Segmented Foot Compression Bladder for Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compression devices for the foot are bulky, aesthetically unacceptable, and restrict mobility due to their design, which affects the treatment of venous foot ulcers and limits the patient's ability to wear normal shoes and clothes.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, low-profile compression device with two inflatable bladders focused on the heel and arch of the foot, featuring independent fluid supply and control, allowing for targeted pressure application and mobility without the need for cumbersome tubes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a thick cuff is used to apply compression pressure to the foot, then effective compression is achieved, but the device becomes large and bulky, affecting patient mobility and aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The compression device is divided into multiple separate cuffs that can be applied to different parts of the limb (foot, ankle, lower leg). Each cuff is thin and flexible, but together they provide comprehensive compression coverage without requiring a single bulky device
Solution Approach 2:
Different cuffs are designed with specific properties for different locations - the foot cuff targets the foot area, the ankle cuff targets the ankle, and the lower leg cuff targets the lower leg. This allows compression to be applied locally where needed rather than requiring a thick universal cuff
2Reliability
If pneumatic fluid is supplied through pipes in a hospital setting, then reliable compression is achieved, but the patient cannot be mobile or wear normal clothing
Solution Approach 1:
The compression device is extracted from the fixed hospital infrastructure by making it portable and wearable. The cuffs can be applied directly to the patient's limb and are not dependent on hospital pipes or fixed equipment, enabling mobility and use in community settings
Solution Approach 2:
A portable pump unit serves as an intermediary between the power source and the compression cuffs. This mediator can be carried by the patient or placed nearby, delivering pneumatic fluid through flexible tubing to the cuffs without requiring fixed hospital infrastructure
3Ease of operation
If a shoe is worn with the cuff in place, then normal footwear is maintained, but the shoe blocks the path for pneumatic fluid passage
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid supply system transitions from a horizontal path blocked by the shoe to a vertical path through the shoe sole. The pump unit is positioned below the shoe, and fluid is supplied upward through the shoe sole to the cuff, bypassing the blocking issue
4Stress or pressure
If a tube is used to supply fluid to the arch of the foot, then compression is achieved, but the shoe collapses or kinks the tube causing pressure points
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of supplying fluid to a single point at the arch, the system supplies fluid to multiple cuffs at different locations (foot cuff, ankle cuff, lower leg cuff). This distributes the compression action across multiple areas, reducing the need for intense localized pressure that would require problematic tubing
5Stress or pressure
If a cylindrical cuff applies pressure over the whole foot surface, then comprehensive compression is achieved, but ankle mobility is reduced making walking difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The compression is segmented into multiple cuffs applied to different parts of the limb rather than a single continuous cylindrical cuff. This segmentation allows gaps in compression coverage that preserve ankle mobility while still providing effective compression to the foot and lower leg areas
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 effective treatment of venous ulcers by focusing pressure on prevalent areas while maintaining ankle mobility and allowing patients to wear ordinary shoes, with flexible operation for various treatments.
Implementation Method 1
A first aspect of the present invention provides a compression device for the foot comprising: a wrap adapted to surround the foot, the wrap comprising at least two bladders which when inflated conform to the shape of the foot to provide compression
Data Source
AI summary
A compression device for the foot comprising: a wrap adapted to surround the foot, the wrap comprising at least two bladders which when inflated conform to the shape of the foot to provide compression, the bladders being positioned on the wrap so that a first bladder focuses compression on the heel of the foot and a second bladder focuses compression on the arch of the foot; a channel attached to each bladder for independently delivering fluid to each bladder; and a controller attached to the channels that generates and independently controls the flow of fluid to the bladders.