Segmented Blood Pressure Cuff Bladder Prevents Lateral Shifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blood pressure measurement cuffs with air bladders are prone to lateral shifting when external forces are applied, leading to a loss of pressurization force and inaccurate blood pressure readings due to the structure of the air bladder, which is easily rolled by external forces.
Innovation Solution
The air bladder is formed into a rectangular bag shape with partial welded portions on the long sides that intersect the sealed end portions, preventing lateral shifting by maintaining the pressurization force on the measurement site through a simple configuration that includes a belt-shaped cuff body and a fluid bladder for expansion and contraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the air bladder is formed with a simple tube structure, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the air bladder easily rolls laterally under external force causing position instability
Solution Approach 1:
The air bladder is divided into multiple air chambers separated by partition walls. Each air chamber is formed by folding and welding the resin sheet, creating a segmented structure that prevents lateral rolling while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through systematic folding and welding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The air bladder structure transitions from a two-dimensional tube to a three-dimensional multi-chamber configuration with partition walls extending vertically. This dimensional change creates structural rigidity that resists lateral deformation while maintaining the overall cylindrical form factor.
2Ease of manufacture
If the air bladder structure is simplified, then manufacturing is easier, but pressurization accuracy decreases due to lateral shifting
Solution Approach 1:
The air bladder is segmented into multiple air chambers with partition walls, preventing lateral rolling and ensuring the air bladder maintains its position on the measurement site. This structural improvement enhances measurement accuracy while the segmented design can be achieved through systematic folding and welding of the resin sheet.
Solution Approach 2:
The air bladder utilizes a flexible resin sheet that is folded and welded to create the multi-chamber structure. The flexible nature of the thin film allows it to conform to the body surface while the folded and welded structure provides rigidity to prevent lateral shifting, ensuring accurate pressurization.
3Shape
If the air bladder is made with a narrow long shape, then it fits the body contour, but it is easily rolled by external force in the lateral direction
Solution Approach 1:
The narrow long air bladder is segmented into multiple vertical air chambers separated by partition walls. This segmentation creates a structurally rigid configuration that resists lateral rolling while maintaining the narrow elongated shape necessary to fit the body contour.
Solution Approach 2:
The air bladder structure combines the flexibility of the resin sheet with the structural rigidity of the folded and welded multi-chamber configuration. This composite structural approach maintains the contoured shape while providing resistance to lateral deformation through the partition wall architecture.
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 configuration ensures a stable and sufficient pressurization force on the measurement site, enabling high-accuracy blood pressure measurements by preventing the air bladder from shifting during expansion and contraction, thus maintaining consistent pressurization.
Implementation Method 1
a cuff containing a fluid bladder that pressurizes an artery in a body is first wrapped around a surface of the body. Then, the fluid bladder inside the wrapped cuff is inflated/deflated, and an arterial pressure pulse wave occurring in an artery is detected.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing a blood pressure information measurement apparatus includes the following steps: forming a hole in a flexible resin sheet; inserting a connecting pipe into the hole; overlaying a first end portion and a second end portion of the flexible resin sheet such that an inner side of the first end portion contacts an outer side of the second portion; welding a location at which the first end portion and the second end portion overlap to form a first welded portion, such that the flexible resin sheet forms a tube-shaped body having a first end and a second end; flattening the tube-shaped body; welding the first end and the second to form two second welded portions, such that the tube-shaped body forms a bladder having two long sides and two short sides; and welding portions of the resin sheet which overlap along a first long side to form one or more partial welded portions.