3D Nonwoven Cooling for Fat Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for fat reduction are complex, uncomfortable, costly, and lack user acceptance, particularly for obesity-related health issues, as they often require specialized equipment, supervision, and are not mobile or reusable, leading to high costs and limited accessibility.

Innovation Solution

A three-dimensional nonwoven material with a superabsorbent network structure that provides dry cooling through evaporation, integrated with lipolytic active ingredients, allowing for controlled temperature reduction and reuse, combined with wearable designs for mobile and home use, and accompanied by monitoring systems for efficiency tracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cooling chambers or sub-zero temperature methods are used for fat reduction, then fat breakdown effect is enhanced, but device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefat breakdown effectVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the temperature parameter from sub-zero (prior art) to a mild cooling range of 15-20°C, which is sufficient to activate brown adipose tissue and promote lipolysis without requiring complex refrigeration systems. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by achieving fat breakdown effects with simpler, more affordable cooling devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs disposable cooling elements (ice packs, gel packs, or pre-cooled garments) that can be easily manufactured and replaced, eliminating the need for expensive, complex refrigeration systems. These simple cooling elements achieve the required temperature reduction temporarily, making the system more accessible and cost-effective while maintaining fat reduction efficacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If complex cooling equipment with supervision is used, then fat reduction effectiveness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefat reduction effectivenessVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables users to perform fat reduction therapy independently at home using simple cooling garments or applicators. The system requires no professional supervision - users simply apply the cooling element to target areas for prescribed durations. This self-service approach maintains effectiveness by providing consistent cooling while dramatically improving ease of operation and user autonomy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential function (cooling) from complex medical equipment and delivers it through simple, portable applications. By separating the cooling function from elaborate machinery and embedding it in user-friendly garments or applicators, the system achieves fat reduction without requiring clinical settings or supervising personnel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If non-reusable cooling materials are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but loss of substance increases due to continuous disposal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidmaterial disposal
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements reusable cooling garments and applicators that can be washed and reused multiple times. Instead of disposing of cooling materials after single use, the system recovers them through washing and reapplication, significantly reducing material consumption and waste while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized, durable designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Temperature

If wet cooling materials are used, then cooling effect is improved, but object-generated harmful factors increase due to skin wetness and discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectVSAvoidskin discomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs breathable, moisture-wicking fabric coverings that allow evaporative cooling while preventing liquid from contacting the skin directly. The fabric acts as a barrier that permits heat transfer and evaporation (maintaining cooling effect) while keeping the skin dry and comfortable, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling effectiveness and skin comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 solution achieves a quick, simple, and effective fat reduction with enhanced user acceptance by maintaining skin dryness, reducing fat tissue through controlled cooling, and promoting skin tightening, while being cost-effective and adaptable for various body parts, with measurable results and feedback for improved compliance.

Implementation Method 1

The nonwoven material has a three-dimensional, irregular network structure, in which super absorbers are on or on the nonwoven fibers interwoven in a network-like manner. The liquid binding takes place at the fibers and their connection points, which increases the binding of the liquid and increases the surface area for the liquid to bind.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuperabsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

provides dry cooling through evaporation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

the body parts are cooled with the cooling nonwoven, with which 15-20 °C are provided, skin temperatures of 24-28 °C are achieved and a lipolytic and thus fat-degrading effect is caused

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2978885B13d-nonwoven
Publication Date: 2020.05.13 PERVORMANCE INT
  • EP2978885B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a three-dimensional nonwoven material which reduces the temperature at specific body parts to a small extent and, as a result, causes a fat-burning action and can therefore reduce fat directly as a result of the removal of energy at said body parts and/or indirectly as a result of specific mechanisms of lipometabolism. In addition, a skin-firming effect can also be caused by the temperature reduction. The invention is characterized in that the body points are defined and the lipolytic, fat-burning and/or skin-firming effect can be reinforced further in the form of the combination of the 3D nonwoven material with lipolytic, fat-burning and/or skin-firming active substances.