Adjustable Surgical Frame for Articulated Patient Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical frames are cumbersome and require multiple personnel to position and reposition patients during surgery, making it difficult to accommodate different surgical approaches and patient sizes effectively.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable surgical frame with movable components that support the chest, hips, legs, and feet, allowing for pivoting between prone, lateral, and angled positions, facilitating easy repositioning and accommodating various patient sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional fixed surgical frames are used, then structural stability is maintained, but patient repositioning requires multiple personnel and is difficult to accommodate different surgical approaches

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to accommodate different surgical approaches and patient positionsVSAvoidcomplexity of adjustable components and mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical frame is divided into multiple independent adjustable components including chest support, hip support, leg support, and foot support sections. Each section can be independently positioned and angled to accommodate different surgical approaches without requiring adjustment of the entire frame structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow smooth transitions between different patient positions (prone, lateral, angled). The adjustable components enable continuous repositioning during surgery to accommodate changing surgical requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If multiple personnel are used to reposition patients, then patient safety is improved, but surgical efficiency and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical efficiency and speed of repositioningVSAvoidtime required for patient positioning and repositioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical frame is designed with self-adjusting mechanisms that can be operated by a single person through integrated controls. The system automatically maintains patient stability during repositioning, eliminating the need for multiple personnel to manually support and reposition the patient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical repositioning by multiple personnel is replaced with a motorized or mechanically-assisted system that provides controlled movement. The frame's built-in mechanisms handle the physical work of repositioning, reducing human labor requirements while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the surgical frame is designed for fixed patient positioning, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different patient sizes and surgical approaches is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to accommodate differently sized patientsVSAvoidease of adjusting components for different patient sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical frame incorporates universal adjustment capabilities that allow a single device to accommodate patients of various sizes. The chest, hip, leg, and foot support components can be independently sized and positioned to fit different patient anatomies while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20240252376A1Surgical frame and method for use thereof facilitating articulatable support for a patient during surgery

Publication Date: 2024.08.01 WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC

AI summary

An adjustable surgical frame for supporting a patient to facilitate different surgical approaches to the spine of the patient includes a first end, an opposite second end, and a length extending between the first and second ends thereof. The surgical frame has a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends along the length thereof, and includes a first support surface, a second support surface, and a third support surface. The surgical frame also includes an adjustable chest support, an adjustable hip and upper leg support, and an adjustable feet and lower leg support. The surgical frame is moveable between a first position, a second position, and a third position, and the chest support, the hip and upper leg support, and the feet and lower leg support are moveable to accommodate differently sized patients on the surgical frame.