Wearable Ear Shield Optical Acupuncture Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for stimulating acupuncture points using low-energy laser or light beam projection require manual operation, leading to potential injury from improper massage pressure and unstable laser beam projection, reducing the effectiveness of the treatment.
Innovation Solution
An optical therapeutic apparatus designed to be worn overhead or around the ear, featuring an ear shield with integrated light emitters that emit stimulation light beams at specific wavelengths and intervals to target acupuncture points, eliminating the need for manual operation and preventing injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual holding of laser projecting device is used to stimulate acupuncture points, then the laser can be projected toward the acupuncture points, but the operation is inconvenient and the projection position becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The ear shield is designed to be worn on the user's own ear, with light emitters automatically positioned to face the acupuncture points on the ear. The device serves itself by utilizing the user's ear structure to maintain proper alignment, eliminating the need for manual positioning and ensuring stable projection without requiring continuous manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical positioning system is replaced with a wearable device that uses the user's ear anatomy as the positioning mechanism. The light emitters are fixed within the ear shield structure, substituting manual mechanical adjustment with a passive anatomical reference system that automatically maintains correct orientation.
2Reliability
If traditional ear massage is applied to stimulate acupuncture points, then the acupuncture points can be stimulated, but improper force can lead to blood stasis and cartilage injury
Solution Approach 1:
Mechanical ear massage is replaced with optical stimulation using light emitters that project light beams to acupuncture points. This substitution eliminates the need for physical contact and force application, thereby preventing mechanical injury to cartilage and blood vessels while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness through photobiomodulation effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment modality is changed from mechanical force application to optical energy delivery. By changing the physical parameter from mechanical pressure to light wavelength and intensity, the treatment achieves stimulation of acupuncture points without the harmful mechanical effects that cause blood stasis and cartilage deformation.
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 apparatus provides safe and effective stimulation of acupuncture points, preventing injury and ensuring stable operation by using an ear shield with light emitters that target specific points at different time intervals, enhancing massage effects and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of light emitters disposed within an interior portion of the ear shield in array manner to face the plurality of acupuncture points respectively
Data Source
AI summary
An optical therapeutic apparatus includes an ear shield for covering a wearer's ear, which has a plurality of acupuncture points; a hanging member including a connection portion connected to the ear shield; and a plurality of light emitters disposed within an interior portion of the ear shield in array manner to face the plurality of acupuncture points respectively. The plurality of light emitters includes a plurality of acupoint-stimulation elements, each corresponding to a respective one of the acupuncture points, at least two sets of the acupoint-stimulation elements are capable of emitting stimulation light beams at different time intervals.