Patient support systems and methods of use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern hospital beds with reconfigurable patient support apparatuses often struggle to properly cushion patients when the support surfaces are mounted on decks that tilt, pivot, or expand, as the existing support surfaces may not adequately cover the gaps formed during these movements.
Innovation Solution
A patient support system comprising a movable deck with a seat-deck section and a head-deck section, where the head-deck section can move relative to the seat-deck section, and a support surface with inflatable bladders and a cover that inflates to cover the gap between the sections, ensuring continuous support and therapy delivery during reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the head-deck section is moved to be spaced apart from the seat-deck section to enable reconfiguration, then the patient support apparatus can be adjusted to different positions, but a gap is formed between the deck sections causing inadequate patient cushioning
Solution Approach 1:
The fill bladder is pre-positioned at the interface between the head-deck section and seat-deck section, and is automatically inflated when a gap forms during deck reconfiguration. This preliminary positioning ensures that the cushioning material is already in place to fill the gap as it forms, maintaining continuous patient support without interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The support surface incorporates an inflatable fill bladder that can dynamically change its volume and shape in response to the gap formation between deck sections. The bladder transitions from a deflated state when decks are adjacent to an inflated state when gaps form, providing adaptive cushioning that maintains patient comfort throughout the reconfiguration process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support surface is mounted on a multi-component movable deck, then the patient support system can be reconfigured via tilting and pivoting, but the support surface cannot properly cushion the patient during these movements
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable folds are pre-formed in the cover material at strategic locations, and the fill bladder is pre-positioned at the deck interface. When reconfiguration movements create gaps, these pre-prepared elements immediately expand to fill the spaces, ensuring continuous cushioning without requiring manual intervention or complex real-time adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover incorporates expandable folds that can flex and expand to accommodate the movement and reconfiguration of the multi-component deck. These flexible fabric elements work in conjunction with the inflatable fill bladder to maintain a continuous, adaptable cushioning surface that moves with the deck sections while providing consistent patient support.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the head-deck section is spaced apart from the seat-deck section forming a gap, then the deck can be reconfigured for different patient positions, but the support surface fails to cover the gap adequately
Solution Approach 1:
The fill bladder is pre-positioned and integrated into the support surface at the exact location where gaps are most likely to form during deck reconfiguration. This advance placement ensures that when gaps appear, the bladder is already in position to expand and fill them, effectively extending the support surface coverage area without requiring additional materials or complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The fill bladder changes its physical parameters (volume, shape, and position) in response to gap formation during deck reconfiguration. By inflating the bladder, the system dynamically adjusts the support surface coverage area to match the changing geometry of the spaced-apart deck sections, ensuring continuous patient support across the entire reconfiguration range.
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, ensuring proper cushioning and stability during reconfiguration, enhancing patient safety and comfort.
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
Data Source
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.