Overlapped Airbag Compression for Physiotherapy Blind Spots
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic physiotherapy apparatuses often fail to achieve full coverage of compression due to a divider in the airbag, resulting in blind spots and insufficient pressure, which affects treatment effectiveness and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A design featuring an inner airbag set with a larger first airbag and a smaller second airbag, where the inflation motor first inflates the second airbag and then the first airbag, ensuring overlapped compression and eliminating blind spots through interconnected air flow passageways and controlled pressure management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a divider is used to separate the first lower section and the second upper section of the airbag, then sequential compression from distal to proximal is achieved, but the treatment area around the divider cannot reach the required pressure, resulting in blind spots and insufficient coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into multiple independent sections (first lower section, second upper section, and third middle section) with separate inflation control. This segmentation allows each section to be inflated independently to the required pressure, ensuring that the divider area is also adequately compressed without being a blind spot.
Solution Approach 2:
The third airbag section is specifically designed to provide localized compression at the divider area. By adding this middle section that overlaps with both the first and second sections, the patent ensures that the previously problematic divider region receives adequate pressure and compression coverage.
2Device complexity
If the divider cannot be inflated, then the air flow passageway structure is simple, but the treatment area around the divider experiences insufficient pressure and compression
Solution Approach 1:
The third airbag section is nested within the overall airbag structure, positioned in the middle area between the first and second sections. This nested design allows the middle section to be inflated independently to provide pressure to the divider area, while maintaining a relatively compact and integrated overall structure.
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
This design ensures comprehensive compression coverage, enhancing blood flow, preventing deep vein thrombosis, and improving user experience by maintaining a preset pressure and avoiding excessive pressure.
Implementation Method 1
The inflation motor controlled by the integrated control board generates air flow; the air flow from the inflation motor enters the second airbag through the first connection tubing, inflation tubing and the inflation nozzle. When the air pressure in the second airbag rises to a certain level, the air flow starts to enter the first airbag from the second airbag through the air flow passageway.
Implementation Method 2
When the inflation pressure inside the first airbag and the second airbag reaches a preset value, the pressure detection valve detects and sends signals to the integrated control board.
Implementation Method 3
After the inflation motor stops, the first airbag and the second airbag will maintain a preset pressure for a certain period of time prior to deflation, or immediately deflate through the pressure detection and deflation nozzle, the deflation tubing, the second connection tubing, and the solenoid valve in sequence.
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic physiotherapy apparatus with optimized compression, including a wrap and a controller. The wrap includes an outer wrap and an inner airbag set; the controller can be fixedly connected to, detachably connected to, or separately connected to the outer wrap; the inner airbag set includes the first airbag and the second airbag that are interconnected and overlapped; the controller contains an inflating motor and an integrated control board that are electrically connected. The inflating motor that is controlled by the integrated control board inflates the second airbag first and then the first airbag to achieve the overlapped compression between the second airbag and the first airbag. Therefore, the user can use the pneumatic physiotherapy apparatus with optimized compression to promote blood flow, improve blood circulation, prevent deep vein thrombosis and other diseases, and improve user experience in the treatment areas.