Fetal Heart Rate Transducer Positioning Device with Protruding Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for securing fetal heart rate transducers on an expectant mother's abdomen are inefficient, often requiring frequent repositioning and manual pressure to maintain a stable signal, leading to time consumption and potential discomfort for medical personnel and mothers.

Innovation Solution

A device with a non-planar lower surface featuring a protruding portion to apply adjustable pressure to the transducer, optionally secured with a belt, mimicking the pressure application of a midwife's hand to maintain a stable fetal heart rate signal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional belts are used to secure the transducer, then the transducer can be held in position, but the transducer is not reliably held in place and requires frequent repositioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransducer positioning reliabilityVSAvoidtime for repositioning transducer

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The device applies pressure locally at the protruding portion to a selected area on the transducer rather than distributing pressure across the entire transducer surface. This localized pressure application maintains reliable contact between the transducer and skin while allowing the device to be securely positioned

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The device is positioned and secured before monitoring begins, with the protruding portion already engaged with the transducer. This preliminary positioning ensures the transducer remains stable throughout the monitoring period without requiring frequent adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If manual pressure is applied by midwife to hold transducer, then acceptable CTG recording can be obtained, but it causes painful fingers and back pain for the midwife

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCTG recording qualityVSAvoidphysical discomfort to midwife

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device autonomously applies the necessary pressure to maintain transducer contact with the skin through its weighted body and protruding portion. The device serves itself by using its own weight and structure to maintain positioning, eliminating the need for continuous manual pressure application by the midwife

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical system of the midwife applying pressure with their hand is replaced by a device-based mechanical system. The device uses its structured body with a protruding portion to apply controlled pressure, substituting the midwife's physical effort with a designed mechanical solution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the protruding portion engages the transducer at different positions, then the pressure angle can be adjusted for optimal signal, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure angle adjustmentVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protruding portion has a curved or rounded surface that allows it to engage with the transducer at multiple angles and positions. This curvature provides adaptability for different pressure angles while maintaining a simple, unified structure rather than requiring multiple separate components or adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS20240285181A1Device for positioning a fetal heart rate transducer

Publication Date: 2024.08.29 COOBABYBOO LTD

AI summary

A device for positioning a fetal heart rate transducer against a pregnant women's abdomen. The device includes a body having a lower surface and an upper surface opposite the lower surface. The lower surface is non-planar and includes a protruding portion intended to engage an upper surface of the transducer in use and configured such that the protruding portion can be positioned to apply a force to a selected area on the upper surface of the transducer.