Cylindrical Bandage with Gutter-Shaped Knit for Malleolus Compression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional compression bandages, particularly those with tubular shapes like stockings and sleeves, fail to provide uniform compression around the malleolus area, leading to uneven compression and discomfort, and often require assistance for proper fitting and stay, while circular knitting methods result in poorly fitting and breathable garments with wrinkles and allergic reactions.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical bandage design featuring a tubular knit with a gutter-shaped extension having a horseshoe or V-shape cut-out section, utilizing elastic yarn hidden behind base yarn in ribs to avoid skin contact, providing stability and flexibility without binding means, and a rib structure for balanced compression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional tubular compression bandages are used, then they can be easily put on without assistance, but they fail to provide uniform compression around the malleolus area and often require binding means to stay in place
Solution Approach 1:
The bandage is divided into distinct functional sections: a tubular main body for easy application and a separate gutter-shaped extension for targeted malleolus compression. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its specific function while maintaining overall ease of application.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional tubular bandage to a three-dimensional structure by adding a gutter-shaped extension that protrudes radially. This dimensional change enables the bandage to conform to the three-dimensional anatomy of the malleolus area, providing uniform compression without requiring binding means.
2Productivity
If circular knitting machines are used to manufacture compression bandages, then production is efficient, but the resulting garments have constant circumference that does not fit different body parts properly
Solution Approach 1:
The knitting process is segmented into different sections with varying stitch densities: the tubular body uses standard circular knitting for efficiency, while the gutter-shaped extension uses selective needle activation to create variable circumference. This allows efficient production while achieving precise fit for different body parts.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the bandage have different knitting characteristics: the tubular body maintains constant circumference for efficient knitting, while the gutter-shaped extension has variable circumference to match the contours of body parts like the malleolus. This local differentiation achieves both manufacturing efficiency and fit accuracy.
3Reliability
If high stitch density is used at the ankle part to improve compression, then compression effectiveness increases, but breathability decreases and causes sweating
Solution Approach 1:
The bandage employs different stitch densities in different regions: high stitch density in the gutter-shaped extension at the malleolus for effective compression, and lower stitch density in the tubular body for breathability. This local differentiation allows the bandage to provide effective compression where needed while maintaining breathability in other areas.
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 bandage achieves stable, uniform compression and improved venous return, preventing wrinkles and allergic reactions, while allowing for easy fitting and movement without assistance, enhancing comfort and effectiveness in treating venous disorders and lymphedema.
Implementation Method 1
The base structure includes the stitches of an elastic yarn. The elastic yarn, which has higher elasticity than the base yarn, may hide behind the base yarn in ribs on the inner surface
Data Source
AI summary
A cylindrical bandage is held in place without using binding means such as strings tied to an upper limb. Additionally, the cylindrical bandage for a lower limb or upper limb fits the shapes and dimensions of a body part and stays on the body part and thus allows great increase in venous return. The cylindrical bandage includes a tubular knit being of a length corresponding to a length of an arm or a leg and a gutter-shaped knit extending from a lengthwise first end of the tubular knit. This gutter-shaped knit has smaller circumferential length than the first end of the tubular knit and has a cut-out section with a horseshoe or V shape.