Independently adjustable support system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cushioning devices fail to effectively distribute pressure evenly across the body, leading to localized pressure ulcers due to bottoming out issues and lack of stability, especially in areas with bony prominences, and often require significant fluid volume or specialized bedding.
Innovation Solution
A portable support assembly with fluid-filled pods and pads that redistribute pressure through a layered system, including an inner pad, outer pad, and outer shell, to prevent bottoming out and provide adjustable support, which can be integrated into furniture or worn directly on the body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional cushioning devices use flexible materials like foam or springs to allow deformation and conforming to the patient's body, then the cushion can adapt to body contours, but the device bottoms out such that the patient's body contacts the underlying platform and pressure remains localized
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion is divided into multiple independent fluid-filled bladders instead of a single continuous foam or spring structure. Each bladder can independently deform and conform to body contours while maintaining fluid pressure to prevent bottoming out, ensuring reliable pressure distribution across different body regions
Solution Approach 2:
Fluid-filled bladders replace traditional foam or spring materials. The incompressible fluid within each bladder maintains constant pressure support, preventing the cushion from bottoming out while still allowing the bladder walls to deform and conform to the patient's body contours
2Reliability
If fluid-filled bladders are used to prevent bottoming out, then pressure distribution improves, but the bladders become too thick to provide adequate pressure relief due to hammocking in high protrusion regions
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple thin-walled fluid-filled bladders are distributed across the cushion surface rather than using fewer thick bladders. This segmentation allows each individual bladder to remain thin and flexible, conforming to body protrusions without excessive hammocking, while collectively providing robust bottoming-out prevention through distributed fluid support
Solution Approach 2:
Each fluid-filled bladder is designed with locally optimized properties - thin walls for conformability in high-protrusion areas and sufficient volume for bottoming-out prevention. The bladders can be positioned and sized differently in various regions of the cushion to match local body contour requirements
3Stability of the object's composition
If the amount of fluid in the bladder is increased to prevent bottoming out, then stability improves for heavy patients, but lighter patients experience excessive lack of stability and the cushion requires significant fluid volume beneath the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion contains multiple independent fluid-filled bladders that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows different regions of the cushion to be optimized for different patient weights - lighter patients receive adequate support from fewer or smaller bladders, while heavier patients benefit from the cumulative support of multiple bladders filled to appropriate levels
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid levels in the multiple bladders can be dynamically adjusted to match patient weight and requirements. This dynamic adaptability allows the same cushion to provide optimal stability for both light and heavy patients, eliminating the need for significant fluid volume for all patients while maintaining stability when needed
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 significantly reduces pressure on sensitive areas by redistributing load, preventing tissue necrosis and reducing the occurrence of pressure ulcers while maintaining stability and comfort, as demonstrated by experimental reductions in pressure and increased contact area.
Implementation Method 1
fluid-filled pods (28) positioned within a first fluid pad (24) which is surrounded by a second fluid pad (26), wherein both the pods (28) and the fluid pads (24, 26) are filled with an incompressible fluid
Implementation Method 2
an outer shell (22) which is sufficiently flexible to be worn upon a portion of a subject's body
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for adjusting a support to a body are described in which a portable support assembly may be worn or used by a bed-stricken or wheel-chair restricted individual around particular regions of the body where pressure ulcers tend to form. The portable support assembly may generally include adjustable supports which conform the assembly to the patient's body and which also help to distribute one or more fluid pad assemblies relative to the body. The support assembly may be incorporated into a design for a wheelchair or a bed.