Radar Patient Support Surface for Full-Body Immersion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient support systems, such as mattresses and pads, often fail to accurately detect patient immersion across the entire body, leading to increased risk of bottoming out and pressure ulcers, particularly when the head section of the bed is raised, as they primarily rely on sensors in the seat region and introduce manufacturing complexities with internal components.
Innovation Solution
A patient support system incorporating a radio detection and ranging (RADAR) apparatus outside the mattress, which uses a RADAR antenna and control circuitry to measure the time-of-flight of a pulse to determine patient immersion depth, adjusting inflation of air bladders and moving support components to maintain optimal interface pressure and prevent bottoming out.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If immersion sensors are placed inside the mattress (internal components), then patient immersion detection is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensor system from the internal mattress structure and places it externally on the bed frame. The optical sensor detects patient immersion by measuring the position of the mattress surface from the outside, eliminating the need for complex internal conductive layers, coils, or embedded electronics within the mattress layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical sensor as an intermediary device that indirectly measures patient immersion by detecting the mattress surface position. Instead of directly measuring immersion through internal conductive components, the external optical sensor uses light reflection or obstruction to determine mattress compression, providing a simpler measurement pathway.
2Ease of manufacture
If sensors are located only in the seat region, then manufacturing is simplified, but detection accuracy for full body immersion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the external sensor system universal by positioning it to detect immersion across multiple body regions. The optical sensor on the bed frame can monitor the mattress surface at various locations, enabling detection of head, shoulder blade, buttocks, and heel immersion with a unified external sensing approach rather than region-specific internal sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional seat-region sensing to multi-dimensional body coverage by placing the external optical sensor to monitor mattress compression across different anatomical regions. The sensor system evaluates immersion depth at multiple locations along the patient's body, expanding detection capability from a single point to multiple spatial dimensions.
3Ease of operation
If the head section of the bed is raised, then patient comfort is improved, but the risk of bottoming out increases due to weight concentration on the seat region
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the external optical sensor continuously monitors mattress surface position and patient immersion depth. When the head section is raised and weight concentrates on the seat region, the sensor detects increased mattress compression and provides feedback to the control system, which can then adjust air pressure in responsive zones to prevent bottoming out and maintain optimal immersion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the mattress support system dynamic by enabling real-time adjustment of air pressure in responsive zones based on detected patient position and immersion. When the head section is elevated, the system dynamically increases support pressure in the seat region to compensate for weight concentration, preventing bottoming out while maintaining patient comfort during position changes.
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 system effectively reduces the risk of pressure ulcers by ensuring consistent patient support across the body, improving clinical workflow, and simplifying manufacturing by eliminating the need for complex internal sensors.
Implementation Method 1
at least one radio detection and ranging (RADAR) apparatus coupled to the patient support structure and arranged outside of the mattress
Implementation Method 2
which uses a RADAR antenna and control circuitry to measure the time-of-flight of a pulse to determine patient immersion depth
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A patient support system (10) comprising: a patient support structure to support a patient; control circuitry (26) coupled to the patient support structure; and at least one radio detection and ranging, RADAR, apparatus (12) coupled to the patient support structure, the control circuitry providing power to the at least one RADAR apparatus and receiving data from the at least one RADAR apparatus, wherein the control circuitry performs at least one function in response to the data received from the at least one RADAR apparatus.