Digital Body Shape Fitting for Accurate Compression Garments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for fitting compression garments are inaccurate, leading to improper fit and reduced therapeutic effectiveness for both medical and athletic applications, due to reliance on tape measurements that fail to account for individual body morphology and variability in shape, resulting in discomfort and reduced compliance.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing digital imaging to generate precise shape descriptions and measurements of body parts, allowing for the selection and customization of pre-fabricated compression garments that closely match individual body shapes, thereby ensuring optimal compression therapy and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If tape measurements are used for fitting compression garments, then the fitting process is simple and quick, but the measurement precision and manufacturing precision deteriorate due to inability to account for individual body morphology
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual tape measurement (mechanical system) with a digital imaging system that captures images and automatically processes them to generate shape descriptions and measurements. This substitution eliminates the imprecision of manual tape measurements while automating the complex calculations needed for accurate body morphology assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy (image) of the body part and processes this copy to extract precise shape descriptions and measurements. This allows multiple measurements to be derived from a single image capture, improving precision without proportionally increasing the complexity of the fitting process.
2Reliability
If custom-fitted compression garments are made based on accurate measurements, then the therapeutic effectiveness and comfort improve, but the time required for measurement and garment production increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary digital imaging and shape description generation during the initial fitting appointment. The processed shape descriptions are then used to guide garment selection or customization, allowing the actual garment production to proceed efficiently without repeating measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the body part's physical shape into digital shape description parameters that can be easily stored, compared, and used for garment selection. This parameter transformation enables quick matching with pre-fabricated garment size charts, reducing the time needed for custom garment production while maintaining accuracy.
3Ease of manufacture
If pre-fabricated compression garments are selected using standard size charts, then the manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but the measurement precision and fit accuracy deteriorate due to variability in body shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts complex body morphology into simplified shape description parameters that can be directly compared with pre-fabricated garment size charts. This parameter standardization enables accurate matching between diverse body shapes and standardized garment sizes, maintaining fit accuracy while utilizing the manufacturing advantages of pre-fabricated garments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal shape description system that can be applied to various body parts (legs, arms, breasts) and used with both pre-fabricated and custom-made garments. This universal approach allows the same measurement and selection process to serve multiple garment types and manufacturing methods.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to methods of fitting for pre-fabricated compression garments via digital imaging of a wearer body part and measurement of body part circumferences and, optionally, lengths therefrom. The present invention also relates to methods of generating a shape description derived from digital imaging of a patient body part or body area of interest and use of such shape description. Such shape description includes geometric information from which measurement information can optionally be derived. Included herein are methods for diagnosing and monitoring edema and other conditions in patients using shape descriptions acquired from a patient in need of such diagnosis and monitoring. The invention also includes use of the generated shape descriptions to make compression garments specifically configured for a patient's body part or body area. Compression garments generated from the generated shape descriptions are also included herein.