Proprioceptive ACL Tube for Knee Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing knee braces and athletic training methods fail to address the unique biomechanical and neurophysiological characteristics of female athletes, leading to a higher incidence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries due to inadequate proprioception and muscle cocontraction imbalance.
Innovation Solution
A flexible, proprioceptive ACL tube with strategically positioned hamstring and knee buttresses made of resilient material that applies pressure to the hamstring muscles and Vastus Medialis Obliquus, enhancing neuromuscular communication and cocontraction of quadriceps and hamstrings to reduce ACL injury risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional knee braces are used, then knee stability is provided, but proprioception enhancement and muscle cocontraction balance are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a thin, flexible silicone tube instead of traditional rigid knee braces. This flexible shell conforms to the knee joint anatomy and provides proprioceptive feedback through tactile stimulation, enhancing neuromuscular communication while maintaining knee stability during athletic activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The silicone tube acts as an intermediary device between the external environment and the knee joint structures. It transmits mechanical pressure and tactile feedback to proprioceptors in the skin and underlying tissues, enhancing the body's natural sense of knee position and movement without directly restraining the joint.
2Reliability
If pressure is applied to hamstring and VMO muscles, then muscle cocontraction balance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The silicone tube incorporates localized internal protrusions (buttresses) positioned at specific anatomical locations corresponding to the hamstring and VMO muscle groups. These localized structural features apply targeted pressure to specific muscle groups to enhance cocontraction balance without requiring a complex overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal structure of the silicone tube is segmented into multiple discrete buttresses rather than a continuous rigid structure. This segmentation allows independent pressure application to different muscle groups (hamstring and VMO) while maintaining the flexibility and simplicity of the overall tube design.
3Reliability
If a rigid knee brace is used, then knee stability is provided, but proprioceptive feedback and neuromuscular communication are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible silicone tube maintains tactile contact with the skin and underlying tissues throughout the range of motion, continuously providing proprioceptive feedback. Unlike rigid braces that create gaps and reduce sensory input, the flexible material conforms to knee movement and sustains neural feedback pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The silicone tube dynamically adapts its shape and pressure distribution in response to knee joint movement and muscle contraction. This dynamic flexibility ensures continuous proprioceptive feedback during athletic activities while providing stability when needed, unlike static rigid braces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ACL tube stimulates balanced muscle contraction, reduces patellar tracking, and decreases abduction load on the knee, effectively lowering the risk of ACL injuries, particularly in female athletes.
Implementation Method 1
the one or more hamstring buttresses are configured to apply sufficient pressure to at least one of the subject's hamstring muscles when worn; and one or more knee buttresses coupled to the interior surface of the flexible sleeve so that the one or more knee buttresses is over the subject's Vastus Medialis Obliquus (VMO), the one or more knee buttresses comprising: a pad comprised of resilient material, the pad being configured to apply pressure to the VMO when worn by the subject
Data Source
AI summary
A topical proprioceptive tube and method of use for enhancing performance, reducing the risk of knee injury, or both. The tube includes a flexible sleeve having at least: a hamstring buttress, a knee buttress, or both, wherein the hamstring buttress and the knee buttress are configured to be coupled to the interior of the flexible sleeve such that the hamstring buttress applies pressure to at least a portion of one of the subject's hamstring muscles and the knee buttress applies pressure to at least a portion of the subject's Vastus Medialis Obliquus (VMO) when worn by the subject to provide the desired effect.