Expandable Thermal Pad with Slits for Patient Conformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Targeted Temperature Management (TTM) systems face challenges in accommodating patients of different sizes comfortably, with ill-fitting medical pads hindering thermal energy transmission and causing patient discomfort, and inflexible pads that cannot conform to patient anatomy, leading to ineffective thermal exchange and potential medical complications.
Innovation Solution
The development of an expandable and conformable medical pad with slits in the insulating layer and a flexible fabric cover that allows the pad to stretch and conform to various patient sizes and anatomies, reducing pressure on the skin and improving thermal contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pad sizes are maintained to accommodate different patient sizes, then the ability to fit different patients is improved, but the device complexity and inventory management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pad incorporates stretchable slits in the insulating layer that allow dynamic size adjustment. The pad can be stretched from a first patient contact area to a larger second patient contact area, enabling a single pad design to accommodate multiple patient sizes without requiring multiple fixed-size pads in inventory.
Solution Approach 2:
The pad is designed to perform multiple functions by accommodating various patient sizes with a single universal design. The stretchable mechanism allows one pad type to serve multiple purposes across different patient populations, eliminating the need for multiple specialized pad sizes.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the pad is made inflexible to maintain structural integrity, then the manufacturing precision and structural stability are improved, but the ability to conform to patient anatomy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating layer is segmented by incorporating slits that divide the continuous material into separable regions. This segmentation allows the pad to stretch and conform to contoured body parts while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the insulating layer and fluid containing layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The pad utilizes a flexible fabric cover that can stretch and conform to patient anatomy. The flexible cover works in conjunction with the slitted insulating layer to provide both structural support and anatomical conformity, allowing the pad to adapt to various body shapes and contours.
3Manufacturing precision
If the pad edge is made harsh to provide clear boundaries, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the patient comfort and skin irritation risk worsen
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible fabric cover is introduced as an intermediary layer between the pad's structural components and the patient's skin. This fabric cover softens the edges, providing clear boundaries for positioning while eliminating harsh edges that cause skin irritation. The fabric cover acts as a mediator that combines the structural needs with the comfort requirements.
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 solution enables better thermal energy exchange, reduces the risk of medical complications by ensuring proper fit and comfort, and simplifies the selection of pad sizes, reducing waste and frustration in TTM procedures.
Implementation Method 1
One or more slits are arranged in at least the insulating layer of the pad to facilitate stretching the pad. The stretching expands the patient contact surface from the first patient contact area to a larger second patient contact area.
Implementation Method 2
The flexible fabric cover has a soft texture configured to reduce pressure on skin of the patient from an edge or surface of the pad.
Implementation Method 3
The pad comprises an insulating layer, a fluid containing layer for containing the TTM fluid, and a patient contact surface. The fluid containing layer is configured for circulating the TTM fluid.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to an expandable and conformable targeted temperature management (TTM) pad. The system, apparatus and method pertain to a medical pad for exchanging thermal energy between a TTM fluid and a patient. The pad includes an insulating layer, a fluid containing layer for containing the TTM fluid, and a patient contact surface. The fluid containing layer is configured for circulating the TTM fluid. The patient contact surface defines a first patient contact area to facilitate thermal energy exchange with the patient. One or more slits are arranged in at least the insulating layer of the pad to facilitate stretching the pad and conforming to a contour of a patient's anatomy. The stretching can expand the patient contact surface to a larger second patient contact area. The pad can further include a flexible fabric cover.