Pivotable Medical Shield Assembly for Visibility and Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions fail to effectively protect healthcare professionals from airborne droplets and contaminants during procedures, particularly in close proximity to patients, where visibility and protection are simultaneously required.
Innovation Solution
A shield assembly comprising a flexible and transparent shield, a frame, and a stand, which allows for adjustable positioning and use with medical equipment, providing a barrier while maintaining visibility and allowing for easy movement and adjustment during procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a shield is positioned between the user and the source of airborne droplets, then protection from contaminants is improved, but visibility of the working area deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is made transparent or translucent, allowing visible light to pass through while still blocking airborne droplets and contaminants. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining visibility of the working area while providing protection, as the transparent material allows optical information to pass while physically blocking harmful particles
2Ease of operation
If the shield assembly is made portable and movable, then ease of operation is improved, but stability of positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The shield assembly incorporates a movable stand with adjustable positioning capabilities, allowing the shield to be dynamically repositioned during procedures while maintaining stable positioning once adjusted. The stand can be moved to different locations and angles, providing both portability and stability when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly is divided into separate components (shield, frame, stand) that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows the shield to be easily moved and repositioned while each component maintains its structural stability
Data Source
AI summary
A shield assembly for protecting against airborne droplets and other fluids, particularly excreted from humans. The shield assembly may generally comprise a shield, one or more support plates or members, a stand, and, optionally, a frame for holding the shield. The shield can be pivotally engaged with the stand, allowing a user of the shield assembly to change the pitch of the shield. The shield assembly may be engaged with a medical table, bed, or gurney, or alternatively may be engaged with a portable, moveable base. A user may position the shield assembly such that the shield thereof is disposed between the user's face and a source of airborne droplets or fluids.