Prone position adjusting bracket for newborns

Abstract

The invention relates to a prone position adjusting bracket for newborns, which belongs to the technical field of nursing instruments and comprises a base pad, an adjusting pad, a monitoring system and an executing mechanism. The adjusting pad is slidably mounted on the base pad and comprises multiple sections of supporting parts, and the monitoring system is mounted on the adjusting pad and monitors the supporting force of each section of supporting part; the monitoring system comprises a pressure sensing unit and an attitude analysis unit, the pressure sensing unit is used for synchronously collecting pressure distribution data of each supporting surface, the attitude analysis unit is connected with the pressure sensing unit, and the attitude analysis unit constructs a three-dimensional pressure cloud picture model based on the pressure distribution data of the pressure sensing unit. Based on the three-dimensional pressure cloud picture model and a preset standard prone position biological curve, the trunk inclination angle, the limb weighing proportion and the abdomen compression peak value of the infant are solved in real time; the executing mechanism is used for receiving the adjusting amount of the posture analysis unit and driving the supporting part to adjust the supporting height, and real-time optimization of the posture of the baby is achieved through monitoring and intelligent feedback adjustment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of nursing equipment technology, specifically relating to a prone position adjustable support for newborns. Background Technology

[0002] Adjustable prone support frames for newborns are crucial devices in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) used to improve respiratory function and promote development in premature infants. Traditional devices often employ a stepped inclined plate design, maintaining the infant's trunk in a tilted position through a fixed-angle support surface, utilizing gravity to reduce abdominal pressure. While this type of structure is effective in basic position management, its physical support mode suffers from significant rigidity, failing to dynamically adjust the support strength and distribution according to the infant's real-time physiological state, resulting in a limited and unsuitable support effect.

[0003] The stepped structure of existing support frames can easily cause local pressure imbalance: due to the lack of real-time monitoring and feedback mechanisms for the infant's posture, the support frame often provides excessive support to the abdomen, forcing abdominal organs to be compressed, which may induce respiratory depression or gastroesophageal reflux; at the same time, the arms and legs are in a suspended or low-stress state due to the fixed angle of the support surface, and insufficient effective support for the limbs can easily lead to blood circulation disorders and abnormal muscle development.

[0004] In summary, there is a need for a newborn prone position adjustment bracket that can dynamically detect and adjust the position. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, this invention provides a newborn prone position adjustment bracket, which solves the problem that existing infant prone position brackets cannot detect and dynamically adjust the support angle.

[0006] The objective of this invention can be achieved through the following technical solutions: A prone position adjustable support for newborns includes a base pad, an adjusting pad, a monitoring system, and an actuator; the adjusting pad is slidably mounted on the base pad, the adjusting pad includes multiple support segments, and the monitoring system is mounted on the adjusting pad and monitors the supporting force of each support segment; The monitoring system includes a pressure sensing unit and a posture analysis unit. The pressure sensing unit is used to synchronously collect pressure distribution data of each support surface. The posture analysis unit is connected to the pressure sensing unit. The posture analysis unit constructs a three-dimensional pressure cloud map model based on the pressure distribution data of the pressure sensing unit. Based on the three-dimensional pressure cloud map model and the preset standard prone position biological curve, the infant's trunk tilt angle, limb weight ratio and abdominal pressure peak are calculated in real time. The actuator is used to receive the adjustment amount from the attitude analysis unit and drive the support to adjust the support height.

[0007] Preferably, the adjustment pad includes an upper support portion, a middle support portion, and a lower support portion; the upper support portion and the lower support portion are adjacent to each other, and the middle support portion is embedded between the upper support portion and the lower support portion, and the middle support portion is used to support the abdomen and chest of the newborn.

[0008] Preferably, the ratio of the upper support, middle support and lower support adjusted by the actuator is within the range of 1:0.3-0.5:1.2-1.5.

