Collection Tray With Neck-Surrounding Recess for Horizontal Patient Use

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical and cosmetic treatment trays fail to effectively catch falling small parts, protect the patient's clothing, and provide ergonomic storage for instruments, especially when the patient is in a horizontal position.

Innovation Solution

A drip tray with a recess extending from the circumferential edge to form a central area that surrounds the patient's neck and chest, featuring arms that extend to the sides of the neck and a trough-like storage area, ensuring secure containment of falling items and providing a clean storage space, with optional padding and a flanged edge for added security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a conventional patient cloak with a lower catchment pocket is used, then the patient's clothing is protected from contamination, but small parts cannot be caught when the patient is lying horizontally

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of patient's clothingVSAvoidcatching of falling small parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The collecting tray extends in the transverse direction beyond the patient's shoulders, creating a dimensional expansion from a simple lower pocket to a multi-dimensional structure that spans across the patient's upper body, enabling catching of falling objects from multiple trajectories

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The tray is divided into functionally distinct zones: a receiving recess for catching falling objects, arm regions for lateral support, and a central area for instrument storage, allowing each segment to perform its specific function optimally

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a Bodytray is placed on the patient's chest to provide storage space, then instrument storage is improved, but small parts still slide off during transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage space for instrumentsVSAvoidprevention of small parts sliding off
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving recess is nested within the larger tray structure, creating a nested configuration where the recess provides secure containment for small parts while the surrounding tray structure provides additional storage and support functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The tray features localized structural variations including the recessed area for catching objects, elevated arm regions for lateral support, and a central storage area, with each local region optimized for its specific function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a kidney bowl is used for collecting liquids, then liquid collection is effective, but the device is too small and requires permanent hand holding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollection of liquidsVSAvoidhands-free operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tray serves multiple functions simultaneously: it collects liquids in the recess area, supports the patient's upper body, provides instrument storage in the central area, and prevents falling of small parts, eliminating the need for hand holding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The tray expands significantly in size and dimension compared to a kidney bowl, extending transversely beyond the patient's shoulders and providing a large, stable surface area that functions as a hands-free support and collection device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Device complexity

If the tray extends far from the patient's mouth to provide storage space, then instrument storage is improved, but the distance prevents effective catching of falling small parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage space for instrumentsVSAvoidcatching of falling small parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tray is segmented into a receiving recess positioned close to the patient's mouth for catching falling objects, and a central storage area positioned farther away for instrument storage, allowing both functions to coexist at optimal distances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2609889B1Collection tray
Publication Date: 2014.09.17 WINKELMANN WOLFGANG
  • EP2609889B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2609889B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The cup (1) has a retainer recess (4) extended by a portion of a circulating edge (3) toward a central region (5) of the cup made of metal i.e. stainless steel or plastic. The receptacle recess is formed in such a manner to surround neck of a patient lying on a spine in short distance to a patient reciprocally into a region of ears. The central region of the scavenge cup subsequently arranged to the retainer recess is extended in presented state of the shell through a part of breast of the patient. A padding (7) is made of a soft material such as cellulose or soft plastic.