Lateral Arm Support Device with Anterior Cutout for Surgical Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patient positioning methods for lateral decubitus position in surgery are inefficient, as they are time-consuming, not reusable, and may cause discomfort or complications due to improper positioning.
Innovation Solution
A lateral arm and torso support device with clamshell-like functionality, featuring a top and bottom piece, designed to support the arms and stabilize the torso in the lateral decubitus position, allowing for easy patient rolling and positioning without adjusting IV lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional positioning methods (tape, towels, pillows) are used, then the patient can be positioned in lateral decubitus position, but the positioning process is time-consuming and the materials are not reusable
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning device is divided into multiple segments including a torso support portion, arm support portions, and positioning elements that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows for efficient positioning by enabling targeted adjustment of specific body parts without requiring complete repositioning of the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates pre-configured positioning elements and support structures that are prepared in advance. The torso support portion and arm support portions are designed with built-in positioning capabilities that eliminate the need for time-consuming manual arrangement of towels and pillows during the positioning process.
2Reliability
If conventional positioning materials (tape, towels) are used, then the patient can be positioned, but these materials do not provide stable and maintainable positioning for considerable amounts of time
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using soft, deformable materials like towels and pillows that require frequent adjustment, the invention uses rigid or semi-rigid support structures with contoured surfaces that actively maintain positioning. The support portions are designed to conform to and stabilize the patient's anatomy, preventing rolling and maintaining the lateral decubitus position reliably over extended surgical procedures.
3Ease of operation
If bulky positioning materials are used, then the patient can be supported, but the materials are overly bulky for some surgical applications
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning device features support portions with varying densities and contoured surfaces tailored to specific anatomical regions. The torso support portion has a shape designed to fit the patient's torso contours, while arm support portions are sized and shaped for arm positioning. This localized optimization provides adequate support with minimal bulk, improving surgical access compared to uniformly bulky materials.
4Productivity
If inflatable bags are used for positioning, then the patient can be supported, but the positioning process takes excessive time to inflate and position
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning device appears to be a non-inflatable, ready-to-use structure that eliminates the time-consuming inflation process required by inflatable bags. The support portions are designed to be positioned and adjusted directly without requiring air or fluid inflation, significantly reducing the time needed to achieve proper patient positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A lateral arm support device configured to support and anteriorly extend the arms of a patient away from the torso during a medical procedure. The lateral arm support device includes spaced apart panels, one forming a superior panel and the other forming an inferior panel, an upper arm support surface extending between the upper sides of the superior and inferior panels, and a lower arm support surface extending between the lower sides of the superior and inferior panels. The panels have shapes that define an anterior cutout extending from the anterior side of the lateral arm support towards the posterior side of the lateral arm support, beneficially allowing increased visualization and access to the lower arm of a patient. The lateral arm support device can be part of a patient positioning system configured to position a patient in a lateral decubitus position.