Prone Face Pillow With Angled Intubation Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing prone face pillows do not adequately support the head and face of patients in the prone position, particularly during surgical procedures, and lack efficient integration of intubation tubes.
Innovation Solution
A prone face pillow design featuring a body with a top surface, bottom surface, and intubation tube channels on both sides, with a compressible material on the top surface for patient comfort and perforation patterns that must be broken to insert intubation tubes into angled channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If intubation tube channels are added to the prone face pillow, then the integration of intubation tubes is improved, but the structural integrity and complexity of the pillow increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is divided into multiple sections: a first section with a soft, compressible material for patient comfort and a second section with a rigid structure containing the intubation tube channels. This segmentation allows each part to serve its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between adding intubation capability and maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
A foam layer is introduced as an intermediary between the compressible material and the rigid structure. This foam layer provides transition and cushioning, allowing the intubation channels to be integrated while maintaining the comfort and structural integrity of the pillow.
2Ease of operation
If the intubation tube channel pathway is made non-horizontal (angled), then the ease of intubation tube insertion is improved, but the manufacturing precision and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow structure is segmented into a rigid second section that contains the angled intubation tube channels. This segmentation allows the angled pathways to be manufactured with standard precision techniques while the overall pillow maintains its functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties are changed between sections: the first section uses soft, compressible material for comfort, while the second section uses rigid material that can be precisely manufactured with angled channels. This parameter change allows both ease of operation and manufacturing precision to be achieved.
3Ease of operation
If compressible material is used on the top surface for patient comfort, then the ease of operation and patient comfort are improved, but the structural strength and support capability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is segmented into two distinct sections with different material properties. The first section uses soft, compressible material for patient comfort, while the second section uses rigid material for structural support and to contain the intubation channels. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing both comfort and strength to coexist in their respective sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The pillow uses composite construction combining soft compressible material in the first section with rigid material in the second section. This composite approach allows the pillow to provide both patient comfort and structural support simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
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 pillow provides enhanced support and comfort for patients in the prone position, allowing for easy integration of intubation tubes without compromising the structural integrity of the pillow.
Implementation Method 1
a compressible material configured to contact a head of a patient
Data Source
AI summary
In some implementations, a prone face pillow may include a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a right-side surface, a left-side surface, and an internal cavity being open at the top surface and the bottom surface. In addition, the prone face pillow may include a right-side intubation tube channel having a non-horizontal pathway and a left-side intubation tube channel having a non-horizontal pathway. Moreover, the prone face pillow may a right-side slot and a left-side slot each configured to allow insertion of an intubation tube into the left-side channel. Also, the prone face pillow may include a right-side perforation pattern and a left-side perforation pattern, where the right-side or left-side perforation pattern must be broken prior to insertion of the intubation tube.