Rib-Cage Conforming Therapy Garment for Focused Chest Oscillation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Applying high frequency oscillation force to a patient's chest wall for treating conditions like cystic fibrosis can be challenging due to the difficulty in effectively targeting the oscillation to the desired areas while minimizing discomfort and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A high frequency chest wall oscillation therapy garment with a bladder pocket and fluid bladder that conforms to the rib cage profile, incorporating fluid restrictions and layered materials to focus oscillation force on the chest wall, reducing transfer to non-therapeutic areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional fluid bladder is used to apply high frequency oscillation force, then the therapy can be delivered, but the force transfers to non-therapeutic areas of the torso causing discomfort and inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid bladder is shaped to conform specifically to the rib cage profile, creating different functional zones: areas that contact the rib cage for effective therapy delivery and areas that avoid contact with the spine and other non-therapeutic regions. This localized geometric adaptation ensures force is applied only where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The bladder is designed with distinct functional segments including a rib cage conforming portion for therapy delivery and a spinal avoidance portion with reduced or zero force application. This segmentation allows different regions of the bladder to perform different functions - therapeutic oscillation versus force avoidance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the fluid bladder volume is reduced to improve comfort and reduce force transfer, then discomfort is reduced, but the ability to deliver effective oscillation force may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder employs non-uniform volume distribution with high-volume regions positioned over the rib cage for effective oscillation delivery and low-volume or zero-volume regions over the spine and other non-therapeutic areas. This localized volume variation maintains therapeutic effectiveness while minimizing discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The bladder design varies multiple parameters including volume, pressure distribution, and geometric shape across different regions. The pressurizable chamber is configured to create high pressure zones over the rib cage for effective oscillation while maintaining low pressure zones over sensitive areas, optimizing both comfort and therapeutic effect.
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 garment effectively delivers high frequency oscillation therapy with reduced volume and discomfort, maintaining airflow efficiency by concentrating percussive force on the upper respiratory tract, enhancing treatment efficacy and patient comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid bladder arranged within the bladder pocket and defining a pressurizable chamber adapted to receive pressurized fluid to provide force of high frequency pressure oscillation to a patient's chest wall
Implementation Method 2
The outward layer of the covering garment may define a stiff layer adapted to impede force of high frequency pressure oscillation of the fluid bladder outward of the patient's chest wall and the inward layer defines a flexible layer to encourage force of high frequency pressure oscillation of the fluid bladder towards the patient's chest wall
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation therapy can include a therapy garment including a covering garment for dressing on a patient's torso, the covering garment including a bladder pocket defined between inward and outward layers, and a fluid bladder arranged within the bladder pocket. The fluid bladder can define a pressurizable chamber adapted to receive pressurized fluid to provide force of high frequency pressure oscillation to a patient's chest wall. The pressurizable chamber can be formed to define an outer profile shaped to correspond closely with the patient's rib cage profile to reduce transfer of force of high frequency chest oscillation to the patient's torso outside of the patient's rib cage profile.