Viscoelastic Pad with Stress Distribution Elements for Medical Bed Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support devices for medical beds lack the ability to effectively distribute stresses from straps or bands, are complex to construct, and costly, while also requiring a simple and efficient connection to the medical table or bearing structure.
Innovation Solution
A support device comprising a pad element with viscoelastic properties, stress distribution elements made of elastic materials, and fixing means with elastic properties, all designed to uniformly distribute forces and prevent slipping, with optional pressure sensors for load management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If straps or bands are used to fix the pad element to the medical bed, then the patient can be secured in position, but the stresses from the straps cannot be effectively distributed, causing concentrated forces on the patient's body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces stress distribution elements as intermediary components between the fixing straps and the pad element. These elements act as mediators that receive the constraining forces from the straps and distribute them across a larger area of the pad, preventing concentrated stresses from being transmitted directly to the patient's skin while maintaining secure positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs materials with viscoelastic properties for the pad element and elastic properties for the stress distribution elements. These materials change their mechanical parameters (stiffness, elasticity) in response to applied forces, allowing them to absorb and redistribute stresses dynamically. This parameter change enables the system to maintain reliability while reducing harmful concentrated forces.
2Reliability
If complex locking elements are added to hold the patient's body in desired posture, then patient positioning is improved, but the device construction becomes more complex and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pad element is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides patient support, distributes stresses from fixing straps, prevents slipping during inclined procedures, and works with simple locking elements to maintain posture. By making the pad itself multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate complex mechanisms while achieving reliable patient positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The viscoelastic properties of the pad material allow it to adapt its mechanical characteristics to different positioning requirements. The same pad can accommodate various patient postures and support different body regions by changing its deformation characteristics, eliminating the need for multiple specialized components or complex adjustment mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If the pad element uses simple fixing means, then the connection to the medical table is simple, but the ability to withstand traction forces from straps is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The stress distribution elements serve as intermediaries that connect the simple fixing means to the pad element while reinforcing the connection. These elements are specifically designed to handle traction forces from the straps and transfer them uniformly to the pad, maintaining connection simplicity while significantly improving strength and force distribution capability.
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 solution provides a cost-effective, simple, and efficient means to distribute forces, preventing skin irritation and damage, while ensuring secure patient positioning during medical procedures, including inclined postures, and offering fireproof and biocompatible options.
Implementation Method 1
the pad element can exhibit a viscoelastic behavior to perform a more uniform distribution of loads on the subject, avoiding concentrated stresses
Implementation Method 2
each distribution element is made of an elastic material, preferably having a stiffness of the same order of magnitude as that of the pad element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~2B
AI summary
A support device (1), mainly for use upon a fixed or mobile medical bed, which support device (1) comprises: - a pad element made of polyurethane (2) having a substantially planar configuration; - fixing belts (3) of the pad element (2) to the bearing structure; and - a first (10) and a second (11) stress distribution element, each strip- shaped and arranged at a respective longitudinal edge portion (20, 21) of the pad element (2) and interposed between the latter and the fixing belts (3) for connecting the one (2) to the others (3).