Planar Mattress Bladder Baffle Assembly for Pressure Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inflatable air bladders in patient support surfaces often concentrate pressure at curved surface apexes, leading to skin injuries due to their curved nature, which complicates controlling billowing and providing uniform cushioning over extended periods.

Innovation Solution

A method of forming air bladders with a planar surface using a baffle assembly and flexible fabric blanks, where the baffle assembly includes flaps that extend from a common root and are secured to the outer layer, allowing air to flow freely and controlling the shape of the bladder when inflated, thereby distributing pressure evenly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If curved bladders are used, then flexibility and cushioning are improved, but pressure concentration at apexes occurs leading to skin injuries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecushioning flexibilityVSAvoidpressure concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the reverse of this principle by deliberately avoiding curvature. The bladder surface is made planar rather than curved, eliminating the apex concentration effect while maintaining flexibility through the inflatable structure itself. The planar configuration distributes pressure evenly across the contact surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the surface geometry uniform across the entire bladder contact area. Instead of having different local geometries (curved apexes vs. flat bases), the entire surface is made planar, ensuring consistent pressure distribution across all local areas of patient contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If multiple curved bladders are arranged together, then support coverage is improved, but billowing and non-planar surfaces occur complicating pressure control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport coverageVSAvoidsurface planarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically applies planar geometry to multiple bladders arranged in an array. Each individual bladder has a planar contact surface, and when positioned adjacent to one another, they collectively form a generally planar support surface, eliminating billowing between bladders.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the support surface into multiple discrete planar bladder units arranged in an array. Each segment (bladder) maintains planarity independently, and their collective arrangement creates a stable, generally planar surface that provides both coverage and pressure control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4066806A1Mattress bladder forming a planar support surface

Publication Date: 2022.10.05 HILL ROM SERVICES INC

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AI summary

An apparatus, method for the apparatus, and system for using the apparatus that comprises an air bladder formed of a baffle assembly with a plurality of equal-length flaps secured to the inside of an impermeable flexible outer layer and having a port secured to the outer layer to allow air to flow into and out of the air bladder, such that when the air bladder is inflated, the baffle assembly supports the shape of the air bladder.