Knee joint orthotic device manufacturing apparatus and knee joint orthotic device manufacturing method, and knee joint treatment support apparatus and knee joint treatment support method

Abstract

Noninvasive natural healing in daily life or regenerative cell treatment can be promoted. A knee joint model is constructed by three-dimensionally analyzing measurement data obtained by measuring an outline shape and internal space shape of a knee joint part of a subject; a transition state towards an orthotic direction for a symptom improvement of the knee joint part is simulated continuously or stepwisely with reference to the knee joint model; and an exoskeleton mold capable of continuously or stepwisely finely adjusting the knee joint part towards the orthotic direction is designed based on the transition state.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a knee joint orthotic device manufacturing apparatus and knee joint orthotic device manufacturing method and a knee joint treatment support apparatus and knee joint treatment support method. Particularly, the invention is suited for use in an apparatus and method for designing a wearable joint orthotic device for gonarthrosis patients.BACKGROUND ART[0002]In recent years, as our country has entered the aging society, degenerative diseases based on changes caused by aging has been steadily increasing and osteoarthrosis has become one of the most prevalent diseases among orthopedic diseases. Gonarthrosis among those diseases is caused mainly by wear of knee cartilage along with aging and brings about symptoms such as aching pain, inflammation, and contracture of a knee joint, so that deformation of the knee joint gradually worsens and will result in a gait disorder and, therefore, the QOL (Quality of Life) will degrade significantly...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a way to make a knee joint orthotic device and a method to use it, as well as a wearable-type treatment support for mild and severe gonarthrosis. The device helps to promote natural healing and can also help to cultivate cartilage cells in the knee joint.

Problems solved by technology

Gonarthrosis among those diseases is caused mainly by wear of knee cartilage along with aging and brings about symptoms such as aching pain, inflammation, and contracture of a knee joint, so that deformation of the knee joint gradually worsens and will result in a gait disorder and, therefore, the QOL (Quality of Life) will degrade significantly.

It is said that correcting deformities is effective in order to slow down the progression of, or improve, the gonarthrosis; however, it may not often result in sufficient self-healing and surgery may be eventually performed.

Meanwhile, surgery such as high tibial osteotomy and artificial joint replacement may cause high risks attributable to complications and heavy mental and physical burdens, so that there is a demand for development of a new method which does not involve the invasion of to a body.

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