What it does
A product designed to alleviate the anxiety and depression of pregnant women
Your inspiration
In today's society, anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum depression have become common phenomena. According to the survey, the trend of global prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety (PPA) from 2010 to 2024 is as follows: PPD: Rising from 9% in 2010 to 19% in 2021. It has slightly declined or stabilized in recent years. PPA: Remains at a relatively high level overall. After 2020, it rose to 22% temporarily, and currently it is approximately maintained at 20%. We aim to design a product that can help pregnant women regulate their emotions independently. Let them maintain a healthy state of mind.
How it works
Clinical studies have shown that four-week home self-administration of TVNS is feasible, safe, and effective in reducing mental fatigue. We designed a dual-electrode patch that fits the inner side of the ear and the earlobe, and can adjust the current frequency. Through bone-conduction headphones, based on the detected HRV data, AI automatically plays soothing music, natural sounds, and mindfulness guidance, to alleviate anxiety. At the same time, the external part of the earphone case is composed of semi-transparent silicone and memory foam, and the internal part contains temperature-sensitive components, vibration components, pressure sensors, and LED lights. The breathing rhythm guidance ball inside the body contains a vibration motor. Finally, through Bluetooth connection to a mobile phone App, the daily usage frequency, time, and breathing training curves are recorded, and an emotional log is generated.
Design process
Our design team visited multiple maternity centers and distributed a total of over 150 questionnaires to gain a deep understanding of the emotional experiences and physiological states of female users during pregnancy and the parenting stage. The research found that over 80% of the respondents reported feeling "helpless" or "tired" when taking care of infants. II. Inspired by children's soothing toys, we proposed the image of "malleable clouds". Each press can activate the built-in vibration motor, start the breathing guidance or music playback mode. The earpiece part adopts bone conduction form to avoid the inconvenience of in-ear earplugs during breastfeeding or child care, and integrates HRV detection, microcurrent stimulation, and soothing audio playback within it. III. We referred to international clinical literature on TVNS (transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation) over the past five years and found that non-invasive bipolar electrode stimulation in the auricular area can significantly affect vagus nerve activity. Based on this, we designed electrode patches that fit the auricles and earlobes, and perform gentle neural regulation through microcurrent regulation.
How it is different
This product has several unique technologies and experiences in the field of anxiety emotion intervention for pregnant women. The main features: 1. The multi-modal linkage emotion guidance method uses vibration motors and soft light LEDs to conduct rhythmic breathing guidance (simulating "breathing lights"), simultaneously achieving visual and tactile rhythm training. 2. The squeezable "cloud-shaped" shell and heat-changing material combined with memory foam and heat-changing silicone gel provide users with rebound tactile sensation and visual feedback (changing from gray to white) during the squeezing process, forming a concrete emotional manifestation; emotional changes can be seen, felt, and recorded, greatly enhancing interactivity. 3. The TVNs technology is integrated with bone-conduction headphones. Non-invasive dual-electrode TVNS ear pads stimulate the vagus nerve. The bone-conduction headphones can play soothing audio without interference.
Future plans
This product will evolve in the future towards a more intelligent, data-driven and multi-scenario-compatible direction. In the short term, we will optimize the shell material and electrode adhesion design to enhance the wearing comfort and stimulation accuracy; we will upgrade the App system and create personalized emotional counseling solutions. The medium-term goal is to expand the product's target audience, from pregnant women and stay-at-home mothers to high-pressure office workers, anxious teenagers, etc. The long-term plan will combine the AI psychological assistance system to establish a complete "emotional health management platform"
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