Pneumatic Compression Sleeve With Vibration Motors And Thermal Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic compression devices typically lack integrated therapeutic features such as temperature control, vibration, and infrared therapy, limiting their effectiveness for recovery after physical activities.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic compression assembly that includes a sleeve with inflatable compartments, vibration motors, heating elements, and temperature control modules, allowing for simultaneous pneumatic compression, vibration, heating, cooling, and infrared therapy, with features like far infrared layers and reflective foil for enhanced heat retention and distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pneumatic compression devices include only compression function, then device complexity is reduced, but therapeutic effectiveness is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple therapeutic functions (pneumatic compression, vibration therapy, heating, cooling, and infrared therapy) into a single integrated device. The sleeve structure houses inflatable compartments for compression, vibration motors for oscillation, heating elements for thermal therapy, and infrared LEDs for phototherapy, all working simultaneously or sequentially to enhance muscle recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The pneumatic compression device is designed as a multi-functional system that can perform various therapeutic modalities. The same sleeve structure supports compression chambers, vibration motors, heating elements, cooling channels, and infrared LEDs, allowing the device to adapt to different recovery needs through programmable control sequences
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple therapeutic features are integrated into pneumatic compression device, then therapeutic effectiveness is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides therapeutic functions into separate modular components within the sleeve: inflatable compression compartments, vibration motors with securing structures, heating elements with carrier layers, cooling channels, and infrared LED arrays. Each module can be independently controlled and optimized while maintaining overall integration
3Ease of operation
If vibration motors are positioned between inner and outer layers, then vibration therapy is provided to body part, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration motors are nested within the sleeve structure by positioning them between the inner and outer layers. The motors are secured using motor securement members that attach to carrier layers, with motor openings provided in the layers to allow motor portions to extend through. This nesting approach integrates vibration therapy into the existing compression sleeve without requiring separate external vibration devices
4Temperature
If heating elements are embedded in carrier layers, then temperature control is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Heating elements are embedded within flexible carrier layers that can be integrated into the sleeve structure. The carrier layers act as thin film substrates that distribute heating elements across the sleeve surface, allowing temperature control while maintaining flexibility and ease of integration during manufacturing
5Temperature
If far infrared layer and reflective foil are added, then heat retention and distribution are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve incorporates composite thermal management layers including far infrared fabric that emits infrared radiation to penetrate and warm muscle tissue, and reflective foil layers that redirect and retain thermal energy within the sleeve. These composite material layers work together to enhance heat retention and distribution efficiency
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
Enhances recovery by providing multi-modal therapy options, including sequential compartment inflation, direct hot and cold air delivery, and the use of liquid nitrogen for fast cooling, improving muscle recovery and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
at least a first vibration assembly configured to provide vibration to the body part of the user. The first vibration assembly includes a plurality of vibration motors positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer of the sleeve
Implementation Method 2
The first carrier layer includes one or more heating elements thereon
Implementation Method 3
At least one of the first and second carrier layers is a far infrared layer
Implementation Method 4
a reflective foil layer is positioned between the far infrared layer and the outer layer of the sleeve
Implementation Method 5
a heat sink that is positioned within a first of the plurality of inflatable compartments so that air moving through the first inflatable compartment pulls or dissipates heat from the heat sink
Implementation Method 6
a plurality of inflatable compartments arranged longitudinally along the sleeve between the inner layer and the outer layer
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic compression assembly that includes a sleeve having an outer layer and an inner layer that defines a sleeve interior configured to receive a body part of a user, and at least a first vibration assembly configured to provide vibration to the body part of the user. A plurality of inflatable compartments are arranged longitudinally along the sleeve between the inner layer and the outer layer. The first vibration assembly includes a plurality of vibration motors positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer of the sleeve.