Patient Monitoring Pod Clip With Rotating Locking Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing patient monitoring systems face challenges in efficiently attaching and detaching monitoring devices when patients are moved between locations, requiring cumbersome detachment and reattachment processes.

Innovation Solution

A clip system with a base plate and lever arm, featuring a rotating interface and locking mechanism, allows for secure attachment and easy detachment of patient monitoring pods to various structures, enabling rotation and adjustment for optimal cable routing and positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a patient monitoring system uses fixed attachment methods, then the connection stability is improved, but the ease of moving patients between locations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidease of moving patients
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is divided into separate components: a mounting structure fixed to the monitoring device and a detachable clip that interfaces with the patient monitoring pod. This segmentation allows the pod to be easily detached and reattached at different locations while maintaining a stable connection when attached.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The clip incorporates a rotating interface portion that can rotate relative to the base portion, allowing dynamic adjustment of the pod's orientation. This dynamic capability enables optimal cable routing and positioning while maintaining secure attachment, resolving the contradiction between fixed stability and flexible repositioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a patient monitoring system allows easy detachment and reattachment, then the ease of moving patients is improved, but the connection stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of detachment and reattachmentVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is pre-configured with a lock release that can be actuated to automatically engage or disengage the locking action. This preliminary setup allows users to easily detach and reattach pods without complex manual operations, while the locking mechanism ensures stable connection when attached.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the monitoring pod position is fixed, then the connection stability is improved, but the adaptability for optimal cable routing deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidadaptability for cable routing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating interface portion enables the monitoring pod to rotate to different orientations while remaining securely attached to the mounting structure. This dynamic rotation capability provides adaptability for optimal cable routing and positioning without compromising connection stability, as the locking mechanism maintains secure attachment during and after rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If a complex attachment mechanism is used, then the connection stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidattachment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking function is extracted as a separate, dedicated mechanism within the clip assembly, distinct from the mounting structure and the rotating interface. This extraction allows each component to perform its specific function simply: the mounting structure provides attachment points, the clip holds the pod, the rotating interface enables orientation adjustment, and the locking mechanism secures the connection. This modular extraction reduces overall system complexity while maintaining connection stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 clip system simplifies the attachment and detachment of patient monitoring pods, enhances flexibility in positioning, and facilitates easier patient monitoring across different locations, reducing setup and teardown time while maintaining stable connections.

Implementation Method 1

The lever arm includes a user grasping area, a clamp, and a torsion spring that provides torsion to the connection with the base portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorsion spring: Torsion Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3420847B1Clip for a patient monitoring pod
Publication Date: 2019.10.30 DRAGERWERK AG
  • EP3420847B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3420847B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3420847B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is described a clip for attaching a medical device to a structure, comprising: a lever arm (130) comprising a user grasping area (101) and a clamp (135); a base portion (125) in a position opposed to the lever arm (130) and connected to the lever arm (130) via a torsion spring (175), wherein the torsion spring (175) provides torsion between the lever arm (130) and the base portion (125); a mounting block (120) to interface with the medical device; and a rotation mechanism configured to restrict rotation of the base portion (125) with respect to the medical device, characterized in that the rotation mechanism comprises: a latch arm (161) attached at a first end to the base portion (125) and free at a second end; a latch pin (166) configured to sit in the second end of the latch arm (161); and a latch base (116) rotatably connected to the base portion (125), the latch base (116) configured to accept the latch pin (166), wherein the latch base (116) is rotatable relative to the base portion (125) such that the latch base (116) rotates relative to the latch arm (161) attached to the base portion (125); and wherein the mounting block (220) is operably connected to the latch base (116) of the rotation mechanism.