Prostate cushion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional prostate seat cushions are not designed to address the specific postoperative needs of men with prostate problems, particularly after surgical interventions, as they fail to provide adequate relief from pain, pressure, and temperature sensitivity, and lack incontinence protection and back pain relief, making them bulky and unsuitable for use on the go.

Innovation Solution

A U-shaped prostate seat cushion with a cuboid recess and self-inflating device, featuring a Gore-Tex membrane for hygiene and incontinence protection, and foldable design for portability, which includes a wedge-shaped inclination to reduce back strain and incorporates elastic open-cell foam for thermal insulation and comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional prostate seat cushions are designed with simple flat structures and rectangular or round openings, then they are easy to manufacture and simple in structure, but they fail to provide adequate relief from postoperative pain, pressure, and temperature sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidpostoperative comfort and protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The seat cushion is divided into multiple functional zones: a U-shaped seat surface for pressure distribution, a cuboid recess for prostate relief, and a base surface for stability. This segmentation allows each zone to address specific postoperative needs independently, improving overall effectiveness without significantly complicating manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the cushion have specialized properties: the U-shaped seat surface provides pressure distribution, the cuboid recess offers targeted prostate relief, and the base surface ensures stability. This local differentiation addresses specific postoperative requirements in different anatomical zones, enhancing reliability while maintaining reasonable manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If prostate seat cushions are designed with adequate incontinence protection and thermal insulation, then they provide comprehensive postoperative care, but they become bulky and unsuitable for portable use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveincontinence protection and thermal insulationVSAvoidcushion portability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

A Gore-Tex membrane is integrated into the cushion structure to provide incontinence protection and thermal insulation. This thin film technology delivers comprehensive postoperative care functionality without adding significant bulk, enabling portable use while maintaining reliability for incontinence management and temperature regulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The cushion combines multiple materials with complementary properties: the Gore-Tex membrane provides waterproofing and thermal insulation, while the foam core offers cushioning and structure. This composite approach achieves comprehensive postoperative care functionality in a compact form factor suitable for portable use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If prostate seat cushions are designed with wedge-shaped inclination to reduce back strain, then they provide back pain relief, but they increase structural complexity compared to flat cushions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveback pain reliefVSAvoidwedge-shaped structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cushion employs a wedge-shaped inclination with the front edge lower than the back edge, creating an asymmetric structure that promotes proper pelvic alignment and reduces back strain. This asymmetric design provides back pain relief functionality while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing compared to more complex adjustable mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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 cushion effectively reduces postoperative pain and sensitivity, prevents incontinence, and promotes social integration by facilitating movement, while its foldable and self-inflating design makes it convenient for use on the go, addressing the unique needs of men after prostate surgery.

Implementation Method 1

incorporates elastic open-cell foam for thermal insulation and comfort

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

self-inflating device... incorporates elastic open-cell foam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic expansion: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3738477B1Prostate cushion

Publication Date: 2023.02.15 HOHMUTH HORST

Figure 1
Figure 2

AI summary

A prostate seat cushion 10 comprises a U-shaped seat surface 12; a recess 14 arranged in the U-shaped seat surface 12 which relieves pressure on the prostate or perineum of a man sitting on it; a base surface 16 wherein the U-shaped seat surface 12 is arranged at a wedge angle with respect to the base surface 16; and a self-inflating device 18, 20.