Compression Garment Pressure Sensing With Imaging-Based Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compression garments lack a simple and intuitive system to accurately determine and adjust pressure uniformly over time, especially for varying body parts and conditions, requiring complex calculations and manual adjustments.
Innovation Solution
An imaging and processing system that uses an imaging device to measure the circumference and extension of a compression garment, applying computer vision techniques and markers to calculate pressure, with optional integration into mobile devices for real-time feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If printed indicia and manual calculation methods are used to determine pressure, then the system complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and accuracy of pressure determination deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual calculation methods and printed indicia with an automated imaging and processing system. The imaging device captures images of the compression garment, and the processing device automatically analyzes these images to determine pressure values, eliminating the need for manual measurements and calculations while significantly improving measurement precision through automated image analysis algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces markers as intermediary elements attached to the compression garment. These markers serve as reference points that facilitate accurate image capture and analysis. The markers enable the imaging device to precisely locate and measure specific regions of the garment, thereby improving measurement accuracy without increasing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the compression garment is fitted to precise body dimensions, then the pressure accuracy is improved, but the ease of operation and adjustment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service operation by allowing users to independently determine pressure values using the imaging device and processing system. The automated image analysis eliminates the need for professional fitting expertise or complex manual calculations, making the system easy to operate while maintaining high pressure accuracy through objective digital measurements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pressure regime needs to vary over time or body part, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal system that can determine pressure values for various body parts and different compression garment types using the same imaging and processing methodology. The system is designed to be adaptable to different measurement locations and garment configurations without requiring fundamentally different hardware or complex specialized procedures for each application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables adaptability to varying pressure regimes by allowing the processing device to analyze different parameters based on the specific measurement requirements. The system can determine pressure values for different body parts, garment types, and time points by adjusting the image analysis parameters and reference markers accordingly, providing versatility without increasing hardware complexity.
4Ease of operation
If manual interpretation and extrapolation are required to estimate pressure, then the ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual interpretation and extrapolation with automated image processing algorithms. The processing device objectively analyzes the captured images and directly calculates pressure values based on the analyzed parameters, eliminating human subjectivity and errors in interpretation while maintaining operational simplicity through automated computation.
Data Source
Figure 1~1A
Figure 2~2A
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A system for determining, the pressure beneath a compression garment applied around a circumference of a body part, comprises an imaging device to produce image data representing a part of the garment at a measured location and a processing device, arranged to analyse the image data. The processing device uses the data to determine the circumference of the body part at the measured location and a tension in the part of the garment and thus derives a value for the pressure based on the circumference and tension.