Cryotherapy Cooling Tool With Skin-Matched Thermal Effusivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling materials used in cryotherapy are too cold for the human body, leading to insufficient cooling time and potential discomfort or frostbite, as they do not consider thermophysical properties or temperature ranges, and lack differentiation for specific therapeutic purposes like first aid or rehabilitation.
Innovation Solution
A cooling tool with a freezing material that undergoes a phase change at a specific temperature and has a thermal effusivity within the range of human skin, allowing for controlled heat transfer and extended use without discomfort, incorporating a cold storage layer and optional buffer layer to manage thermal effusivity and prevent excessive heat removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooling material with freezing material is brought into direct contact with the skin, then cooling performance is improved, but skin temperature decreases too much causing discomfort and potential frostbite
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a contact surface layer as an intermediary between the freezing material and the skin. This layer has thermal effusivity matched to human skin, acting as a buffer that prevents direct thermal shock while still allowing effective heat transfer. The intermediary layer ensures the skin temperature stays above 17°C (TRPA1 activation threshold) while maintaining cooling efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal effusivity parameter of the contact surface to match human skin properties. By controlling the thermal effusivity within the range of 1000-2000 J/(m²·s¹/²·K), the cooling material adapts its thermal characteristics to be compatible with human skin, preventing excessive temperature drop while maintaining cooling performance.
2Temperature
If a cooling material is used to cool the body, then cooling effect is achieved, but usage time is limited due to discomfort from excessive cold
Solution Approach 1:
The contact surface layer serves as a mediator that enables prolonged usage by preventing the activation of TRPA1 cold pain receptors. By controlling thermal effusivity to match skin properties, the intermediary layer maintains comfortable skin temperature throughout extended use periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the thermal effusivity parameter of the cooling material's contact surface to align with human skin characteristics. This parameter adjustment allows the cooling material to maintain effective cooling while preventing discomfort, thereby extending usable duration from minutes to hours.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional cooling materials are used without considering thermophysical properties, then manufacturing is simple, but cooling temperature is too low causing pain and frostbite risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces specific parameter requirements for the contact surface layer, particularly thermal effusivity within 1000-2000 J/(m²·s¹/²·K). This parameter specification allows manufacturers to select from various materials (fabrics, foams, gels) that meet the criterion, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while preventing excessive cold temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the properties of different layers of the cooling material. The contact surface layer has specific thermal effusivity properties matched to skin, while the internal freezing material can maintain its traditional simple composition. This localized property assignment solves the temperature problem without complicating overall manufacturing.
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 cooling tool maintains an appropriate skin temperature for extended periods, preventing discomfort and potential pain, while allowing for differentiated therapeutic applications by adjusting skin temperature and usage time based on specific needs.
Implementation Method 1
a freezing material that undergoes a phase change at a particular temperature
Implementation Method 2
The first container transfers heat between the human body and the freezing material at a contact surface in contact with the skin of the human body
Data Source
AI summary
A human body is cooled at an appropriate temperature, and a sufficient usage time is ensured. A cooling tool according to one aspect of the present invention is a cooling tool for cooling a human body, including a freezing material 30a that undergoes a phase change at a particular temperature and a first container containing the freezing material 30a. The first container transfers heat between the human body and the freezing material at a contact surface in contact with the skin of the human body. At least the contact surface has a thermal effusivity within the possible range of thermal effusivity of the skin of the human body. The contact surface may have a thermal effusivity (J/(m2˜S1/2·K)) of 1,000 to 2,000.