Cryotherapy Stress Relief Couplings for Applicator Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-invasive methods for reducing subcutaneous adipose tissue, such as cryotherapy, often face challenges with applicator movement during treatment due to rotational forces, leading to inadequate targeting or treatment of non-targeted tissues.
Innovation Solution
The use of stress relief couplings, including swivel connectors and clamps, along conduits connecting applicators and base units, minimizes rotational forces, ensuring the applicator remains fixed at the treatment site, thereby maintaining effective cooling of targeted submental tissue while avoiding unnecessary movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If non-invasive cryotherapy methods are used to reduce subcutaneous adipose tissue, then patient comfort and safety are improved, but applicator movement due to rotational forces causes inadequate targeting and treatment of non-targeted tissues
Solution Approach 1:
A stress relief coupling is introduced as an intermediary component between the applicator and the patient positioning system. This coupling includes a swivel connector that decouples rotational forces from the applicator, allowing the applicator to remain stable and precisely targeted while the patient or positioning system can still be adjusted. The intermediary absorbs the harmful rotational forces without transmitting them to the applicator.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling system is segmented into multiple functional components: a stress relief coupling body, a swivel connector, and connection interfaces. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the stress relief coupling body provides structural support, while the swivel connector specifically addresses rotational forces. The segmentation enables the system to handle multiple types of forces independently.
2Manufacturing precision
If the applicator is firmly secured to prevent movement, then treatment precision is improved, but rotational forces cause discomfort and potential separation during treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The stress relief coupling acts as a mediator between the firm securing mechanism and the patient's body. It provides a compliant connection that maintains secure attachment while accommodating patient movement and discomfort through its stress-absorbing and swiveling capabilities, preventing both excessive firmness and excessive looseness.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling system transitions from a static, rigid connection to a dynamic, adaptive connection. The swivel connector and stress relief features allow the coupling to adapt its configuration in real-time based on applied forces, maintaining optimal connection strength while accommodating patient movement and reducing discomfort during the treatment procedure.
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
This solution allows for precise and effective reduction of subcutaneous adipose tissue without causing discomfort or separation of the applicator from the skin, ensuring targeted tissue treatment while minimizing collateral damage to non-lipid-rich cells.
Implementation Method 1
stress relief couplings, including swivel connectors and clamps, along conduits connecting applicators and base units, minimizes rotational forces
Implementation Method 2
Current non-invasive methods for reducing subcutaneous adipose tissue, such as cryotherapy
Implementation Method 3
ensuring the applicator remains fixed at the treatment site, thereby maintaining effective cooling of targeted submental tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods for treating a patient are disclosed. The systems can include a cryotherapy apparatus for selectively treating targeted tissue. The cryotherapy apparatus includes one or more stress relief couplings located along a conduit to help keep an applicator positioned at a treatment site without significant rotational torque being imparted to the applicator by the conduit so that the applicator does not tend to move relative to patient skin during a tissue treatment. The stress relief couplings can include swivel connectors and clamps that cooperate to minimize or limit a rotational force exerted on the applicator by the conduit after the applicator is applied to the patient's skin.