Biodegradable Viscoelastic Foam Pad for Surgical Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient positioning devices for surgical procedures are often made from non-biodegradable materials, contributing to environmental waste due to their single-use nature and slow degradation, which poses a challenge for reducing environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable viscoelastic foam pad designed for patient support during surgical procedures, which degrades through chemical reactions or microbial action into harmless components like water, carbon dioxide, and biomass, and includes a peripheral edge and optional straps for secure positioning on a tiltable medical procedure table.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional synthetic polymer materials are used for patient positioning devices, then the device provides adequate support and positioning during surgical procedures, but the device does not degrade or degrades very slowly, contributing to environmental waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from traditional synthetic polymer to biodegradable polymer, fundamentally altering the degradation characteristic while maintaining the positioning support function. The biodegradable polymer is specifically selected to provide adequate mechanical support during the surgical procedure duration while subsequently degrading in the environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning device employs composite construction by combining biodegradable polymer material with optional securing components (straps, cables, buckles, or ties). This composite approach allows the main body to be environmentally degradable while incorporating non-degradable securing elements only when necessary for device stability during the procedure.
2Reliability
If single-use patient positioning devices are used, then patient safety and hygiene are ensured, but environmental impact increases due to disposal of non-biodegradable materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameter to biodegradable polymer, transforming the end-of-life characteristic from persistent waste to environmentally degradable material. This parameter change maintains the single-use safety model while eliminating the harmful environmental waste generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful characteristic of persistent synthetic polymer waste into a beneficial biodegradation property. The biodegradable polymer material, which would have been discarded as harmful waste, now serves as a benefit by breaking down naturally after use, eliminating environmental pollution while maintaining the single-use safety advantage.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If biodegradable materials are used for patient positioning devices, then environmental impact is reduced, but the material may lack the structural integrity and support required during surgical procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully selects and formulates biodegradable polymer materials with specific physical and mechanical parameters that match the requirements for patient positioning support. The material parameters are optimized to provide adequate strength, compression resistance, and positional stability during the surgical procedure duration while maintaining biodegradability.
Solution Approach 2:
The biodegradable polymer material exhibits dynamic properties that adapt to patient body contours and positioning requirements during the procedure. The material provides necessary structural integrity when loaded with patient weight while allowing controlled deformation for comfort and positioning accuracy, then maintains this integrity throughout the procedure duration.
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 biodegradable foam pad effectively maintains patient positioning during surgical procedures, reduces environmental impact by degrading into harmless components, and ensures secure attachment to the medical procedure table without the need for additional securing accessories.
Implementation Method 1
The biodegradable viscoelastic foam is configured to partially or completely degrade through chemical reactions and/or by action of living organisms (e.g., microbes) over a period of days, weeks, months, or years
Implementation Method 2
The biodegradable viscoelastic foam is configured to partially or completely degrade through chemical reactions and/or by action of living organisms
Implementation Method 3
a pad having a biodegradable viscoelastic foam material
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support device for positioning a patient on a medical procedure table during a medical procedure includes a pad including a biodegradable viscoelastic foam material. The pad includes a substantially flat first surface configured to be in contact with the patient, an opposing substantially flat second surface configured to contact the medical procedure table for holding the patient support device in position against the medical procedure table, and a peripheral edge extending therebetween. A method for positioning a patient on a medical procedure table during a medical procedure is also provided. The method includes: positioning a patient support device on a tiltable medical procedure table, such that the second surface of the pad contacts a surface of the medical procedure table; positioning a torso of the patient on the first surface of the pad; and tilting the medical procedure table.