Inflatable Support Overlay for Alternating Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for mitigating and treating pressure ulcers, such as redistribution techniques using air mattresses, do not adequately maintain subcutaneous blood flow or provide relief from shear and environmental effects, leading to incomplete prevention and treatment of decubitus ulcers.
Innovation Solution
The development of support surface overlays with inflatable compartments that selectively apply high interface pressure to small areas of the body, while maintaining low or no pressure at adjacent areas, promoting improved blood flow and incorporating features like nipple-like protrusions and adjustable fluid pressure to massage and control microclimate conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If traditional redistribution techniques using air mattresses are used to distribute user weight over a large area, then interface pressure is reduced, but subcutaneous blood flow is not adequately maintained and shear forces are not sufficiently relieved
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is divided into multiple independently controllable inflatable cells arranged in a grid pattern. Each cell can be inflated or deflated independently, allowing selective application of pressure to different body areas. This segmentation enables the system to maintain pressure at some contact points while relieving pressure at others, thereby maintaining subcutaneous blood flow through alternating pressure cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable cells are operated in alternating pressure cycles where cells are sequentially inflated and deflated. This periodic action creates a massaging effect that promotes blood circulation while alternating pressure relief to different body areas. The system cycles through different patterns of cell inflation to prevent prolonged pressure on any single area, thereby maintaining subcutaneous blood flow.
2Stress or pressure
If air mattresses operate at low internal pressures to distribute weight, then interface pressure is reduced, but relief from shear and environmental effects is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the support surface can be inflated to different pressure levels independently. The system applies high pressure locally at specific contact points to relieve shear forces, while maintaining low or zero pressure at adjacent areas. This local differentiation allows the system to address shear forces and environmental effects in specific problem areas without compromising overall pressure distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The support surface system is dynamically adjustable with inflatable cells that can change their pressure state in real-time. The system transitions from static low-pressure support to dynamic alternating pressure cycles, allowing it to adapt to changing user needs and body positions. This dynamics enables the system to provide both pressure relief and shear force mitigation through controlled inflation and deflation sequences.
3Reliability
If support surface overlays selectively apply high interface pressure to small areas, then subcutaneous blood flow is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple independent inflatable cell units that can be controlled individually or in groups. This modular segmentation allows the complex function of selective pressure application to be achieved through simple, repeatable cell units. Each cell follows the same inflation/deflation mechanism, reducing overall system complexity through standardization while enabling sophisticated pressure patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable cell system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides pressure distribution, maintains subcutaneous blood flow through alternating pressure, relieves shear forces, and creates a massaging effect. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single unified system of inflatable cells controlled by a centralized controller, eliminating the need for separate devices for each function and thereby reducing overall device complexity.
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
These overlays effectively improve subcutaneous blood flow by targeting pressure points and reducing shear forces, providing enhanced pressure relief and promoting lymphatic circulation, thus aiding in the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers.
Implementation Method 1
The inflatable cells may be arranged in a matrix of rows and columns and when an inflatable compartment is pressurized with a fluid (e.g., air, another gas or a liquid), at least some of the inflatable cells become inflated so as to form contact nodes
Implementation Method 2
The contact nodes also define interstices there between, at least some of which interstices may provide the user's body with partial or complete relief from contact pressure. Such fluid flow can be used to control or condition the temperature and/or humidity at the interface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4B
Figure 3
AI summary
A support surfce overlay having two or more independently inflatable compartments, each including a plurality of inflatable cells. When inflated, each inflatable cell forms a contact node that may support a user or another object disposed thereon. The inflatable compartments can be alternately inflated and deflated such that contact pressure can be applied to and relieved from corresponding portions of the user's body in an alternating manner.