Patient Positioning Device with Absorbent Sleeve for Prone Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current method of positioning a patient in a prone position in an operating room is inefficient and often results in the surgeon's arms becoming entangled with the patient, leading to delays and exposure to bodily fluids, as the entire medical team coordinates to move the patient from a supine to a prone position.
Innovation Solution
A patient positioning device with an outer sleeve featuring an absorbent top surface and a non-slip bottom surface, along with an inner sleeve that covers the surgeon's arms, facilitates the safe and efficient transfer from a supine to a prone position, allowing the surgeon to remove their arms without compromising the patient's position, and includes a design that prevents shifting or slipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the surgeon manually catches and positions the patient during the prone position transition, then the patient can be safely positioned, but the surgeon's arms become entangled with the patient causing delays and exposure to bodily fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the surgeon's arms from the patient contact area by using sleeves that cover the arms, allowing the surgeon to maintain control while preventing entanglement and exposure to bodily fluids during the positioning process
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning device acts as an intermediary between the surgeon and the patient, providing a mechanical interface that allows the surgeon to control patient positioning without direct arm contact, thereby reducing exposure risk and entanglement
2Reliability
If the surgeon manually catches and positions the patient during the prone position transition, then the patient can be safely positioned, but the surgeon's arms come into contact with the patient's skin causing exposure to bodily fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses flexible sleeves that cover the surgeon's arms, creating a protective barrier that prevents direct contact with the patient's skin and bodily fluids while still allowing the surgeon to perform positioning maneuvers
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning device serves as an intermediary that eliminates direct skin-to-skin contact between the surgeon and patient, with the sleeves acting as a protective interface that prevents exposure to harmful bodily fluids
3Device complexity
If the patient is placed on bolsters without a positioning device, then the setup is simple, but the patient shifts out of position during and after positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The device provides partial coverage under the patient, extending beyond the immediate contact area to create a stable base that prevents shifting while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning device features a contoured surface that conforms to the patient's body shape, creating natural contact points that stabilize the patient in the prone position without requiring complex mechanical structures
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
This solution reduces the time required for proper patient positioning, minimizes exposure to bodily fluids, and ensures the surgeon's arms do not come into contact with the patient's skin, enhancing safety and efficiency in emergency procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a top surface comprising an absorbent material configured to absorb moisture from the patient when the patient is placed thereon
Implementation Method 2
a bottom surface comprising a non-slip texture or material... The non-slip texture or material of the bottom surface inhibits shifting of the device and patient thereon from a medical bed or table
Data Source
AI summary
A patient positioning device facilitates the placement of a patient in the prone position on the bolsters of a medical table or bed more quickly. The patient positioning device facilitates the surgeon's removal of their arms from underneath the patient once the patient has been properly positioned in the prone position on the medical table or bed (e.g., without shifting the patient out of place). Additionally, the patient positioning device inhibits (e.g., prevents) the surgeon's arms from coming into contact with the patient's skin.