Shoulder Transfer Weight Support System for Radiation Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiation protection devices for medical professionals fail to adequately shield the neck and upper body while maintaining mobility and comfort, often causing strain on the shoulders and neck, and do not effectively transfer the weight of heavy garments from the shoulders to the hips.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device with shoulder extensions and a hip belt that transfers the weight of heavy garments, such as lead aprons, from the shoulders to the hips, providing lumbar support and ventilation, and includes a face shield accessory for enhanced protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional face shields attach to the head, then they provide face protection, but they restrict head and neck movement and cause discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shoulder-mounted support structure as an intermediary between the face shield and the user's head. The face shield attaches to the support structure rather than directly to the head, allowing the shield to be positioned and supported by the shoulders and upper back. This intermediary structure transfers the weight and mounting function away from the head and neck, eliminating the restriction of movement and discomfort associated with head-attached shields while maintaining adequate face protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If heavy garments like lead aprons are worn, then radiation protection is improved, but strain on shoulders and neck increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure serves as a mediator between the heavy garment and the user's body. The garment attaches to the support structure, which is mounted on the shoulders and upper back, rather than the garment resting directly on the shoulders and neck. This intermediary structure distributes the weight across a broader area including the shoulders, upper back, and hips (through the hip belt component), significantly reducing the concentrated strain on the neck and shoulders while maintaining the necessary radiation protection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If face shields extend above the head in half cylinder shape, then face and neck protection is improved, but weight and pressure on neck and shoulders increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure acts as a mediator that bears the weight of the face shield and garment. The face shield is mounted on the support structure, which is positioned on the shoulders and upper back, allowing the shield to extend above the head for adequate neck protection without the weight being borne by the neck and shoulders. The hip belt component further distributes the total weight to the hips, eliminating the excessive pressure that would otherwise be felt in the neck and shoulder area.
4Ease of operation
If segmented vertebrae are used in back support, then mobility is improved, but weight transfer capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple segments: a back support portion with upper and lower back plates, a hip belt portion, and a face shield portion. These segments are connected through attachment mechanisms that allow relative movement between segments while maintaining overall structural integrity. The segmentation enables the structure to adapt to the user's movements (improving mobility) while the continuous load path through the hip belt and back plates maintains effective weight transfer capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A shoulder transfer weight support generally having a hip or waist belt, a back support, and one or more shoulder extensions. The back support has an upper back plate attached to the shoulder extensions and a lower back plate attached to one or more hip belts. The lower back plate features a bracket shaped to receive an end of the attachment bar that joins it to the upper back plate. A spring-loaded plunger can be inserted into the attachment bar to allow for height adjustment of the device. A face shield at least partially made of a radiopaque material and can attach to the back support. One attachment option is a yoke mount with vertical sections at either end of the yoke mount. A second option involves a mount that attaches to the shoulder extension(s). The device can use a full face shield or a face shield with an open front.