Wrist-Thumb Physiotherapy Instrument with Heating and Electrical Stimulation
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing physiotherapy devices for tenosynovitis are inconvenient to carry, often misalign or fail to fully cover acupuncture points, and provide inadequate electrical muscle stimulation and heating therapy.
Innovation Solution
A physiotherapy instrument comprising a wristband assembly, finger kit, electric control assembly, and electrical stimulation assembly, which includes conductive bands extending into the finger part to comprehensively stimulate acupuncture points on the thumb and wrist, with integrated heating and adjustable electrical stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional heating treatment devices are used for tenosynovitis, then the treatment can be provided, but the devices are common in heating curative effect and lack comprehensive electrical muscle stimulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple physiotherapeutic functions (heating, electrical muscle stimulation, and acupuncture point stimulation) into a single integrated device. The wristband includes both heating elements and conductive bands with electrodes that can be controlled by a controller unit, allowing simultaneous or separate application of different therapies to comprehensively treat tenosynovitis.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to perform multiple functions: heating therapy through heating elements, electrical muscle stimulation through conductive bands with electrodes, and acupuncture point stimulation through specific electrode placement. This multi-functional design addresses the limitation of conventional single-mode devices.
2Stability of the object's composition
If fixed supporting structures are used in physiotherapy devices, then structural stability is provided, but the devices are fixed in shape and inconveniently folded and carried
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses flexible materials throughout its construction. The wristband is made of flexible fabric material that can be easily bent and wrapped around the wrist. The conductive bands are also flexible and can conform to the contours of the wrist and hand, providing both structural flexibility for portability and stability when worn during treatment.
3Ease of operation
If conventional electrode placement methods are used, then electrical stimulation is provided, but the acupuncture points are misaligned or not fully covered
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates multiple electrodes at specific locations on the conductive bands, with different electrode configurations tailored to target specific acupuncture points and muscle groups. The electrodes are strategically positioned to ensure accurate alignment with anatomical landmarks and acupuncture points when the bands are worn on the wrist and hand.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive bands are designed to be adjustable and adaptable to different wrist and hand sizes and shapes. The flexible material allows the bands to conform dynamically to the user's anatomy, ensuring consistent electrode placement and accurate acupuncture point alignment regardless of individual variations.
4Reliability
If comprehensive acupuncture point coverage is achieved, then physiotherapeutic effect is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into modular components: a wristband unit with heating elements and a controller, and separate conductive bands with electrodes that can be wrapped around the wrist and hand. This segmentation allows comprehensive coverage of multiple acupuncture points through the distributed electrode placement on the bands while keeping each individual component relatively simple in structure.
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 comprehensive electrical muscle stimulation and heating therapy, effectively improving physiotherapeutic outcomes by fully covering acupuncture points and allowing convenient use and storage.
Implementation Method 1
one end of each of the two conductive bands is electrically connected to the magnetic metal terminal, and the other end of each of the two conductive bands extends into the finger part to fit the inner surface of the finger part
Implementation Method 2
The controller is magnetically connected and electrically communicated with the magnetic metal terminal
Data Source
AI summary
A physiotherapy instrument for tenosynovitis, including a wristband assembly, a finger kit, an electric control assembly, an electrical stimulation assembly. The wristband assembly includes a wrist strap. The finger kit includes a finger stall strap, and the finger stall strap is connected to the wrist strap and encloses a finger part where a thumb passes through. The electric control assembly includes a magnetic metal terminal and a controller, and the magnetic metal terminal is mounted on the wrist strap. The controller is magnetically connected and electrically communicated with the magnetic metal terminal. The electrical stimulation assembly includes two conductive bands, the two conductive bands are mounted on the surface of the wrist strap, one end of the two conductive bands is electrically connected to the magnetic metal terminal, the other end of the two conductive bands extends into the finger part to fit the inner surface of the finger part.