Nighty Night Slaapband by Meizhu Li is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award in IJzer in Draagbare Technologieën Ontwerp Competition Category.

IJzerDraagbare Technologie· 2020

Nighty Night Slaapband

by Meizhu Li

A' Design Award in IJzer Winner in Draagbare Technologie 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 Slaapband

Book Text: Nighty Night is een draagbare polsband ontworpen om de slaapkwaliteit te verbeteren. Nighty Night combineert traditionele Chinese acupressuur met moderne technologie, door gebruik te maken van een laagfrequente pulsstroom om acupunctuurpunten op de pols te stimuleren. De stroom loopt tussen twee elektrodepads en zorgt voor een gelijkmatige stimulatie van het gebied daartussen, waardoor het exacte acupunctuurpunt niet hoeft te worden gelokaliseerd. De gebruiker doet de band voor het slapengaan om en stelt de intensiteit en duur in. De band wordt bewaard in een doos die het apparaat oplaadt, en het elektronische onderdeel kan worden verwijderd voor reiniging.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in IJzer

Nighty Night Slaapband is winnaar van de A' Design Award in IJzer, een prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan goede ontwerpen die voldoen aan de professionele en industriële eisen die worden verwacht van goed ontworpen creaties. Winnaars in IJzer tonen grote vaardigheid, hoge specialisatie, deskundig inzicht en het creatieve vermogen van hun makers. Nighty Night Slaapband wordt verwacht een hooggewaardeerde, bewonderde en gekoesterde creatie te zijn die praktisch en innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in IJzer heeft gewonnen, integreert de beste praktijken uit de sector en heeft bekwame technische kenmerken die verbonden zijn met knowhow en talent. Nighty Night Slaapband wordt gerespecteerd om zijn grondigheid en is ontworpen om verbeteringen van de levenskwaliteit te bieden die helpen de wereld een betere plek te maken.

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.