Adjustable Pneumomassage Sleeve for Lymphedema Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for treating lymphedema and edema often require separate sleeves for the foot and leg, which can be cumbersome and inflexible, failing to accommodate a broad range of body dimensions and limiting comfort during prolonged treatments.

Innovation Solution

A pneumomassage sleeve designed to fit onto adjacent body parts with an anatomical joint, featuring a releasable securing assembly and inflatable cells that can be adjusted to conform to various lengths and angles, allowing for a secure and comfortable fit, and a method for securing the sleeve using coupling elements to define a bend within the joint section, ensuring proper alignment and length adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If separate foot and leg sleeves are used, then freedom of foot movement and patient comfort are improved, but device complexity and treatment inconvenience increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefreedom of foot movementVSAvoidnumber of separate sleeves

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines separate foot and leg sleeves into a single integrated sleeve that covers both the foot and lower leg as one continuous garment. This merging eliminates the need for separate sleeves while maintaining the freedom of foot movement, thereby reducing device complexity and treatment inconvenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single sleeve is designed to perform multiple functions by covering both the foot and lower leg sections, allowing it to replace what would traditionally require separate specialized sleeves for each body part, thus achieving universality and simplifying the overall device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If a fixed-length sleeve is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different body dimensions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesleeve production simplicityVSAvoidaccommodation of body dimensions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sleeve incorporates adjustable length features through movable sections with coupling elements that can be positioned at different locations along the sleeve. This dynamic adjustability allows the same sleeve to adapt to various body dimensions while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, as the basic sleeve structure remains the same but can be customized in length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sleeve allows changing the effective length parameter by repositioning coupling elements along the movable section, enabling the same physical sleeve to accommodate different leg lengths and body dimensions without requiring multiple fixed-length variants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a movable section with coupling elements is added, then adaptability to different body dimensions is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustable sleeve lengthVSAvoidsleeve structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sleeve is divided into distinct sections including a fixed length section, a movable section with coupling elements, and a fixed second section. This segmentation allows the adjustable functionality to be isolated to a specific portion of the sleeve, minimizing the impact on overall simplicity while providing necessary adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If a single integrated sleeve is used, then device simplicity is improved, but ability to conform to joint anatomy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of sleeve componentsVSAvoidconformity to joint contours

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The movable section with repositionable coupling elements provides dynamic adjustability that allows the sleeve to conform to different joint positions and anatomical variations. This dynamic capability enables the single integrated sleeve to adapt its shape and length to match individual patient anatomy while maintaining overall device simplicity.

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 solution provides a flexible and adjustable pneumomassage device that effectively reduces excess fluid by applying sequential or peristaltic massage actions, accommodating diverse body dimensions and promoting comfort during treatment, thereby improving the management of lymphedema and edema.

Implementation Method 1

compress successively portions of the afflicted part to produce a sequential or peristaltic action pumping excess fluid toward the heart

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPeristalsis: Peristalsis

Data Source

PatentUS10952919B2Pneumomassage sleeve

Publication Date: 2021.03.23 MEGO AFEK

AI summary

A pneumomassage device, and method of using the device, which includes a sleeve sized to cover a first and a second adjacent body parts and an anatomical joint therebetween; and a securing assembly for securing the first and the second adjacent body parts in a fixed position relative to one another, to allow sleeve adjustment to the lengths of the adjacent body part.