maintain a safe internal pressure within the inflatable chamber to protect wellbeing of the users and the structural integrity of the complete apparatus.