Infant Warming Device Cable Routing Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Infant warming devices face challenges with cluttered environments due to external cables and limited bed rotation caused by electrical connections, which hinder caregiver mobility and patient care efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an integral patient support mechanism that routes power, signal, data, and communication lines within the bed structure, allowing cables to pass through a single connection point, enabling clutter-free operation and unrestricted bed rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If external cables and connections are used for power, signal, and data to the infant warming device, then the device can provide comprehensive monitoring and control functions, but the environment around the infant becomes cluttered and caregiver mobility is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring and control functionsVSAvoidcaregiver mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates power, signal, data, and communication lines into a single cable connection that passes through the patient support mechanism. This merging of multiple separate connections into one unified pathway eliminates the clutter of multiple hanging cables while maintaining all necessary monitoring and control functions, thereby improving caregiver mobility without sacrificing device versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If the patient bed is made rotatable to facilitate infant care positioning, then caregiver access and patient positioning are improved, but electrical connections and cabling become restricted and complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient positioningVSAvoidelectrical connections

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patient support mechanism acts as an intermediary component that houses and routes all electrical, signal, data, and communication lines through its structure. This intermediary design allows the bed to rotate freely while the cables pass through the rotating mechanism itself, eliminating the need for complex external cable management systems and maintaining simple electrical connections throughout the rotation range

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If multiple separate cables are used for power, signal, control, data, and communications, then each function can be independently managed, but the cabling becomes complex and restricts bed movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent function managementVSAvoidbed rotation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines power, signal, control, data, and communication lines into a single integrated cable pathway that passes through the patient support mechanism. This merging approach maintains independent management of each function within the unified cable structure while enabling free bed rotation, as the entire cable assembly moves with the rotating bed rather than being restricted by external cable routing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10709629B2Infant warming device with in bed patient support power, signal, control, data, and communications

Publication Date: 2020.07.14 INTERNATIONAL BIOMEDICAL LTD

AI summary

An electrical connection system that can feed power, signal, data, and communication lines into a rotating patient support system in a infant warming device.