Scissor Joint Hip Press Device for Childbirth Pain Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for alleviating sacral pain during childbirth, such as the double hip press procedure, are highly physical for the person performing the technique, leading to fatigue and a need for automation to reduce workload.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical device with a scissor joint mechanism that provides a mechanical advantage, allowing for high force application to the hips with reduced user effort, optionally with power assistance and adjustable force limits, to mimic the manual double hip press procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual double hip press procedure is used, then sacral pain relief is achieved, but the person performing the procedure experiences significant physical fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
A mechanical device with scissor-like bars acts as an intermediary between the operator and the patient's hips. The device includes first and second bars with input handles at proximal ends and force applying pads at distal ends, connected through a scissor joint mechanism that provides mechanical advantage
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical system of the operator's arms and hands is replaced with a mechanical device featuring a scissor joint mechanism. This mechanism converts small movements at the input handles into large force applications at the force applying pads, substituting human muscular effort with mechanical force multiplication
2Duration of action of moving object
If two people alternate performing the manual procedure, then continuous pain relief is maintained, but the complexity of the procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical device is designed to be self-sustaining during operation. Once the operator applies force to the input handles, the scissor joint mechanism automatically maintains the force application without requiring the operator to continuously adjust their position or effort, allowing single-operator continuous use
3Force
If higher force is applied to the hips, then more pain relief is achieved, but the operator becomes physically depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The device pre-positions the force applying pads against the patient's hips in the correct anatomical location before force application begins. The scissor joint mechanism is pre-configured with the appropriate mechanical advantage ratio, so that when the operator applies force to the input handles, the correct magnitude and direction of force is immediately applied to the hips without requiring the operator to exert excessive preliminary effort
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 device effectively reduces the physical strain on the person applying pressure, allowing for sustained relief of sacral pain during childbirth while maintaining control over the force applied to the patient's hips.
Implementation Method 1
the elongated bars are further formed such that the length of the elongated bar proximal to the axle hole (closest to the input handles) on each of the elongated bars is longer than the length of the elongated bar distal to the axle hole (closest to the force applying pads). In this configuration the user applied force to the input handles exhibits a mechanical advantage such that the force experienced at the force applying pads is greater than the force applied at the user input handles.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are provided for the alleviation of pain during childbirth. Generally, the methods and devices are designed to apply pressure to the hips of a female during the labor process. These devices may be manually or automatically actuated to provide pressure to the hips of a patient and the devices may further include force limiting devices to ensure that excessive forces are not applied to the patient.