Twin Pouch Parturition Drape for Fluid Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical drapes lack an efficient system for separately collecting and measuring amniotic fluid and blood/placenta fluid during childbirth, making it difficult for healthcare providers to accurately assess blood loss and provide timely maternal care.

Innovation Solution

A parturition drape with a twin pouch assembly is introduced, featuring a flap that guides fluids into either pouch, allowing for separate collection and measurement of amniotic fluid and blood/placenta fluid using a graduated fluid measurement device, enabling healthcare providers to visually assess fluid loss and determine if further medical attention is needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a single pouch is used to collect all fluids, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of blood loss is compromised because amniotic fluid and blood cannot be separately measured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood loss measurementVSAvoidpouch assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The collection system is divided into separate pouches: a first pouch for collecting amniotic fluid and a second pouch for collecting blood and placenta fluid. This segmentation allows independent measurement of each fluid type, enabling accurate blood loss assessment without contamination from amniotic fluid volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If separate collection systems are used for amniotic fluid and blood, then the measurement precision improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple components to manage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid measurementVSAvoidfluid guidance operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A flap component acts as an intermediary that automatically guides fluids to the appropriate pouch. The flap is positioned to direct amniotic fluid to the first pouch and blood/placenta fluid to the second pouch, eliminating the need for manual intervention and maintaining ease of operation while achieving separate collection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If visual assessment of fluid loss is enabled, then the loss of information is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to additional measurement components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid loss informationVSAvoidmeasurement device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch assembly serves multiple functions: it collects fluids, separates different fluid types, measures volume through graduated markings, and provides visual indication of blood loss. This multi-functionality reduces information loss while avoiding the need for separate specialized devices for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11471234B2Dual amniotic and placenta fluid measurement parturition drape

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 MEDLINE INDUSTRIES

AI summary

A parturition drape (100) includes a drape (101) and a twin pouch assembly (102). The twin pouch assembly defines a first pouch (1101) and a second pouch (1301) attached to a major face of the drape. A flap (103) is attached to the major face of the drape. The flap (103) is selectively insertable into an open end of either the first pouch or the second pouch.