Fetal Head Elevator for Controlled Cesarean Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

During the birthing process, fetuses often become lodged in the birth canal, and existing methods like vacuum or forceps can worsen the situation, requiring cesarean sections, where assistants must manually position the fetal head without clear visibility, posing challenges in force application and safety.

Innovation Solution

An obstetrical instrument, the fetal head elevator, featuring an elongated handle with a flared portion and pressure sensor, allows controlled repositioning of the fetal head by distributing force across a large contact area, preventing vacuum formation and enabling safer cesarean deliveries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If vacuum or forceps are used to assist delivery, then delivery assistance is provided, but the fetus becomes more firmly impacted or lodged in the birth canal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery assistanceVSAvoidfetal impact risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fetal head elevator acts as an intermediary tool between the assistant and the fetal head, providing a mechanical advantage system that allows controlled elevation without direct manual manipulation. The instrument's lever arm and support portion create a mechanical system that reduces the risk of fetal impact while maintaining delivery assistance capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If an assistant manually positions the fetal head using fingers, then head positioning is achieved, but considerable force is required and physical strength is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead positioningVSAvoidforce application requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The fetal head support portion is designed with a curved surface that conforms to the spherical shape of the fetal head, distributing force evenly across the contact area. This curvature design allows for effective force application with reduced physical effort compared to flat or irregular contact surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The instrument incorporates a lever arm that can be dynamically positioned and adjusted during the procedure. The elongated handle provides mechanical advantage that reduces the force required by the assistant while maintaining effective head positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If an assistant works under a sterile drape to position the fetal head, then sterile conditions are maintained, but the assistant works blind without clear visibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterile condition maintenanceVSAvoidvisibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The fetal head elevator serves as an intermediary tool that extends the assistant's reach and provides tactile feedback through its structure. The instrument's design allows the assistant to feel the position and movement of the fetal head through the tool, compensating for the lack of direct visual contact while maintaining sterile technique.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If the assistant's arm length and physical strength are used to push the fetal head, then head repositioning is attempted, but the force is limited by anatomical constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead repositioning capabilityVSAvoidarm length limitation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument provides a mechanical advantage system through its lever arm design, allowing the assistant to generate greater force than would be possible with direct manual manipulation. The elongated handle extends the effective lever arm, compensating for the assistant's limited arm length and physical strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The instrument introduces a new dimensional element by using the length of the elongated handle and lever arm to overcome the limitation of the assistant's arm length. This extends the mechanical advantage system beyond the constraints of human anatomy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 fetal head elevator facilitates safe repositioning and delivery through a cesarean section with reduced risk of injury, allowing practitioners to easily maneuver the fetal head into position for efficient and safe delivery.

Implementation Method 1

The gap resists formation of a vacuum between the flared portion and a fetal head supported by the obstetrical instrument

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum formation resistance: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

The instrument further includes a pressure sensor positioned to measure the fetal head elevating force applied to the fetal head by the obstetrical instrument

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure measurement: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS10524834B2Obstetrical instrument

Publication Date: 2020.01.07 DAYLIGHT OB

AI summary

An obstetrical instrument includes an elongated handle and a fetal head support portion coupled with a distal end of the elongated handle.