Air Abduction Pad with Hand Pump for Shoulder Sling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional shoulder slings with foam cushions are heavy, causing muscle and shoulder fatigue, and fail to provide adjustable support for specific abduction, extension, and rotation angles required for certain injuries.
Innovation Solution
An air-filled bladder cushion with a hand-squeezable pump, designed to be lightweight, collapsible, and water-resistant, which can be inflated to support the arm at desired angles and includes additional features like cooling and exercise functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heavy foam cushion is used to support the arm at prescribed angles, then the arm can be immobilized at the desired position, but the wearer experiences muscle and shoulder fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional solid foam cushion with an inflatable cushion containing an air bladder. The cushion is inflated to the desired firmness level using a hand pump, providing the necessary support for arm immobilization without the excessive weight of foam. The air-filled design allows the cushion to be lightweight when deflated and provides adjustable support when inflated.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushion transitions from a static foam structure to a dynamic inflatable system. The firmness and volume of the cushion can be adjusted by adding or releasing air, allowing the wearer to customize the support level. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the cushion to provide reliable arm support while minimizing fatigue by matching the support level to individual needs.
2Reliability
If a large foam cushion is used to maintain prescribed abduction and extension angles, then proper healing is facilitated, but the cushion becomes space-consuming and difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion volume is made dynamic through inflation and deflation. When not in use, the cushion can be completely deflated and rolled up into a compact size that is easy to store and transport. When needed, the cushion is inflated to the appropriate volume to maintain the prescribed abduction and extension angles for proper healing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the air from the cushion when not in use, completely separating the support function from the physical volume. This allows the cushion to occupy minimal space during storage and transport while providing full volumetric support when inflated for therapy.
3Reliability
If a fixed-structure cushion is used to support the arm, then the arm can be held at specific angles, but the cushion cannot be adjusted for different injury types or patient preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion transforms from a fixed-structure design to a dynamically adjustable system. The inflation level can be modified to change the cushion's volume, firmness, and shape, allowing adaptation to different injury types, patient body sizes, and comfort preferences while maintaining reliable arm support.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the cushion (volume, pressure, firmness) can be changed by adjusting the amount of air in the bladder. This allows the same cushion to be adapted for various abduction angles, extension levels, and support requirements, making it versatile for different injury types and patient needs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The air-filled bladder cushion reduces fatigue, provides adjustable support, and offers additional functionalities like cooling and exercise options, while being significantly lighter and more comfortable than traditional foam cushions.
Implementation Method 1
an air-filled bladder cushion...designed to be lightweight...which can be inflated to support the arm at desired angles
Data Source
AI summary
A sling includes a strap assembly, and arm support cushion that includes: an inflatable bladder, valve, and hand-squeezable pump. The bladder has first and second surfaces corresponding to contours of the wearer's torso and arm, respectively. The valve permits air flow into or out from the bladder. The resilient bulb-shaped pump is squeezed to inflate the bladder, through the valve being in fluid communication with a hose, providing greater reach of the hand pump for each of the wearer's left/right hands. Alternatively, the bladder has first and second valves positioned on first and second sides of the bladder permitting left/right-handed use of the pump. The bladder's interior includes high-inflation foam to suck air therein to increase a rate of inflation of the bladder from a deflated condition. Decoupling of the resilient pump permits repetitive squeezing as exercise by the user. and/or blowing of air onto the wearer's arm.