[0009] Preferably, the middle support adopts a hollow drag-reducing structure, with an elliptical through hole in its central area, the area of ​​which accounts for 30%-40% of the support surface.

[0010] Preferably, the actuator includes a drive unit, which corresponds to the upper support, the middle support and the lower support respectively. Each drive unit includes a linear motor, which is used to drive the upper support, the middle support or the lower support to move.

[0011] Preferably, the pressure sensing unit further includes a clock synchronization module, which is used to receive a global synchronization trigger signal sent by the attitude analysis unit and collect pressure distribution data of the support part within the same time period.

[0012] Preferably, the height difference between the upper support and the lower support is dynamically adjusted within a range of 8-15mm, and the ratio of the adjusted height difference to the infant's body length is maintained between 1:30 and 1:20.

[0013] Preferably, the preset physiological curvature corresponds to a trunk tilt angle of 10°-15°, and the posture analysis unit dynamically adjusts the height difference according to the limb weight ratio.

[0014] Preferably, the surface of the adjusting pad is provided with an elastic soft pad.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This application achieves real-time optimization of infant posture through monitoring and intelligent feedback adjustment. Its pressure sensor array and three-dimensional posture analysis can capture key parameters such as trunk tilt angle, limb weight distribution and abdominal pressure. Based on dynamic comparison with the newborn growth database, it drives the actuator to automatically adjust the support height, effectively avoiding the rigidity defects of traditional stents. By intervening in risky states such as trunk forward tilt, limb suspension and abdominal compression in real time, it significantly reduces the risk of suffocation. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art, the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the prone position adjustment bracket provided in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a top view of the prone position adjustment bracket provided in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the control relationship of the prone position adjustment bracket provided in one embodiment of the present invention; Legend: 1. Base pad; 21. Upper support; 22. Middle support; 23. Lower support; 3. Actuator; 4. Monitoring system; 5. Elastic pad. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To further illustrate the technical means and effects of the present invention in achieving its intended purpose, the following detailed description of the specific implementation methods, structures, features, and effects of the present invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, is provided.

[0019] Existing infant prone support frames can only provide fixed support and cannot automatically adjust the support angle according to the infant's real-time posture and pressure distribution. This may lead to excessive tilting of the infant's torso or localized pressure, increasing the risk of suffocation or causing discomfort. Traditional frames rely solely on manual observation or simple pressure sensors, which cannot quantify and analyze key parameters such as the infant's torso tilt angle and limb weight ratio, making it difficult to achieve accurate assessment of biological status.

[0020] like Figures 1-3 As shown, a newborn prone position adjustment bracket includes a base pad 1, an adjustment pad, a monitoring system 4, and an actuator 3; the adjustment pad is slidably mounted on the base pad 1, the adjustment pad includes multiple support sections, and the monitoring system 4 is mounted on the adjustment pad and monitors the support force of each support section; Monitoring system 4 includes a pressure sensing unit and a posture analysis unit. When the infant is in a prone position, the sensor array captures the contact pressure values ​​of various anatomical regions of the trunk (chest, abdomen, pelvis, and limbs) in real time, forming a three-dimensional raw dataset containing pressure intensity, area of ​​action, and coordinates of the point of action. The posture analysis unit is connected to the pressure sensing unit. Based on the pressure distribution data from the pressure sensing unit, the posture analysis unit constructs a three-dimensional pressure cloud map model. Based on the three-dimensional pressure cloud map model and a preset standard prone position biological curve, it calculates the infant's trunk tilt angle, limb weight ratio, and peak abdominal pressure in real time. Trunk tilt angle calculation: based on the centroid deviation of the pressure cloud map. The system employs several techniques: displacement measurement, combining the geometric reference plane of the adjustment pad, and spatial vector analysis algorithms to calculate in real time the tilt angle of the infant's trunk relative to the standard prone position (including forward and backward tilt angles and left and right lateral tilt angles); limb weight-bearing ratio analysis: using a region segmentation algorithm, the pressure cloud map is divided into three physiological segments: upper limbs, trunk, and lower limbs. The weight-bearing distribution ratio of the limbs and trunk is quantitatively assessed by the ratio of the pressure integral value of each segment to the total pressure; abdominal pressure peak monitoring: a pressure threshold for the abdominal region is set (usually ≤20 mmHg). When the pressure cloud map shows that the pressure in this region exceeds the threshold or the pressure gradient change rate is >0.5 mmHg / s, an adjustment command is triggered.

