Patient support surface control, end of life indication, and x-ray cassette sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current patient bed systems face challenges such as skin conditions due to heat and moisture, unreliable pneumatic systems, degradation of support surfaces, difficulties in installing x-ray sleeves, detection of bottoming out, heel suspension issues, and lack of automated fluid ingress detection, leading to patient safety hazards and increased healthcare costs.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus with a topper configured to conduct air along the top face for cooling and moisture management, incorporating a pneumatic blower and controller for air flow control, an end-of-life indicator, a fluid-resistant x-ray cassette sleeve, sensors for detecting patient position and fluid ingress, and a heel suspension mechanism to prevent pressure ulcers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate pneumatic box is positioned within the patient room to supply air to the microclimate structure, then effective cooling and drying of patient skin is achieved, but space within the patient room is occupied and the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pneumatic blower and microclimate structure controls into a single integrated unit positioned at the foot of the bed. This merging eliminates the need for a separate pneumatic box in the patient room, reducing space occupation and system complexity while maintaining effective air supply to the microclimate structure for cooling and drying patient skin
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate pumps are used to operate microclimate structures, then wound treatment therapy can be provided, but the pumps may be lost or become unavailable, delaying treatment and requiring cleaning of hoses and pumps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the pneumatic blower directly into the microclimate structure, eliminating separate pumps and hose attachments. This integration ensures reliable operation by removing components that can be lost or require cleaning, while maintaining the capability to provide wound treatment therapy through the microclimate system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the separate pump and hose attachment components from the system, extracting the problematic elements that caused reliability issues. The pneumatic blower is built into the microclimate structure itself, eliminating the need for external pumps that could be lost or become contaminated
3Quantity of substance
If support surfaces are used beyond their useful lives, then healthcare costs are reduced by avoiding replacement, but the likelihood of skin breakdown and pressure ulcers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an end-of-life indicator system that monitors support surface degradation and provides early warning before actual failure occurs. This preliminary detection allows healthcare facilities to plan replacements proactively, balancing cost considerations with patient safety by replacing surfaces before they cause skin breakdown or pressure ulcers
4Adaptability or versatility
If x-ray sleeves are installed in toppers, then x-ray access is provided, but many support surfaces without toppers cannot accept x-ray sleeves and installation is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes an x-ray sleeve system designed to work with various support surface types, including those without toppers. The sleeve is configured to interface with the support surface structure directly, providing universal compatibility across different bed types and simplifying installation by eliminating the requirement for specific topper configurations
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
Enhances patient safety by preventing skin conditions, ensuring reliable air flow, extending the life of support surfaces, facilitating easy x-ray sleeve installation, detecting bottoming out, and automating fluid ingress detection, thereby reducing healthcare costs and improving patient comfort.
Implementation Method 1
The topper may be configured to conduct air along a top face of the support surface so that heat and moisture from a patient lying on the support surface are drawn away from the top face of the support surface
Implementation Method 2
A pneumatic blower may be configured to position within the cavity. The pneumatic blower may have an outlet port that couples to the inlet port when the pneumatic blower is positioned within the cavity. The pneumatic blower may conduct air through the inlet port to the topper
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus may include a support surface configured to conduct air along a top face of the support surface so that heat and moisture from a patient lying on the support surface are drawn away from the top face of the support surface. An opening may be formed in a side of the support surface. A cavity may extend from the opening into the support surface. An inlet port may be positioned within the cavity and fluidly coupled to the top face. A blower assembly may be configured to position within the cavity. The blower assembly may have an outlet port that couples to the inlet port when the blower assembly is positioned within the cavity. The blower assembly may conduct air through the inlet port to the top face of the support surface.