Independent Swing Harness Layout for Supported Childbirth Squatting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing birthing harnesses restrict movement and are cumbersome, particularly for mothers with epidural muscle weakness or knee issues, and do not effectively align the coccyx with the spine to facilitate delivery.
Innovation Solution
A childbirth support apparatus featuring independently swinging thigh and chest swing harnesses, allowing for a leaning-forward squatting position that aligns the coccyx with the spine, with modular frame design for ease of use and adjustability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If full body restrictive harnesses are used to support the mother, then the mother is supported in position, but movement is restricted and the harness becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The harness is divided into separate independent components: a chest swing harness and two thigh swing harnesses, each capable of swinging independently rather than being connected as a single restrictive unit. This segmentation allows each component to function autonomously, providing support while permitting natural movement and adjustment by the mother.
Solution Approach 2:
The harness components are designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing the chest and thigh swings to move freely in response to the mother's movements. The independent swinging capability enables the harness to adapt to natural body motions during childbirth, providing support without restricting movement or causing discomfort.
2Ease of operation
If knee-supported harnesses are used, then the mother is supported in position, but it becomes problematic for those with knee injuries or obesity
Solution Approach 1:
The thigh swing harnesses act as intermediaries between the mother's body and the support structure. Instead of directly supporting the knees, the harnesses engage with the thighs, providing support while allowing easy access and avoiding direct pressure on the knees. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for the mother to bend or strain her knees to enter or adjust the harness.
3Productivity
If the coccyx is not aligned with the spine, then the birth canal remains obstructed, but positioning devices are complex
Solution Approach 1:
The harness system is designed to be self-adjusting, allowing the mother to naturally find the optimal position for delivery through independent swinging movements. The chest and thigh swings work together to automatically align the coccyx with the spine and open the pelvis, eliminating the need for complex mechanical positioning devices while promoting effective delivery progression.
Data Source
AI summary
Childbirth support apparatus comprises a frame suspending a chest swing harness and a pair of thigh swing harnesses. The frame suspends the thigh swing harnesses adjacently and the chest swing harness in front of the thigh swing harnesses and the thigh swing harnesses lower than the chest swing harness so that the apparatus is configured to support a mother in a leaning-forward squatting position wherein the thigh swing harnesses hold the mother under thighs and wherein the chest swing harness holds the mother across the chest. The harnesses are not restrictively interconnected to each other so that each harness can swing independently with respect to the frame.