Plastically Deformable Light Therapy Pad for Body Contours

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light therapy devices lack sufficient flexibility to conform to various body shapes without damaging the device or requiring straps, leading to suboptimal positioning of light emitters relative to the body surface.

Innovation Solution

A light therapy device with a shapeable pad that can be formed into desired configurations, such as curved or twisted shapes, using a plastically deformable material and perforated regions to retain the shape without straps, ensuring light emitters are optimally positioned near the body surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the device is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then device strength is improved, but the device cannot conform to various body shapes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice strengthVSAvoidability to conform to body shapes

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates a flexible pad as its structural foundation, allowing the entire device to bend and conform to body contours while maintaining structural integrity. This flexible base layer enables the device to adapt to various shapes without compromising strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The device transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can change shape as needed. The flexible pad allows the device to be manually formed into different configurations and retain those shapes during use, providing adaptability to different body parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the device is made flexible to conform to body shapes, then adaptability is improved, but the device may be damaged during forming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to conform to body shapesVSAvoiddevice durability during forming

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible pad is specifically designed with sufficient mechanical strength to withstand manual forming operations. Its material properties allow it to be bent and shaped without tearing or permanent damage, ensuring reliability during the forming process while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The device is formed into the desired shape before use, allowing the flexible pad to be pre-shaped without damage. Once formed, the pad retains the shape during treatment, eliminating the need for straps or retainers and ensuring both durability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If straps or retainers are used to hold the device in shape, then shape retention is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshape retentionVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible pad is designed to self-retain its formed shape without requiring external straps or retainers. The material properties and construction of the pad allow it to maintain the desired configuration naturally, simplifying the device structure while ensuring shape stability during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If light emitters are positioned far from the body surface, then device comfort is improved, but light therapy efficacy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice comfortVSAvoidlight therapy efficacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible pad enables the device to conform closely to body contours, allowing light emitters to be positioned at the optimal distance from the skin surface. This close positioning maximizes light therapy efficacy while the flexibility of the pad ensures comfort during application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 device ensures that light emitters are within a therapeutically optimal distance from the body surface, enhancing the efficacy of light therapy by allowing customizable fit to body contours and maintaining consistent emitter positioning.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Implementation Method 2

at least one light emitter positioned on or in the pad and operative to deliver a light therapy session by casting light from the pad onto or into said portion of the body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS12447353B2Light therapy device and method for delivery of light therapy to a body part

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 BIOPHOTAS INC

AI summary

Methods, devices and systems for delivering light therapy to human or non-human animal subjects. Included are shapeable light therapy devices which are formable into different shapes suitable for delivery of therapeutic light to different regions of the subject's body and will retain the desired shape without a need for the use of a strap or other shape-retaining apparatus. Also included are light therapy devices that, in at least some modes of operation, deliver light that is not visible to the human eye and which include indicator(s) to indicate to a user and/or to the subject being treated when non-visible light is actually being emitted.