Multi-Stable Compliant-Mechanism-Based Mattress for Bedsore Prevention

摘要 压力性损伤(即压疮)每年影响250万美国人，其中6万人死于压力性损伤。 虽然已经有几种商用交压和低空气损失床垫产品可以 解决这一祸害，这些产品并不是最有效的，而且缺乏证据值得强烈的 医疗推荐。此外，它们昂贵、笨重、噪音大，而且可能会表现出空气不足- 渗透性、漏气问题和全天候功耗。我们提出了一种多稳态 合规机构(MSCMB)床垫可克服这些问题并以最佳方式防止 现有的流动人口和老龄化人口长期承受有害压力。在我们的第一阶段 目前的赠款从2021年5月1日开始，我们成功地制造了一张由1260条直线组成的床 可由计算机控制的执行机构活塞，可将任何波动的压力模式传递到 病人回来了。到第一阶段结束(2022年4月30日)，我们将使用这张床完成一项研究， 它涉及机器学习，以确定(I)哪些因素主要影响压疮的预防 交变压力接近，以及(Ii)最佳高度(即，振幅)和距离 (例如，音调)每个压力峰值应适用于不同类别的患者。我们将使用这些信息 为最终产品的设计提供信息，这些产品将在第二阶段进行原型和完善。在第一阶段， 我们还生成了一个用于设计我们建议的MSCMB的很大一部分的MATLAB工具 为了展示其功能并收集初步数据，我们对床垫的概念进行了研究。 设计工具和在原型制造和测试期间学到的经验教训将是沉重的 在第二阶段发挥杠杆作用，成功实现拟议目标。这些目标是(I)创建最终的 MSCMB床垫产品，可最大限度地减少不同类别患者的压力伤害，(Ii) 生产一款智能手机应用程序和一款基于Web的计算机软件，可用于远程设置 MSCMB床垫设计的驱动版本的开关频率，(Iii)进行研究以 确定在每个MSCMB床垫产品上使用的最有效的泡沫垫的种类和厚度， (Iv)确定和完善MSCMB床垫的最终制造工艺，以及(V)执行 MSCMB床垫产品用户评价研究。

Abstract Pressure injuries (i.e., bedsores) affect 2.5 million Americans every year and 60,000 die from them. Although several commercial alternating-pressure and low air-loss mattress products already exist to address this scourge, these products are not optimally effective and lack the evidence to deserve a strong medical recommendation. Moreover, they are expensive, heavy, and loud, and can exhibit lack of air- permeation, air leakage issues, and round-the-clock power consumption. We propose a multi-stable compliant-mechanism-based (MSCMB) mattress to overcome these issues and optimally prevent prolonged levels of harmful pressure in the existing immobile and aging population. During Phase I of our current grant, which began May 1st, 2021, we successfully fabricated a bed that consists of 1,260 linear actuator pistons that can be controlled by a computer to impart any undulating pressure pattern on a patient’s back. By the end of Phase I (April 30th, 2022), we will have used this bed to complete a study, which involves machine learning to determine (i) what factors predominantly affect bedsore prevention in alternating pressure approaches, and (ii) what the optimal height of (i.e., amplitude) and distance between (i.e., pitch) each pressure peak should be for different categories of patients. We will use this information to inform the design of the final products that will be prototyped and perfected in Phase II. During Phase I, we also generated a MATLAB tool that was used to design a large portion of our proposed MSCMB mattress concept and have prototyped it to demonstrate its functionality and to collect preliminary data. The design tool and the lessons learned during the fabrication and testing of the prototype will be heavily leveraged in Phase II to successfully perform the proposed aims. These aims are to (i) create the final MSCMB mattress products that best reduce pressure injuries for different categories of patients, (ii) produce a smart phone app and a web-based computer software that can be used to remotely set the switching frequency of the actuated versions of the MSCMB mattress designs, (iii) conduct a study to identify the most effective kind and thickness of foam pad to use on top of each MSCMB mattress product, (iv) determine and perfect the final process for manufacturing the MSCMB mattresses, and (v) perform a user evaluation study of the MSCMB mattress products.