Hand-Controlled Physiotherapy Electrode Loop for Real-Time Mode Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional electrotherapy devices require patients to be repeatedly disconnected and reconnected from electrodes for current intensity adjustments, leading to discomfort during prolonged treatments due to stress on the skin.

Innovation Solution

A hand-controlled physiotherapy equipment system that uses a closed loop between electrodes and a signal receiving unit to detect loop signals, transforming them into time series signals to trigger mode adjustments, allowing for wireless or wired connection to adjust current intensity or operation modes without patient disconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If current intensity adjustments are made by disconnecting and reconnecting electrodes, then the current mode can be changed, but the patient experiences discomfort and treatment interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent mode adjustment capabilityVSAvoidpatient comfort during treatment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a hand control device as an intermediary that the therapist uses to adjust current parameters. This mediator allows mode changes without requiring patient disconnection from electrodes, thus maintaining treatment continuity while achieving the desired adaptability in current settings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-adjustment of current parameters through the hand control interface, allowing the therapist to modify treatment settings on-the-fly without external assistance or interrupting the electrode connection, thereby maintaining both adaptability and patient comfort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If current intensity adjustments require patient disconnection, then the control system is simple, but the treatment time increases and patient comfort decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system simplicityVSAvoidtreatment interruption time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The hand control device serves as an intermediary interface that adds minimal complexity to the system while enabling continuous treatment. It translates therapist input into parameter adjustments without requiring physical disconnection, thus reducing treatment interruption time while maintaining acceptable system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system transitions from a static configuration requiring disconnection to a dynamic system where parameters can be adjusted in real-time during treatment. This dynamic capability allows continuous operation while adapting current settings, reducing overall treatment time despite increased control complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If repeated current adjustments are made during treatment, then the current mode can be optimized, but skin stress and discomfort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent intensity optimizationVSAvoidskin stress from repeated connection/disconnection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hand control device acts as an intermediary that enables current optimization without physical reconnection. It transmits adjustment commands wirelessly or through circuitry that doesn't require breaking the electrode-skin interface, thus eliminating skin stress from repeated connection/disconnection while maintaining optimization capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous electrical stimulation throughout the treatment by allowing parameter adjustments without interruption. This continuous action eliminates the harmful effect of repeated skin disconnection and reconnection, while still enabling current intensity optimization through the hand control interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11426327B2Control system for hand-controlled physiotherapy equipment and electrical stimulation mode

Publication Date: 2022.08.30 WANG CHIEN CHI

AI summary

Hand-controlled physiotherapy equipment contains: a first electrode and a second electrode which are connected with living creatures so as to form a closed loop, an electrical stimulation system, a signal receiving unit, and a signal identification unit. The electrical stimulation system includes a sensing unit. The signal receiving unit is connected with the sensing unit in a wired manner or a wireless manner, the signal identification unit is configured to transform loop signals into time series signals, wherein when each of the time series signals has a specific interruption signal and a specific recovery signal, each time series signal triggers a mode adjustment signal in a control module. The control module includes a predetermined comparison database, and the comparison database has multiple set modes, wherein the multiple set modes respectively have multiple interruption signals and multiple recovery signals.