Inflatable Limb Seal for Medical Pressure Therapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pressure therapy devices are cumbersome, difficult to customize, and require trained professionals for use, often causing discomfort and risk of injury due to improper fitting and pressure points, especially for patients with limited mobility or fragile skin.

Innovation Solution

A pressure therapy device with a streamlined pressure chamber, inflatable padding, and intuitive sealing system that allows users to easily don and adjust the device without assistance, featuring a wide opening, angled neck, and adjustable positioning mechanisms for comfortable and secure limb placement, along with a pump unit and valve system for safe and effective pressure application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If known pressure systems are made large and complex to provide controlled pressure environment, then pressure control capability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure control capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure therapy device is divided into separate modular components including a pressure chamber, inflatable padding, seal, and pump unit. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while simplifying the overall system complexity and improving ease of operation for patients with limited mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If pressure chamber opening is made small to seal properly, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in limb insertion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidease of limb insertion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The inflatable padding is initially in a deflated state, allowing the pressure chamber to have a large opening for easy limb insertion. After the limb is positioned, the padding is inflated to seal the chamber. This preliminary deflated state resolves the contradiction between large opening for insertion and small opening for sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure chamber opening dynamically changes size through the inflation and deflation of the padding. The opening is large when deflated for easy insertion and becomes small when inflated for effective sealing, allowing the system to adapt to different operational phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If negative pressure is applied strongly to create effective therapy, then blood flow improvement is improved, but harmful factors increase due to pressure points and skin damage risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flow improvementVSAvoidskin damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The inflatable padding provides a cushioning layer between the pressure chamber and the patient's limb before negative pressure is applied. This padding distributes the pressure evenly and prevents direct contact between the limb and the chamber walls, eliminating pressure points and reducing the risk of skin damage while maintaining effective blood flow improvement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Reliability

If custom-fitted padding is used to protect limb, then protection effectiveness is improved, but ease of manufacture and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The inflatable padding is designed as a universal component that can accommodate various limb sizes and shapes without requiring custom fitting. The padding inflates to conform to the specific limb geometry, providing effective protection while maintaining simple manufacturing processes and lower costs through standardization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 a comfortable, safe, and effective pressure therapy experience, reducing the risk of injury and improving blood flow, while being simple to use and cost-effective for patients with various medical conditions.

Implementation Method 1

During application of negative pressure in known devices, the negative pressure environment created inside of the pressure chamber may draw the patient's limb deeper into the pressure chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

These devices can apply more precise pressure levels than a massage and can employ both negative pressure and positive pressure against a limb during treatment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPositive pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS12257207B2Medical pressure therapy device and components thereof

Publication Date: 2025.03.25 OTIVIO

AI summary

A pressure therapy device includes a pressure chamber, an inflatable padding, a seal, and a positioning mechanism. The pressure chamber has an opening arranged for admitting the inflatable padding and a limb of a user. The inflatable padding is inflatable to enclose and fix the limb in position. The seal covers the opening, including the inflatable padding and the limb to seal the pressure chamber from ambient atmospheric pressure. A pump unit is provided to generate a non-atmospheric pressure within the pressure chamber and includes a first valve system and a piston with safety release features for preventing unsafe pressure levels.