Compressed Foam Web Device for Edema and Sports Injury Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for treating skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders and sports injuries, such as foam pads with small radius hemispheres, are poorly tolerated by patients due to allergies and discomfort, leading to disappointing therapeutic results.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising compressed foam blocks between two flexible webs, where the foam blocks are spaced apart and adhered between the webs, allowing for adjustable indentation and distribution to accommodate different body areas and pathologies, and can be integrated into bandages, straps, or garments for enhanced comfort and effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If foam pads with small radius hemispheres are used, then the device can provide mechanical stimulation, but patient tolerance is poor due to allergies and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using foam pieces with varying indentation characteristics in different regions of the device. The foam has a first face with high indentation and a second face with low indentation, allowing different areas of the device to provide different levels of mechanical stimulation and pressure distribution, thereby improving patient comfort while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining foam pieces with flexible webs in a multi-layer structure. The device comprises a first web, foam pieces with differential indentation, and a second web, creating a composite structure that integrates the mechanical properties of foam with the flexibility and comfort of textile materials, thereby reducing allergies and discomfort.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If foam pieces are compressed between two webs, then patient comfort is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the foam pieces with the flexible webs through adhesion, creating an integrated multi-layer structure. The foam pieces are joined to the first web and compressed between the webs, combining the mechanical stimulation function of foam with the comfort and flexibility of textile materials in a unified device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the device into distinct functional layers: a first web, multiple foam pieces with differential indentation, and a second web. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall structural coherence, balancing complexity with functional effectiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If foam pieces are spaced apart, then the device can accommodate different body areas, but the device becomes less stable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by designing the device with spaced foam pieces that can be applied to various body areas and pathologies. The flexible webs provide continuity and stability between the spaced foam pieces, allowing the same device structure to adapt to different anatomical regions while maintaining compositional stability through the webbing network.
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 device provides improved patient tolerance and therapeutic efficacy by applying adjustable pressure and promoting microcirculation through a shearing effect, enhancing fluid drainage and reducing tissue stiffness, making it suitable for various skin and subcutaneous disorders and sports injuries.
Implementation Method 1
the pieces of foam are compressed between said first web and a second web of flexible material
Implementation Method 2
promoting microcirculation through a shearing effect
Implementation Method 3
the two webs adhering together between the projecting elements
Data Source
AI summary
A device (1) includes a first web of soft material (5), a projecting structure integral with the web and including multiple discrete projecting elements. The projecting elements include pieces of foam (3) spaced apart form one another and integral with the first web (5). The pieces of foam are compressed between the first web (5) and a second web (7) of soft material, the two webs mutually adhering between the projecting elements. The device is useful for treating various types of edemas and excessive tissue infiltration, as well as for repairing sports injury.