Support Surface Preview Rotation for Safe Patient Line Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Caregivers face challenges in managing patient lines during lateral rotation therapy on person support surfaces, as they often become pinched or disconnected due to the rotation of air bladders, leading to fluid occlusion or disconnection.
Innovation Solution
A person support apparatus with a controller that performs a set by preview subroutine, allowing caregivers to position the support surface at evaluation positions for a predetermined time to assess line occlusion before full rotation therapy, and includes a percussion and vibration (P&V) subroutine for simultaneous therapy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If lateral rotation therapy is performed using air bladders, then patient positioning for pulmonary therapy or decubitus prevention is improved, but patient lines become pinched or caught causing fluid occlusion
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preview rotation to a first evaluation position before the actual therapy rotation, allowing caregivers to assess line positioning and make adjustments beforehand. This preliminary action prevents line occlusion during the full rotation therapy by identifying and resolving potential problems in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback through the user interface showing the position of patient lines during preview rotation, enabling caregivers to monitor line status and determine when lines are properly positioned and not occluded, thus ensuring reliable line connection during therapy.
2Reliability
If preview function is implemented to assess line occlusion, then line safety is improved, but therapy time is increased due to additional evaluation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The preview function performs a partial rotation to only a first evaluation position rather than the full therapy rotation angle, allowing sufficient assessment of line positioning with minimal additional time investment. This partial action provides the necessary safety check while minimizing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages the preview rotation sequence and returns the support surface to the flat position after the preview, reducing the time caregivers need to spend manually monitoring and adjusting lines during the evaluation process.
3Measurement precision
If the support surface remains at evaluation position for extended period, then line assessment accuracy is improved, but therapy efficiency is reduced due to dwell time
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a periodic preview rotation that briefly positions the support surface at the first evaluation position, allows for line assessment, then automatically returns to the flat position. This periodic action provides sufficient time for accurate line assessment while maintaining therapy efficiency by minimizing dwell time at evaluation positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A person support apparatus including a person support surface including an actuating device and a controller configured to operate the actuating device to perform a set by preview subroutine and a rotation preview subroutine, wherein, during the set by preview subroutine, the controller receives user input positioning the actuating device into a first preview position and sets the first preview position as a first evaluation position, and wherein, during the set by preview subroutine, the controller receives user input positioning the actuating device into a second preview position and sets the second preview position as a second evaluation position. In embodiments, the controller is configured to simultaneously perform a P&V subroutine during rotation of the person support surface.