Moisture Control Coverlet With Adjustable Airflow and Cooling Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microclimate control systems are ineffective in removing significant liquid from patients with incontinence and fail to regulate heat loss, leading to excessive cooling.
Innovation Solution
A moisture control system with a fluid pathway and adjustable fluid pump for negative pressure-driven moisture removal, featuring a three-layer support system with adjustable air flow to enhance moisture vapor transfer rates while reducing heat transfer through air flow rate adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air flow rate is increased to enhance moisture vapor transfer rate, then moisture removal effectiveness is improved, but excessive cooling of the patient occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs an adjustable fluid pump that can dynamically modify air flow rate through the spacer material. This allows the system to adapt between high flow rates for rapid moisture removal and reduced flow rates for thermal comfort, resolving the contradiction between productivity and temperature maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of air flow rate to control both moisture vapor transfer and heat transfer. By adjusting this single parameter, the system achieves both effective moisture removal and prevents excessive cooling
2Productivity
If fluid pump rate is increased to remove significant liquid from patients, then liquid removal capability is improved, but heat transfer from the patient increases causing excessive cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable fluid pump enables dynamic control of liquid removal rate and associated heat transfer. The system can operate at high pump rates during active incontinence episodes and reduce rates when cooling becomes excessive, balancing productivity with energy loss prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The system responds to patient feedback regarding thermal comfort by adjusting the fluid pump rate. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain effective liquid removal while preventing excessive heat loss that would cause patient discomfort
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 removes liquid and moisture from patients, maintaining comfortable temperatures by increasing air flow for high evaporative cooling and reducing it when necessary to prevent excessive cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid pump coupled to the fluid pathway for pumping fluid out of the fluid pathway by negative pressure
Implementation Method 2
MVTR from the patient can be increased by increasing the air flow rate through the spacer. When the air flow rate is increased, MVTR from the patient increases through higher evaporation rate.
Implementation Method 3
cooling from conduction and convection continues with heat transferring from the patient, through the top cover, into the spacer material, and is carried away by the air flow
Implementation Method 4
cooling from conduction and convection continues with heat transferring from the patient, through the top cover, into the spacer material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6A
AI summary
A moisture control system includes a moisture control coverlet (10) and a fluid pump (18). The moisture control coverlet (10) includes a fluid pathway therein for moisture removal fluid. The fluid pump (18) is coupled to the fluid pathway for pumping fluid out of the fluid pathway by negative pressure at a fluid pump rate. The fluid pump rate can be adjustable and/or can be greater than 1 CFM.