Thermal Digit Wrap for Isolated Cold Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digit immobilizers fail to provide targeted cold therapy for injured fingers, often causing the entire hand to be chilled, which is undesirable, and are not user-friendly or cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
A thermal digit wrap system featuring a reusable or disposable gel-pack with a hook and loop fastener system, allowing for targeted cooling gel application to reduce swelling and pain, while also providing support to the injured digit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cold-pack is used to relieve finger injury, then swelling and pain are reduced, but the entire hand becomes frozen which is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into a finger-specific wrap that isolates the cold therapy to only the injured digit. The wrap includes a cooling chamber that fits specifically over the finger, preventing cold transfer to the hand while still providing effective cold compression to the injured area.
Solution Approach 2:
The cold therapy is applied locally to only the injured finger through a customized wrap design. The wrap features a cooling chamber that contacts only the finger, with insulation barriers that prevent cold propagation to surrounding hand tissue, achieving localized temperature reduction without harmful side effects.
2Strength
If a finger splint is used to immobilize the digit, then support is provided, but the device becomes too big and freezes the entire hand
Solution Approach 1:
The splint is segmented into a compact finger-specific structure that provides immobilization support only to the injured digit. The design includes a finger cup that cradles the finger and a minimal extension for wrist support, eliminating unnecessary material that would increase hand coverage and cause unintended freezing.
Solution Approach 2:
The splint utilizes flexible, thin-walled materials that conform to the finger's shape, providing structural support without excessive bulk. The thin-profile construction reduces the overall volume of the device, preventing contact with large hand areas while maintaining adequate immobilization strength.
3Ease of manufacture
If a reusable thermal wrap is used, then cost-effectiveness improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal wrap is designed as a universal, multi-functional device that combines cold compression, immobilization, and insulation functions in a single reusable unit. This eliminates the need for separate cold packs, splints, and insulation materials, reducing overall system complexity while improving cost-effectiveness through reuse.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrap employs composite material construction combining insulating layers, cooling chamber materials, and structural support elements into an integrated assembly. This composite approach simplifies manufacturing by consolidating multiple functions into a single manufactured component rather than requiring assembly of separate parts.
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 system effectively reduces swelling and pain in injured digits by providing isolated cold therapy, maintaining support, and is user-friendly and cost-effective, making it suitable for home, office, or car first-aid kits.
Implementation Method 1
at least one cooling gel located between the top side and the bottom side... provides an isolated cold-pack via cooling gel to reduce swelling and pain
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal digit wrap system includes a thermal digit wrap assembly having a first edge having at least one loop mated fastener strip, a second edge, a third edge having at least one hook mated fastener strap, a fourth edge; a top side; a bottom side; and an interior volume having at least one cooling gel located between the top side and the bottom side. The thermal digit wrap assembly is structured and arranged to enable it to act in a capacity of a splint and immobilizes an injured digit. The thermal digit wrap system provides an isolated cold-pack via cooling gel to reduce swelling and pain following an injury to the digit.