Patient Positioning Device With Inflatable Air Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transfer of patients between support surfaces in a hospital setting is challenging, leading to potential injuries for both patients and hospital staff due to accidental sliding or dropping, pressure on the arms during surgery, and risk of ulnar nerve damage from prolonged arm positioning.
Innovation Solution
A patient positioning device with flexible, padded substrates that wrap around the arms to secure, elevate, and protect them from pressure, combined with an optional inflatable support for easier sliding, and secure restraints to prevent accidental movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If patients are transferred by lifting, sliding or dragging, then the transfer procedure can be completed, but injury risk to patient and staff increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transfer device with air rollers as an intermediary between the patient and the support surfaces. The air rollers reduce friction during transfer, allowing the patient to be moved without direct lifting or dragging that could cause injury. The device acts as a mediator that facilitates safe transfer while protecting both patient and staff from harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs padded substrates and cushioning elements positioned in advance to protect the patient's arms and body during transfer and positioning. These protective elements are prepared beforehand to prevent injury from accidental sliding or dropping, addressing the harmful factors before they can occur.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the surgeon leans on the patient's arm during surgery, then the surgeon can maintain stable positioning, but the patient's arm may suffer pressure damage or nerve injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a padded substrate positioned between the surgeon's body and the patient's arm. This intermediary cushioning element allows the surgeon to maintain stable leaning position while distributing the pressure to prevent damage to the patient's arm, wrist, or hand. The padded substrate acts as a mediator that enables surgical stability without transmitting harmful pressure to the patient's extremities.
Solution Approach 2:
The padded substrates are positioned in advance on the support surface before the surgeon begins the procedure. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when the surgeon leans on the patient's arm, the protective layer is already in place to prevent pressure damage, nerve compression, or blood flow restriction during the surgery.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If rigid arm protector devices are used during surgery, then the patient's arm is protected from pressure, but the device lacks flexibility and secure attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid arm protector devices with flexible padded substrates that can conform to the patient's arm and the support surface. These flexible substrates provide effective protection while adapting to the contours of the patient's body, offering both protection and flexibility that rigid devices cannot achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible, movable padded substrates that can be dynamically positioned and adjusted during patient transfer and positioning. Unlike static rigid protectors, these flexible elements can be moved with the patient and adapted to different positions, providing ongoing protection while maintaining device simplicity and ease of use.
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 device reduces injuries to patients and staff by providing secure and even weight distribution during transfers, protecting arms from pressure and nerve damage, and facilitating safe movement between surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable support may be used with the device to aid when sliding or translating the device 10 with the patient thereon
Data Source
AI summary
A patient positioning device provided to position, protect and secure a patient on a support surface for transfer to another support surface or for preparation for surgery. The positioning device includes a sheet with a first and second flexible substrate coupled to the sheet's top surface. The first and second flexible substrates may be padded. These substrates are capable of wrapping around an adjacent arm of the patient creating a wrapped engagement. This wrapped engagement may pad, protect, secure and elevate the arms from injury caused by pressure imparted thereon during surgery or transport. This positioning device may be lifted or slid from one support surface to another. Optionally, a third and fourth flexible substrate capable of wrapping around an adjacent arm of the patient creating a second wrapped engagement may be used for additional securing. Optionally, an inflatable support may be used with the device to aid when sliding or translating the device 10 with the patient thereon.