Massage Head Platform Stability and Dual-Molding Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional massage systems and devices lack stability and repeatability when moving a percussive massage tool over a treatment area, and the massage heads may be too hard for patient comfort, posing risks of injury.
Innovation Solution
A massage system with a platform that provides stability and control over the massage head's movement, featuring a platform with adjustable height, width, and length to ensure consistent tissue penetration and angle, and a dual-molding massage head with varying hardness for comfort and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional massage device is used, then the massage head can contact the treatment area, but the device lacks stability and repeatability when moved over the treatment area
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional components: a platform for stable positioning, a connector for motion transmission, and a massage head for treatment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the platform providing stability and the massage head providing treatment, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform acts as an intermediary between the user's hand and the massage head, providing a stable base that improves repeatability. The connector serves as an intermediary that transmits motion from the platform to the massage head while allowing controlled movement, thus maintaining both stability and ease of operation.
2Force
If a hard massage head is used, then the massage head can penetrate tissue effectively, but it may cause patient discomfort or injury
Solution Approach 1:
The massage head's physical parameters are optimized by selecting materials with appropriate durometer values (hardness). The connector uses a harder material (70-90 durometer) for effective tissue penetration, while the outer molding uses a softer material (30-60 durometer) to reduce patient discomfort, allowing both force and safety requirements to be met.
Solution Approach 2:
The massage head is constructed as a composite structure with an inner molding and outer molding made of different materials with different hardness levels. This composite design allows the inner core to provide penetration force while the outer layer provides patient comfort, resolving the contradiction between effective tissue penetration and prevention of discomfort or injury.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the massage head is made of soft material for comfort, then patient comfort is improved, but the massage head may disconnect and expose users to injury risks
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the massage head have different material properties tailored to their specific functions. The inner molding uses harder material for connection security and structural integrity, while the outer molding uses softer material for patient comfort. This local differentiation of material quality resolves the contradiction between comfort and connection security.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-molding construction creates a composite structure where the harder inner molding provides mechanical strength and secure connection to the connector, while the softer outer molding provides patient comfort. This composite material approach allows the soft outer layer to comfort the patient without compromising the connection security provided by the harder inner structure.
4Reliability
If the platform dimensions are increased for stability, then treatment consistency is improved, but the device maneuverability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is designed with dimensions that provide sufficient stability for consistent treatment, while the overall device maintains maneuverability through the modular connector-massage head assembly that can be easily repositioned. The platform's size is optimized to provide stability without excessive bulk, resolving the contradiction between treatment consistency and maneuverability.
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.