Reconfigurable Pressure and Thermal Therapy Applicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional therapy systems are inflexible and often require multiple devices to accommodate users of different sizes and body parts, as they are typically sized for specific body types or portions, limiting their adaptability and increasing costs for teams or individuals with varying sizes.
Innovation Solution
A modular treatment system with a reconfigurable treatment delivery component that includes a pressure applicator and a thermal applicator, which can be adjusted to fit various body parts by expanding to accommodate different circumferences, allowing for secure and effective application of pressure and thermal treatments across a range of user sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional therapy systems are designed for specific body types or portions, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but adaptability to different users and body parts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure applicator incorporates expandable elements that can dynamically adjust their volume and shape to conform to different body parts and sizes. The expansion mechanism allows the same device to effectively treat various anatomical regions (legs, arms, torso) while maintaining proper contact and pressure distribution, thus resolving the contradiction between treatment effectiveness and adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple conventional devices are purchased to accommodate different user sizes, then coverage of all user types is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The therapy system is designed as a universal platform where the pressure applicator can be configured for different body parts through expansion and the thermal applicator can be positioned at various locations. This multi-functional design allows a single device to replace multiple specialized devices, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage for different user sizes and body parts
3Adaptability or versatility
If pressure and thermal treatment components are integrated, then treatment flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated therapy system is divided into distinct functional modules: a pressure applicator with expandable elements and a separate thermal applicator. These segmented components can be independently controlled and adjusted, allowing flexible combination of pressure and thermal treatments while keeping each component relatively simple in design
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 a single system to be used on multiple users of varying sizes, enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing the need for multiple devices by ensuring proper apposition of treatment elements, thus improving adaptability and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
Each pressure element is changeable, in response to receiving the pressurized fluid, from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration having a greater volume than the collapsed configuration
Implementation Method 2
The thermal applicator is in fluid communication with a thermal conduit releasably coupleable to a thermal source and configured to conduct therethrough a liquid from the thermal source and to exchange thermal energy between the treatment portion and the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods described herein include a pressure delivery component that has a pressure applicator configured to selectively apply therapeutic pressure to a treatment portion of a user body, and also includes a thermal delivery component that has a thermal applicator that is a configured to apply thermal treatment to the treatment portion. The thermal applicator may be removably disposable in operative relationship with the pressure delivery component in a use configuration of the treatment delivery component Treatment delivery component is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the treatment portion is a first treatment portion that includes a lower leg and foot of the user's body, and a second configuration in which the treatment portion is a second treatment portion that includes an upper arm and deltoid of the user's body.