Neonatal Transport Isolation Stage with Stabilizing Coupler

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional neonatal transport systems fail to effectively mitigate vibration during transportation, leading to negative health outcomes for newborns due to non-linear mechanical connections and resonant modes that increase acceleration peaks.

Innovation Solution

A neonatal transport apparatus featuring an isolation stage and a stabilizing coupler that directly couples with the floor, along with a clamping system to eliminate lash between the isolation stage and the mounting frame, and an air spring for vertical centering, which reduces non-linearities and resonant vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional transport systems are used, then the newborn can be transported from one hospital to another, but the newborn experiences significant vibration that negatively affects health

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration exposure to newbornVSAvoidhealth outcome reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An isolation stage is introduced as an intermediary component between the stretcher and the vehicle floor. This isolation stage decouples the newborn transport system from the vehicle's floor movements, acting as a mediator that filters out harmful vibrations while allowing necessary transport functions to continue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful vibration transmission path is extracted and removed from the system by using the isolation stage to separate the newborn's environment from the vehicle's motion, effectively taking out the vibration problem while preserving the transport capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If non-linear mechanical connections are used in the transport system, then the system can accommodate movement and positioning, but resonant modes increase acceleration peaks that harm the newborn

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement accommodation capabilityVSAvoidacceleration peaks from resonant modes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The non-linear mechanical connections are replaced with a stabilized mechanical system using the isolation stage and stabilizing coupler. This substitution eliminates resonant modes and acceleration peaks while maintaining the system's ability to accommodate necessary movements for transport and positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the isolation stage is directly coupled with the floor using a stabilizing coupler, then vibration is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration transmission to newbornVSAvoidisolation system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The isolation system is segmented into distinct functional components: the isolation stage for vibration reduction, the stabilizing coupler for floor connection, and the clamp for mounting frame attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system manageability despite the increased complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Significantly reduces the vibration experienced by newborns during transport, improving their health outcomes by decoupling the neonatal transport unit from the vehicle's floor movements and eliminating lash, thereby minimizing acceleration peaks and resonant modes.

Implementation Method 1

an isolation stage; a stabilizing coupler extending from the second portion of the isolation stage, the stabilizing coupler positioned to directly couple the isolation stage with a floor underlying the stretcher

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration isolation: Damping

Implementation Method 2

an air spring for vertical centering, which reduces non-linearities and resonant vibrations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir spring: Spring

Implementation Method 3

a clamping system to eliminate lash between the isolation stage and the mounting frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical clamping: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS11612528B2Neonatal transport apparatus and related systems

Publication Date: 2023.03.28 CHILDRENS HOSPITAL & CLINICS OF MINNESOTA

AI summary

Various implementations include neonatal transport apparatuses and systems employing such apparatuses. In one particular implementation, an apparatus includes: an isolation stage; a first mount on a first portion of the isolation stage, the first mount configured to engage a mounting frame of a neonatal transport unit; a second mount on a second portion of the isolation stage, the second mount configured to engage a stretcher; and a stabilizing coupler extending from the second portion of the isolation stage, the stabilizing coupler positioned to directly couple the isolation stage with a floor underlying the stretcher.