Inflatable Mattress Restraint Layout for Stable Patient Transfers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mattress systems with fluid cushions and restraints face challenges in providing adequate lateral stability and preventing patients from rolling off or into the bed railing, especially during patient transfers, as the current restraint designs often hinder transfer efficiency and increase tissue interface pressure.
Innovation Solution
A cushioning device featuring a deep cell inflatable bladder with a restraint structure and a pump that allows for two inflation modes: maximum inflation for easy transfer and normal operating mode to prevent pressure ulcers and rolling, with the restraint attached to the bladder at a predetermined distance below its top surface to maintain stability and prevent hammock effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the restraint is attached at or near the top surface of the bladder, then lateral stability is improved for patient transfers, but the restraint fails to prevent rolling during normal operation due to hammock effect
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts bladder inflation between two states: maximum volume for transfers (providing lateral stability) and normal operating volume for restraint effectiveness. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by having the system adapt its configuration based on operational mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The restraint is pre-positioned and attached at a specific location below the top surface of the bladder, optimizing its effectiveness before normal operation begins. This preliminary positioning ensures the restraint will function properly when the bladder is at normal operating volume, preventing the hammock effect while maintaining stability capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the bladder is inflated to normal operating mode, then pressure ulcer prevention is improved, but lateral stability deteriorates making patient transfers difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system periodically alternates between two inflation states: normal operating mode for pressure ulcer prevention and maximum volume mode for patient transfers. This periodic switching resolves the contradiction by providing the appropriate inflation level for each operational phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The bladder inflation level is dynamically adjusted between normal operating volume and maximum volume based on the operational requirement, allowing the system to optimize both pressure ulcer prevention and transfer ease at different times.
3Reliability
If the restraint is positioned to prevent rolling during normal operation, then patient safety is improved, but transfer efficiency deteriorates due to lifting difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the bladder volume between normal operating mode (where the restraint effectively prevents rolling) and maximum volume mode (where the elevated bladder surface facilitates easy patient transfers by providing lateral stability).
Solution Approach 2:
The restraint is pre-positioned below the top surface of the bladder at an optimal location that ensures effectiveness during normal operation. This preliminary positioning, combined with dynamic inflation adjustment, allows the system to maintain safety while enabling efficient transfers 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 enhances patient safety by preventing rolling and pressure ulcers while facilitating easier transfers and maintaining lateral stability, balancing restraint functionality with transfer ease.
Implementation Method 1
a pump that has a maximum inflation mode that inflates the first deep cell inflatable bladder so the bladder's upper surface and the first restraint's top surface are in or approximately in the same plane
Implementation Method 2
a normal operating inflation mode that provides sufficient inflation to (A) prevent the first bladder's upper surface from contacting the first bladder's lower surface, (B) decrease (i) the formation of debuticus ulcers on a patient and (ii) the patient's tissue interface pressure
Implementation Method 3
The attachment attaches at least a portion of the first bladder's first side to the first restraint structure at a predetermined distance below the first restraint's top surface
Data Source
AI summary
A cushioning device having a first deep cell inflatable bladder, a first restraint structure, a pump and an attachment. The first deep cell inflatable bladder has a first side, a second side, an upper surface and a lower surface. The first restraint structure has a top surface and a bottom surface. The pump has (a) a maximum inflation mode that inflates the first deep cell inflatable bladder so the bladder's upper surface and the first restraint's top surface are in or approximately in the same plane and (b) a normal operating inflation mode that provides sufficient inflation to (A) prevent the first bladder's upper surface from contacting the first bladder's lower surface, (B) decrease (i) the formation of debuticus ulcers on a patient and (ii) the patient's tissue interface pressure, and (C) allow the restraint structure to inhibit and/or restrain the patient from rolling off the first deep cell inflatable bladder. The attachment attaches at least a portion of the first bladder's first side to the first restraint structure at a predetermined distance below the first restraint's top surface so (A) the first restraint during the normal operating mode inhibits and/or restrains the patient from rolling off the first deep cell inflatable bladder, and (B) the first restraint and first deep cell inflatable bladder provide lateral stability to allow the patient to get in and out of the cushioning device and facilitating patient transfers during the maximum inflate mode.