MEASURING AN AIR CUSHION
Measuring minimum pressure before bottoming out, indicates the cushion’s peak performance.
You can detect what you can’t see by using a proximity mechanism. Measuring the pressure inside the cushion, the moment of bottoming out, or the moment of not touching bottom, is when the cushion is at peak performance. At this time, the cushion is providing the most supporting contact, when the cushion’s top surface is maximized around the person.
The reason for doing this, is to aid the people depending on these expensive devices and the professionals prescribing them. All Medical cushions, I believe, should have a min. peak pressure value labeled on them because these cushions increase quality of life. This measurement benefits the consumer, the health care professionals and Insurance companies.
One simple way to detect and measure bottoming out is by using the following principle:
When a ball on top of 2 balloons both connected to the same pump, this is what will occur. At the state of equilibrium, two actions will be consistent and repeatable.
1.The heights of the top and bottom balloons always remain the same.
2.The internal air pressure always equals the peak pressure against the ball.
LEAST AMOUNT OF AIR PRESSURE TO ELEVATE EQUALS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PEAK PRESSURE BEING ELEVATED.
The ball represents the bony prominence. The top balloon represents a cushion, and the bottom balloon is a proximity indicator. The shape and size can vary as long as the center of gravity is located at the center of the bottom balloon.
The bottom balloon has 2 aluminum foil patches fastened inside, creating an on / off switch, one laminated to the top and the other at the bottom. The top foiled patch is aligned and perpendicular to the bottom. The foil patches break from ELECTRICAL contact when air pressure within creates a levitating lift. The foil patches are located where the bony protrusions makes contact.
THREE CUSHIONS TESTED FOR MIN. PEAK PRESSURE:
The indenter, shown, weighs 63.8 lbs. Not shown myself weighing 152 lbs. Pressure was recorded when the light turns off when adding air or turns on when releasing air.
WAFFLE – The indenter measured at 20 mm hg, prior to bottoming out and myself at 60 mm hg.
Vio Comfort – The indenter measured at 18 mm hg, prior to bottoming out and myself at 39 mm hg.
ROHO HP – The indenter measured at 14 mm hg, prior to bottoming out and myself at 36 mm hg.
This information is vital for the consumer and can keep the industry honest but also be used to develop better cushions in the future.
Thank you for watching and comments are welcome.