Transferable Patient Support Surface With Microclimate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current patient support systems fail to provide effective microclimate management and temperature regulation, leading to skin breakdown and caregiver safety issues during patient transfers between different support apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A patient support system with a frame assembly, a surface assembly containing a spacer material and a thermoelectric device, and a control assembly including a blower and power source, where a tether with an airflow channel and electrical connection enables microclimate management and temperature regulation, and a winch for transferring the support surface between apparatuses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a patient support system uses traditional support surfaces without active climate control, then the device complexity is low, but the microclimate management is ineffective leading to skin breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple climate control functions (airflow generation via blower, thermal regulation via thermoelectric devices, and microclimate layer formation via spacer material) into a single integrated support surface system. This merging approach achieves effective microclimate management while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate systems by consolidating components into one unified apparatus that can be selectively coupled to different support surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The support surface system is designed with universal applicability by being selectively coupleable to different support apparatuses (hospital beds, stretchers, examination tables). The system performs multiple functions including airflow distribution, heating, cooling, and microclimate management through a single integrated design, allowing it to serve various patient support needs across different medical settings without requiring apparatus-specific customization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support surface system is fixed to a single support apparatus, then the stability is high, but the adaptability to transfer between different apparatuses is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separable components: a portable control assembly containing the blower, thermoelectric devices, and power source, and a support surface portion that can be detached and reattached. This segmentation allows the system to be transferred between different support apparatuses while maintaining functional integrity. The selective coupling mechanism enables stable attachment during use and easy detachment for transfer, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If manual patient transfer methods are used without mechanical assistance, then the device complexity is low, but the caregiver safety is compromised due to injury risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical lifting and transferring operations with a controlled system that uses airflow generation and thermoelectric actuation to assist patient movement. The blower creates airflow to reduce friction during transfer, while thermoelectric devices provide controlled thermal assistance. This substitution reduces physical strain on caregivers compared to pure manual methods while avoiding the complexity of heavy mechanical robotic systems.
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 manages patient microclimate, reduces skin breakdown risk, and facilitates safe and efficient patient transfers by maintaining consistent treatment and reducing caregiver injury.
Implementation Method 1
The controller is configured to selectively activate the blower to direct air through the airflow channel and through the spacer material to form a microclimate management layer in the surface assembly
Implementation Method 2
The controller is configured to selectively activate the power source to drive a current through the thermoelectric device for temperature regulation
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support system includes a frame assembly and a support surface system configured to support a person thereon. The support surface system includes a surface assembly including a spacer material and a thermoelectric device and a control assembly including a blower and a power source. A tether is coupled to the control assembly and the surface assembly. The tether includes an airflow channel and an electrical connection. A controller is communicatively coupled to the support surface system. The controller is configured to selectively activate a blower to direct air through the airflow channel and through the spacer material to form a microclimate management layer in the surface assembly and selectively activate a power source to drive a current through the thermoelectric device for temperature regulation.