Flexible Infant Support Sheet for Incubator Contact
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermotherapy devices for newborn and premature infants isolate them from caregivers, making it difficult for physical contact, which is crucial for their development, and existing solutions like the kangaroo method are limited by clinical status and equipment constraints.
Innovation Solution
A thermotherapy device with a flexible cloth supporting aid that can be tensioned and moved within the incubator chamber, allowing for adjustable tension and position, enabling close physical contact while maintaining a stable and secure environment for the infant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the infant is placed in a conventional incubator with transparent lateral limitations, then the infant is protected in a controlled environment, but physical contact with parents or nursing staff is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent flexible sheet is introduced as an intermediary element between the infant and the external environment. The sheet can be pulled through an opening in the incubator, allowing parents or nursing staff to physically contact the infant while the sheet itself maintains the protective barrier, thus resolving the contradiction between environmental control and physical accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible sheet is designed to be dynamically adjustable - it can be positioned in different configurations (fully inside, partially extended, or fully pulled through the opening) depending on the need for contact versus protection. This dynamic positioning allows the system to adapt between the two opposing requirements
2Ease of operation
If the kangaroo method is used to enable skin-to-skin contact, then physical contact is achieved, but the infant must be removed from the incubator which is limited by clinical status and equipment constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent flexible sheet serves as a mediator that enables skin-to-skin contact between parent and infant without requiring the infant to leave the incubator environment. This eliminates the need to transfer the infant while maintaining clinical monitoring capabilities, thus resolving the contradiction between contact accessibility and clinical safety
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible sheet performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a protective barrier when inside the incubator, and as a contact medium when extended through the opening. This multi-functionality allows the same system to address both protection and contact needs without requiring separate procedures
3Adaptability or versatility
If a hammock is hung freely swinging in the incubator, then the infant receives support in a non-conventional position, but the supporting aid cannot be easily adjusted or removed
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible sheet is designed to be dynamically repositionable through the incubator opening. It can be adjusted to different positions (fully inside, partially extended, fully outside) and can be easily removed or reinstalled as needed, providing both positional adaptability and operational ease that resolves the contradiction
Data Source
AI summary
A thermotherapy device (10), for new-born and premature babies, has a bed substructure (30) and an incubator chamber (20) with a positioning aid (50) in the incubator chamber (20). The positioning aid (50) is a flexible sheet fixed to a holding structure (60). The positioning aid (50) can be stretched out by the holding structure (60). The width to which the positioning aid (50) can be stretched out is adjustable by adjusting a width of the holding structure (60). The positioning aid (50) can be pulled and/or pivoted out of the incubator chamber (20) with the aid of the holding structure (60). The holding structure (60) is movably mounted in the bed substructure. The holding structure (60) has at least two pivotable holding arms (61). The two holding arms (61) form a holding arm pair.