Contoured Side-Sleep Support for Spinal Alignment and Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sleeping on a flat mattress can lead to spine misalignment, causing discomfort, injury to vertebrae disks, back muscles, and ligaments, as well as reduced circulation and exacerbated nasal and sinus congestion, particularly during recovery from illness or injury.
Innovation Solution
A contoured sleep system comprising a unibody trunk rest, head rest, and spacing member that aligns the spine along the Sagittal plane when sleeping on one's side, featuring a cavity for the lower arm, hip concavity, and leg channel to maintain proper spinal alignment and support, constructed from comfortable and flexible materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a person sleeps on a flat mattress, then the sleeping surface is simple and comfortable, but the spine becomes misaligned causing back aches and injury
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress incorporates curved contours and elevated regions that follow the natural curvature of the human body and spine. These curved surfaces provide targeted support to maintain spinal alignment in both supine and side sleeping positions, eliminating the flat surface problem while preserving comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the mattress are designed with different support characteristics. The mattress provides localized support at specific anatomical points (such as the lumbar region and head) while maintaining softer areas elsewhere, allowing the spine to maintain its natural alignment without requiring the entire surface to be contoured.
2Ease of operation
If the spine is not in alignment during sleep, then the sleeping position may be comfortable initially, but discomfort and injury occur to vertebrae disks, back muscles, and ligaments over time
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress is pre-configured with contours and support structures that proactively maintain spinal alignment before any misalignment can occur. The elevated regions and curved surfaces are positioned to prevent the spine from deviating from its natural alignment during sleep, addressing the issue before discomfort or injury can develop.
Solution Approach 2:
The mattress design includes strategic support zones that cushion and support vulnerable areas of the spine (such as the lumbar region and cervical area) in advance, preventing compression and misalignment before they can cause injury to vertebrae disks, muscles, or ligaments.
3Ease of operation
If a person sleeps on their arm, then the arm position is convenient for some sleeping styles, but circulation is hindered causing tingling, numbness, or pain
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress includes a specifically contoured arm support region with curved surfaces that cradle and elevate the arm in a natural, comfortable position. This curvature maintains proper arm alignment and prevents compression of blood vessels, allowing the arm to remain supported without hindering circulation.
4Device complexity
If a person sleeps on a flat mattress with nasal or sinus congestion, then the sleeping surface is simple, but nasal and sinus congestion is exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress includes an elevated and contoured head region with curved surfaces that lift and angle the head and upper body. This curvature facilitates natural sinus drainage and opens nasal passages by utilizing gravity, providing relief from congestion without requiring complex additional devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for facilitating spinal alignment is disclosed. The contoured sleep system facilitates alignment of a person's spine along the Sagittal plane when laying in a sleep-on-side position. An exemplary contoured sleep system has a unibody trunk rest, head rest and spacing member.