Skin Stimulation Device with Segmented Hollow Compartments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing skin stimulation devices are limited in their ability to effectively increase blood flow and slimming effects due to poor sealing, complex operation, and inability to be worn comfortably during exercise, often resulting in leakage or inadequate pressure distribution.

Innovation Solution

A carrying strap device with stimulation elements in the form of hollow compartments that can be inflated or deflated to create both positive and underpressure zones on the skin, ensuring airtight sealing and efficient skin stimulation without the need for additional pumping equipment, allowing for greater skin deformation and improved blood circulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the device is designed as a garment that must be applied over the body with hermetic sealing, then underpressure zones can be created, but the device cannot be easily put on and taken off, and leakage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunderpressure zone creationVSAvoidease of putting on and taking off
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into a support structure with multiple independent hollow compartments (first and second compartments) that can be separately inflated and deflated. This segmentation allows the device to create alternating pressure zones without requiring complete hermetic sealing around the entire body, enabling easier application and removal while maintaining reliable underpressure zones in specific areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs dynamic inflation and deflation of hollow compartments through a pump system, allowing the pressure zones to be created and released on demand. This dynamic operation eliminates the need for permanent hermetic sealing, as the sealing is only required temporarily during the inflation phase, significantly improving ease of application and removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If many separate compartments are used to achieve finely tuned skin stimulation, then stimulation precision improves, but the number of connections to pumping equipment increases making the device too complex to wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin stimulation precisionVSAvoidnumber of connections to pumping equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple hollow compartments are merged into a single integrated device structure with a unified pump system. The pump can selectively inflate and deflate different compartments through separate valves, maintaining precise control over each compartment while reducing the overall complexity of connections. This merging approach allows fine-tuned skin stimulation without requiring multiple separate pumping equipment connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the device is designed with close connection to the body for proper function, then underpressure zones can be maintained, but the device cannot be worn during exercise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunderpressure zone maintenanceVSAvoidwearability during exercise
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device utilizes flexible hollow compartments made of elastic material that can conform to body contours during various activities. These flexible compartments maintain their sealing integrity under dynamic conditions while allowing the necessary movement and comfort for exercise. The flexible design enables the device to be worn during physical activity while maintaining reliable underpressure zones when activated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 device provides enhanced skin stimulation and increased blood flow, leading to more effective slimming and overall health benefits by creating airtight underpressure zones that enhance the massage effect and prevent leakage, while being easy to use and wear.

Implementation Method 1

one or several hollow compartments (21) separated from one another, which can be brought in an expanded state by filling them with a medium (22)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

other opposing sections of the stimulation element will undergo a movement away from these adjacent sections, wherein edges of at least one zone (33) of one or more of the intermediate surface sections (27) connecting to contours (28) of the stimulation element are also subjected to a movement in this movement away

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUnderpressure: Depressurisation

Implementation Method 3

around the zone (33) between the stimulation surface (8) and the skin (3), an airtightly sealed, circular edge or strip (34) remains

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP3820415B1Tool for stimulating a part of the skin
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 DMT WELLNESS SOLUTIONS BVBA
  • EP3820415B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3820415B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3820415B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Device (1) intended to act on a surface area (2) of the skin (3) with one or several stimulation elements (19,20) distributed over a stimulation surface (8) and each formed of a hollow compartment (21) that can be pumped, full with a medium (22) so as to bring it into an expanded state and wherein the skin (3) is subjected to a positive pressure (P) on the spot of a dilated stimulation element (19), and to an underpressure or negative pressure (Q) in one or several intermediate areas (30).