Flexible Light Therapy Pad with Conformable Body Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current light therapy systems are limited in their ability to provide comprehensive and adaptable light delivery to the human body, particularly in covering large areas and conforming to anatomical shapes, which can affect the efficacy of treatment for conditions like musculoskeletal pain, skin aging, and psychological disorders.
Innovation Solution
A flexible and formable light therapy device comprising a pad member with integrated light emitters and a control unit, allowing for customizable light treatment modes and conforming to body shapes, including a central protrusion for neck and face coverage and downwardly protruding leg portions for leg and foot coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid light therapy device is used, then the light delivery structure is stable and easy to manufacture, but it cannot conform to anatomical shapes and covers limited body areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible pad member that can be draped over various body parts to conform to anatomical shapes. This flexible structure allows the light therapy device to adapt to different body contours (neck, face, legs, feet) while maintaining a relatively simple internal construction of light emitters and circuit boards, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a standardized light therapy device is used, then the device is easy to manufacture and operate, but it cannot provide comprehensive coverage for different body areas and anatomical variations
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into multiple independent light-emitting units or circuit boards that can be selectively activated for different body areas. The pad member is divided into regions (head/neck region, torso region, leg/foot region) with light emitters distributed throughout. This segmentation allows comprehensive body coverage while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular assembly of standardized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The single pad member device is designed to serve multiple functions by covering various body areas (head, neck, torso, legs, feet) with integrated light emitters. The control unit enables selective activation of different light-emitting units for different treatment areas, providing universal applicability across multiple anatomical regions while maintaining a unified device structure for simplified manufacturing.
3Area of stationary object
If light emitters are distributed across a large area, then comprehensive light therapy coverage is achieved, but the device becomes less flexible and harder to conform to body shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The pad member is constructed as a flexible structure that can be draped and molded to conform to various body contours. Despite the large coverage area encompassing head, neck, torso, legs, and feet, the flexible construction allows the device to adapt to anatomical shapes, resolving the contradiction between extensive coverage area and flexibility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light-emitting units are integrated into a single device, then comprehensive and customizable light therapy is provided, but the device complexity and control requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed to manage multiple light-emitting units through a unified control interface that offers various treatment modes (e.g., simultaneous operation, sequential operation, different intensities). This universal control approach enables customizable light therapy for different body areas and conditions while avoiding excessive complexity by using a single integrated control system rather than separate controls for each unit.
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 provides comprehensive light therapy coverage, enhancing treatment efficacy for various conditions by ensuring uniform light distribution across a larger body area and accommodating individual anatomical shapes, thereby improving treatment outcomes for musculoskeletal, dermatological, and psychological conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of light emitters configured to emit light from a light-emitting side of the pad member
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for light therapy wherein a device for delivery of light therapy comprising a light emitting pad member (e.g., a blanket or other body cover) is positionable over all, substantially all or at least half of a subject's body and operable to deliver light therapy thereto.