Segmented Gel Cold Pack for Leg Contouring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive cryotherapy methods, such as gel packs, often fail to effectively contour to the body's curves, leading to inadequate cooling and increased costs due to the need for semi-skilled application and limited reusability, especially in acute injuries.
Innovation Solution
A disposable, inexpensive cold pack design featuring a sleeve member with containment bags that can hold a therapeutic amount of cold substance, allowing for secure, conformable, and prolonged cooling of anatomical regions, including the leg and foot, using a plastic material and ultrasonic welding for manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If gel packs are used for conductive cooling, then cooling effect is achieved, but they fail to contour to the body's curves for maximum application
Solution Approach 1:
The cold pack is divided into multiple independent gel compartments (first gel compartment, second gel compartment, third gel compartment) that can independently conform to different body contours. Each compartment is separated by partitions, allowing the gel to flex and adapt to the specific anatomical shape of the injury site while maintaining cooling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The gel compartments are enclosed in flexible membranes that allow the gel to deform and conform to the body's curved surfaces. The flexible packaging enables the cold pack to adapt to various anatomical regions while maintaining the structural integrity needed for effective thermal conduction.
2Temperature
If gel packs are made as semi-solid single mass, then cooling is provided, but they are limited in conformability and require semi-skilled personnel for application
Solution Approach 1:
The single mass gel is segmented into multiple independent compartments, each capable of independently conforming to different parts of the body. This segmentation allows the cold pack to be easily applied to various anatomical regions without requiring skilled personnel to manually shape or position the gel, as each compartment naturally adapts to the body contours.
Solution Approach 2:
The gel compartments are designed to be dynamic and adaptable, changing shape to fit the body's contours rather than requiring the user to force the gel into a specific position. This dynamic conformability simplifies the application process and eliminates the need for semi-skilled personnel.
3Ease of manufacture
If gel packs are designed for reusability, then cost efficiency is improved, but they are damaged or lost in acute injury situations
Solution Approach 1:
The cold pack is designed as a disposable device with a sealed, single-use structure. The packaging includes a tear strip that allows easy opening, and the gel compartments are sealed to prevent contamination. After use, the entire unit is discarded, eliminating the risk of damage or loss in acute injury situations while maintaining cost efficiency through inexpensive manufacturing of the disposable unit.
4Force
If cold packs use hook and loop fasteners, then securing is achieved, but they are not sufficiently conformable for snug contact with tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The gel compartments are enclosed in flexible membranes that allow the gel to deform and conform to the body's curved surfaces. This flexibility ensures snug contact with the tissue for effective thermal conduction, complementing the securing mechanism by maintaining consistent contact pressure across irregular body surfaces.
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 solution provides effective, conformable, and cost-efficient cryotherapy by ensuring consistent contact and prolonged cooling, reducing the need for skilled application and enhancing usability in various settings, including athletic injuries.
Implementation Method 1
Conductive cooling has been found to be advantageous in many applications because it is thought to be more readily controllable than other cooling techniques. A conductive cooling source may be therapeutically helpful if secured in contact with a specified anatomical region under an assured pressure for a specified duration.
Implementation Method 2
The sleeve member may also include a means to cinch the opening defined by the first end, such as a drawstring, to secure the sleeve member to the leg of an individual.
Data Source
AI summary
A therapeutic cold pack comprises a sleeve member adapted to accommodate a portion of the leg of an individual. Attached to a surface of the therapeutic cold pack are one or more containment bags each defining an internal volume adapted to hold a therapeutic amount of a cold substance. Each containment bag is positioned to substantially coincide with an intended part of the leg of an individual such that the cold substance provides a therapeutic cooling to that area.