Wearable Heating Device With Blood Flow Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat treatment devices for wound healing, particularly in surgeries like mastectomies and cosmetic procedures, are unreliable and slow, lacking precise monitoring of blood flow and temperature control, leading to suboptimal healing outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A wearable heating device with integrated blood flow sensors and a controllable heat source, capable of applying pulsatile heating patterns, monitors and enhances blood flow through precise temperature regulation, providing real-time feedback and alerts for improved wound healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If heat treatment is applied to improve wound healing, then healing rate is improved, but monitoring precision and reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates blood flow sensors that provide real-time feedback on tissue perfusion status during heat treatment. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor the actual physiological response to heating, enabling reliable assessment of whether the therapeutic heat is achieving the desired effect of improving blood flow and wound healing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces indirect observational monitoring with direct physiological measurement using blood flow sensors. This substitution of mechanical/physical measurement systems for traditional observation methods enables precise, objective, and reliable monitoring of the heat treatment's actual effect on tissue blood flow.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If heat treatment is applied to reduce skin necrosis, then skin survival is improved, but control precision of temperature and blood flow is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses blood flow sensors to provide real-time feedback on tissue perfusion, allowing precise control of temperature and heat application. This feedback enables the system to adjust heating parameters to maintain optimal temperature ranges that promote skin survival without causing thermal damage or necrosis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control of heat application based on real-time blood flow measurements. The system can adjust heating intensity and duration dynamically according to the tissue's actual physiological state, ensuring precise temperature control that adapts to changing conditions during treatment.
3Productivity
If heat treatment is applied to improve fat survival in cosmetic procedures, then fat graft survival is improved, but real-time monitoring capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates blood flow sensors that provide real-time monitoring information about tissue perfusion in the treated area. This continuous feedback allows clinicians to assess whether the heat treatment is successfully improving blood flow to the fat graft, enabling timely adjustments to maximize fat survival without waiting for delayed clinical signs.
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 device ensures enhanced blood flow and temperature control, facilitating faster wound healing and reducing complications by ensuring optimal therapeutic outcomes through real-time monitoring and adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
a heat source attached to the wearable layer for applying heat to a region of a user's body
Implementation Method 2
The or each blood flow sensor may use at least one of plethysmography, acoustic or thermal sensing to detect the parameter indicative of blood flow
Implementation Method 3
The or each blood flow sensor may use at least one of plethysmography, acoustic or thermal sensing to detect the parameter indicative of blood flow
Implementation Method 4
The or each blood flow sensor may use at least one of plethysmography, acoustic or thermal sensing to detect the parameter indicative of blood flow
Data Source
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AI summary
A heating device is provided comprising: a wearable layer conformable to a part of a user's body; a heat source attached to the wearable layer for applying heat to a region of a user's body; a blood flow sensor attached to the wearable layer configured to detect a parameter indicative of blood flow in or adjacent to the region of the user's body and generate a signal indicative thereof; and one or both of: (i) a processor in electrical communication with the blood flow sensor for determining the blood flow in or adjacent to the region of the user's body based upon the signal; or (ii) a transmitter for transmitting the signal to a remote device.