Inflatable Garment Fall Injury Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for fall injury mitigation, such as alarms and motion sensors, do not provide adequate protection during ambulation and fail to reduce the severity of injuries from falls in elderly and disabled individuals, who are at high risk due to poor balance, muscle weakness, and medication use.
Innovation Solution
A wearable inflatable garment with a sensor network and inflation mechanism that deploys to absorb impact during a fall, featuring upper, middle, and lower inflatable portions that inflate in anterior, posterior, and lateral directions, and a logic circuit to trigger inflation based on detected physical parameters exceeding threshold values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If alarms and motion sensors are used to alert staff, then patient safety monitoring is improved, but patient ambulation freedom deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable garment is deployed in advance before impact occurs. Sensors detect fall parameters and trigger inflation of air chambers that cushion the body during the fall, providing protective action before the harmful impact reaches the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable air chambers serve as an intermediary between the falling body and the ground. Instead of direct contact between patient and hard surface, the air-filled chambers absorb impact energy, mediating the harmful interaction.
2Reliability
If adjustable beds and protective gear are purchased, then patient protection is improved, but patient independence deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective system transitions from static (adjustable beds) to dynamic. The inflatable garment remains compact during normal activities, then dynamically expands to protective configuration only when fall parameters are detected, allowing patients to move freely while protected when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is self-activating through sensor detection of fall parameters. No manual activation or staff intervention is required - the garment automatically inflates when the logic circuit detects fall conditions, empowering patients to maintain independence while receiving protection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If physical therapy is provided to restore strength and balance, then patient independence is improved, but fall injury risk remains
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable chambers are deployed in advance before impact occurs. Sensors detect fall parameters and trigger inflation of air chambers that cushion the body during the fall, providing protective action before the harmful impact reaches the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary counter-action to the harmful fall impact. By inflating air chambers before ground contact, the system creates an opposing force that counteracts the harmful impact, reducing injury risk while patients pursue independence through physical therapy.
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 garment effectively reduces the severity of fall injuries by absorbing impact and preventing contrecoup injuries through controlled inflation and deflation, allowing individuals at risk to maintain independence and reduce hospital visits and nursing home admissions.
Implementation Method 1
The garment effectively reduces the severity of fall injuries by absorbing impact
Implementation Method 2
a sensor network configured to detect a plurality of physical parameters indicative of a fall
Implementation Method 3
a logic circuit configured to process the plurality of physical parameters, and to trigger the inflation mechanism when each of the plurality of physical parameters surpasses a threshold value
Implementation Method 4
an inflation mechanism in fluid communication with the at least one inflatable chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable garment designed to reduce the severity of fall-related injuries is disclosed. The garment includes at least one inflatable chamber, an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion. The garment also includes an inflation mechanism in fluid communication with the at least one inflatable chamber, a sensor network configured to detect a plurality of physical parameters indicative of a fall, and a logic circuit configured to process the plurality of physical parameters, and to trigger the inflation mechanism when each of the plurality of physical parameters surpasses a threshold value. Each of the upper, middle, and lower portions are configured to inflate in an anterior, posterior, and lateral direction via the at least one inflatable chamber. The garment is further configured to deflate to prevent contrecoup injuries.