Compression Garment Tension Calculation for Consistent Custom Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for measuring tension values for custom-tailored compression garments are unreliable due to their dependence on human skill and experience, leading to inconsistent and faulty measurements, which can result in complaints from users.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that calculates tension values from skin values using a dataset-driven correlation, allowing for standardized and reproducible measurements, where skin values are measured manually or using imaging devices, and the calculated tension values are used to produce custom-tailored compression garments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual measurement with tension is performed by staff, then tension value can be obtained, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to dependence on human skill and experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetension value measurementVSAvoidmeasurement consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical measurement process with an automated image processing system. A camera captures images of the limb, and software automatically calculates skin value and tension value measurements, eliminating human skill dependency and ensuring consistent, reproducible results across different operators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an image processing system as an intermediary between the limb and the measurement result. Instead of direct manual measurement, the system uses captured images as an intermediate representation to derive accurate skin value and tension value measurements through automated analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If automated knitting machine is used, then production efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates without accurate tension values

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegarment production efficiencyVSAvoidcustom-tailored garment quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary automated measurements of skin value and tension value before garment production. These pre-measured values are stored and used to program the automated knitting machine, ensuring that precise custom-tailored parameters are available before manufacturing begins, maintaining quality while enabling automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses automatically determined skin value and tension value measurements as input parameters for the knitting machine. These measured parameters directly control the knitting process, allowing the automated machine to produce custom-tailored garments with precision by adjusting knitting density and tension based on the calculated values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3692912B1Method and system for producing a compression garment and computer program
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 MEDI GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3692912B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

Computer-implemented method for determining a tension value of a limb (5) of a person, the tension value of the limb (5) being used along with a skin value of the limb (5) for production of a custom-tailored compression garment for the limb (5), the skin value describing the circumference of the limb (5) without any applied compression and the tension value describing the circumference of the limb (5) with the compression garment applying a desired compression, wherein the skin value of the limb (5) is received and the tension value of the limb (5) is calculated from the skin value according to a calculation instruction parametrized by at least one parameter, the parameter being derived from a dataset (11) comprising multiple associated tuples of skin values and tension values.