Soft Physiotherapy Instrument with Flexible Sheet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional physiotherapy products are often made of hard materials, which are uncomfortable for the human body and have limited contact areas, failing to effectively stimulate skin for therapeutic benefits.
Innovation Solution
A soft physiotherapy instrument featuring a flexible sheet with carbon nanotube functional layers and electrodes, controlled by a controller to apply voltage and stimulate skin areas selectively, enhancing comfort and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If hard materials are used for physiotherapy products, then structural strength is improved, but comfort and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible sheets as the outer structure of the physiotherapy device, replacing traditional hard materials. These flexible sheets can conform to body contours and provide comfort during use, while still maintaining sufficient structural integrity to support the functional components within.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses composite construction combining flexible outer sheets with internal functional layers containing carbon nanotubes and electrodes. This composite structure integrates the flexibility and comfort of soft materials with the electrical functionality required for physiotherapy, resolving the contradiction between strength and comfort.
2Reliability
If hard materials are used for physiotherapy products, then durability is improved, but contact area and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible sheets enable the device to conform to various body surfaces, significantly increasing the contact area between the physiotherapy device and the user's body. This allows for broader therapeutic coverage while maintaining durability through proper material selection and construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates flexible and adaptable structures that can dynamically adjust to different body contours and positions. This dynamic capability increases contact area and flexibility without compromising durability, as the flexible components are designed to withstand repeated use and deformation.
3Device complexity
If small contact area is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but therapeutic effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The physiotherapy device is segmented into multiple functional layers including flexible outer sheets, carbon nanotube layers, electrode layers, and control components. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function efficiently, enabling large contact area and high therapeutic effectiveness while keeping the overall device design systematic and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure with multiple functional layers enables the device to achieve both large contact area and high therapeutic effectiveness without excessive complexity. Each layer contributes a specific function, and their integration creates a cohesive system that is more effective than simple designs while remaining practically implementable.
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 soft physiotherapy instrument provides comfortable and targeted skin stimulation, improving user experience and maintaining flexibility and strength, even with repeated use and cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
A soft physiotherapy instrument featuring a flexible sheet with carbon nanotube functional layers and electrodes, controlled by a controller to apply voltage and stimulate skin areas selectively
Data Source
AI summary
A method for using soft physiotherapy instrument is provided. The method comprises providing a soft physiotherapy instrument comprising a flexible sheet and a controller, applying the flexible sheet of on a user's skin, and turning on the controller and selecting a function button on the controller, inputting a current to a plurality of functional layers in the flexible sheet, and stimulating user's skin with the current.