[0021] The posture analysis unit compares the real-time calculated biomechanical parameters with the preset standard prone position biological curve based on the neonatal growth and development database, and generates the support height adjustment amount. If the trunk forward tilt angle is >5°, the height of the chest support is reduced; if the upper limb weight-bearing ratio is <15%, the upper limb support is raised; if the peak pressure on the abdomen is close to the threshold, the height of the adjacent support in the abdominal area is reduced simultaneously.

[0022] In summary, this application achieves real-time optimization of infant posture through monitoring and intelligent feedback adjustment. Its pressure sensor array and three-dimensional posture analysis can capture key parameters such as trunk tilt angle, limb weight distribution, and abdominal pressure. Based on dynamic comparison with the newborn growth database, it drives the actuator 3 to automatically adjust the support height, effectively avoiding the rigidity defects of traditional stents. By intervening in real-time in risky states such as trunk forward tilt, limb suspension, and abdominal compression, it significantly reduces the risk of suffocation.

[0023] In one embodiment, the adjustment pad includes an upper support portion 21, a middle support portion 22, and a lower support portion 23. The upper support portion 21 and the lower support portion 23 are adjacent to each other, and the middle support portion 22 is embedded between the upper support portion 21 and the lower support portion 23. The middle support portion 22 is used to support the newborn's abdomen and chest. The coordinated action of the upper support portion 21, the middle support portion 22, and the lower support portion 23 achieves a precise fit to the infant's body posture. The independent interlocking design of the middle support portion 22 can dynamically adjust the height of the abdominal and chest support. When the monitoring system 4 identifies an abnormal forward tilt angle of the trunk, it forms a concave support that conforms to the physiological curvature of the infant's spine by lowering the middle support, effectively dispersing the abdominal wall pressure. The modular adjustment mechanism enables the support surface to form an adaptive fit with the infant's body surface, which not only avoids the "suspension-compression" contradiction of the abdomen caused by traditional flat frame, but also improves the chest expansion through zoned pressure reshaping.

[0024] In one embodiment, the actuator 3 adjusts the ratio of the upper support 21, the middle support 22 and the lower support 23 to a range of 1:0.3-0.5:1.2-1.5, thereby dynamically adjusting the height ratio of the three-section support structure based on the natural prone position.

[0025] Newborns have delicate abdominal skin, and traditional solid support structures are prone to causing local ischemia or temperature rise due to continuous pressure. Head and neck protection mechanism: The height of the upper support section 21 is set to 2-3.3 times that of the middle support, forming a 15-20° cervical lordosis support angle. A pressure sensor array monitors the pressure distribution on the occipital region in real time. When the contact area is <3cm²... 2 When the peak pressure exceeds 15 mmHg, the height of the upper section automatically decreases by 0.5–1 cm to avoid excessive neck extension caused by traditional braces. The height of the middle support section 22 is dynamically threshold-controlled, identifying the pressure gradient between the sternal manubrium and the umbilicus through a three-dimensional pressure cloud map. When the abdominal pressure accounts for more than 35%, the height of the middle section decreases at a rate of 0.2 mm / s until the chest-abdominal pressure ratio returns to the physiological range of 1:0.6–0.8, effectively preventing increased respiratory work caused by elevated intra-abdominal pressure. The height of the lower support section 23 is set to 1.2–1.5 times that of the upper section, forming a hip flexion angle of 10–15°.

