Pivoting Transducer Clip for Arterial Pressure Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for monitoring arterial blood pressure in patients are cumbersome and difficult to manage, especially when patients need to be moved, as they require complex alignment and rearrangement of multiple transducers and tubing systems, which can lead to inaccurate readings and increased workload for medical staff.
Innovation Solution
A medical clip system that allows for easy attachment and alignment of transducers to various objects, including poles and patients, using a pivotally connected design with rotatable arms and an integrated alignment device, such as a laser, to maintain vertical alignment with the patient's right atrium, facilitating quick and accurate positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If transducers are mounted on fixed positioning systems, then alignment precision is maintained, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to cumbersome rearrangement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is designed with a pivotally connected first and second arm that can rotate relative to each other, allowing the clip to dynamically adjust its orientation. This dynamic structure enables the clip to be easily repositioned and reoriented on different poles while maintaining the transducer's vertical alignment with the patient's right atrium, thus improving ease of operation without sacrificing alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip incorporates multiple attachment mechanisms including a first attachment mechanism on the first arm and a second attachment mechanism on the second arm, allowing it to universally attach to various pole types and configurations. This multi-functional design enables the same clip to be used across different monitoring scenarios and pole orientations, reducing the need for multiple specialized positioning devices.
2Ease of operation
If alignment devices are integrated into the clip, then ease of operation improves through simplified positioning, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment device is integrated directly into the clip structure, merging the alignment function with the positioning mechanism. This integration eliminates the need for separate alignment tools and procedures, allowing medical staff to perform both alignment and positioning using a single device, thereby improving ease of operation. The alignment device includes features such as visual indicators that provide real-time feedback on transducer orientation relative to the patient's right atrium.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the clip can attach to various pole orientations, then adaptability improves, but maintaining vertical alignment becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotally connected arms allow the clip to dynamically adapt to poles of various orientations. When attached to a non-vertical pole, the arms can rotate to compensate for the pole's angle, ensuring that the transducer remains vertically aligned with the patient's right atrium. This dynamic adjustment capability maintains measurement precision across different pole configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip introduces an additional rotational degree of freedom between the first and second arms, allowing it to operate in multiple dimensions. This enables the clip to attach to poles at various angles and orientations while maintaining the critical vertical alignment of the transducer, effectively adding a dimensional adjustment capability that preserves measurement accuracy.
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 alignment and positioning of transducers, reducing the workload for medical staff, ensuring consistent and accurate measurements of central venous pressure and allowing single-handed adjustment, even on non-vertical poles, thus improving patient monitoring efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an integrated alignment device, such as a laser, to maintain vertical alignment with the patient's right atrium
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a clip for attaching one or more transducers, such as arterial blood pressure transducers, to a variety of different objects. The clip typically includes first and second arms that are pivotally connected together. The clip also typically includes an alignment device that facilitates the alignment of the clip with a patient. The clip is configured to be movable between (i) a first orientation to place an object with an attachment location and (ii) a second orientation to secure the object within the attachment location. In some instances, the attachment location is rotatable relative to the clip.