Patient support systems and methods of use

Solution Overview

Problem

Modern hospital beds with reconfigurable patient support apparatuses often struggle to properly cushion patients when the support surfaces are tilted, pivoted, or expanded, as existing support surfaces may not adequately cover the gaps formed between deck sections during reconfiguration.

Innovation Solution

A patient support system comprising a movable deck with a seat-deck section and a head-deck section, a support surface with inflatable bladders, and a controller that inflates a fill bladder to cover gaps between deck sections, ensuring continuous support and therapy application during reconfiguration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the head-deck section is moved to create a gap for patient positioning, then patient comfort is improved, but support continuity deteriorates due to the gap formation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient positioningVSAvoidsupport continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A fill bladder is introduced as an intermediary element between the head-deck section and seat-deck section. This bladder inflates to fill the gap created when the head-deck section is moved, maintaining continuous support for the patient while allowing the necessary positional adjustment for comfort and access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support surface incorporates an inflatable fill bladder that can dynamically adjust its volume. When the head-deck section is moved to improve patient positioning, the fill bladder inflates to maintain support continuity. When the deck sections are together, the bladder deflates, allowing dynamic adaptation to different operational states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the support surface is made rigid to provide stable support, then support stability is improved, but adaptability to deck reconfiguration deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to reconfiguration

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support surface incorporates an inflatable fill bladder that can dynamically adjust its volume. When the head-deck section is moved to improve patient positioning, the fill bladder inflates to maintain support continuity. When the deck sections are together, the bladder deflates, allowing dynamic adaptation to different operational states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The fill bladder changes its physical parameter (volume) in response to deck reconfiguration. By inflating and deflating, the bladder adapts to different gap sizes created during deck movement, maintaining support stability across varying configurations without requiring a completely different support structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If the deck sections are kept close together to maintain structural integrity, then structural stability is improved, but patient access and positioning deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidpatient access

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support surface incorporates an inflatable fill bladder that can dynamically adjust its volume. When the head-deck section is moved to improve patient positioning, the fill bladder inflates to maintain support continuity. When the deck sections are together, the bladder deflates, allowing dynamic adaptation to different operational states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If the fill bladder is inflated to fill the gap, then support continuity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport continuityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fill bladder serves multiple functions: it maintains support continuity, cushions the patient, and adapts to different gap sizes. This single component addresses multiple requirements that would otherwise require separate systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining support continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 maintains patient support and applies therapies by inflating the fill bladder to fill gaps between deck sections, preventing pressure imbalances and ensuring stability during reconfiguration, thus enhancing patient comfort and safety.

Implementation Method 1

The controller may be configured to inflate the fill bladder in response to movement of the head-deck section from the first position to the second position so that the fill bladder covers the gap formed between the seat-deck section and the head-deck section

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInflation: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS9655457B2Patient support systems and methods of use

Publication Date: 2017.05.23 HILL ROM SERVICES INC

AI summary

A patient support system includes a patient support apparatus and a support surface mounted on the patient support apparatus. The patient support apparatus is reconfigurable among a plurality of different configurations for supporting a patient on the support surface in a plurality of positions. The support surface is mounted on the patient support apparatus to move in response to reconfiguration of the patient support apparatus.