Wearable Soaker With Inflatable Seal Prevents Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable physiotherapeutic devices for combined massage and fluid treatment are often less effective and inconvenient due to fluid leakage and limited mobility, as they fail to provide a synergistic soaking and massaging experience.
Innovation Solution
A wearable physiotherapeutic device with a soaker and electrical stimulator that uses a sealed tub to contain treatment fluid and electrodes to stimulate tissues, preventing leakage and electric shorting, allowing for simultaneous soaking and massaging while maintaining mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional portable treatment device with heated massage head and perforations is used, then the device is portable and can be used at home or in clinics, but fluid leakage occurs particularly when the patient moves about
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible waterproof membrane that conforms to the patient's skin surface, creating a sealed environment. This flexible shell allows the device to maintain portability while preventing fluid leakage during movement, as the membrane adapts to body contours and movement dynamics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a waterproof membrane as an intermediary layer between the treatment chamber and the external environment. This mediator allows the treatment fluid to be contained and controlled while preventing uncontrolled leakage, enabling safe portability during patient movement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a treatment liquid is used to treat the patient's skin during movement, then fluid soaking treatment can be applied, but electric shorting may occur between electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the treatment chamber into electrically isolated compartments using waterproof and electrically insulating partitions. This segmentation ensures that electrodes remain electrically isolated from each other and from the treatment fluid, preventing electric shorting while maintaining the soaking treatment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses waterproof and electrically insulating materials as intermediaries between the electrodes and the treatment fluid. These materials create a barrier that allows the fluid to contact the skin for therapeutic effect while preventing electrical conduction that would cause shorting.
3Productivity
If massaging treatment and heat treatment are sequentially applied, then the treatments can be delivered with conventional devices, but the treatments are less effective compared to combined hand massage and fluid soaking treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple treatment modalities (fluid soaking, heating, and electrical stimulation) into a single integrated wearable device. This combination delivers synergistic therapeutic effects that are superior to sequential treatments, while the portable design keeps the device complexity manageable for home and clinical use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional device that can simultaneously or sequentially provide soaking treatment, heat treatment, and electrical stimulation treatment. This universal device consolidates multiple treatment capabilities into one portable system, improving treatment effectiveness without requiring multiple separate devices.
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 provides a synergistic treatment effect by allowing for convenient, effective, and safe application of soaking and massaging treatments without leakage or electric shorting, even during movement, enhancing the portability and usability of physiotherapy.
Implementation Method 1
comprising a resilient seal at a brim of the tub for sealing engagement with the skin to prevent leak of the liquid
Implementation Method 2
The resilient seal may comprise an inflatable seal
Implementation Method 3
an electrical stimulator having an electrode for contacting a part of a user's skin and stimulating tissues under the skin
Implementation Method 4
The device may comprise a heater for heating the liquid
Implementation Method 5
The device may comprise coolant tubing extending within the periphery for cooling the liquid
Implementation Method 6
The device may comprise a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A physiotherapeutic device comprises a skin soaker for soaking a portion of the user's skin with a liquid when the device is attached to the user. The soaker comprises a tub for receiving the liquid and a resilient seal at a brim of the tub for sealing engagement with the skin to prevent leak of the liquid. The device also has an electrical stimulator comprising a first electrode and a second electrode for contacting the skin to stimulate tissues under the soaked portion of the skin. The soaked portion of the skin extends between the electrodes and the electrodes are isolated from the liquid.