Rotatable Mattress Tray for Warming Therapy Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current warming therapy devices, such as incubators and warmers, do not allow for the rotation of the patient mattress, limiting caregiver access to the infant's entire body for examination and maintenance purposes.
Innovation Solution
A mattress tray assembly within the warming therapy device that is moveable about at least two axes of rotation, allowing the mattress to be positioned for full 360-degree access with minimal opening of the device's sidewalls, and includes mechanisms to secure the mattress in place and manage medical paraphernalia during rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the movable infant support is moved to side positions for examination, then caregiver access to one side of the infant is improved, but access to the entire body of the infant deteriorates and requires repeated repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress tray is made rotatable about a vertical axis, allowing dynamic repositioning from a fixed linear movement system. This enables the mattress to be rotated to various angular positions (e.g., 45 degrees) so that caregivers can access different portions of the infant's body without completely repositioning the support structure, thereby reducing repeated movements and time loss.
2Ease of operation
If side panels are lowered for access, then caregiver access to the infant is improved, but device complexity and potential compromise of infant protection increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of lowering side panels to provide access, the mattress rotates about a vertical axis while remaining within the enclosure. This dynamic repositioning allows caregivers to access the infant through existing access openings without activating additional movable panel mechanisms, thereby maintaining device simplicity and intact protective barriers.
3Device complexity
If the mattress is fixed in position, then device complexity is reduced, but caregiver access to the entire body of the infant deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress is equipped with a rotation mechanism about a vertical axis, transforming it from a fixed to a dynamically repositionable component. This single rotational degree of freedom enables the mattress to be oriented at various angles, providing versatile access to different portions of the infant's body while maintaining relatively simple mechanical implementation through a centralized rotation pivot.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for providing patient access in a warming therapy device (e.g., incubator, warmer, etc.) is described. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a mattress tray assembly having at least two axes of rotation, and in another exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a mattress tray assembly having at least four axes of rotation.