Stretchable Thermal Patch for Adaptive Thermotherapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercially available thermotherapy solutions, such as chemical-based pain relief patches and laser heating, are expensive, non-reusable, and not suitable for children, with limited heating ranges and prone to side effects, making them inaccessible and ineffective for widespread use, especially in impoverished areas.
Innovation Solution
A smart thermal patch using flexible and stretchable electronics with wireless controllability, reusability, and affordability, featuring a lithographically patterned mechanical design with conductive thin films that absorb deformation strain, allowing geometric and spatial tunability for precise heat application on various pain locations, powered by a low-cost CMOS-compatible system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical-based pain relief patches are used, then pain relief is provided, but they are non-reusable and have limited lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from chemical-based heating (non-reusable) to electrical resistance heating (reusable) by changing the heating mechanism parameter. The flexible heater uses conductive traces on a flexible substrate that can be repeatedly powered without degradation, enabling multiple uses unlike chemical patches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical reaction-based heating mechanism with an electrical heating mechanism. Instead of relying on chemical exothermic reactions that consume the patch, the invention uses electrical current passing through resistive traces to generate heat, allowing the patch to be reused indefinitely.
2Reliability
If laser heating is used, then thermotherapy is provided, but it is expensive and mostly unavailable in impoverished areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs low-cost materials and manufacturing methods including flexible substrates, conductive inks or traces, and simple electronic components. The device can be produced at scale using flexible PCB or printed electronics techniques, making it affordable for widespread use in resource-limited settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the technology parameter from high-cost laser heating to low-cost resistive heating. This substitution maintains therapeutic effectiveness while dramatically reducing device cost and complexity, enabling deployment in impoverished areas.
3Reliability
If a rigid thermal patch is used, then heating is provided, but it cannot be stretched to fit different body parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible substrate (such as polyimide or PDMS) with thin conductive traces to create a stretchable heater. The flexible nature allows the patch to conform to various body contours and be stretched to different sizes while maintaining heating functionality through the flexible electrical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates stretchable conductive elements that can dynamically adjust their configuration. The conductive traces are designed with serpentine or mesh patterns that allow stretching and deformation while maintaining electrical continuity, enabling the patch to adapt to different body geometries.
4Reliability
If conventional conductive materials are used in stretched form, then conductivity is provided, but high conductivity is lost due to deformation strain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs conductive elements with dynamic geometric patterns (serpentine, meander, or mesh structures) that can accommodate stretching deformation. These patterns allow the conductor to elongate while maintaining electrical pathways, preventing loss of conductivity during stretching and recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses thin-film conductive materials deposited on flexible substrates. The thin-film structure combined with flexible substrate support maintains electrical conductivity during deformation, as the thin conductive layer can flex without breaking electrical pathways.
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 smart thermal patch provides adaptable, long-lasting, and cost-effective thermotherapy, capable of stretching to fit different body parts, maintaining high conductivity, and offering precise temperature control using smartphones, enhancing accessibility and effectiveness for conditions like arthritis and cancer treatment.
Implementation Method 1
conductive material for thermal heating
Implementation Method 2
The stretchable conductor(s) can have a lateral spring design. The design of the conductors can make them behave hyperelastically allowing the conductor(s) to stretch under applied strain and return to their generally unstretched shape when the strain is released.
Data Source
AI summary
A smart thermal patch for adaptive thermotherapy is provided. In an embodiment, the patch can be a stretchable, non-polymeric, conductive thin film flexible and non-invasive body integrated mobile thermal heater with wireless control capabilities that can be used to provide adaptive thermotherapy. The patch can be geometrically and spatially tunable on various pain locations. Adaptability allows the amount of heating to be tuned based on the temperature of the treated portion.