Nighty Night 睡眠サポートリストバンド by Meizhu Li is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award 鉄賞 in ウェアラブル技術デザイン Competition Category.

鉄ウェアラブル技術· 2020

Nighty Night 睡眠サポートリストバンド

by Meizhu Li

A' Design Award 鉄賞 Winner in ウェアラブル技術 Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #87450

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Nighty Night 睡眠サポートリストバンド

Nighty Nightは、睡眠の質を高めるために設計されたウェアラブルリストバンドです。Nighty Nightは中国の伝統的な指圧（ツボ押し）と現代技術を融合し、低周波パルス電流によって手首のツボを刺激します。電流は2つの電極パッドの間を流れ、その間の領域全体に均一な刺激を与えるため、ツボの正確な位置を特定する必要がありません。ユーザーは就寝前にバンドを装着し、刺激の強さと使用時間を設定します。バンドは充電機能を備えた専用ボックスに収納され、電子部分は取り外して洗浄することができます。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鉄賞

Nighty Night 睡眠サポートリストバンドは、よく設計された創造物に期待される専門的・産業的要件を満たす優れたデザインに授与される、権威ある評価である A' Design Award 鉄賞の受賞作品です。鉄賞の受賞作品は、制作者の高い技量、高度な専門性、専門家としての理解、創造的な能力を示しています。Nighty Night 睡眠サポートリストバンドは、高く評価され、称賛され、愛される、実用的で革新的な創造物であることが期待されます。この A' Design Award 鉄賞を受賞したデザインは、業界のベストプラクティスを統合し、ノウハウと才能に結びついた有能な技術的特性を備えています。Nighty Night 睡眠サポートリストバンドは、その徹底ぶりで尊敬され、世界をより良い場所にするための生活の質の向上をもたらすよう設計されています。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Nighty Night is a wearable wristband that combines traditional Chinese acupressure with modern technology by using a low-frequency current to stimulate certain acupoints that can improve sleep quality. It does not require the user’s active involvement but easily solves the problem of insomnia.
Dimensions & Packaging: wristband 240mm*35mm*5mm
Box 255mm*50mm*40mm
Tags: wearable, sleep, technology, traditional Chinese medicine
Production Technology: The technology I am investigating is low-frequency pulse current. The pulse is delivered through electrode pads that are taped to the patient’s skin.
Since people's body size are different, so there is also slightly different for the location of the same acupoint. The technology can easily resolve the problem by creating even stimulation between the area of two electrode pads.
Design Challenge: The technology I am investigating is low-frequency pulse current, which has a parallel in a machine used for cancer patients. The principle is to relieve pain by creating mild electrical pulses to improve local circulation and relax muscles. The existing product applies this technology to people who experience joint or muscle pain for a variety of reasons. The pulse is delivered through electrode pads (positive and negative) that are taped to the patient’s skin. The technology creates even stimulation in the current between the two poles. I am investigating whether this technology can stimulate the particular acupoints that help people sleep without requiring the user to pinpoint the precise location of those acupoints.
In support of my theory that this technology can be used to stimulate acupoints and improve sleep, I found a thesis written by a graduate student at the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The student compared the effects of acupuncture (stimulated acupoints by needle) and pulse current instruments on sleep quality for people with depressive insomnia. The result showed that both methods improved sleep quality, and there was no significant difference in the degree of improvement between the two groups. In that way, I can use this technology into my design.
Research: In traditional Chinese medicine, insomnia can be resolved by using acupressure. The pressure is applied to a certain acupoint that can improve sleep quality.
There are about 19 acupoints on our body that can improve sleep quality, and the most effective sleep acupoints are located at the wrist and calf.
Since the wrist acupoints are more concentrated and accessible than those on the calf, I decided to design a wristband that can stimulate them for improved sleep.
Inspiration: According to the National Alliance On Mental Illness, over one-third of Americans report difficulty sleeping.
There are many existing sleep aids, such as music and incense, but they often work for some people and not for others. Some sleeping aids need active efforts on the part of the user, but not all people can stick to the program.
So I wanted to find a scientific method that does not require the user’s active involvement but easily solves the problem of insomnia.
Project Duration: Started in September 2018 and finished in May 2019.
Operation Flow: The user basically uses it before they go to bed. The user opens the housing of the wristband when he/she is ready to sleep, puts on the band, and sets the intensity of the electric stimulation and duration, before switching on the device. The next morning the user removes the wrist strap and puts it back into the box, where it will be automatically charged.
The electronic part can be easily taken out from the wristband and clean or change the band.