Compression Bag with Inflatable Cells and Separating Insert
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current compression therapy devices are inadequate for treating lymphedema in morbidly obese patients, as they often require custom garments and are difficult to don and doff due to restricted mobility, and fail to effectively address the unique shape and size variations of these patients.
Innovation Solution
A compression bag with adjustable inflatable cells and a separating insert that can be detachably attached to form pants, allowing for customizable pressure application to the abdominal and leg areas, facilitating easier use and accommodating varying patient sizes and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If custom garments are used for morbidly obese patients, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The compression garment is divided into multiple interchangeable components including a torso portion, leg portions, and a separating insert with inflatable cells. This segmentation allows each component to be independently adjusted or replaced to accommodate varying patient sizes and shapes without requiring complete custom garment fabrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment incorporates inflatable cells that can be dynamically adjusted in volume and pressure to adapt to different patient body sizes and shapes. The separating insert can be detached and reconfigured, providing dynamic adaptability rather than static fixed-size design.
2Reliability
If traditional compression garments are used, then compression therapy is provided, but ease of operation deteriorates due to restricted mobility in morbidly obese patients
Solution Approach 1:
The garment's separating insert can be detached from the main torso and leg portions, allowing morbidly obese patients with restricted mobility to don and doff the garment in sections rather than requiring complete removal or assistance for a single-piece garment.
Solution Approach 2:
The separating insert with inflatable cells is designed to nest within the leg portions of the garment, allowing for compact storage when not in use and simplified donning procedures where components can be sequentially assembled.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed-size compression garments are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to varying patient sizes and shapes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The torso portion and leg portions are designed as universal components that can accommodate a range of patient sizes through the adjustable separating insert. This allows a single base garment design to serve multiple patient size categories while maintaining adaptability through the interchangeable insert system.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable cells in the separating insert allow for parameter changes in volume and pressure to accommodate different patient leg sizes and shapes. The same physical insert structure can be adjusted to fit various anatomical variations through inflation/deflation cycles.
4Adaptability or versatility
If patient shape and size fluctuate during treatment, then treatment adaptability is needed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable cells provide a simple dynamic adjustment mechanism where volume changes through inflation and deflation to accommodate fluctuating patient shapes and sizes during treatment progression, without requiring complex mechanical adjustment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system accommodates shape fluctuations by changing the inflation parameter of the cells rather than requiring structural modifications. This simple parameter change allows the same physical structure to adapt to varying anatomical conditions throughout treatment.
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 compression bag provides effective treatment for lymphedema by reducing the need for assistance in donning and doffing, accommodating extreme size variations, and ensuring consistent compression therapy, even as patient shape and size fluctuate during treatment.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of inflatable cells in the first and second parts of the bag and in the separating insert, that are sealingly separated from adjacent inflatable cells and configured to be individually inflated and deflated
Data Source
AI summary
A compression bag having an upper portion for applying a pressure at least to the abdominal area of a patient, and a lower portion for applying a pressure to at least a part of the patient's legs, the bag comprising a back part, a second, front part and a closure means configured for detachably attaching the parts to each other; a separating insert configured for being detachably attached to at least one of the back and front parts of the bag, at least at the lower portion of the bag, to separate between left and right regions of the first and second parts, thereby forming pants in said bag defined by said regions and said insert; and a plurality of inflatable cells in the first and second parts of the bag and in the separating insert, that are sealingly separated from adjacent inflatable cells and configured to be individually inflated and deflated.