Person Support Air Sensing for Cleaning Residue Readiness
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Solution Overview
Problem
In healthcare facilities, monitoring and tracking the usability status of person support apparatuses, such as beds and stretchers, is challenging, especially in environments where infection control is a concern, as existing methods may leave residues from cleaning solvents that can be hazardous for patients with respiratory issues or allergies, and there is a need to ensure proper cleaning and safety for occupants.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sensors that detect ambient air characteristics, including volatile organic compounds, humidity, and pressure, which communicate with a controller to determine the usability status of the apparatus, indicating readiness for use, potential hazards, and cleaning status, using reference data to assess the presence and concentration of cleaning agents over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cleaning solvents are used to clean person support apparatuses, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but hazardous residues remain that can affect patients with respiratory issues or allergies
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors air quality around the person support apparatus using VOC sensors and provides real-time feedback about cleaning agent residues. The controller receives sensor data and determines usability status, notifying users when the apparatus is unsafe for patient use, thereby enabling informed decisions about patient placement based on actual air quality conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual monitoring and assessment of cleaning effectiveness with automated electronic sensing systems. VOC sensors, humidity sensors, and pressure sensors substitute for human judgment, objectively measuring air quality parameters and automatically determining when the apparatus is safe for use after cleaning
2Productivity
If multiple person support apparatuses are present in a healthcare facility, then patient care capacity is improved, but monitoring and tracking usability status of each apparatus becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
Each person support apparatus is equipped with its own integrated sensing system and controller that autonomously monitors its local air quality and determines its own usability status. The apparatus self-assesses cleaning effectiveness and communicates its status without requiring external manual inspection, enabling independent monitoring of multiple units
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a standardized multi-sensor platform (VOC, humidity, pressure sensors) that can be deployed across different types of person support apparatuses (beds, stretchers, chairs). This universal sensing approach allows consistent monitoring of usability status across the entire fleet of equipment in the facility
3Reliability
If cleaning processes are performed to ensure safety, then infection control is improved, but determination of sufficient cleaning and readiness for use becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors changes in air quality parameters (VOC concentration, humidity, pressure) over time to objectively determine when cleaning is sufficient. By tracking the dissipation of cleaning agent residues and the return of air quality to baseline levels, the system provides precise measurement of cleaning effectiveness rather than relying on subjective assessment
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of air quality conditions before declaring the apparatus ready for patient use. By continuously monitoring and predicting when cleaning thresholds will be met, the system ensures that sufficient cleaning time has elapsed and hazardous residues have dissipated to safe levels before the apparatus is made available
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 monitors and communicates the usability status of person support apparatuses, ensuring they are safe for patients by detecting hazardous residues and ensuring proper cleaning, thereby enhancing infection control and patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor detects volatile organic compounds associated with a cleaning agent used to clean the person support apparatus
Implementation Method 2
The sensor comprises at least two of a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor, a humidity sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor
Implementation Method 3
the at least one additional ambient air characteristic is a pressure of the air and the controller is adapted to determine a floor of a building on which the person support apparatus is located based upon the pressure of the air
Data Source
AI summary
A person support apparatus includes a support adapted to support thereon an occupant of the person support apparatus and a sensor configured to detect an ambient air characteristic. The sensor generates an output signal based on the detected characteristic and communicates the output signal to a controller. The controller is configured to receive the output signal from the sensor and determine a usability status of the person support apparatus. The usability status may include an indication that the person support apparatus is ready for use by an occupant, whether a potential hazard exists for an occupant of the person support apparatus, a cleaning status of the person support apparatus, or a location of the person support apparatus.