Flexible Cupping Vessel with Integrated Light Source

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for combined cupping and color light therapy suffer from inefficiency due to passive filtering, significant light intensity losses, and rigidity, making uniform application to body surfaces difficult and impractical.

Innovation Solution

A device with flexible semi-open cupping vessels and a built-in light source, controlled by an electronic system, allowing for adjustable vacuum pulses and precise wavelength application, enabling flexible and efficient simultaneous cupping and color light therapy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If rigid applicators with passive filtering are used for combined cupping and color light therapy, then the device structure is simplified, but light intensity losses increase and uniform application to body surfaces becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidlight intensity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the light source from the rigid applicator structure and places it directly within the flexible cupping vessel. This eliminates the need for passive filtering components and rigid light delivery mechanisms, thereby reducing light intensity losses while maintaining simplified device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs flexible cupping vessels made of elastic material that can conform to body surfaces. The light source is integrated within this flexible structure, allowing uniform light distribution across the treatment area without requiring rigid applicators or complex filtering systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of manufacture

If rigid applicators are used for combined cupping and color light therapy, then manufacturing is easier, but uniform application to body surfaces becomes impractical

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing easeVSAvoidapplication uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses flexible cupping vessels that can be easily manufactured from elastic materials and can adapt to various body contours. This flexibility enables uniform application of both vacuum and light therapy to different body surfaces without requiring complex rigid applicator designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible cupping vessel serves multiple functions: it creates the vacuum for cupping therapy and simultaneously houses the light source for color light therapy. This multi-functionality simplifies manufacturing while enabling uniform application to various body surfaces through the flexible structure's adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If fixed vacuum amplitude is used in cupping therapy, then device control is simpler, but tissue penetration depth is insufficient for deeper muscle and tissue layers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol systemVSAvoidtissue penetration depth
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control of vacuum amplitude through an electronic controller that adjusts the vacuum pump operation. This allows the vacuum strength to be varied in real-time, enabling sufficient tissue penetration depth for deeper muscle and tissue layers while maintaining manageable device control through electronic regulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the vacuum parameter from fixed to variable amplitude control. The electronic controller modifies the vacuum pump's operating parameters to achieve different vacuum strengths, enabling effective treatment of both superficial and deep tissue layers without requiring overly complex mechanical control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If high power consumption is used for effective therapy within limited control range, then therapy effectiveness is improved, but energy efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapy effectivenessVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs variable vacuum amplitude control to optimize power consumption. The electronic controller adjusts the vacuum pump operation to match therapeutic requirements, delivering high power when deep tissue penetration is needed and reducing power consumption during superficial treatments, thereby maintaining therapy effectiveness while improving energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses pulsating vacuum with variable frequency and amplitude controlled by the electronic controller. This periodic action allows the system to deliver intense vacuum pulses for deep tissue treatment when needed, while spending more time in lower power states, thereby achieving effective therapy with reduced overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 device achieves effective, flexible, and uniform therapy application with increased tissue penetration and blood circulation, enhancing pain relief and tissue regeneration through precise vacuum and light control, while maintaining low power consumption and ease of use.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure-generating unit for generating a vacuum in one or more half-open cupping vessels

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

generating a vacuum pulses with variably adjustable amplitude

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

a light source for generating light in a frequency range within the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3219361B1Device for simultaneous bleed and coloured light therapy
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 HEVATECH GMBH
  • EP3219361B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A combined device for cupping and color light therapy with a pressure generation unit for creating a vacuum in semi-open cupping vessels (1) and a light source (3) for irradiating the patient's body surface is characterized in that the pressure generation unit, controlled by an electronic controller (13), generates vacuum pulses with a variably continuously adjustable amplitude, that the cupping vessels are made of flexible material and arranged on the front of a flexible plastic mat, to the back (5) of which they are connected via through-openings (4), that a lid unit (2) is provided which, together with the plastic mat, encloses a cavity into which a compressed air line (6) opens, which is connected to the pressure generation unit, that the light source is arranged in the cavity, and that an electronic control device is provided.This device allows the cupping therapy and color light therapy setups to be controlled in such a way that they can be operated either simultaneously in combination or individually. This enables effective, flexible, and even application to virtually any area of ​​the body. Furthermore, the required wavelength is precisely and efficiently directed to the area being treated.