Modular Nodal Support Surface for Pressure and Temperature Relief
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alternating pressure support surfaces fail to effectively prevent tenting and over-depression, and lack efficient temperature control, leading to inadequate pressure relief and potential temperature regulation issues for patients on extended bed rest.
Innovation Solution
A support surface with nodal arrays enclosed in a cover, where warm or cool air is passed through a plenum between the nodes and the cover, allowing for independent control of fluid pressure in each node group, and incorporating a heating or cooling source in fluid communication with the plenum, along with modular foam inserts and stabilizers for enhanced pressure distribution and temperature management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional alternating pressure support surfaces are used, then pressure relief is provided through inflation and deflation of cells, but the support surface fails to prevent tenting and over-depression
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is divided into multiple independent zones, each containing multiple cells that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows precise control over pressure distribution in different body regions, preventing both tenting (where inflated cells rise too high) and over-depression (where deflated cells create excessive voids) by independently adjusting each zone's inflation state.
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones of the support surface are assigned different pressure characteristics tailored to specific body regions. The system applies local quality control by varying cell pressure independently in head, torso, and leg zones, allowing each area to have optimal pressure relief without affecting adjacent regions, thereby preventing tenting and over-depression.
2Stress or pressure
If traditional support surfaces focus on pressure relief through air cells, then pressure distribution is improved, but temperature control capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface integrates multiple functions into a single system: pressure relief through alternating cell inflation/deflation, temperature control through heated/cooled air circulation, and positioning support. The air circulation system serves dual purposes by both inflating cells for pressure relief and providing thermal regulation, thereby adding temperature control capability without sacrificing pressure distribution effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic principles for both pressure relief and temperature control. Compressed air is circulated through channels that serve dual functions: inflating support cells for pressure distribution and providing heated or cooled air for temperature regulation. This pneumatic approach enables both pressure and thermal management through a unified system.
3Reliability
If manual patient rotation is used to prevent pressure wounds, then pressure relief is achieved, but reliance on human action and proper timing cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface system automatically manages pressure distribution without requiring manual patient repositioning. The microprocessor-controlled system continuously monitors and adjusts cell inflation/deflation cycles, providing self-service pressure management that eliminates dependence on human staff for timely rotation while maintaining effective pressure relief to prevent wounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic alternating pressure cycles automatically, where groups of cells are inflated and deflated in repeating sequences. This periodic action continuously shifts pressure points without manual intervention, ensuring consistent pressure relief timing and effectiveness while eliminating reliance on human action for patient repositioning.
4Temperature
If heated or cooled air is circulated through the support surface, then temperature control is improved, but heat loss to the environment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air circulation system is nested within the structure of the support surface, with air channels integrated into the mattress layers and cell structures. This nesting confines the heated or cooled air within the support surface boundaries, allowing efficient thermal transfer to the patient while minimizing heat loss to the surrounding environment through the insulated mattress construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The support surface acts as an intermediary between the temperature control system and the patient. Heated or cooled air is circulated through intermediate channels and surfaces that are in direct contact with or close to the patient's body, efficiently transferring thermal energy through this intermediary medium while the insulated structure prevents excessive heat loss to the environment.
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 provides effective pressure relief by preventing tenting and over-depression while efficiently managing temperature, reducing heat loss to the environment and ensuring more heat or cool is transferred to the patient's body through conduction, thereby reducing the risk of pressure wounds and improving patient comfort.
Implementation Method 1
ensuring more heat or cool is transferred to the patient's body through conduction
Implementation Method 2
passing a medium, which may be air, through the plenum and between the nodal arrays, while contained in the cover
Implementation Method 3
warm or cool air is passed through a plenum formed by a space between the nodes and the cover
Data Source
AI summary
A support surface includes a plurality of interconnected node groups, where each node group includes at least two nodes connected by a fluid passage. The plurality of interconnected node groups define a node array. A source of pressurized fluid, such as pressurized air is connected with the node array.