Patient support structure, pressure relief module and non-powered pressure regulation method
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pressure relief devices, such as soft cushions and air mattresses, fail to provide adequate support and pressure reduction for heavier patients, leading to discomfort and increased risk of pressure ulcers due to inadequate adjustment of pneumatic pressure or improper deflation.
Innovation Solution
A patient support structure comprising multiple resilient members with varying supporting strengths, including a hybrid pressure relief module with an air cell and a non-powered pressure regulation method using a check valve and pressure regulating valve to maintain optimal pneumatic pressure, ensuring pressure relief indices below 32 mmHg across different body weights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If pneumatic pressure in air cells is increased to provide better support for heavier patients, then supporting strength is improved, but hardness increases to an undesirable level causing patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is divided into multiple air cells of different sizes (first air cells, second air cells, third air cells) with different structural characteristics. Each air cell type provides different levels of support and comfort, allowing the system to support heavier patients without excessive hardness by distributing the load across segments with varying compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the support surface have different air cell configurations - the first air cells provide stronger support for heavier patients, while the second and third air cells provide softer support for lighter patients or pressure-sensitive areas. This local differentiation allows the system to provide appropriate support strength without causing discomfort.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If pneumatic pressure is reduced or air cells are deflated to decrease hardness, then patient comfort is improved, but supporting strength decreases leading to bottoming-out problems
Solution Approach 1:
The air support system is segmented into multiple independent air cell groups that can maintain different pressure levels simultaneously. This allows the system to provide soft support in some regions while maintaining strong support in other regions, preventing bottoming-out without causing excessive hardness or discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure combines air cells with foam materials (resilient members) to create a composite system. The foam provides baseline support strength while the air cells provide adjustable cushioning, ensuring that the system maintains supporting strength even when air pressure is reduced for comfort.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If soft cushions are used to relieve pressure, then patient comfort is improved, but supporting strength becomes insufficient for heavier patients causing bottoming-out
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pneumatic air cells instead of purely mechanical soft cushions. The air-filled structure provides both pressure distribution (for comfort) and adjustable support strength (to prevent bottoming-out), overcoming the limitation of soft cushions that lack sufficient supporting strength for heavier patients.
4Device complexity
If a single uniform support structure is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different patient weights and needs decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple zones with different air cell configurations and foam densities. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different patient weights and pressure needs in different body regions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured as a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-zone air cell system with different foam densities provides universal support for patients of various weights and with different pressure sensitivity requirements. A single structure serves multiple functions: supporting light patients, supporting heavy patients, and providing pressure relief for sensitive areas, eliminating the need for multiple different products.
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 solution effectively reduces peak surface pressures to comfortable levels for patients of varying weights, providing superior pressure relief and preventing pressure ulcers, with a pressure relief index of up to 99% for moderate to heavier patients and 85% for overweight patients, outperforming conventional products.
Implementation Method 1
a check valve and a pressure regulating valve both communicated with the air cell
Implementation Method 2
a check valve and a pressure regulating valve both communicated with the air cell
Implementation Method 3
The second resilient member comprises a first supporting area and a second supporting area different in supporting strength
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A patient support structure (1) comprises a first supporting part (10), a second supporting part (20) and a third supporting part (30). The first supporting part (10) comprises a first resilient member (100); the second supporting part (20) comprises a second resilient member (200); and the third supporting part (30) is between the first supporting part (10) and the second supporting part (20). The first supporting part (10), the second supporting part (20) and the third supporting part (30) together define a supporting surface (S) extending along a longitudinal axis (L), and the second resilient member (200) comprises a first supporting area (210) and a second supporting area (220) different in supporting strength.