Flameless Moxibustion Device with Absorbed Moxa Stick
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional moxibustion methods face issues such as pain during the process, scarring, limited therapeutic effect, difficulty in targeting multiple acupoints, environmental pollution from smoke, and safety concerns due to ongoing flames and sparks.
Innovation Solution
A novel moxibustion device is developed where a moxa stick is prepared by absorbing oil and/or fat and then dried incompletely, allowing it to be wrapped with a cover for moxibustion after ignition, which reduces burning time and enhances safety, therapeutic efficacy, and environmental friendliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional moxibustion methods use continuous burning of moxa cones, then the therapeutic effect is maintained, but the safety risk increases due to flames and sparks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful flame element from the moxibustion process by using a flameless heating device. The moxa stick is heated indirectly through thermal conduction from a heating element, eliminating open flames and sparks while maintaining the therapeutic heating effect on acupoints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heating element as an intermediary between the energy source and the moxa stick. This intermediary transfers thermal energy through controlled thermal conduction, replacing direct combustion and eliminating the fire hazard while preserving the therapeutic effect.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple acupoints need to be treated, then multiple moxa cones must be ignited simultaneously, but this increases the fire risk and operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal heating device that can treat multiple acupoints simultaneously or sequentially. The single flameless heating element can be positioned at different locations to treat various acupoints, eliminating the need for multiple moxa cones and reducing fire risk while maintaining treatment versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic positioning of the heating element to adapt to different treatment needs. The device can be moved between acupoints and adjusted in position, providing flexible multi-acupoint treatment without the safety risks of simultaneous combustion of multiple moxa cones.
3Productivity
If the moxa stick is completely dried before use, then the burning is efficient, but the smoke production increases causing environmental pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical combustion process with a physical heating process. Instead of burning the moxa stick which produces smoke, the device uses thermal conduction to heat the moxa stick, achieving efficient treatment without smoke generation and eliminating environmental pollution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of smoke production into a benefit by using the moxa stick material itself as a heating medium. The moxa stick absorbs thermal energy and transfers it to the acupoint, maintaining therapeutic effectiveness while eliminating smoke as a harmful byproduct.
4Manufacturing precision
If the moxa cone is placed close to the skin for better therapeutic effect, then the treatment efficacy improves, but the risk of scald increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controllable heating element as an intermediary that provides precise thermal management. This intermediary allows the heating element to be positioned close to the skin for effective treatment while controlling the temperature and heat distribution to prevent scalding, unlike direct moxa cone placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables precise control of temperature parameters in the heating process. By regulating the heating element's temperature and contact time, the system achieves high treatment precision while maintaining safety margins to prevent scalding, offering fine-grained control not available in traditional moxibustion.
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 method provides a safer, more effective, and environmentally friendly moxibustion experience with improved therapeutic outcomes, allowing for precise application on multiple acupoints without prolonged burning or excessive smoke, and reduces the risk of scald and fire hazards.
Implementation Method 1
a processed product of wormwood absorbs said oil and/or fat via contact
Implementation Method 2
drying the processed product of wormwood partially to prepare a processed product of wormwood containing the oil and/or fat
Data Source
AI summary
A moxibustion device, comprising: a processed product of wormwood and oil and/or fat; the processed product of wormwood absorbs the oil and/or fat via contact, and was dried partially. The oil and/or fat are vegetable oil and/or fat, animal oil and/or fat, the processed products of vegetable oil and/or fat, or the processed products of animal oil and/or fat. The moxibustion device has better therapeutic effect than traditional moxibustion, with a favorable user experience and convenient use.