Apparatuses and methods for determining performance parameters of a flexible surface
First Claim
1. A method for determining a characteristic of a flexible surface, the method comprising:
- providing a test device at least part of which having a bottom area and side area, the test device comprising a plurality of sensing points extending from the bottom upwardly toward the side, wherein the test device has a substantially hemispherical shape and the sensing points are arranged on the substantially hemispherical shape in a plurality of spaced, parallel rings that are centered on a radius of the hemispherical shape passing through an apex of the substantially hemispherical shape with at least two sensing points being arranged on each concentric ring;
pressing the test device into a flexible surface;
measuring pressures at the sensing points; and
determining an envelopment parameter of the surface based on the pressures, wherein the determining operation comprises;
determining a contact area of the test device using the sensing points, and the immersed area of the test device using a distance that the test device has been pressed into the flexible surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for determining a characteristic of a flexible surface and determining a performance parameter of the flexible surface is disclosed. The method comprises providing a test device and pressing the test device into a flexible surface, measuring the pressures at the sensing points, and determining an envelopment parameter of the surface based on the pressures. The test device comprises a plurality of sensing points extending from a bottom of the test device upwardly along a side of the test device. A test indentor comprising a shell, wherein a least a portion of the shell is generally round in shape and has an exterior, with sensing points extending along the side of the shell, each sensing point is capable of detecting pressure at its location and an elastomeric material is on the exterior of the shell and adjacent the sensing points.
26 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for determining a characteristic of a flexible surface, the method comprising:
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providing a test device at least part of which having a bottom area and side area, the test device comprising a plurality of sensing points extending from the bottom upwardly toward the side, wherein the test device has a substantially hemispherical shape and the sensing points are arranged on the substantially hemispherical shape in a plurality of spaced, parallel rings that are centered on a radius of the hemispherical shape passing through an apex of the substantially hemispherical shape with at least two sensing points being arranged on each concentric ring; pressing the test device into a flexible surface; measuring pressures at the sensing points; and determining an envelopment parameter of the surface based on the pressures, wherein the determining operation comprises; determining a contact area of the test device using the sensing points, and the immersed area of the test device using a distance that the test device has been pressed into the flexible surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for determining a characteristic of a patient support surface, the method comprising:
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pressing a test device into a patient support surface, wherein at least part of the test device has a generally rounded shape having a bottom area and a side area, the test device comprising a plurality of sensing points extending from the bottom upwardly toward the side, wherein the rounded shape of the test device comprises a substantially hemispherical shape and the sensing points are arranged on the substantially hemispherical shape in a plurality of spaced, parallel rings that are centered on a radius of the hemispherical shape passing through an apex of the substantially hemispherical shape with at least two sensing points being arranged on each concentric ring; measuring pressures at the sensing points; transmitting signals representing the pressures from the sensing points to a data device; storing pressure data representing the pressures in the data device; and determining an envelopment parameter of the surface based on the pressure data;
wherein the envelopment parameter is determined by dividing a contact area (CA) by an immersion area (IA), wherein CA and IA are calculated by the following formulas;
CA =2*π
*r*(contact depth)
IA =2*π
*r*(immersion depth),wherein r is the radius of the generally rounded shape. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13)
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12. A method for determining a characteristic of a patient support surface, the method comprising:
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pressing a test device into a patient support surface, wherein at least part of the test device has a generally rounded shape having a bottom area and a side area, the test device comprising a plurality of sensing points extending from the bottom upwardly toward the side, wherein the rounded shape of the test device comprises a substantially hemispherical shape and the sensing points are arranged on the substantially hemispherical shape in a plurality of spaced, parallel rings that are centered on a radius of the hemispherical shape passing through an apex of the substantially hemispherical shape with at least two sensing points being arranged on each concentric ring; measuring pressures at the sensing points; transmitting signals representing the pressures from the sensing points to a data device; storing pressure data representing the pressures in the data device; and determining an envelopment parameter of the surface based on the pressure data; wherein the pressing operation is carried out at a controlled force by a measuring device;
wherein the measuring device presses the test device into the patient support surface at a known force and records displacement data indicating how far the test device has been pressed into the patient support surface;
wherein the envelopment parameter is determined based on a contact area determined from the pressure data and an immersion parameter determined from the displacement data.
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14. A method for determining a characteristic of a patient support surface, the method comprising:
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pressing a test device into a patient support surface, wherein at least part of the test device has a generally rounded shape having a bottom area and a side area, the test device comprising a plurality of sensing points extending from the bottom upwardly toward the side, wherein the rounded shape of the test device comprises a substantially hemispherical shape and the sensing points are arranged on the substantially hemispherical shape in a plurality of spaced, parallel rings that are centered on a radius of the hemispherical shape passing through an apex of the substantially hemispherical shape with at least two sensing points being arranged on each concentric ring; measuring pressures at the sensing points; transmitting signals representing the pressures from the sensing points to a data device; storing pressure data representing the pressures in the data device; determining an envelopment parameter of the surface based on the pressure data; and measuring the immersion depth that the test device has been pressed into support surface, wherein the envelopment parameter is further based on the immersion depth;
wherein the envelopment parameter is an envelopment percentage (EP) determined by the following equation;
(2*π
*r*(contact depth))/(2*π
*r*(immersion depth)). - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification