Transparent Triple-Walled Thermal Support for Contact-Free Patient Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing human body thermal support devices either provide localized heating that restricts movement and contact with the body, or they fail to maintain a uniformly warmed environment, and lack transparency for visual monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A triple-walled structure with closed gas flow circulation, allowing independent temperature control in inner and outer spaces, using a gas flow preparation unit to warm the inner wall while insulating the outer space, and featuring a transparent design with optional privacy layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a thermal support device provides localized heating through contact with the body, then heating effectiveness is improved, but patient movement is restricted and visual monitoring is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the thermal support function into two separate zones: a first space for direct body contact heating and a second space for environmental warming. This segmentation allows the heating function to be distributed without requiring complete body coverage, thus maintaining patient movement freedom while providing effective heating through the inner wall facing the patient's body.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate wall acts as a thermal mediator between the outer wall and the inner wall. It receives warmed gas from the second space and transfers heat to the inner wall, which then provides thermal support to the patient's body. This intermediary structure enables heating without direct contact between the heating source and the patient, preserving movement freedom.
2Temperature
If a thermal support device provides localized heating through contact with the body, then heating effectiveness is improved, but transparency for visual monitoring is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the thermal support function into two spaces: the first space with a transparent inner wall for visual monitoring, and the second space that can be opaque for privacy. This allows the heating function to be achieved through the transparent inner wall while maintaining visual monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner wall facing the patient's body is made transparent to allow visual monitoring, while the outer wall can be opaque for privacy. This local differentiation of material properties enables both visual monitoring and thermal support functions to coexist without compromise.
3Device complexity
If a thermal support device uses open gas circulation, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature control precision deteriorates and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas circulation system is segmented into two independent loops: a first closed loop for the first space and a second closed loop for the second space. This segmentation allows independent temperature control in each space, improving temperature control precision while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the gas circulation mode from open to closed loop, which fundamentally alters the temperature control characteristics. The closed loop enables precise temperature control by recirculating and reconditioning the gas, maintaining consistent temperature parameters without continuous energy input.
4Device complexity
If a thermal support device uses open gas circulation, then device complexity is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closed gas circulation system recovers and reuses the warmed gas by circulating it back through the heating element. Instead of continuously introducing fresh cold gas, the system recovers thermal energy from the outgoing gas and reuse it, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining a relatively simple device structure.
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
Provides uniform warming without body contact, reduces heat loss, allows visual monitoring, and maintains a controlled environment with reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The gas flow preparation unit is configured to warm up and direct said warmed gas flow to and from the triple-walled wall
Implementation Method 2
effective heating of the triple-walled wall is provided
Implementation Method 3
The inner wall and the outer wall enclose the spaces so that said spaces are completely sealed from an external environment
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a human body thermal support device. The device comprises a base (1), a triple-walled wall (2) mounted on the base (1). The triple-walled wall (2) comprises an inner wall (14), an outer wall (15), and an intermediate wall (45) therebetween so that a first space (4) is formed between the inner wall (14) and the intermediate wall (45), and a second space (5) is formed between the outer wall (15) and the intermediate wall (45). Both spaces (4;5) are fluidly connected to each other so that a gas flow (10) can flow from the first space (4) to the second space (5). The device comprises a gas flow preparation unit (6) configured to warm-up and direct the warmed gas flow (10) to the first space (4) and the second space (5), in result of which effective heating of the triple-walled wall (2) is provided.