Inflatable Limb Wrap Structure for Vascular Pressure Therapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for assisting neonatal breathing, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and mechanical ventilation, cause side effects like airway drying and nasal obstruction, and are not suitable for premature infants with delicate conditions. Additionally, there are few effective technologies for improving arterial supply to extremities, and conventional methods for positive and negative pressure therapy are cumbersome and difficult to apply.

Innovation Solution

A flexible and elastic device with inflatable tubes that expand longitudinally more than radially, providing negative and positive pressure therapy to assist breathing and improve vascular circulation, featuring sensors for feedback-controlled operation and adjustable attachment to the body's contours.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If rigid or planar surfaces are used in conventional devices, then manufacturing is simpler, but the device cannot easily mate with the contoured surface of the infant's chest and distributes stress unevenly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice constructionVSAvoidadaptability to body contours

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device uses a flexible membrane that can conform to the contoured surface of the infant's chest, allowing even distribution of forces across the contact surface while maintaining adaptability to different body shapes and sizes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible membrane allows the device to dynamically adapt to the infant's chest movements and breathing motions, maintaining continuous contact and even force distribution throughout the respiratory cycle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If limited contact points are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the forces at those points experience higher stress causing potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoidstress concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible membrane distributes forces evenly across the entire contact surface with the chest, eliminating stress concentration at discrete contact points while maintaining a relatively simple device structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Object-affected harmful factors

If positive distending pressure is applied non-invasively, then airway damage is avoided, but it fails to support spontaneous respiration in 30-50% of preterm infants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairway damageVSAvoidrespiratory support effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device applies periodic oscillating pressure to the chest wall that synchronizes with and amplifies spontaneous respiratory efforts, providing effective support for infants who fail conventional CPAP while avoiding airway intubation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The oscillating pressure mechanism uses mechanical vibration to enhance chest wall movement and lung inflation during spontaneous breathing, improving respiratory support effectiveness without invasive procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

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 stable, evenly distributed pressure to support spontaneous respiration, reduce lung collapse, and enhance arterial and venous circulation without causing damage, while being adaptable to different body shapes and sizes.

Implementation Method 1

a first tube having a flexible and elastic material that forms a first tube lumen... longitudinal expansion of the first tube is restricted less than radial expansion of the first tube

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a pneumatic pump connected to the air inlet... applying a positive intraluminal pressure within the tubular structure to decompress the limb region; and applying a negative intraluminal pressure within the first lumen to compress the limb region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS20250360051A1Wearable device for improving vascular insufficiency to the extremities

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 THE PENN STATE RES FOUND INC

AI summary

A device for treating vascular insufficiency is described. The device includes a flexible and elastic tubular structure attached to a base layer. The flexible and elastic tubular structure include an air inlet, where longitudinal expansion of a first portion of the tubular structure is less restricted than radial expansion of the first portion of the tubular structure. A fastener is attached to the base layer and configured to fasten the base layer circumferentially around a limb. A method for treating vascular insufficiency is also described.