Foldable Medical Splint with Nested Rigid Slats

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical splints are cumbersome, difficult to use in emergency situations, and do not readily adapt to the contours of a human limb, requiring assembly and cutting to fit properly, making them unsuitable for quick and effective immobilization in remote or emergency conditions.

Innovation Solution

A compact, lightweight, portable, foldable medical splint with elongated sections made of rigid slats housed in flexible, moisture-resistant materials, allowing for easy storage and reuse, which can be secured to a limb using heavy-duty tape without assembly or cutting, and can be used as an IV board for immobilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional medical splints are used, then immobilization function is provided, but they are cumbersome and difficult to carry in remote conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmobilization functionVSAvoidportability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The splint is divided into multiple rigid slats that can be housed within flexible tubing sections, allowing the device to be compact for transport yet expandable for use. The segmented design enables the splint to be stored in a folded state and deployed when needed, resolving the contradiction between portability and functional reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Rigid slats are nested within flexible tubing sections, with the slats housed inside the tubing in a compact arrangement. This nesting allows the splint to maintain a small profile for carrying while providing full immobilization functionality when deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If traditional medical splints are used, then immobilization is provided, but they require assembly and cutting to fit properly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmobilization functionVSAvoidease of use

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The splint incorporates flexible tubing that can dynamically adapt to different limb sizes and shapes without requiring cutting or assembly. The flexible material allows the rigid slats to conform to various anatomical contours, providing reliable immobilization while eliminating the need for customization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible tubing allows the splint to change its physical parameters (shape, size, contour) to match different limb configurations. This parameter adaptability enables the same splint design to fit various patients without modification, resolving the contradiction between reliable immobilization and ease of use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If traditional medical splints are used, then immobilization is provided, but they are easily damaged in storage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmobilization functionVSAvoidstorage durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid slats are nested within protective flexible tubing sections during storage, preventing damage to the rigid components. This nested configuration protects the immobilization elements while maintaining compact storage, resolving the contradiction between functional reliability and storage durability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Flexible tubing sections serve as protective shells for the rigid slats during storage and transport. This flexible enclosure protects the rigid components from damage while allowing the device to be stored in a compact, durable configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS11173062B1Medical splint

Publication Date: 2021.11.16 DOMINGUE BRADFORD R

AI summary

A compact, lightweight, portable, foldable, multi-purpose, multi-functional, medical splint, primarily to use in emergency and/or remote situations to effectively provide quick, easy, and rigid immobilization to a person's limbs.