Face Rest Slot Geometry for Lower Facial Pressure on Treatment Beds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatment beds with face rests have openings that are either too small or too large, causing discomfort and concentrated pressure points on the face, especially when stitching is present at the edges.
Innovation Solution
A treatment bed with a face rest featuring a centrally located, elongate slot bordered by downwardly inclined support surfaces that avoid pressure concentration and accommodate faces of varying sizes, with stitching positioned away from the face to prevent discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a face rest with an opening is provided to keep the patient's face clear, then the patient can breathe and look down freely, but the opening may be too small or too large for some persons and pressure concentrates at pressure points on the border of the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a conventional flat or slightly contoured opening border to a three-dimensional downwardly inclined face support surface. This dimensional change allows the support surface to extend below the top surface of the face rest, creating a sloped geometry that distributes facial pressure across a larger area while maintaining the opening's functionality for breathing and vision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the opening border by introducing a downward inclination angle (alpha) between 5-60 degrees. This parameter modification transforms the border from a sharp edge into a gradually sloping surface, which fundamentally alters how pressure is distributed across the patient's face, reducing concentrated pressure points while preserving adequate support.
2Strength
If stitching is present at the edges of the face rest, then the covering material is securely attached, but the stitching may come up and press against the patient's face causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the stitching from the problematic location at the top edge of the face rest and relocates it to the downwardly inclined support surface below. This separation removes the harmful element (stitching) from direct contact with the patient's face while preserving its necessary function of securing the covering material to the base.
Solution Approach 2:
The downwardly inclined face support surface acts as an intermediary between the covering material and the patient's face. This intermediate structure provides a sloped pathway that redirects pressure away from the stitching location, allowing the stitching to remain securely attached to the base without directly pressing against the patient's facial features.
3Device complexity
If a conventional opening border is used, then the structure is simple, but the face support area is limited and pressure concentrates at specific points
Solution Approach 1:
By extending the opening border downward to create an inclined support surface, the invention effectively increases the face support area in the vertical dimension without significantly complicating the overall structure. The sloped surface naturally expands the contact area between the face rest and the patient's face, distributing pressure more evenly.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Treatment bed (1) having a face rest (4) provided with an opening (10) for keeping clear the face of a patient in a prone position. The opening is bordered by downwardly inclined face support surfaces (19, 20).