Spinal Thermal Device Traction Prediction via 3D Body Modeling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Spinal traction devices often cause muscle pain, joint or ligament damage, and inconsistent pressure reduction due to inadequate consideration of user body type, leading to potential injuries and suboptimal traction effects.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the generation of three-dimensional structure data for both the user's body and the spinal thermal device, calculation of stress and strain during operation, conversion of strain values to traction degrees, and visualization of traction effects, optimizing traction based on user body type and device settings such as ceramic temperature and height.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If axial traction force is applied to the spine to improve alignment and reduce disc pressure, then traction effect is enhanced, but muscle pain, joint or ligament damage, and insufficient pressure reduction may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraction effectVSAvoidmuscle pain, joint or ligament damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing thermal energy to alter the physical state of spinal tissues. Heating the spine to 40-45°C changes the viscoelastic properties of discs and ligaments, making them more pliable and responsive to traction forces, thereby achieving better alignment without causing tissue damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces part of the mechanical traction system with a thermal system. Instead of relying solely on mechanical axial force, the invention uses thermal energy to prepare tissues for traction, reducing the mechanical stress required and minimizing harmful effects on muscles and ligaments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If spinal traction is performed without considering user body type, then device operation is simplified, but traction effect becomes inconsistent and injury risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice operationVSAvoidtraction effect consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by making the device adaptive to different user body types. The system dynamically adjusts thermal and mechanical parameters based on detected user characteristics (such as weight, height, or body composition), ensuring consistent and safe traction effects across diverse populations while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms to monitor user response during treatment and adjust parameters accordingly. By incorporating sensors that detect tissue response, body type characteristics, or physiological signals, the system automatically optimizes thermal and mechanical parameters to maintain consistent traction effects across different users

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If spine is pulled too much to improve traction effect, then alignment may be improved, but user injury risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment improvementVSAvoiduser injury

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by using thermal heating to prepare spinal tissues before mechanical traction is applied. By pre-heating the spine to increase tissue pliability, the device cushions against potential injury during subsequent mechanical pulling, allowing for effective alignment improvement without exceeding safe force limits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 approach optimizes traction effects and predicts safety and effectiveness by tailoring the spinal thermal device's operation to individual body types, reducing the risk of injury and enhancing the therapeutic outcome.

Implementation Method 1

a heating element (110) extending along the lower surface of the ceramic (11) in the length direction, the heating element (110) being configured to heat the ceramic (11) to a predetermined temperature range of 30 to 50° C.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The spinal thermal device (1) may include a ceramic (11) having a predetermined shape and configured to contact a lower back of a user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS20240062868A1Methods for predicting safety and effectiveness of spinal thermal devices

Publication Date: 2024.02.22 CERAGEM CO LTD

AI summary

A method for predicting safety and effectiveness of a spinal thermal device may include generating three-dimensional structure data of a user's body, generating three-dimensional structure data of the spinal thermal device, setting a set value of the spinal thermal device, calculating a stress applied to the user's body and a strain of the user's body in a process of pressurizing the user's body as the spinal thermal device operates as the set value, converting a strain value of a user's body to a degree of traction, and visualizing the degree of traction of the user's body.