Massage Head Platform Stability and Composite Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional massage systems and devices lack the ability to facilitate stable and repeatable movement of percussive massage tools over treatment areas, often resulting in inconsistent treatment and potential injury due to hard massage heads that may dislodge or cause discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A massage system with a platform that provides stability and control over the massage head's movement, featuring a platform with adjustable dimensions and a dual-molding massage head with varying hardness levels to ensure secure contact and prevent dislodgement, along with a cover to enclose the actuation channel and protect against injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a hard massage head is used to provide concentrated percussive pulses, then the massage effectiveness is improved, but the risk of dislodgement and patient injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The massage head is constructed as a composite structure with an inner hard molding (e.g., polyurethane) that provides percussive effectiveness and an outer soft molding (e.g., silicone rubber) that provides patient comfort and security. This composite construction allows the hard inner core to deliver concentrated pulses while the soft outer layer prevents dislodgement and reduces injury risk.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the massage head have different material properties: the inner core is hard for effective tissue penetration, while the outer surface is soft for patient comfort and security. This local differentiation of material properties allows the single massage head to simultaneously achieve both massage effectiveness and safety.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the platform surface area is increased to provide stability and control, then the maneuverability is improved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform utilizes its thickness dimension to provide stability without increasing planar surface area. The substantial thickness of the platform creates a low center of gravity and structural rigidity that enhances stability during use, allowing adequate performance without excessive overall device volume.
Data Source
AI summary
A massage system includes a massage head configured to contact a treatment region of a patient during a massage treatment procedure, a body having a handle, a connector having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is releasable secured to the body and the second end is coupled to the massage head, a motor positioned within the body and configured to drive movement of the massage head relative to the body, and a platform configured to be placed against the patient during a massage treatment procedure. The platform defines an opening. The platform is positioned so that the massage head extends at least partially through the opening during movement of the massage head relative to the body, and the platform surrounds the massage head in at least one dimension during movement of the massage head relative to the body.