Blood Pressure Cuff Structure with Bent Portions for Wrinkle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cuff structures for blood pressure measurement devices face challenges in controlling wrinkles, especially when the cuff is wound around a site with small curvature, and the laminated structure's thickness leads to reduced measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The cuff structure incorporates one or more air bags with bent portions, including openings or recessed areas, in the air bags and laminated members, which allows for controlled wrinkle generation and dispersion, maintaining compression efficiency and measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a laminated structure with coupling portion is used to prevent lateral bulge, then compression efficiency is improved, but the cuff becomes thick and wrinkles are likely to be generated
Solution Approach 1:
The cuff is divided into multiple functional layers: a flexible air bag layer for inflation, a reinforcement layer with coupling portions for preventing lateral bulge, and a wrinkle control layer with notches. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without compromising the others, achieving both compression efficiency and wrinkle control while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement layer is strategically positioned only at the coupling portions where lateral bulge prevention is needed, rather than making the entire cuff thick. The wrinkle control notches are locally placed at specific positions along the cuff length. This localized approach provides structural support exactly where required while maintaining overall cuff flexibility and minimizing thickness.
2Strength
If a laminated structure with coupling portion is used to prevent lateral bulge, then compression efficiency is improved, but ease with which the cuff is laterally bulged is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cuff structure is segmented into a flexible air bag and a separate reinforcement layer with coupling portions. The coupling portions are discrete elements rather than continuous rigid structures, allowing the cuff to bulge laterally in non-coupling areas while maintaining compression efficiency at the coupling portions where lateral bulge prevention is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement layer provides lateral bulge prevention only at specific coupling portions rather than along the entire cuff length. This localized reinforcement allows the majority of the cuff to remain flexible and easily bulge laterally, improving ease of operation while still achieving the desired compression efficiency at critical locations.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional wrinkle control method with notch in partition sheet is used, then stress concentration is reduced, but sufficient effect cannot be exhibited when cuff is wound around site with small curvature
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple wrinkle control notches are distributed at different positions along the cuff length and at different depths within the laminated structure. This creates multiple localized stress relief points that can accommodate various curvature radii of different body sites, making the wrinkle control effective whether the cuff is worn on a wrist, forearm, or other body part with different curvatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrinkle control mechanism extends into the thickness dimension of the laminated cuff structure, with notches positioned at different depths within the layers. This three-dimensional distribution of notches provides stress relief at multiple levels, enhancing wrinkle control effectiveness for cuffs with varying thicknesses and for different body site curvatures.
4Shape
If multiple sheet members are laminated to form cuff, then lateral bulge is prevented, but the cuff becomes thick and measurement accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The laminated structure is segmented into thin functional layers rather than a single thick layer. Each layer is optimized for its specific function: the air bag layer for flexibility and contact, the reinforcement layer for lateral bulge prevention, and the wrinkle control layer for maintaining smooth surface. This segmentation achieves lateral bulge prevention while keeping the overall cuff thin enough to maintain measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The air bag layer is designed as a thin flexible film that can conform closely to the body surface, ensuring accurate pressure transmission for blood pressure measurement. The reinforcement and wrinkle control features are integrated as thin elements within the lamination rather than adding significant thickness, maintaining the cuff's ability to accurately reflect arterial pressure.
Data Source
AI summary
A cuff structure for use in a blood pressure measurement device includes one or more air bags that are inflated by a fluid and one or more members that are included in the air bags or are laminated on the air bags, in which the air bags and at least two of the one or more members are provided with bent portions, one of which is formed by an opening or a division and the other of which is formed by an opening, a division, a notch, a recessed portion, or a groove.