Blood Pressure Cuff Bag with Hardness-Graded Elastomer Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Blood pressure monitor cuffs with narrower designs face challenges in maintaining compression performance and blood flow impediment while reducing size, and existing materials suffer from creep and increased processing costs due to multiple joint portions.
Innovation Solution
A bag-shaped structure composed of a first sheet member with a thermoplastic elastomer and a second sheet member with multiple layers of thermoplastic elastomers of varying hardness, where the layer in contact with the body has a higher Shore A hardness than the others, and the layer composition ratio is optimized to balance vascular compressibility and creep resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a highly expandable and contractible material is used to provide satisfactory vascular compressibility, then the bag-shaped structure can adhere to the skin and compress blood vessels effectively, but the material suffers from creep and slackening after repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a thermoplastic elastomer layer with a foam layer. The thermoplastic elastomer provides adhesion to the skin and vascular compressibility, while the foam layer provides structural support and creep resistance. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between maintaining compressibility through repeated use and preventing material slackening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by giving different regions of the bag-shaped structure different material properties. The outer surface has a thermoplastic elastomer layer with specific hardness (Shore A 40-90) for adhesion and compressibility, while the inner structure has a foam layer for dimensional stability. This localized differentiation allows each region to contribute its specific function without compromising the other.
2Ease of operation
If the cuff width is reduced to improve ease of handling and reduce size, then the cuff becomes more compact and easier to handle, but the compression performance and blood flow impediment performance are inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials with a thermoplastic elastomer layer and a foam layer to achieve high compression performance in a narrow cuff design. The foam layer provides structural rigidity that maintains compression effectiveness, while the thermoplastic elastomer ensures adhesion and vascular compression. This allows the cuff to be narrow yet still effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the hardness of the thermoplastic elastomer (Shore A 40-90) and the composition ratio of the foam layer to achieve sufficient compression performance in a reduced-width cuff. By adjusting these material parameters, the cuff maintains effective compression despite the reduced width.
3Reliability
If multiple joint portions are added to form a bag-shaped structure with first and second bags, then the compression performance and blood flow impediment performance are improved, but the processing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the first bag and second bag into a single integrated bag-shaped structure formed from one continuous sheet member. This eliminates the need for separate joint portions between two distinct bags, reducing processing steps and costs while maintaining the dual-chamber compression functionality through the layered construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite sheet member with a thermoplastic elastomer layer and a foam layer that is formed as a single integrated structure. This composite construction allows the bag to maintain its compression and blood flow impediment performance without requiring multiple separate components and joint portions, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
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 excellent vascular compressibility and creep resistance, reducing processing costs by maintaining adhesion to the skin and preventing inflation inhibition, while ensuring high precision in blood pressure measurement.
Implementation Method 1
the bag-shaped structure may be slackened by creep
Implementation Method 2
a first sheet member including a layer formed of a thermoplastic elastomer; and a second sheet member including a plurality of layers formed of a plurality of types of thermoplastic elastomers
Data Source
AI summary
A bag-shaped structure excellent in vascular compressibility and creep resistance, and capable of reducing the processing cost, a blood pressure monitor cuff, and a blood pressure monitor is provided. A bag-shaped structure includes a first sheet member including a layer formed of a thermoplastic elastomer; and a second sheet member including a plurality of layers formed of a plurality of types of thermoplastic elastomers having different levels of hardness, wherein the second sheet member is joined with the first sheet member, and a layer, that is included in the plurality of layers of the second sheet member and that is in contact with a living body, has a Shore A hardness higher than a Shore A hardness of at least one of the other layers of the second sheet member.