Disposable Bracelet with Sodium Acetate Heating Pack for Vein Dilation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical devices for improving blood circulation during blood draws are expensive, complex, and fail to address the psychological discomfort of patients, making it difficult for both patients and medical professionals.

Innovation Solution

A polypropylene bracelet with an adhesive closure and a sodium acetate heating pack that applies warmth to the inside of the arm, combined with a soothing placard to distract and comfort the patient, effectively dilating veins and improving circulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing medical devices for warming the body and improving circulation are used, then blood circulation is improved, but the devices are expensive and complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood circulation improvementVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into simple, discrete components: a bracelet structure with separate heating elements and placards. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function (warming, distraction, comfort) while keeping the overall device simple and inexpensive, directly resolving the contradiction between circulation improvement and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses inexpensive, disposable materials such as a simple bracelet structure, adhesive closures, and single-use heating packs. This approach eliminates the need for expensive, complex reusable medical devices while maintaining effectiveness in improving blood circulation during blood draws

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If existing medical devices for warming the body and improving circulation are used, then blood circulation is improved, but they lack psychological means of improving blood circulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood circulation improvementVSAvoidpsychological support capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bracelet is designed with multi-functionality, combining physiological heating elements with psychological comfort features such as soothing placards and aesthetic designs. This universal approach allows a single device to simultaneously address both physical circulation issues and psychological anxiety, resolving the contradiction between circulation improvement and psychological support capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges previously separate functions (physiological warming and psychological comfort) into a single integrated bracelet device. By combining heating packs, placards, and comfortable wearability into one unit, the device can address both physiological and psychological aspects of blood draw anxiety simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If multiple painful attempts are made to draw blood, then the desired blood sample is obtained, but patient discomfort and pain increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood draw successVSAvoidpatient pain and discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bracelet applies warmth to the patient's arm before the blood draw procedure, causing veins to dilate in advance. This preliminary action makes vein access easier and reduces the number of attempts needed, thereby reducing patient pain and discomfort while maintaining blood draw success

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device converts the harmful effect of anxiety and cold (which cause vein constriction and difficulty in access) into beneficial effects through warmth and distraction. The heating pack counteracts cold-induced vein constriction, while the placard addresses psychological anxiety, transforming the harmful pre-procedure state into a beneficial one that facilitates easier blood draws

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 enhances the ease and efficacy of blood draws by dilating veins, reducing the need for multiple painful attempts and addressing both physiological and psychological discomforts.

Implementation Method 1

a sodium acetate heating pack that applies warmth to the inside of the arm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical reaction (sodium acetate): Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS20250009265A1Blood circulation enhancement bracelet

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 KOPOIAN MARC

AI summary

A blood circulation enhancement bracelet improves the efficacy and ease of blood draws. A polypropylene bracelet with an adhesive closure bears a placard on one side and a sodium acetate heating pack on the opposite side. The placard bears a soothing aesthetic side which may distract and comfort the patient. The heat pack, when activated, may be placed against the inside of the patient's arm, and more particularly inside of the elbow joint. Warmth applied to the inside of the arm assists in dilating the veins in this area, making it easier for a medical professional to find and access the veins. In this way, multiple painful attempts to draw from the veins may be avoided.