Adjustable Scalp Cooling Cap for Uniform Head Contact
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current head coolers are not easily adaptable to the varying size and shape of patients' heads and necks, leading to reduced cooling efficiency and failure to effectively cool the scalp and eyebrows, resulting in hair loss during cytostatic treatments.
Innovation Solution
A head cooler with a thermal exchange cap that is adjustable and adaptable, featuring partitioned sections with flow passages and an outer insulating cover, along with an inner flexible bag for improved contact and fluid distribution, and an optional eyebrow cooler for comprehensive cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size head cooler is used, then the device structure is simple, but the cooling efficiency is reduced due to gaps between the heat exchange surface and the head
Solution Approach 1:
The head cooler is divided into multiple adjustable sections that can be independently positioned to conform to different head shapes and sizes. Each section contains flow passages and can be adjusted to eliminate gaps between the heat exchange surface and the scalp, improving cooling efficiency without requiring a completely new device design.
Solution Approach 2:
The head cooler incorporates adjustable components that allow dynamic adaptation to various head geometries. The sections can be moved and repositioned to match the patient's head shape, transforming a static device into a dynamically adaptable one that maintains optimal contact across different anatomical variations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the head cooler is made too large to accommodate all head sizes, then it can fit more patients, but gaps are formed between the heat exchange surface and the head, reducing cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the head cooler into multiple adjustable sections, the device achieves universality across different patient sizes while maintaining reliable cooling efficiency. Each section can be independently adjusted to eliminate gaps, ensuring that the heat exchange surface maintains optimal contact with the scalp regardless of the patient's head dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the head cooler can be adjusted to provide locally optimized contact with the scalp. Each section's heat exchange surface can be positioned to match the local head geometry, ensuring uniform cooling efficiency across the entire head surface while accommodating variations in head size and shape.
3Ease of operation
If conventional head coolers are used, then the basic cooling function is provided, but the eyebrows and hairline regions are not effectively cooled, resulting in hair loss in these areas
Solution Approach 1:
The head cooler is segmented to include specific sections that extend to cover the eyebrows and hairline regions. These additional sections ensure comprehensive cooling coverage of all hairy areas on the head, preventing hair loss in previously neglected regions while maintaining ease of use through the standardized adjustable design.
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 ensures effective cooling of the scalp and eyebrows, minimizing hair loss by maintaining consistent contact with the head and neck, enhancing cooling efficiency and adapting to individual head shapes and sizes.
Implementation Method 1
at least one flow passage system for a cooling fluid provided in the thermal exchange cap forming an inside heat exchange surface to be applied against the head for cooling of the head
Implementation Method 2
an outer insulating cover made of a heat insulating material, e.g. also elastic, which encloses the thermal exchange cap
Implementation Method 3
means for filling up, by the supply of a fluid heat conducting material, a gap between the inside surface of the thermal exchange cap and the head
Data Source
AI summary
A head cooler (10) comprises a thermal exchange cap (11) and an outer insulating cover (12) to be arranged on a patient's head. The cap (11) has a channel system (31, 32) for a cooling fluid forming an inside heat exchange surface to be applied on said head for cooling the head. The thermal exchange cap (11, 60) is adjustable and/or adaptable to compensate for a discrepancy in shape and size between the inside surface of the head cooler (10) and the head. The head cooler (10) may further comprise an eyebrow cooler (140) for cooling the area of the eyebrows. The head cooler (140) is used in medicine. A method for preventing hair loss of a patient is provided by arranging the head cooler (10) on the head of said patient.