Universal Surgical Headrest With Adjustable Wings And Pin Pressure Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing neurosurgical headrests with pins are unsafe for children due to the risk of skull deformation, fractures, and ocular damage, and traditional horseshoe headrests provide inadequate cranial stabilization during surgery, especially for pediatric patients.

Innovation Solution

A surgical universal headrest with adjustable lateral wings and gel pads that accommodate patients from premature infants to adults, featuring a skull pin holder assembly with a micro strain measuring device to ensure safe cranial stabilization and minimize pin pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If traditional pin fixation is used to support a child's head, then cranial stabilization is achieved, but skull deformation, fractures, and ocular damage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecranial stabilizationVSAvoidskull deformation and ocular damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a specialized pediatric headrest with a forehead support cradle as an intermediary device between the patient's head and the fixation system. This cradle supports the head in a neutral position without requiring pins to bear the full weight, thereby preventing skull deformation and ocular damage while maintaining cranial stabilization during surgery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the pressure distribution parameters by using a forehead support cradle that contacts a larger surface area of the skull (the forehead region), rather than concentrating force at pin insertion points. This distributes the stabilizing force across multiple points with lower individual pressures, preventing bone deformation and fractures in pediatric patients

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If horseshoe headrest is used for pediatric patients, then head support is provided, but cranial stabilization is inadequate during surgery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead supportVSAvoidcranial stabilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of head positioning and cranial stabilization into a single integrated system. The forehead support cradle provides both the head support function and the stabilization function by securing the head in a fixed neutral position, eliminating the need for separate pin fixation and providing adequate cranial stabilization during surgery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable lateral wings and arms are added to create universal headrest, then adaptability to different patients is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of patients from premature infants to adultsVSAvoidstructure with adjustable components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal headrest where the forehead support cradle and lateral wings can be adjusted to accommodate patients of all ages from premature infants to adults. The same basic structure serves multiple patient populations through adjustment mechanisms, achieving universality without requiring completely separate devices for different age groups

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention incorporates adjustable lateral wings and arms that can be dynamically repositioned to fit different patient sizes and anatomies. This dynamic adjustability allows the headrest to adapt to various patients while maintaining a relatively simple base structure, balancing versatility with complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 headrest provides safe and dependable cranial stabilization, reducing the risk of complications such as ocular damage and allowing for accurate image guidance during surgical procedures on patients of varying ages and sizes.

Implementation Method 1

a skull pin holder assembly with a micro strain measuring device to ensure safe cranial stabilization and minimize pin pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStrain measurement:

Data Source

PatentUS12409090B2Surgical universal headrest including skull pin holder assembly

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 SKLAR FREDERICK H

AI summary

A surgical universal headrest is disclosed. In one embodiment, a body has two lateral wings slidably coupled to the body. Each lateral wing has an arm moveably secured thereto with a range of proximal-to-distal motion with respect to a medial line of the body. The body, lateral wings, and the arms, in cooperative combination, define a support perimeter of adjustable size having an opening therethrough. The support perimeter of adjustable size accommodates patients ranging from premature infants to adults and the opening accommodates an eye-nose-mouth region of a patient ranging from a premature infant to an adult. A skull pin holder assembly is included.