Flexible Hand Pressure Sensor with Gel Transmitter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for measuring pain and hand strength are imprecise and limited in their application, particularly for detecting pain sensations, as they fail to provide reliable and reproducible measurements.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a hollow body with a flexible outer sleeve filled with a pressure-transmitting gel or liquid material, combined with a pain actuator that uses heat to simulate pain, allowing for precise measurement of hand pressure and pain intensity by leveraging the natural reflexive behavior of the hand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid structure is used for measurement, then measurement stability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to lack of flexibility in detecting subtle pressure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible outer shell made of elastomeric material that can be at least partially enclosed by one hand. This flexible shell transmits pressure changes from hand grasping to the measurement device while maintaining structural stability through its elastic properties, thereby resolving the contradiction between rigidity for stability and flexibility for precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines rigid components (measurement device housing, spacer element) with flexible components (elastomeric outer shell, gel or liquid pressure transmitter). This composite structure allows the rigid parts to provide stability while the flexible parts enable precise detection of subtle pressure changes through their deformable nature.
2Device complexity
If pressure is applied directly to a rigid surface, then measurement simplicity is improved, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to formation of pressure points that cause discomfort and falsify measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible outer shell distributes applied pressure uniformly across its surface area, preventing concentration of force at specific points. This eliminates discomfort and prevents falsification of measurements while maintaining the simplicity of direct pressure application.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible outer shell acts as an intermediary between the hand and the measurement device. It mediates the pressure transmission by distributing the force uniformly, thereby preventing direct contact between the hand and rigid measurement surfaces that would create pressure points.
3Ease of operation
If the diameter of the outer shell changes during pressing, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates because the changing diameter affects the pressure-force relationship
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully selects the elastomeric material properties and wall thickness of the outer shell to control its elastic behavior. By adjusting these parameters, the shell maintains substantially constant diameter during pressing while remaining easy to enclose with the hand, ensuring accurate pressure-force relationship.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer shell has different local properties: the wall thickness and material composition are optimized in different regions to allow easy enclosure by the hand while maintaining dimensional stability in the diameter direction during pressing. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and measurement precision.
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 precise and reproducible measurement of hand strength and pain, allowing for objective assessment of pain levels and intensity, avoiding discomfort and pressure points that could falsify measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a gel, an elastic multi-component or a liquid material 4a, 4b, which acts as a pressure transmitter, is transferred to a pressure or force measuring device 7
Implementation Method 2
a pain actuator 10, designed as a heat generating device, wherein the pain actuator comprises a metallic cover 10a, on the underside of which a heating element 10c and a temperature sensor 10b are arranged
Implementation Method 3
the elastic behavior of the flexible outer shell 3a being adjusted via the pressure of the pressure transmitter in such a way that the diameter of the outer shell 3a is maintained or substantially maintained during pressing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
The device (1) for detecting hand force or hand pressure, and in particular pain sensations of a person, comprises a pressure or force measuring device (7) and a hollow body (3) extending in a longitudinal direction (L), wherein the hollow body (3) comprises an upper fixed end part (3c), a lower fixed end part (3d), and a spacer element (3e), wherein the upper end part (3c) and the lower end part (3d) are held apart from each other by the spacer element (3e), the spacer element (3e) extending in the longitudinal direction (L), and wherein the hollow body (3) comprises a flexible outer shell (3a) which connects the upper end part (3c) to the lower end part (3d) in such a way that a closed interior space (3b) is formed within which the spacer element (3e) is also arranged, wherein the outer shell (3a) is designed such that it can be at least partially opened by a hand is enclosed,and wherein the interior (3b) of the hollow body (3) contains a gel, an elastic multi-component or a liquid material (4a) which acts as a pressure transmitter, and wherein the pressure or force measuring device (7) extends at least partially in the longitudinal direction (L) within the interior (3b) in order to transmit the pressure from the outer shell (3a) via the pressure transmitter to the pressure or force measuring device (7).