Thermoplastic Elastomer Foam Cuff for Blood Pressure Monitor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bag-shaped structures for blood pressure monitors, while flexible, tend to lose shape due to low creep resistance when repeatedly inflated and deflated, compromising their ability to maintain effective artery occlusion.
Innovation Solution
A bag-shaped structure incorporating a layer of thermoplastic elastomer foam with a closed-cell structure and specific Shore A hardness, providing both high creep resistance and flexibility, is used in the cuff, along with a bellows structure to enhance deformation and artery occlusion characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bag-shaped structure is formed of a highly flexible sheet, then artery occlusion characteristics are improved, but creep resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a thermoplastic elastomer foam layer with other sheet materials to form a multi-layer structure. This composite construction allows the foam layer to provide flexibility for artery occlusion while the combined structure maintains creep resistance through the synergistic properties of the different materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes porous materials by incorporating a thermoplastic elastomer foam layer with a specific expansion ratio (1.05 to 1.30). The foam structure provides the necessary flexibility and conformability for effective artery occlusion while the controlled porosity maintains structural integrity and resistance to permanent deformation during repeated inflation and deflation cycles.
2Productivity
If the cuff width is reduced, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the expansion ratio of the foam layer to a specific range (1.05 to 1.30) and controlling the foam layer thickness to 10% to 50% of the total sheet thickness. These parameter optimizations allow the reduced-width cuff to maintain sufficient occlusion pressure and measurement precision despite the smaller size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the functional properties in the foam layer, which is positioned to directly contact and occlude the artery. The foam layer's specific expansion ratio and flexibility are optimized locally at the occlusion point, allowing effective blood pressure measurement with a narrower overall cuff width.
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 solution achieves both high creep resistance and excellent flexibility, ensuring accurate blood pressure measurements and reducing material costs, while maintaining effective artery occlusion and minimizing the risk of tearing.
Implementation Method 1
a bag-shaped structure including a layer made of a thermoplastic elastomer foam
Data Source
AI summary
A bag-shaped structure excellent in both creep resistance and flexibility is provided. Provided is a bag-shaped structure (122) including a layer (122a) made of a thermoplastic elastomer foam. Also provided are a cuff for a blood pressure monitor and a blood pressure monitor each including the bag-shaped structure (122).