Support pad for infant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Newborns and infants up to 6 months old are at risk of spinal cord injuries due to inadequate support, which can lead to long-term issues like learning disabilities and Autism, as they rely on caregivers to hold and support their head, neck, and spine properly, and laying them on surfaces poses risks of injury and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
An infant support pad made of resilient material with an inclined top surface and raised side members to maintain the infant in an inclined position, preventing movement and roll-off, and optionally integrated with heating/cooling and sound/vibration systems for comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an infant is laid down on a flat surface, then the infant can rest comfortably, but the infant may roll off and suffer injury
Solution Approach 1:
The support pad acts as an intermediary device placed between the infant and the flat surface. It provides a safe inclined resting position that prevents the infant from rolling off while maintaining comfort, thus mediating between the need for comfort and the risk of injury
Solution Approach 2:
The support pad introduces a new dimension of safety by creating an inclined plane with raised side members. This transforms the flat two-dimensional surface into a three-dimensional structure with boundaries, preventing rolling off while maintaining the resting function
2Reliability
If caregivers hold and support the infant manually, then proper head and spine support can be provided, but caregivers may become distracted and cause injury
Solution Approach 1:
The support pad enables self-service by providing automatic mechanical support for the infant's head, neck, and spine through its inclined design and contoured surface. This eliminates the need for continuous manual support by caregivers, allowing them to be distracted without compromising infant safety
Solution Approach 2:
The support pad serves as an intermediary that takes over the support function from the caregiver. It provides reliable head and spine support through its structural design, mediating between the need for support and the caregiver's ability to remain attentive
3Reliability
If the infant is placed in an inclined position, then head, neck and spine support is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support pad is segmented into functional zones: an inclined base surface for overall positioning, a contoured head support region, and raised side members for containment. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the support pad have different local qualities - the base provides inclination, the head region provides contouring support, and the sides provide containment. This local differentiation achieves comprehensive support without requiring complex overall structure
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
Provides proper support to the infant's head, neck, and spine, reducing the risk of injury and promoting comfort, while preventing rolling off surfaces, and enhancing sleep, digestion, and breathing through the inclined design.
Implementation Method 1
a body of resilient material having a generally planar bottom surface and a top surface that is inclined relative to the bottom surface
Data Source
AI summary
An infant support pad has a body of resilient material, a generally planar bottom surface and a top surface that is inclined relative to the bottom surface between a proximal end and a distal end of the body such that the infant is in an inclined position when placed on the body. The top surface has an opening in a distal portion of the body and curved surface configured to receive and support at least a portion of an infant's head that extends through the opening when the infant is placed on the body. The support pad also has a pair of raised side members on either side of the top surface configured to generally maintain the infant on the body and inhibit movement of the infant out of the body.