Inflatable Patient Positioner With Selective Grip for Tilt Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing patient positioners fail to securely maintain patients in tilted positions during medical procedures, such as the Trendelenburg position, leading to potential sliding and repositioning difficulties, which can be hazardous and time-consuming, especially when patients are anesthetized.

Innovation Solution

An inflatable patient positioner with selectively engaging surface gripping zones that engage and disengage a procedure table based on inflation state, using grippy feet that retract into concave lacuna when inflated, allowing easy sliding and secure retention when deflated, combined with an air bearing for smooth movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a patient positioner is used to maintain patients in tilted positions during medical procedures, then patient positioning stability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for selective engagement mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient positioning stabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patient positioner utilizes the dynamic inflation and deflation of air chambers to automatically change the engagement state of grippy feet. When inflated, the air chambers lift the positioner to disengage grippy feet for easy movement. When deflated, the positioner contacts the table surface to engage grippy feet for secure positioning, eliminating complex mechanical locking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs pneumatic air chambers to control the engagement and disengagement of surface gripping zones. By inflating or deflating the air chambers, the system selectively activates or deactivates the grippy feet's contact with the procedure table, providing reliable positioning without complex mechanical structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Productivity

If the procedure table tilt angle is increased to improve surgical field of view and organ displacement, then surgical effectiveness is improved, but patient sliding risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical effectivenessVSAvoidpatient sliding risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patient positioner incorporates localized high-friction grippy feet at specific contact points with the procedure table. These grippy feet are strategically positioned to provide targeted friction and grip precisely where needed to prevent patient sliding, while the rest of the positioner surface maintains lower friction for patient comfort and ease of repositioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If traditional patient positioners are used without selective engagement, then device simplicity is maintained, but repositioning time and effort increase when patients need to be moved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidrepositioning time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic inflation and deflation cycles of the air chambers to control the engagement state of grippy feet. During normal operation, the positioner remains deflated with grippy feet engaged for stable positioning. When repositioning is needed, the air chambers are inflated to disengage grippy feet, allowing easy movement, then deflated again to re-engage for stable positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Reliability

If grippy feet are continuously engaged with the procedure table to prevent sliding, then patient positioning stability is improved, but ease of repositioning deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient positioning stabilityVSAvoidease of repositioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates reliable patient positioning and easy repositioning without mechanical complexity, reducing the risk of injury and discomfort by distributing weight evenly and preventing sliding, even on tilted surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

combined with an air bearing for smooth movement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir bearing: Air Lubrication

Implementation Method 2

distributing weight evenly and preventing sliding, even on tilted surfaces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure distribution: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS12564530B2Inflatable patient positioner with selectively engaging surface gripping zones

Publication Date: 2026.03.03 MEDLINE INDUSTRIES

AI summary

A patient positioner includes an upper patient positioner surface coupled to a lower patient positioner surface along a perimeter. One or more baffles couple the upper patient positioner surface to the lower patient positioner surface interior to the perimeter so as to define a plurality of air chambers within the patient positioner. One or more selectively engaging surface gripping zones are attached to the lower patient positioner surface and are positioned centrally along the one or more baffles on a one-to-one basis such that the grippy feet extend distally beyond surfaces of the plurality of air chambers when in a deflated state and retract within concave lacuna situated beneath apices of the plurality of air chambers when in a deflated state.