Pneumatic Support Device Leak Isolation and Deflation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current patient support devices, such as mattresses, are susceptible to air leaks, which can compromise patient safety and make it difficult to identify the leaking portion, leading to potential bedsores and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic support device with a controller and compressor system that isolates and identifies the leaking layer, allowing for controlled deflation of the affected area and alerting maintenance personnel through an alarm system, ensuring continued support and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air leak detection is not implemented, then the device structure remains simple, but patient safety is compromised and bedsores may form
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary leak detection by monitoring pressure changes in inflatable elements before critical failure occurs. The system continuously monitors pressure deviations and triggers alerts or deflation sequences in advance, preventing patient contact with the bed frame and avoiding bedsores before they can form.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through pressure sensors that continuously monitor the pressure in inflatable elements and provide real-time information to the controller. When pressure deviations indicate a leak, the controller responds by activating exhaust valves to deflate the affected elements, creating a closed-loop safety mechanism that maintains patient safety.
2Reliability
If the entire mattress is deflated when a leak is detected, then patient safety is ensured, but comfort is lost in non-leaking zones
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress is divided into multiple independently controllable inflatable elements or zones. When a leak is detected in one element, the controller selectively deflates only that specific element while maintaining inflation in other elements. This segmentation allows the system to isolate the leaking portion and preserve comfort in non-affected zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different pressure states to different zones of the mattress based on local conditions. Non-leaking zones maintain their optimal inflation pressure for patient comfort, while the leaking zone is deflated to prevent safety hazards. This local quality approach ensures that safety measures are applied only where needed.
3Ease of repair
If leak location identification is implemented, then maintenance efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual inspection methods with automated electronic detection using pressure sensors and a microprocessor-based controller. The controller automatically identifies leaking elements by analyzing pressure data from sensors, eliminating the need for manual checking and providing precise location information to maintenance personnel through digital indicators or alerts.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a support device for supporting the body of a person, the support device comprising: a top layer comprising an inflatable cell; a bottom layer, arranged to support the top layer, the bottom layer comprising an inflatable cell; and a pneumatic inflation and pressure regulation device comprising a controller and a compressor, pneumatically coupled to the at least one inflatable cell of the top layer and to the at least one inflatable cell of the bottom layer via a manifold. The manifold comprises: a plurality of isolation valves configured to enable the top layer and the bottom layer to be isolated from each other and from the compressor; at least one exhaust valve pneumatically coupled to the top layer; and at least one exhaust valve pneumatically coupled to the bottom layer. The controller is configured to: determine if there is an air leak from the support device; upon determining an air leak: determine the layer which has a leak; isolate the layer which has the leak from the other layer and from the compressor; and open the exhaust valve to the layer which has the leak.