Electrotherapeutic Massage Device with Curved Nodules for Spinal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrotherapy devices face challenges in delivering medium-frequency electrical nerve stimulation pulses precisely to acupuncture points on the head, neck, and shoulders due to insecure electrode attachment, loss of self-adhesiveness, lack of positional accuracy, and user unfamiliarity with acupuncture points, leading to ineffective treatments and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
A compact, multifunctional electrotherapeutic massage device with an inner core structure matching the natural cervical and thoracic curvatures, protruding nodules made of electrically conductive fabric, and a breathable outer covering that maintains the natural lordotic curvature, ensuring stable electrode contact and precise delivery of electrical nerve stimulation pulses to acupuncture points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional electrode pads with self-adhering gel are used, then the device can be operated easily by patients, but the electrode attachment becomes insecure and loses self-adhesiveness over time
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the treatment area into multiple discrete protruding nodules distributed across the cushion, each serving as an independent electrode contact point. This segmentation allows precise targeting of acupuncture points while maintaining stable contact through the three-dimensional nodular structure that conforms to skin curvature.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding nodules are designed with curved, three-dimensional surfaces that conform to the natural curvature of the patient's skin and cervical spine. This curvature ensures continuous skin contact and maintains electrode attachment reliability without relying on self-adhering gel that loses effectiveness over time.
2Device complexity
If conventional flat electrode pads are used, then the device structure is simple, but the positional accuracy on curved skin surfaces is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The protruding nodules are positioned at predetermined locations corresponding to specific acupuncture points on the cervical spine and head. Their three-dimensional curved surfaces ensure accurate contact with skin landmarks, achieving precise positional accuracy without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The nodules are automatically positioned by the device structure itself, which guides the patient's head and neck into the correct alignment within the cushion. This self-positioning mechanism achieves accurate electrode placement without requiring the patient or therapist to manually locate acupuncture points.
3Reliability
If the device accommodates natural cervical curvature, then the therapeutic effect is enhanced, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion incorporates a contoured design with a cervical opening and recessed areas that match the natural lordotic curvature of the cervical spine. This curvature accommodation enhances therapeutic effect by ensuring proper alignment and sustained contact, while the overall cushion structure remains relatively simple and manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushion is constructed with flexible, compressible material that can adapt to individual variations in patient anatomy. This flexibility allows the device to accommodate natural cervical curvature effectively without requiring complex rigid structural components, maintaining simplicity in the overall device design.
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 enables precise and efficient electrotherapeutic massage, effectively relieving pain and relaxing muscle groups, while maintaining the natural alignment of the cervical spine, thereby fine-tuning the vertebral column and enhancing the therapeutic effect.
Implementation Method 1
The electrotherapeutic signal generator 15 is configured to generate a series of electrical nerve stimulation pulses
Implementation Method 2
The inner core structure is centrally formed with a horizontal accommodating opening that has a configuration matching the natural curvature and alignment of a person's cervical vertebrae
Implementation Method 3
Each of the protruding nodules 24 is made of an electrically conductive fabric... allowing the electrical nerve stimulation pulses received from the electrotherapeutic signal generator 15 to be delivered through each of the protruding nodules 24
Data Source
AI summary
A device for performing electrotherapeutic massage on the human head, neck, and shoulders includes an inner core structure, at least four protruding nodules, plural electrical wires, and an outer covering. The inner core structure has a central horizontal accommodating opening for accommodating the neck and plural horizontal cushion openings. The horizontal accommodating opening matches the curvature and alignment of the human cervical spine and the kyphotic curvature of the thoracic vertebrae. Each protruding nodule is made of an electrically conductive fabric and sewn to the wall of the corresponding horizontal cushion opening in order to deliver the electrical nerve stimulation pulses generated by an electrotherapeutic signal generator to the corresponding body portion, thereby relaxing the nerve and muscle groups therein. The electrical wires electrically connect the protruding nodules to the electrotherapeutic signal generator. The outer covering encloses the inner core structure while exposing the protruding nodules.