Pelotte Wavy Surface Structure for Guided Lymphatic Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pads with smooth or nubbed surfaces are inefficient in reducing swelling and lymphological treatment or stimulation due to their homogeneous structure, which fails to optimally support the targeted outflow of lymph fluid along lymph channels.
Innovation Solution
A pad with a periodic surface structure featuring elongated, wavy elements that mimic wave-like patterns, allowing for a guided lymphatic drainage by creating channels that align with the natural course of lymph vessels, enhancing the massage effect and lymphatic stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a smooth or nubbed surface is used on the pad, then the manufacturing is simple, but the lymphological treatment effectiveness is poor due to homogeneous structure
Solution Approach 1:
The pad surface is divided into different zones with distinct functions: wavy structures create channels for lymph flow in certain areas, while nubbed structures provide massage stimulation in other areas. This local differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally, improving overall lymphological treatment effectiveness while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The homogeneous surface is segmented into multiple functional elements including wavy channels and nubbed regions. This segmentation creates a heterogeneous surface structure that can simultaneously provide guided lymph drainage through waves and mechanical stimulation through nubs, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and treatment effectiveness.
2Ease of manufacture
If a homogeneous surface structure is used, then the pad is easy to manufacture, but it fails to guide lymph fluid outflow in a preferred direction
Solution Approach 1:
The surface structure incorporates wavy regions with specific directional characteristics that guide lymph fluid flow along preferred paths. These localized wavy structures create channels that direct lymph movement, while maintaining overall manufacturing simplicity through consistent fabrication processes.
Solution Approach 2:
Wavy structures with curved surfaces are introduced to the pad surface. These curved geometries naturally guide lymph fluid flow along the wave contours, creating preferred drainage directions without requiring complex manufacturing processes. The curvature of the waves provides the guiding function while maintaining ease of manufacture.
3Device complexity
If conventional smooth pads are used, then the device complexity is low, but the massage effect and swelling reduction are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The pad surface is segmented into multiple functional elements including wavy channels and nubbed regions. This segmentation creates a heterogeneous surface structure that can simultaneously provide guided lymph drainage through waves and mechanical stimulation through nubs, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The pad integrates multiple surface structures (wavy regions and nubbed regions) into a single composite surface. This composite approach combines the benefits of channel guidance and mechanical massage stimulation, enhancing swelling reduction efficiency while maintaining relatively simple device construction through single-material fabrication.
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 wavy surface structure facilitates optimal lymph drainage by creating channels that guide lymphatic fluid along the natural course of lymph vessels, improving the massage effect and lymphatic stimulation, even with movement and shifting of the pad on the skin.
Implementation Method 1
The wavy surface structure facilitates optimal lymph drainage by creating channels that guide lymphatic fluid along the natural course of lymph vessels, improving the massage effect and lymphatic stimulation
Implementation Method 2
improving the massage effect and lymphatic stimulation
Data Source
Figure 1~2D
Figure 3
AI summary
The pelotte (1) has a cushion made of a flexible material, where a surface of the pelotte exhibits a periodic surface structure made of long-drawn-out elements i.e. wave trains (2), which are separated by gaps (3). Distance between the wave trains is about 0.1 millimeter to 3 centimeters. The periodic surface structure is located on the surface such that the wave trains and gaps run in dependence of a lymph channel to be covered with an angle ranging between minus 45 degrees and plus 45 degrees, relative to anatomical process of lymph vessels. An independent claim is also included for a method for producing a pelotte.