Multipurpose positioning device for infants
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current infant positioning devices fail to securely maintain preterm and ill infants in therapeutic flexion and midline positions for extended periods, as they tend to unroll, loosen, or shift, and are limited in the positions they support, making it difficult to achieve normal fetal development.
Innovation Solution
A multipurpose infant positioning device with adjustable components such as a lower pad, wings, and a detachable pillow that allows for secure attachment at various locations, providing support in supine, side-lying, and prone positions without disturbing the infant, and enabling easy repositioning between these positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional positioning items (blankets, towels, bedding) are used to support the infant, then the infant can be positioned in flexion and midline orientation, but these items tend to unroll, loosen and shift away from their position, failing to provide secure boundaries for prolonged periods
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning device is divided into multiple functional segments including a base portion, side portions, and a head portion that can be independently positioned and secured. Each segment works together to provide stable boundaries, preventing the unrolling and shifting problems of conventional single-piece positioning items.
Solution Approach 2:
The device introduces an intermediary structure with defined geometric boundaries between the infant and the supporting surface. This intermediary framework provides stable reference planes and vertical boundaries that prevent position drift, unlike soft blankets that lack structural definition.
2Adaptability or versatility
If commercial positioning devices are used, then some boundary support is provided, but they only provide boundary on a limited portion of the periphery and are limited in the therapeutic positions they support
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning device is designed as a universal system that can support multiple therapeutic positions including supine, prone, and side-lying orientations. The modular components can be reconfigured to accommodate different positioning needs, making a single device replace multiple position-specific devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The device extends boundary support across all three spatial dimensions by providing vertical walls on multiple sides and a head portion that creates a complete enclosed space. This multi-dimensional boundary system prevents the infant from rolling or shifting in any direction, unlike conventional devices that only provide limited peripheral support.
3Ease of operation
If the infant is repositioned frequently for development, then neurobehavioral organization and musculoskeletal development are promoted, but access to the infant for diapering and medical connections is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The device design extracts and separates the boundary-providing function from the infant-containing function. The removable side portions and adjustable head portion allow temporary extraction of boundary elements to provide access for diapering and medical procedures, then these elements can be repositioned to restore the therapeutic boundaries without completely removing the infant.
Data Source
AI summary
A multipurpose infant positioning device that includes a lower pad with front and back surfaces, wings attached to lateral sides of the lower pad and a bottom flap attached to the bottom portion of the lower pad. At least one of the wings and bottom flap have fastening segments attached thereto for adjustably attaching these components to portions of the lower pad. The fastened wing and bottom flap are made of a material having sufficient resiliency to maintain and bring an infant back to flexed midline position within the infant positioning device. These infant positioning devices may further include a headpiece, brim, pocket at the back surface of the lower pad and a detachable readjustable multipurpose pillow for positioning the infant from and between supine, prone and side-lying positions, all while maintaining and reinforcing the flexed midline position of the infant for normal development.