Electrocaloric Physio Tape for Thermal Therapy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional physio tapes lack thermal properties such as heat and cold therapy, which are beneficial for treating musculoskeletal and sports injuries.
Innovation Solution
A flexible adhesive kinesiology tape with electrocaloric polymeric material pads and a controller for electrical actuation, allowing for heating and cooling by moving the pads between a heat source and heat sink using electrostatic forces, integrated with a bus for electrical connection and porous fabric layers for retention and electrical connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional physio tape is used, then the tape provides basic support, but it lacks thermal properties such as heat and cold therapy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines conventional physio tape with electrocaloric material pads and electrical components into a single integrated device. The electrocaloric pads are mounted directly on the porous fabric layer, and the controller is integrated into the tape structure, merging multiple functions (support, heating, cooling) into one unified system that maintains flexibility and wearability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tape is designed to perform multiple functions: mechanical support through the elastic fabric, heating through the electrocaloric material when electrical potential is applied, and cooling when the electrical potential is removed. This multi-functional design allows a single device to replace multiple separate therapies.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electrocaloric material pads with electrical connections are integrated into the tape, then thermal therapy is provided, but the tape structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thin flexible porous fabric layers as the base structure, which allows the integration of electrocaloric pads and electrical connections while maintaining the tape's flexibility and conformability to body surfaces. The thin-film structure minimizes bulk and complexity while enabling the thermal therapy function.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous fabric layers serve multiple purposes: they provide structural support, allow breathability and comfort against skin, and facilitate the integration of electrocaloric pads. The porous structure enables electrical connections to be made through the fabric while maintaining flexibility and comfort.
3Ease of operation
If the tape is made flexible and stretchy to emulate skin, then it can be worn without restriction, but it cannot provide thermal properties
Solution Approach 1:
The tape uses a composite structure combining elastic cotton fabric (for flexibility and skin-like properties) with electrocaloric polymeric material pads (for thermal therapy). The acrylic adhesive binds these different materials together, creating a composite that maintains the mechanical properties needed for wearability while adding the thermal therapy capability.
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 tape effectively provides thermal therapy by efficiently switching between heating and cooling modes, offering improved support and treatment options for injuries with reduced noise and complexity compared to conventional cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
a pad of electrocaloric polymeric material mounted on the layer of porous fabric
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible adhesive kinesiology or physio tape adapted to provide heating as well as cooling in response to an electrical signal. In a general illustrative embodiment, the inventive tape includes a first layer of flexible high quality porous fabric; a pad of electrocaloric polymeric material mounted on the layer of porous fabric; and a controller, mounted on the tape, for electrically actuating the pad of electrocaloric material. In the best mode, plural pads of polarized electrocaloric polymer film are provided with nanotube electrodes mounted therebetween. The first layer of porous fabric includes plural arrangements for retaining the plural pads and providing male and female electrical connections thereto. A bus is mounted on the first layer for providing electrical connection between the controller and the electrical connections to the pads of film. In the best mode, a second layer of porous fabric is included to sandwich the pads between the first layer of porous fabric and the second layer of porous fabric.