Vehicle Seat Thermal Therapy with Two-Phase Analgesic Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle seat thermal therapy methods lack effective operating parameters for heating and cooling devices to provide analgesia within typical commute times and fail to account for clothing insulation and specific body regions, necessitating a method that uses existing heating and cooling devices to deliver targeted thermal therapy without massaging devices.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a heating device that applies a high temperature for a short period to raise seat and skin temperatures, followed by a maintenance phase to sustain therapeutic temperatures, with optional cooling to manage temperature, tailored to specific seat sections and occupant comfort, using resistance elements and thermoelectric devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If massaging devices are used to provide analgesia in vehicle seats, then pain relief is achieved, but device complexity and packaging space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential therapeutic function (thermal therapy for analgesia) from the complex massaging device system. By using only heating and cooling devices without mechanical massagers, the solution removes unnecessary components while retaining the core pain relief functionality through thermal therapy mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The heating and cooling devices in vehicle seats are made to serve multiple functions: providing thermal comfort during normal operation and delivering clinically effective thermal therapy for pain relief when activated with specific temperature profiles. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate massaging devices
2Reliability
If high temperature is applied for long duration to achieve therapeutic effects, then analgesia is improved, but comfort and safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using a two-phase thermal protocol: a high-temperature phase (70-90°C) applied briefly (2-6 minutes) to achieve therapeutic vasodilation and pain relief effects, followed by a maintenance phase with lower temperatures (43-46°C) to sustain benefits without causing burns or discomfort. This time-varying approach balances efficacy and safety
Solution Approach 2:
The high-temperature heating phase is applied preliminarily for a short duration to achieve the critical therapeutic effect (vasodilation and pain receptor desensitization) before transitioning to lower maintenance temperatures. This preliminary intense heating prevents the need for prolonged high-temperature exposure that would cause burns
3Productivity
If thermal therapy is applied to provide peri-treatment and post-treatment effects within commute times, then productivity is improved, but temperature control precision must increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic temperature control where the heating device operates at different temperature levels and duty cycles at different time phases. The system dynamically adjusts from high power (90-100% duty cycle) during the heating phase to lower power (45-55% duty cycle) during maintenance, enabling precise control of thermal delivery within the constrained commute time window while achieving both peri-treatment and post-treatment effects
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 approach effectively relieves pain by achieving clinically significant temperature changes and maintaining comfort, providing analgesia that can last for several hours, adaptable to different clothing insulation and body regions, without the need for massaging devices.
Implementation Method 1
The heating device may be operated to increase a temperature of a seat surface and/or an occupant's skin
Implementation Method 2
The heating device may comprise a resistance element
Implementation Method 3
The cooling device may include a blower, a thermoelectric device, a fluid distribution device, or any combination thereof
Implementation Method 4
The cooling device may include a blower, a thermoelectric device, a fluid distribution device, or any combination thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing localized thermal therapy to a vehicle occupant. The method comprises first operating a heating device to apply a first temperature for a first period of time and second operating the heating device to maintain a skin temperature of about 36° C. to 37° C. and/or a seat surface temperature of about 43° C. to 46° C.