[0026] In one embodiment, the central support 22 employs a hollowed-out drag-reducing structure. The elliptical through-hole geometry is based on biomechanical principles, with its major axis distributed longitudinally along the torso and its minor axis corresponding to the lateral width. This orientation maximizes pressure dispersion efficiency. When the infant is prone, the contact pressure between the abdomen and chest is transmitted through the annular support area at the edge of the through-hole, reconstructing the pressure distribution into a uniform annular load. This avoids the localized pressure concentration caused by traditional solid supports. The hollowed-out structure increases the ventilation cross-sectional area of ​​the support surface by 40%, and combined with the low thermal resistance of medical-grade silicone material, forms a vertical air convection channel. Therefore, through pressure distribution reconstruction, this design reduces the shear force at the chest-abdomen junction by 52%, effectively preventing the risk of aspiration associated with gastroesophageal reflux.

[0027] Traditional mechanical adjustment has slow response and low precision, and cannot match the dynamic changes in the newborn's position in real time. In one embodiment, the actuator 3 includes a drive unit, which corresponds to the upper support 21, the middle support 22 and the lower support 23 respectively. Each drive unit includes a linear motor, which is used to drive the upper support 21, the middle support 22 or the lower support 23 to move.

[0028] When the actuator 3 adjusts the support height based on asynchronous data, "adjustment overshoot" may occur due to data timing mismatch. For example, in a traditional system, after raising the upper support 21, it needs to wait for the next cycle to collect changes in abdominal pressure. At this time, the infant may have already generated a new pressure distribution due to the change in body position, forming a closed-loop control oscillation. In one embodiment, the pressure sensing unit also includes a clock synchronization module. The clock synchronization module is used to receive a global synchronization trigger signal sent by the attitude analysis unit and collect pressure distribution data of the support at the same time. Specifically, the attitude analysis unit determines the height that each support needs to be adjusted based on the current pressure distribution. At the same time as sending the adjustment command to the actuator 3, the attitude analysis unit will simultaneously send a global synchronization trigger signal to the pressure sensing unit. After receiving the trigger signal, the clock synchronization module on the pressure sensor unit immediately collects the pressure data of all areas of the support, thereby ensuring that all pressure sensing units collect data at the same time.

[0029] In summary, this embodiment effectively solves the problems of adjustment overshoot and closed-loop control oscillation caused by data timing mismatch in traditional asynchronous data acquisition methods by introducing a clock synchronization module and a global synchronization trigger signal mechanism. It ensures that pressure data from all areas are simultaneously acquired at the critical moment after the actuator 3 completes the support height adjustment action, obtaining direct feedback on the effect of the adjustment action. This allows for more reasonable subsequent adjustment decisions, significantly improving system stability, control accuracy, and infant comfort. Newborns grow rapidly, and traditional fixed-height support pads cannot meet the support needs of infants of different lengths. A fixed height difference may be too high for small infants and too low for large infants, resulting in insufficient support.

[0030] In one embodiment, the height difference between the upper support 21 and the lower support 23 is dynamically adjusted within a range of 8-15mm, and the ratio of the adjusted height difference to the infant's body length is maintained between 1:30 and 1:20. In this embodiment, the height difference is dynamically adjusted according to the infant's actual body length to provide the most suitable support angle for the development of the physiological curve of the spine for infants of different body types, avoiding insufficient or excessive support.

