Infant Splint With Malleable Arms For Cannula Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing splints for infants are cumbersome and difficult to use, often requiring medical tape that can cause skin irritation and increase the risk of accidental amputation when removing the device. Additionally, these splints can act as tourniquets if too tightly bound, risking circulation issues.
Innovation Solution
A splint designed for infants, featuring a body with a malleable insert and two arms that wrap around the limb, allowing for secure attachment without direct contact with the skin. The splint is coated with a medical-grade plastics material and can be trimmed to fit different sizes, accommodating both arms and legs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If medical tape is used to restrain the cannula, then the cannula is secured in place, but the adhesive can cause skin irritation and remove skin layers when removed
Solution Approach 1:
The splint acts as an intermediary device between the cannula and the infant's skin. The cannula is attached to the splint rather than directly to the skin with adhesive tape, eliminating direct skin contact with harmful adhesives. The splint's arms wrap around the limb to secure the cannula in place without requiring skin-adhesive contact.
2Reliability
If the splint is tightly bound to secure the cannula, then the cannula is firmly restrained, but circulation to the limb may be cut off or inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The splint is constructed with flexible arms that can wrap around the infant's limb. This flexibility allows the splint to conform to the limb's shape and accommodate natural movement while maintaining secure cannula restraint. The flexibility prevents excessive tightness that would obstruct circulation, as the material can stretch and adapt rather than acting as a rigid tourniquet.
3Reliability
If the splint is made bulky to support the cannula, then the cannula is well-supported, but it becomes difficult to handle and use on small infants
Solution Approach 1:
The splint is divided into a body portion and separate arms that wrap around the limb. This segmentation allows the device to be compact and easy to handle while still providing adequate support surface area. The arms can be positioned and adjusted independently to secure the cannula effectively without requiring a large bulky structure.
4Reliability
If the splint is large relative to the infant, then the cannula is securely supported, but it becomes difficult to locate the infant's fingers during removal
Solution Approach 1:
The splint arms wrap around the limb in a three-dimensional configuration rather than lying flat. This dimensional arrangement creates visible contours and shapes that make it easier to locate the infant's fingers and hand during removal procedures. The wrapped configuration provides visual and tactile cues that help medical personnel identify anatomical landmarks.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a splint for an infant. It has a body including an insert of a malleable material, wherein the body has a longitudinal axis, a first arm extending from an edge of the body in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and a second arm, spaced apart from the first arm, extending from the edge of the body in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The arms wrap around the limb of the infant and provide a surface for using medical tape or the like, thus avoiding the need for the tape to come into contact with the skin of the infant. In addition, the malleable insert allows the splint to be deformed and hold its shape if the splint is to be used on a joint of the limb.