Nighty Night 助眠手環 by Meizhu Li is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award 鐵獎 in 穿戴式科技設計 Competition Category.

鐵穿戴式科技· 2020

Nighty Night 助眠手環

by Meizhu Li

A' Design Award 鐵獎 Winner in 穿戴式科技 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 助眠手環

Nighty Night係一款專為改善睡眠質素而設計嘅穿戴式手環。Nighty Night將傳統中式指壓療法同現代科技結合，運用低頻脈衝電流刺激手腕上嘅穴位。電流喺兩個電極片之間傳導，喺兩者之間嘅範圍內產生均勻刺激，因此毋須精準定位穴位所在。用戶只需喺睡前戴上手環，設定強度同持續時間即可。手環平時存放喺充電盒入面，而電子部分可以拆卸清潔。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鐵獎

Nighty Night 助眠手環是 A' Design Award 鐵獎得主，這是授予滿足人們對設計精良的創作所期待的專業與工業要求的優良設計的聲望認可。鐵獎得主展現出其創作者的高超技藝、高度專業化、專家級的理解力和創造能力。預計Nighty Night 助眠手環將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的創作，既實用又創新。這件贏得 A' Design Award 鐵獎的設計整合了行業最佳實踐，並擁有與專業知識和才華相結合的稱職技術特性。Nighty Night 助眠手環因其嚴謹而受到尊重，旨在提供有助於讓世界變得更美好的生活品質改善。

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.