Inflatable Thermal Blanket with Collapsible Retainer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal blankets require preparation for use, such as careful placement relative to a fluid collection tray, and their design prevents them from being folded flat for storage, leading to increased packaging and shipping space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile thermal blanket design with a retainer mechanism at the input port that allows for collapsibility and fluid absorbent pads integrated into the blanket to minimize evaporative cooling effects, featuring a top and bottom layer joined at sections with fluid absorbent means on the underside to absorb fluids without interfering with air circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the blanket uses point joined locations for drainage, then fluids can be drained from the blanket, but the blanket requires careful placement and additional preparation before use
Solution Approach 1:
The blanket is pre-assembled with fluid absorbent pads attached to the bottom layer at the joined sections during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for users to separately position fluid collection trays or prepare the blanket for fluid drainage, allowing the blanket to be used directly upon placement on the bed or table.
2Reliability
If the input port is configured to prevent impeding air flow, then air circulation is maintained, but the blanket cannot be folded flat for storage and shipping
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer mechanism at the input port is designed to be collapsible, allowing it to transition between an extended position during use (which maintains air circulation when open) and a collapsed position during storage (which allows the blanket to be folded flat). This dynamic design resolves the contradiction between maintaining air flow during operation and achieving compact storage.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If fluid absorbent pads are placed on the top surface, then fluids are absorbed, but the pads interfere with air circulation and patient contact
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing fluid absorbent pads on the top surface of the blanket where they would interfere with air circulation and patient contact, the pads are attached to the bottom layer (underside) of the blanket. This inverted placement allows fluids to drain onto the pads from above while maintaining unobstructed air circulation through the top layer and comfortable patient contact with the blanket surface.
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
Enables the thermal blanket to be used directly without preparation, reduces storage and shipping space, and maintains patient temperature by minimizing evaporative cooling effects through efficient fluid absorption.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid absorbent pad may be secured to it for absorbing fluids that flow into that section
Implementation Method 2
the area through which fluids may pass into, and be absorbed by, the pad is increased
Implementation Method 3
Due to the forming of multiple channels by the corrugated lower surface of such pad, the area through which fluids may pass into, and be absorbed by, the pad is increased
Implementation Method 4
the top layer of the pad may be made of a hydrophobic material while the bottom surface of the pad... may be made of a hydrophillic material
Implementation Method 5
the bottom surface of the pad... may be made of a hydrophillic material, so that the upper surface of the pad will remain dry
Implementation Method 6
the inventive blanket is designed to minimize the evaporative and cooling effects that occur when fluids are collected onto the blanket
Implementation Method 7
An inflatable thermal blanket that is used to support a patient
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable convective thermal blanket is designed to have at least one section on its top surface that has securely mounted thereon at least one fluid absorbent mechanism for absorbing fluids from a subject that is placed onto the blanket, or from fluids fallen onto the blanket from other sources. The one section is configured onto the blanket in such a way that it forms a well for collecting the fluids. The fluid absorbent mechanism, which may be in the form of a pad, would absorb the collected fluid to thereby minimize evaporative and cooling effects on the subject. Instead of mounting it on top of the blanket, the fluid absorbent pad may be mounted to the underside of the blanket, with appropriate holes and/or openings provided at the fluid collecting section, so that the collected fluids are drained onto the fluid absorbent pad. To enhance the input flow of air to the blanket, as well as to enable the blanket to be flatly folded for storage or shipping, a collapsible retainer mechanism is provided at the input port(s) of the blanket. The retainer mechanism opens up to a shape that facilitates the mating of an air hose to the input port. When folded to its collapsed position, the retainer mechanism, and the input port, would lie substantially coplanarly with the blanket. When configured to the position for accepting the air hose, the retainer mechanism is positioned substantially orthogonal to the blanket.