Inflatable Patient Support Device for Multi-Side Surgical Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical procedures requiring access to posterior, anterior, and/or lateral sides of the patient's body often necessitate prone positioning, which leads to various complications and risks, including increased pressure, bleeding, and prolonged procedure times, especially when transitioning between supine and prone positions.
Innovation Solution
A patient support device with inflatable/deflatable regions that allow surgical access to any body side without requiring prone or lateral positioning, featuring a first region for the upper body, a second region that can be lowered or removed for access, and a third region for the lower body, with optional sensors, heating/cooling components, and integration with surgical tables for controlled transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a patient is placed in prone position for posterior surgical access, then surgical access to posterior structures is improved, but patient safety and comfort deteriorate due to increased pressure, bleeding, and complications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by enabling posterior surgical access while the patient remains in supine position rather than requiring prone positioning. The support device creates working space underneath the patient's posterior body surfaces through deflation of intermediate regions, allowing surgeons to access posterior structures from the anterior side without flipping the patient over.
Solution Approach 2:
The support device is divided into multiple independently controllable regions (first region for head/shoulders, second intermediate region for torso, third region for legs). This segmentation allows selective deflation of only the intermediate region needed for surgical access while maintaining support in other regions, enabling targeted creation of working space without compromising overall patient support.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a patient is transitioned between supine and prone positions for comprehensive body access, then access to multiple body sides is improved, but procedure time and operational complexity deteriorate due to repeated positioning transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The support device incorporates dynamic, adjustable regions that can be inflated or deflated on demand during the procedure. The intermediate regions can be deflated to create working space for anterior, lateral, or posterior access as needed, then re-inflated when not needed, allowing the surgical team to access multiple body sides without repositioning the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The support device serves multiple functions: it provides patient support, creates variable working space for surgical access, and maintains patient positioning stability. By integrating these functions into a single system with adjustable regions, the device eliminates the need for separate positioning maneuvers and equipment adjustments that would otherwise be required.
3Ease of operation
If intermediate support regions are deflated to create surgical working space, then surgical access is improved, but patient support stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support device is divided into multiple independently controllable regions (first region for head/shoulders, second intermediate region for torso, third region for legs). This segmentation allows selective deflation of only the intermediate region needed for surgical access while maintaining support in other regions, enabling targeted creation of working space without compromising overall patient support.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and third support regions remain inflated to provide stable support for the patient's head/shoulders and legs before, during, and after deflation of the intermediate region. This pre-maintained support prevents patient instability and positioning shifts that could occur if all regions were deflated or if support were removed simultaneously.
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
Enables surgical procedures on multiple body sides while minimizing patient repositioning, reducing complications, and enhancing patient comfort and safety by maintaining optimal positioning and reducing pressure points.
Implementation Method 1
the second (e.g., intermediate) region is deflatable, wherein the second (e.g., intermediate) region is transitioned to the lowered position by deflating the second (e.g., intermediate) region
Implementation Method 2
the support comprises a heating or cooling component that allows the support, or one or more of the regions of the support, to be maintained at a desired temperature prior to, during, or following a procedure
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are systems, devices, and methods for supporting a patient undergoing a medical procedure that involves treatment of any or all sides of the body (e.g., posterior, anterior, and/or lateral sides of the patient's body or body parts). For example, the systems, devices, and methods facilitate surgical procedures without requiring placing a patient in a prone or lateral position and/or minimizing or avoiding transitioning a patient between supine, prone, and/or lateral positions.