[0031] Newborns often exhibit movements such as twisting, stretching, and curling up, easily slipping out of or changing their position from the preset ideal posture, causing the support to fail. Traditional fixed parameter adjustments cannot adapt to the real-time changes in the infant's posture. In one embodiment, the preset physiological curvature corresponds to a trunk tilt angle of 10°-15°. The core function of the posture analysis unit is to analyze the pressure distribution ratio of different parts of the body, especially the head and shoulders, waist and hips, and lower limbs on the support surface. For example, when the trunk is close to horizontal, the body weight distribution is more even, and the pressure on the head and shoulders is relatively low. When the trunk reaches the ideal angle of 10°-15°, the pressure on the head and shoulders should be appropriately increased, and the pressure on the waist and hips should be adjusted accordingly to form a specific and quantifiable pressure distribution ratio. When the infant's movements cause a shift in posture, the pressure distribution ratio will deviate significantly from the ideal state. At this time, the posture analysis unit calculates the current pressure distribution ratio in real time and compares it with the expected value of maintaining the target trunk tilt angle of 10°-15°. Based on the magnitude and direction of the deviation, it dynamically and in real time issues instructions to fine-tune the height difference between the upper support 21 and the lower support 23, thereby pulling the pressure distribution ratio back to the expected value.

[0032] The high coefficient of friction between the rigid support surface and the newborn's skin can easily lead to skin abrasions or discomfort. In one embodiment, the surface of the adjustment pad is provided with an elastic soft pad 5. With the support of the elastic soft pad 5, the adjacent support parts can transition smoothly, avoiding the height difference between the two adjacent support parts when the height changes, which would result in a suspended area and fail to provide full support for the baby.

[0033] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A prone position adjustable support for newborns, characterized in that, It includes a base pad, an adjusting pad, a monitoring system, and an actuator; the adjusting pad is slidably mounted on the base pad, the adjusting pad includes multiple support sections, and the monitoring system is mounted on the adjusting pad and monitors the supporting force of each support section; The monitoring system includes a pressure sensing unit and a posture analysis unit. The pressure sensing unit is used to synchronously collect pressure distribution data of each support surface. The posture analysis unit is connected to the pressure sensing unit. The posture analysis unit constructs a three-dimensional pressure cloud map model based on the pressure distribution data of the pressure sensing unit. Based on the three-dimensional pressure cloud map model and the preset standard prone position biological curve, the infant's trunk tilt angle, limb weight ratio and abdominal pressure peak are calculated in real time. The actuator is used to receive the adjustment amount from the attitude analysis unit and drive the support to adjust the support height.

2. The newborn prone position adjustable support according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjustment pad includes an upper support portion, a middle support portion, and a lower support portion; the upper support portion and the lower support portion are adjacent to each other, and the middle support portion is embedded between the upper support portion and the lower support portion, and the middle support portion is used to support the abdomen and chest of the newborn.

3. The newborn prone position adjustable support according to claim 2, characterized in that, The actuator adjusts the ratio of the upper support, middle support and lower support to within the range of 1:0.3-0.5:1.2-1.

5.

4. A newborn prone position adjustable support according to claim 2, characterized in that, The central support adopts a hollow drag-reducing structure, with an elliptical through hole in its central area, the area of ​​which accounts for 30%-40% of the support surface.

5. A prone position adjustable support for newborns according to claim 1, characterized in that, The actuator includes a drive unit, which corresponds to the upper support, the middle support and the lower support respectively. Each drive unit includes a linear motor, which is used to drive the upper support, the middle support or the lower support to move.

6. A prone position adjustable support for newborns according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure sensing unit also includes a clock synchronization module, which is used to receive a global synchronization trigger signal sent by the attitude analysis unit and collect pressure distribution data of the support part at the same time.

7. A newborn prone position adjustable support according to claim 2, characterized in that, The height difference between the upper support and the lower support is dynamically adjusted within a range of 8-15mm, and the ratio of the adjusted height difference to the infant's body length is maintained between 1:30 and 1:

20.

8. A prone position adjustable support for newborns according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preset physiological curvature corresponds to a trunk tilt angle of 10°-15°, and the posture analysis unit dynamically adjusts the height difference according to the limb weight ratio.

9. A prone position adjustable support for newborns according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surface of the adjustment pad is provided with an elastic soft pad.

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