Arrangement for warming a patient support surface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating solutions for patient support surfaces during medical treatments are cumbersome, inefficient, and require extensive preparation and storage, often failing to maintain core body temperature effectively and posing challenges in adaptation to patient size and operation requirements, with additional heating mats complicating the setup and increasing storage needs.
Innovation Solution
A modular arrangement of upholstered elements with integrated electric heating elements and a central control unit allows for precise heat distribution and adjustment across the patient support surface, using temperature sensors and pulse-width modulation to ensure accurate heat delivery, while reducing cleaning and storage efforts through integrated components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If separate heating mats are placed on the patient support surface, then heating function is provided, but device complexity and preparation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated directly into the upholstery elements of the patient support surface, merging the heating function with the existing structure. This eliminates the need for separate heating mats and their associated supply lines, reducing device complexity and preparation time while maintaining effective patient heating capability
2Temperature
If separate heating mats are used, then heating function is provided, but storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the heating element into the upholstery elements, the heating system becomes part of the patient support surface itself. This eliminates the need to store separate heating mats and their supply lines, significantly reducing storage space requirements while maintaining full heating functionality
3Temperature
If heating mats are placed on upholstery elements, then heating function is provided, but cleaning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated into the upholstery elements, creating a unified structure with no separate components. This eliminates the need to clean both heating mats and upholstery elements separately, reducing cleaning time and effort while maintaining effective heating capability
4Temperature
If liquid-filled heating mats are used, then heating function is provided, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid-filled heating system is replaced with an electric heating element integrated into the upholstery. This substitution eliminates the weight of liquid while maintaining the heating function, significantly reducing the weight of the patient support surface without compromising thermal performance
5Temperature
If liquid flows through heating mats, then heating function is provided, but X-ray image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid-filled heating mat system is replaced with an electric heating element. This substitution eliminates the liquid that causes uneven distribution and interference with X-ray imaging, while maintaining effective heating capability through electrical resistance heating
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
This solution enables efficient, safe, and adaptable heating of patient support surfaces, ensuring accurate heat delivery, simplifying handling and storage, and reducing the effort required for cleaning and disinfection, while maintaining patient comfort and safety.
Implementation Method 1
each of which has an electric heating element integrated in the padding element
Implementation Method 2
temperature sensors for detecting the temperature of the cushion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
An arrangement for warming a patient support surface (12), in particular for warming cushion elements (16a to 24a) for a patient support surface (12) of an operating table (10), comprises a first cushion element (20a) and at least a second cushion element (22a), which each have an electrical heating element (20b, 22b) integrated in the cushion element (20a, 22a). The arrangement comprises a central energy supply unit (48, 50) for supplying the electrical heating elements (20b, 22b) with electrical energy. A cushion element control unit (20d, 22d), for controlling the thermal output of the heating element (20b, 22b) of the cushion element (20a, 22a), and at least one temperature sensor (20e, 22e) are integrated in each cushion element (20a, 22a). Moreover, a central control unit (42) is provided for controlling the thermal output of the patient support surface (12), wherein the central control unit (42) predefines at least one desired temperature value for the cushion element control units (20d, 22d). On the basis of an actual temperature value determined by the temperature sensor (20e, 22e), and of the predefined desired temperature value, the cushion element control units (20d, 22d) regulate the thermal output of the heating element (20b, 22b) of the respective cushion element (20a, 22a).