Mobile Cold Therapy Device with Inflatable Nipple Massage

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cold therapy devices are either stationary, heavy, and bulky, limiting their use for ambulatory patients, or they provide inconsistent cold temperatures due to limited duration and difficulty in temperature control, such as with ice or gel packs.

Innovation Solution

A self-contained, mobile cold therapy device with a thermally-insulated tank, circulating cold therapy liquid, and a pad with inflatable nipples for massage, powered by a battery pack and controlled by digital electronics, allowing hands-free ambulation and remote monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional electronic cold therapy devices are used, then cold therapy function is provided, but the devices are heavy and bulky, requiring AC wall-socket power and preventing patient ambulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecold therapy temperature controlVSAvoiddevice weight and bulk

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into separate functional modules: a portable battery-powered control unit, a flexible cold therapy pad with integrated temperature sensor, and a thermally-insulated container. This segmentation allows the heavy AC-powered devices to be replaced with a distributed, mobile system where each component is lightweight and can be positioned independently for optimal therapy delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical AC-powered compression and cooling systems with an electronically-controlled, battery-powered system. The electronic controller uses a pump to circulate cold therapy liquid through channels in the pad, and uses inflatable bladders for compression, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical components and AC power infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If ice packs or gel packs are used, then portability and hands-free ambulation are enabled, but the duration of cold therapy is limited and temperature control is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveportability and hands-free useVSAvoidcold therapy duration and temperature consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous cold therapy through an automated pump that continuously circulates cold therapy liquid from the insulated container through channels in the therapy pad and back to the container. This closed-loop circulation system, controlled by a timer and temperature sensor, ensures uninterrupted cold therapy for extended periods without requiring manual intervention to replace packs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates a temperature sensor that continuously monitors the temperature at the patient's skin interface and provides feedback to the electronic controller. The controller adjusts the pump operation and inflatable bladder activation based on this feedback, maintaining optimal therapeutic temperature and preventing over-cooling or under-cooling throughout the therapy duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Temperature

If ice packs are applied to patient, then cold therapy is provided, but the fluid in the pack immediately adjacent the user warms, requiring shaking or massaging to maintain constant cooling temperature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecold therapy temperatureVSAvoiduser interaction required for temperature maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-regulation of temperature through an automated control loop. The temperature sensor continuously monitors the therapy interface temperature, and the electronic controller automatically adjusts the pump flow rate and activates inflatable bladders to maintain constant therapeutic cooling without requiring any user action such as shaking or massaging the pack.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical actions of shaking and massaging the ice pack are replaced by an electronic control system that uses a pump to circulate cold liquid and inflatable bladders to apply compression. This electronic system actively maintains temperature uniformity throughout the therapy pad, eliminating the need for user intervention to redistribute the cooling medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Temperature

If conventional cold therapy devices are used, then cooling function is provided, but they cannot provide consistent and constant temperature without user intervention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature consistencyVSAvoiduser intervention required

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates a temperature sensor that continuously monitors the temperature at the patient's skin interface and provides feedback to the electronic controller. The controller adjusts the pump operation and inflatable bladder activation based on this feedback, maintaining optimal therapeutic temperature and preventing over-cooling or under-cooling throughout the therapy duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-regulation of temperature through an automated control loop. The temperature sensor continuously monitors the therapy interface temperature, and the electronic controller automatically adjusts the pump flow rate and activates inflatable bladders to maintain constant therapeutic cooling without requiring any user action such as shaking or massaging the pack.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables consistent and prolonged cold therapy while allowing patients to move freely, reducing edema through massage and maintaining a constant temperature, with remote monitoring and control capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

a container including a thermally-insulated tank and a cold therapy liquid disposed in the tank

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

one or more liquid pumps disposed proximate or inside the container to circulate the liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Implementation Method 3

the pad includes a thermal conduction surface engaging the user's body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

a second air bladder overlying and contiguous with the liquid bladder such that when inflated applies a compressive pressure on the liquid bladder

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 5

The reciprocating nipple, pressed into the user's injured region, is driven by inflating and deflating the first air bladder. This reciprocating action of the nipple and/or air bladder helps massage the injured region and further reduces edema.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression and decompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS12070412B1Mobile cold therapy device

Publication Date: 2024.08.27 EVOLVE ORTHOPEDICS LLC

AI summary

A mobile, self-contained cold therapy device having a container including an internal liquid or ice water tank, air and water pumps for driving air and water to a cold therapy pad with internal air and water bladders, wherein the pad is worn on an injured region of a user. The device includes an electronic controller for controlling air and water flow to and from the bladders, and a holder for supporting the container and worn on the user's body for portable, hands-free mobility while receiving cold therapy. Nipples are incorporated into a thermal conduction surface of the pad and reciprocated into the user's injured region by an air bladder to further reduce edema.