Electric Eye Compress Patch for Prolonged Thermal Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional eye compresses require frequent re-soaking in hot or cold water, leading to unsanitary conditions and short-duration thermal treatments, limiting their effectiveness and usability during other activities.
Innovation Solution
An eye compress with an electric heating element and a strap that allows for prolonged thermal treatment, enabling easy switching between hot and cold therapies without water contact, and allowing the user to engage in other activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional eye compresses are soaked in hot or cold water, then thermal treatment is provided, but the treatment duration is short and requires frequent re-soaking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of water soaking with an electric heating element that converts electrical energy to thermal energy. This substitution enables prolonged thermal treatment without the need for frequent re-soaking, as the electric heating element can continuously generate heat as long as power is supplied.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric heating element provides self-sustaining thermal treatment by generating its own heat through electrical energy conversion. The system serves itself by continuously producing the thermal energy needed for treatment without requiring external intervention to re-soak the compress.
2Temperature
If conventional eye compresses are soaked in water, then thermal treatment is provided, but unsanitary conditions and eye complications occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the harmful water-soaking mechanism by replacing it with an electric heating element. This substitution removes the source of unsanitary conditions and ocular complications while preserving the beneficial thermal treatment function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the water-soaking component from the eye compress system. By taking out the water element that causes sanitation issues, the invention preserves the thermal treatment benefits while eliminating the harmful effects of wet compresses.
3Temperature
If conventional eye compresses require frequent re-soaking, then thermal treatment can be maintained, but user convenience and ability to engage in other activities is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the inconvenient manual re-soaking process with an automated electric heating element. This substitution allows users to simply plug in the device and forget it, enabling engagement in other activities without needing to monitor or maintain the compress.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric heating element performs self-service by automatically maintaining thermal treatment without user intervention. Once powered, the system sustains itself, freeing the user to engage in other activities while the treatment continues autonomously.
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
Enables prolonged thermal treatment, improving vision acuity and ocular motor alignment while allowing hands-free use, thus enhancing user engagement in activities like gaming.
Implementation Method 1
The electric heating element is configured to selectively generate heat when electrically coupled to a power source
Data Source
AI summary
Eye compresses including a strap, a patch, and an electric heating element. The strap is configured to selectively couple to a head of a user. The patch is coupled to the strap and configured to cover an eye of the user when the strap is selectively coupled to the head of the user. The patch defines a pocket with an interior and a pocket opening. The electric heating element is disposed in the interior of the pocket. The electric heating element is configured to selectively generate heat when electrically coupled to a power source.