摘要：
Measures, including methods, apparatus and computer program products for use in manufacturing an anatomical protective item for one or more users. The anatomical protective item comprises a single layer of energy controlling cells. Input data associated with one or more users is obtained. The obtained input data is processed to identify one or more energy controlling criteria for the anatomical protective item. A packing process is employed to generate each energy controlling cell in the single layer. Each energy controlling cell comprises one or more walls which extend from an upper surface of the single layer to a lower surface of the single layer. The packing process is performed at least on the basis of the identified one or more energy controlling criteria. The anatomical protective item comprising the single layer of energy controlling cells is manufactured.
技术功效语段：
The present disclosure relates to anatomical protective items, specifically an improved protector that uses energy controlling cells to absorb impact and protect the body from injury. The technical effects of the invention include providing better protection against impact and reducing the risk of bone fractures, while also improving breathability and comfort. The invention takes into account the anatomical structure and posture of the impacted area, and uses a combination of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyurethane (PU) foam and hard shell to cover a broad area of and around the protection zone. The invention also considers the thickness of the protector to be uniform, and may include perforated patterns to increase energy absorption. Overall, the invention provides improved protectors that are light yet effective, and can provide non-invasive protection against impact while maintaining flexibility and comfort.
权利要求：
1. A method of manufacturing an anatomical protective item for one or more users, the anatomical protective item comprising a single layer of energy controlling cells, the method comprising: obtaining input data associated with one or more users; processing the obtained input data to identify one or more energy controlling criteria for the anatomical protective item; employing a combination of a packing process and a surface tessellation process to generate each energy controlling cell in the single layer, wherein each energy controlling cell comprises one or more walls which extend from an upper surface of the single layer to a lower surface of the single layer, wherein each energy controlling cell is orientated between the upper surface and the lower surface along a respective axis, wherein the packing process is performed at least on the basis of the identified one or more energy controlling criteria, wherein the packing process comprises a circle packing process which allocates a centre point for each energy controlling cell through which its axis passes, and wherein the surface tessellation process comprises a weighted centroidal Voronoi tessellation process; and wherein the surface tessellation process is based on the centre points allocated by the circle packing process and determines the position and/or orientation of the one or more walls of each energy controlling cell; and manufacturing the anatomical protective item comprising the single layer of energy controlling cells.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the surface tessellation process performs a trade-off between the overall weight of the anatomical protective item and the energy controlling performance of the energy controlling cells of the anatomical protective item.
3. A method according to any preceding claim, the weighted centroidal Voronoi tessellation process comprising one or more energy controlling cells comprising a uniform shape; and one or more energy controlling cells comprising a different shape dependent on weightings associated with the one or more energy controlling criteria.
4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the energy controlling cells comprise a first internal cell wall re-entrant geometry, wherein one or more other of the energy controlling cells comprise a second internal cell wall re-entrant geometry, and wherein the second internal cell wall re-entrant geometry is more re-entrant than the first internal cell wall re-entrant geometry.
5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more energy controlling criteria define weightings for the energy controlling cells, wherein a relatively high weighting for an energy controlling cell is associated with a relatively high level of protection to a body part of a user from impact on the respective energy controlling cell of the protective item, and wherein a relatively low weighting for an energy controlling cell is associated with a relatively low level of protection to a body part of a user from impact on the respective energy controlling cell of the protective item.
6. A method according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the second internal cell wall re-entrant geometry is allocated to energy controlling cells with the relatively high weighting, and wherein the first internal cell wall re-entrant geometry is allocated to energy controlling cells with the relatively low weighting.
7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing comprises analysing the obtained input data to make one or more measurements of anatomic structure in one or more possible impact areas of the anatomy of the one or more users, wherein the one or more measurements are related to at least one of: thickness of bone and soft tissue, the distance between bone and skin surface, posture during impact, a direction of impact, and a known injury location or area.
8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing comprises interpolating the obtained input data to generate a three-dimensional intensity map around a predetermined body part or parts of the one or more users, the intensity map defining one or more of: one or more zones having different energy control performances, thickness between the upper surface of the single layer and the lower surface of the single layer, and overall shape or outline of the anatomical protective item.
9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing comprises interpolating the obtained input data to generate a three-dimensional intensity map of distances between vertices of tissue mesh and bone mesh of the one or more users.
10. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the input data is associated with a single user such that the anatomical protective item is manufactured for use by the single user, or wherein the input data is associated with a plurality of users of a given type such that the anatomical protective item is manufactured for use by multiple users of the given type.
11. Apparatus for use in manufacturing an anatomical protective item for one or more users, the anatomical protective item comprising a single layer of energy controlling cells, the apparatus being configured to: obtain input data associated with one or more users; process the obtained input data to identify one or more energy controlling criteria for the anatomical protective item; employ a combination of a packing process and a surface tessellation process to generate each energy controlling cell in the single layer, wherein each energy controlling cell comprises one or more walls which extend from an upper surface of the single layer to a lower surface of the single layer, wherein each energy controlling cell is orientated between the upper surface and the lower surface along a respective axis, wherein the packing process is performed at least on the basis of the identified one or more energy controlling criteria, wherein the packing process comprises a circle packing process which allocates a centre point for each energy controlling cell through which its axis passes, and wherein the surface tessellation process comprises a weighted centroidal Voronoi tessellation process; and wherein the surface tessellation process is based on the centre points allocated by the circle packing process and determines the position and/or orientation of the one or more walls of each energy controlling cell; and manufacture the anatomical protective item comprising the single layer of energy controlling cells.
12. A computer program product comprising a set of instructions, which, when executed by a computerised device, cause the computerized device to perform a method of manufacturing an anatomical protective item for one or more users, the anatomical protective item comprising a single layer of energy controlling cells, the method comprising: obtaining input data associated with one or more users; processing the obtained input data to identify one or more energy controlling criteria for the anatomical protective item; employing a combination of a packing process and a surface tessellation process to generate each energy controlling cell in the single layer, wherein each energy controlling cell comprises one or more walls which extend from an upper surface of the single layer to a lower surface of the single layer, wherein each energy controlling cell is orientated between the upper surface and the lower surface along a respective axis, wherein the packing process is performed at least on the basis of the identified one or more energy controlling criteria, wherein the packing process comprises a circle packing process which allocates a centre point for each energy controlling cell through which its axis passes, and wherein the surface tessellation process comprises a weighted centroidal Voronoi tessellation process; and wherein the surface tessellation process is based on the centre points allocated by the circle packing process and determines the position and/or orientation of the one or more walls of each energy controlling cell; and manufacturing the anatomical protective item comprising the single layer of energy controlling cells.