Approaches to mitigating pressure applied to immobilized patients undergoing treatment by underlying surfaces and associated systems

A method for treating a patient who is a candidate for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment, the method comprising:

• deploying a pressure-mitigation device that includes multiple chambers that are independently inflatable on a surface on which the patient is to be immobilized during the ECMO treatment;
• connecting the pressure-mitigation device to a controller that is configured to controllably inflate the multiple chambers over time by regulating one or more flows of air;
• orienting the patient such that a given anatomical region is located above the pressure-mitigation device;
• inputting, via an interface that is presented by the controller, locations where at least two tubes are inserted into the patient as part of a cannulation operation;
• and
• in response to a determination that the cannulation operation has been completed,
• causing the controller to shift a pressure that is applied by the surface to the given anatomical region through varied inflation of the multiple chambers over time,
• wherein the controller inflates the multiple chambers in accordance with a programmed pattern that is associated with the locations.

A non-transitory medium with instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor housed in a controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising:

• receiving first input that indicates a pressure-mitigation device with multiple chambers has been fluidly coupled to the controller;
• receiving second input that indicates a patient has been situated on the pressure-mitigation device such that a given anatomical region is located above the pressure-mitigation device;
• receiving third input that indicates the patient has begun receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment from an ECMO machine;
• receiving fourth input that specifies locations where at least two tubes were inserted into the neck, chest, or legs of the patient as part of a cannulation operation;
• identifying a programmed pattern for inflating the multiple chambers by either:
• selecting the programmed pattern from among multiple programmed patterns based on the locations, or
• adjusting a default programmed pattern to account for the locations;
• and
• regulating multiple flows of air, each of which is destined for a corresponding one of the multiple chambers, in accordance with the programmed pattern.

A non-transitory medium with instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor housed in a controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising:

• receiving first input that indicates a pressure-mitigation device with multiple chambers has been fluidly coupled to the controller, wherein the first input is representative of a signal that is generated by a sensor located proximate an egress interface through which air leaves the controller and that indicates a number or an arrangement of magnets in a tube that is connectable to the egress interface and through which the air is guided to the pressure-mitigation device;
• receiving second input that indicates a patient has been situated on the pressure-mitigation device such that a given anatomical region is located above the pressure-mitigation device;
• receiving third input that indicates the patient has begun receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment from an ECMO machine;
• receiving fourth input that specifies locations where at least two tubes were inserted into the neck, chest, or legs of the patient as part of a cannulation operation;
• identifying a programmed pattern for inflating the multiple chambers by either:
• selecting the programmed pattern from among multiple programmed patterns based on the locations, or adjusting a default programmed pattern to account for the locations;
• and regulating multiple flows of air, each of which is destined for a corresponding one of the multiple chambers, in accordance with a programmed pattern that is selected or altered to account for the patient receiving the ECMO treatment.