The award ceremony of the 15th edition of the Innovator of Silesia competition was held on Friday, 10 November 2023. The idea behind the event is to promote and reward the most innovative entities from the Silesian Voivodeship. The aim is to recognise companies and research and development institutions undertaking innovative changes through the introduction of state-of-the-art technologies, new products or services, which achieve business or scientific success as a result.
One of the prizes awarded in the competition is the special prize presented by the Chair of the Management Board of Metropolis GZM. This year it went to the University of Silesia in Katowice for a device used to position a person lying on their back. Our university was also recognised for this project in the research and development institution category.
Description of the awarded solution
Positioning device for the supine patient allows the patient’s torso to be raised to a suitable height to establish the desired, mostly horizontal line of the cervical spine and the rest of the spine.
This is particularly important for people with a spinal injury, after an accident or during an illness. Fast and painless positioning for examination is the basis of a well performed radiological examination. The controls are intuitive, simple, and the components are safe and easy to maintain.
The solution is protected by patents. The authors of the invention are: Ryszard Tomaszewski, PhD, DSc, Associate Professor from the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Silesia; Agata Chmielarz, PhD, DLitt, Associate Professor of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Katowice; Joanna Pastusińska, MA, from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Katowice.
Structure
The device consists of two main elements, the adjustment of which relative to each other enables the torso to be positioned in relation to the head in a fixed and desired position.
The invention is placed on a horizontal surface intended for examination or rehabilitation exercises, for example on an X-ray table. A person is placed on the device by laying their head on the headrest. The torso is placed on a base, allowing it to be lifted into position. A connector is used to adjust the distance between the headrest and the trunk support base to suit the height of the person being placed on the device.
Lifting the torso is done by pumping the base under the torso and lifting its upper surface, on which the person rests.
The design takes into account the specifics of the child’s anatomical structure, i.e. the relatively large circumference of the head in relation to the torso and the associated need to correct the alignment of the child’s cervical spine in the supine position.
The device is made of thermoelastic polyurethane foam, which is easy to disinfect.
Application
Medical field – including departments requiring patient positioning for cervical spine examination, surgical treatment or rehabilitation – is the most important field of application of the invention. In radiology and spine surgery (orthopaedics, neurosurgery), improving the positioning conditions of the patient makes it possible to obtain more reliable analysis results in the cervical spine and significantly facilitates the performance of surgery. In terms of rehabilitation, it improves access to the cervical spine and improves the outcome of surgery.
Photo from the archive of the Upper Silesian Accelerator for Commercial Enterprises
