Vascular Compression System Two-Step Inflation Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vascular compression systems generate noise during inflation due to rapid flow rates, which can be uncomfortable for users and may lead to noise pollution, and often require larger, less portable pressurizers that restrict movement.
Innovation Solution
A controller system for compression garments that employs a two-step inflation process, starting with a pre-fill phase at a reduced flow rate to minimize noise and then increasing to a therapeutic flow rate for efficient compression, using either variable valves or a variable speed pressurizer to manage gas flow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If rapid flow rate is used for inflation, then compression therapy effectiveness is improved, but noise generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inflation process is segmented into two distinct phases: a pre-fill phase with reduced flow rate to minimize noise, followed by a rapid inflation phase at therapeutic flow rate to achieve effective compression. This segmentation allows the system to separate the noise-generating aspect from the therapy-delivering aspect of the inflation process.
Solution Approach 2:
A pre-fill phase is performed before the main therapeutic inflation, during which the chamber is partially filled at a reduced flow rate. This preliminary action reduces the subsequent noise generation during rapid inflation while still achieving the required therapeutic pressure, thereby resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and noise.
2Power
If larger pressurizers are used to generate pressurized air, then inflation capability is improved, but device portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inflation process is divided into a pre-fill phase and a rapid inflation phase. During the pre-fill phase, a smaller pressurizer operates at reduced power to partially inflate the chamber. During the rapid inflation phase, the stored pressure is released more efficiently. This segmentation allows the use of a smaller, more portable pressurizer while still achieving the required inflation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-fill phase serves as a preliminary action that prepares the system for the main therapeutic inflation. By partially inflating the chamber first at lower power consumption, the system reduces the workload on the pressurizer during the rapid inflation phase, enabling the use of smaller, more portable pressurizers without sacrificing inflation capability.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If reduced flow rate is used during pre-fill, then noise generation is reduced, but inflation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inflation process is segmented into two phases with different flow rates: a pre-fill phase at reduced flow rate for noise reduction, and a rapid inflation phase at high flow rate to minimize time loss. The segmentation allows the system to optimize for noise during the initial phase and for speed during the therapeutic phase, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and time efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflation process uses periodic action with two distinct stages: a slower pre-fill stage followed by a rapid inflation stage. This periodic variation in flow rate allows the system to reduce noise during the pre-fill period while recovering time during the rapid inflation period, achieving an overall balance between noise reduction and time efficiency.
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 two-step inflation process reduces overall noise generation, allows for the use of smaller and more portable pressurizers, and ensures effective compression therapy by managing gas flow to achieve peak pressure efficiently, enhancing user comfort and system portability.
Implementation Method 1
The source of pressurized gas is adapted for selectively pressurizing the inflatable chamber by increasing gas pressure in the inflatable chamber to provide compression therapy to the body part
Implementation Method 2
The control system has instructions to execute at least one of the inflation phases in accordance with the following steps: in a first step, increasing the gas pressure in the inflatable chamber to no more than about 20 mmHg in no less than about 0.5 seconds; and in a second step after the first step, increasing the gas pressure in the inflatable chamber to at least about 120 mmHg in no more than about 2 seconds
Data Source
AI summary
A vascular compression system includes a compression garment and a controller for compressing a body part of a person. In some embodiments, the compression garment is a foot cuff or a leg sleeve. The controller inflates compression garment apparatus includes a compression garment and a pressurizer. The pressurizer has instructions for executing cyclic compression cycles for applying intermittent compression therapy to the body part. Each compression cycle includes an inflation phase and a vent phase. At least one of the inflation phases includes a pre-fill step and a therapeutic step. In the pre-fill step, gas pressure in the inflatable chamber may be increased at a reduced rate, and in the therapeutic step, the gas pressure in the inflatable chamber may be increased at a rapid rate.