Inflatable Patient Support Valve for Low-Friction Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices and methods fail to adequately protect bedridden patients from pressure ulcers, particularly in the sacral region, due to difficulties in turning and positioning patients, which is time-consuming and requires multiple caregivers, and often results in skin damage from friction and shear forces.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable patient support device with a top and bottom sheet forming a cavity, allowing airflow to reduce friction, combined with directional stitching material and wedges to facilitate easy movement and positioning, reducing the need for frequent caregiver intervention and minimizing skin damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional manual turning and positioning methods are used, then patients can be repositioned, but the process is time-consuming and requires multiple caregivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an inflatable device with a cushion that can be inflated and deflated to facilitate patient turning and positioning. The inflation/deflation mechanism creates air pressure differential that enables the device to lift and move the patient, significantly reducing the time and effort required compared to manual methods while maintaining effective patient repositioning
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable cushion acts as an intermediary between the patient and the caregivers. Instead of caregivers directly lifting and moving the patient, they inflate the cushion which then supports and facilitates the movement, reducing the physical burden on caregivers and improving turning efficiency
2Object-affected harmful factors
If frequent turning is performed to prevent pressure ulcers, then pressure distribution improves, but skin damage from friction and shear forces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable cushion creates a layer of air between the patient and the supporting surface, reducing direct contact and thereby minimizing friction and shear forces on the skin during turning operations, while still enabling effective pressure redistribution through controlled inflation and deflation cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of frequent turning (skin friction damage) into a benefit by using the inflatable cushion to facilitate smoother, lower-friction movements. The air cushion allows the patient to be repositioned with minimal skin contact and friction, maintaining the protective effect of frequent turning while eliminating the harmful side effect
3Stability of the object's composition
If pillows are used to support patient positioning, then turning angles can be achieved, but pillows slip out and positioning consistency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable cushion provides stable, consistent positioning through controlled air pressure, eliminating the slipping problem associated with pillows. The cushion maintains its shape and position reliably, ensuring consistent turning angles and patient positioning without requiring frequent adjustment or replacement
4Object-affected harmful factors
If patients are positioned in inclined positions, then pulmonary function improves, but patients slide downward causing skin damage
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable cushion creates a low-friction air interface that prevents patients from sliding downward when positioned in inclined positions for pulmonary reasons. The air layer reduces contact friction, allowing patients to maintain therapeutic inclines without the harmful skin damage caused by sliding, while still enabling easy boosting back to upright position
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 reduces the risk of pressure ulcers by allowing easier and safer turning and positioning of patients, minimizing skin damage and caregiver strain, while maintaining breathability and compatibility with low-air loss technology.
Implementation Method 1
The passages are configured to permit air to pass from the cavity to the exterior of the device and to flow between a bottom surface of the device and a supporting surface upon which the device is configured to rest
Data Source
AI summary
A valve for an inflatable device includes a pocket configured to be located in a cavity of the inflatable device. The pocket includes an entrance opening to receive air from an air output. The pocket further includes a first layer of material having at least a first aperture, wherein the first aperture is positioned entirely within the first layer of material, a second layer of material having at least a second aperture in fluid communication with the first aperture, wherein the second aperture is positioned entirely within the second layer of material. The first aperture and the second aperture are in fluid communication with the entrance opening and the cavity such that airflow passes through the valve by flowing from the entrance opening into the pocket, and out of the pocket and into the cavity through at least one of the first aperture or the second aperture.