Non-invasive apparatuses for mitigating pressure applied to a human body and associated systems and methods
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12193922-B2
Publication Date
2025-01-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
Introduced here are apparatuses and systems for mitigating contact pressures applied to a human body by the surface of an object, such as a chair, bed, or table. A pressure-mitigation apparatus can include a series of chambers whose pressure can be individually varied. When placed between a patient and a contact surface, the pressure-mitigation apparatus can vary the contact pressure on a specific anatomical region of the patient by controllably inflating and/or deflating one or more cell. Moreover, a pressure-mitigation system can be readily integrated into a conventional treatment regimen for a variety of different conditions.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a pressure-mitigation apparatus and a control system for mitigating pressure applied to a human body by an underlying surface. The pressure-mitigation apparatus includes a plurality of chambers, and the control system regulates fluid flow into the chambers in accordance with a specific pattern so that different chambers are controllably inflated over time.
In an apparatus form, a top layer and a bottom layer define a geometric arrangement of chambers formed via interconnections between the layers. Upon deployment beneath the human body, the location at which pressure is applied to an anatomical region by the underlying surface is movable among a plurality of locations through controlled inflation of the chambers over time.
Embodiments include a top layer permeable to fluids and a bottom layer not permeable to fluids, and embodiments including non-permeable top and bottom layers. The invention further includes a pump that generates fluid flow to supply the plurality of chambers under control, and features that coordinate pressure application movement and device positioning.
Claims Coverage
Independent claims are provided for a system with a pressure-mitigation apparatus having multiple chambers and a control system that regulates fluid flow according to a specific pattern, and for apparatus embodiments defined by top and bottom layers with chamber arrangements that move the pressure application location over time. Across the independent claims, the coverage includes multi-chamber geometric arrangements and controlled inflation over time to move a pressure-contact location among multiple locations.
Control fluid flow into chamber pattern to controllably inflate different chambers over time
A pressure-mitigation apparatus includes a plurality of chambers, and a control system regulates fluid flow into the plurality of chambers in accordance with a specific pattern, so as to controllably inflate different chambers of the pressure-mitigation apparatus over time.
Geometric chambers between fluid-permeable top layer and fluid-impermeable bottom layer with movable pressure location
A top layer comprising a first material that is permeable to fluids; a bottom layer comprising a second material that is not permeable to fluids; wherein a geometric arrangement of chambers are formed via interconnections between the top and bottom layers, and wherein upon deployment beneath the human body, a location at which the pressure is applied to the anatomical region by the underlying surface is movable amongst a plurality of locations through controlled inflation of the chambers over time.
Geometric chambers between fluid-impermeable top layer and fluid-impermeable bottom layer with movable pressure location
A top layer comprising a first material that is not permeable to fluids; a bottom layer comprising a second material that is not permeable to fluids; wherein a geometric arrangement of chambers are formed via interconnections between the top and bottom layers, and wherein upon deployment beneath the human body, a location at which the pressure is applied to the anatomical region by the underlying surface is movable amongst a plurality of locations through controlled inflation of the chambers over time.
The independent claims focus on multi-chamber pressure mitigation where controlled fluid inflation moves the pressure application location over time among multiple locations. The apparatus embodiments define chamber geometry using top and bottom layers with specified fluid permeability characteristics, and the system embodiment adds a control system regulating fluid flow according to a specific pattern.
Stated Advantages
Reduced healing time for stage 2–4 pressure injuries compared with conventional care.
Reduced incidence of hospital-acquired sacral pressure injuries and/or reduced length of stay (LOS) versus conventional care.
Documented Applications
Mitigating pressure applied to a human body by an underlying surface to prevent/treat pressure injuries, including stage 2–4 pressure injuries and stage 4 sacral pressure injuries.
Use in clinical/process examples including reduction in healing time for stage 2–4 pressure injuries and reduction in hospital-acquired sacral pressure injury incidence and/or length of stay (LOS) versus conventional care.
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