Inflatable Surgical Support with Fluidic Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical positioning equipment, such as rolls and integrated body stretchers, fail to provide dynamic and safe patient positioning during surgery, as they do not allow for real-time adjustments and can be uncomfortable or painful due to fixed designs, and inflatable care rolls are not suitable for surgical use due to safety concerns from air leaks.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable positioning equipment with two fluidically separated air chamber systems that can be inflated to support patient body parts, featuring a mushroom-shaped cross-section for reduced surface pressure and an air pressure monitoring system to maintain stable positioning even in case of leaks, allowing for dynamic adjustment and safety during surgical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single air chamber system is used in inflatable positioning equipment, then the device structure is simple, but a leak causes uncontrolled slumping and patient injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The air chamber system is divided into multiple independent air chambers (first air chamber and second air chamber) that are fluidically separated. Each chamber can be independently inflated and monitored, so that a leak in one chamber does not affect the other, preventing uncontrolled slumping and maintaining patient positioning safety.
2Stability of the object's composition
If firmly integrated body stretcher is used in surgical table, then patient positioning is stable, but the surgical table becomes expensive and patient location must be adapted to fixed design
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system uses inflatable air chambers that can be dynamically adjusted in terms of inflation level and positioning location along the patient's body. The air chambers can be inflated to different extents and positioned at various locations, allowing the system to adapt to different patient dimensions and surgical requirements while maintaining stable positioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If inflatable care roll is used for patient positioning, then dynamic adjustment is possible, but air leaks cause uncontrolled position change and patient injury
Solution Approach 1:
The single air chamber is segmented into multiple independent air chambers (first and second chambers) that are fluidically separated. This segmentation allows dynamic adjustment of positioning while eliminating the harmful effect of air leaks, as a leak in one chamber does not compromise the entire positioning system.
Solution Approach 2:
Air pressure monitoring means are provided to continuously monitor the pressure in each air chamber. When a leak is detected in one chamber, the system can alert the operator and switch to using the other chamber, providing feedback that prevents uncontrolled position changes and patient injury.
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
The equipment ensures reliable and safe patient positioning by preventing uncontrolled slumping in case of leaks and allowing for dynamic adjustments during surgery, reducing the risk of injury and improving comfort through fluidic separation and air pressure management.
Implementation Method 1
a first air chamber system on the inside of the covering, which can be filled with air for inflating the covering
Implementation Method 2
the second air chamber system is fluidically separated from the first air chamber system so that a leak in one air chamber system cannot cause air loss in the other air chamber system
Data Source
AI summary
Inflatable positioning equipment in the shape of an elongate roll for positioning a patient during a renal surgical procedure is provided. The positioning equipment includes: an inflatable covering which defines the external dimensions of the positioning equipment; a first air chamber system on the inside of the covering, which can be filled with air for inflating the covering; and a second air chamber system on the inside of the covering, which can be filled with air to inflate the covering. The second air chamber system is fluidically separated from the first air chamber system such that a leak in one air chamber system does not result in air loss in the other air chamber system.