Disposable Foam Egg Crate Pad for Surgical Patient Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current patient stabilization methods for laparoscopic and robotic surgery, such as reusable bean bags and gel pads, pose risks of infection, require significant time and effort for repositioning, and often result in patient slippage due to inadequate arm and hand protection, with existing solutions also generating infectious waste and being inefficient in securing the patient.
Innovation Solution
A disposable patient stabilization device with a custom design featuring a rectangular body, transverse arm wings, and a sturdy fabric with fasteners for secure attachment to the operating table, providing improved stability, infection control, and efficient arm and hand protection, while minimizing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reusable bean bags or gel pads are used for patient stabilization, then patient positioning can be achieved, but the risk of patient infection increases due to direct skin contact with reused surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable foam egg crate mattress pad that is used once and then discarded, eliminating the infection risk associated with reusable surfaces. The disposable nature ensures that each patient contacts a fresh, sterile surface, while the foam material provides adequate positioning stability during surgery.
2Reliability
If reusable bean bags are used for patient stabilization, then patient positioning is achieved, but repositioning requires significant delay and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The foam egg crate mattress pad is designed as a segmented structure with multiple independent cells that can be easily manipulated. This segmentation allows the pad to be quickly folded, rolled, or repositioned without requiring significant effort or time, enabling rapid adjustment during surgical procedures while maintaining patient stability.
3Ease of manufacture
If foam is cut to the size of the bed for stabilization, then taping is straightforward, but arm and hand positioning is not adequately addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The foam egg crate mattress pad extends beyond the edges of the surgical table, creating additional functional space in the lateral dimension. This extended coverage allows the same pad to simultaneously secure the patient's body to the table and provide positioning support for the arms and hands, eliminating the need for separate positioning devices.
4Adaptability or versatility
If wide foam pieces are used to address arm positioning, then arm support is improved, but the device requires 4-6 holes and complex taping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated foam egg crate mattress pad structure. The pad simultaneously provides body support, arm positioning, and hand support through its continuous extended design, eliminating the need for multiple separate foam pieces and complex taping patterns with multiple holes.
5Reliability
If adhesive tape is used for securing the patient, then patient stabilization is achieved, but infectious disease risk increases due to tape edges being sticky and maintained in the OR between patients
Solution Approach 1:
The foam egg crate mattress pad is designed as a disposable device that is discarded after a single use, eliminating the infectious disease risk associated with reused adhesive tape. Each patient receives a fresh, sterile pad that has never been in contact with previous patients, while the foam material provides adequate stabilization without requiring adhesive tape.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems and methods for patient stabilization are disclosed.