Leg Support System for Heel Pressure Ulcer Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preventing pressure ulcers during extended stationary periods, such as in medical settings, either delay the onset of ulcers by only a short time or interfere with patient positioning and access to vital areas, posing challenges for medical professionals.
Innovation Solution
A leg support system comprising a knee support and an ankle cradle, designed to be stable and easily positionable on a medical support platform, which suspends the patient's heels to alleviate pressure without altering the groin angle or interfering with sequential compression devices, allowing unencumbered access to femoral veins and arteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pads are applied to pressure points to prevent pressure ulcers, then pressure ulcer onset is delayed, but the delay is only short-term (about one hour)
Solution Approach 1:
The leg support system enables dynamic positioning by allowing the legs to be elevated and supported at various angles. This dynamic adjustment continuously changes the pressure distribution on the heels, preventing sustained pressure that leads to ulcers, thereby extending protection duration beyond static pad applications.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying protection only at the pressure point (heel level), the invention elevates the entire leg to a higher dimension. This dimensional change redistributes pressure from the heels to the buttocks and back, providing prolonged ulcer prevention through spatial redistribution rather than localized cushioning.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If pillows or rolled towels are placed under calves or ankles to alleviate heel pain, then pressure on heels is reduced, but patient positioning and access to femoral veins/arteries is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The leg support system is divided into separate functional components: heel support structures that elevate the heels, and knee support structures that maintain proper leg positioning. This segmentation allows independent optimization of heel pressure relief while preserving access to femoral vessels through controlled knee positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg support system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it elevates heels to prevent pressure ulcers, maintains proper leg alignment for medical access, and provides stable support during medical procedures. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by integrating what were previously separate needs into a single system.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If towels or pillows are placed under calves, then heel pressure is reduced, but sequential compression devices on calves are interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heel elevation function from the calf region. By providing dedicated heel support structures that lift the heels independently, the system removes the need for towels or pillows under the calves, thereby eliminating interference with sequential compression devices while maintaining heel pressure relief.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If patient legs are repositioned to alleviate pressure, then pressure distribution is improved, but patient movement may endanger recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The leg support system is pre-positioned and secured before the patient arrives or before procedures begin. This preliminary setup establishes optimal pressure distribution and leg positioning in advance, eliminating the need for subsequent patient movement or repositioning that could compromise recovery while maintaining proper pressure management throughout the procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
A leg support system includes an ankle cradle for preventing or mitigating pressure ulcers on heels of a patient supported on a top surface of a medical support platform. The ankle cradle includes a cradle base, a first ankle support, and a second ankle support. The cradle base has a bottom surface and is sized and dimensioned to be supported on the top surface of the medical support platform, with the bottom surface of the cradle base contacting the top surface of the medical support platform. The first ankle support is coupled to the cradle base. The second ankle support is spaced apart from the first ankle support and couples to the first ankle support or the cradle base.