Adhesive Nail Correction Device with Adjustable Wire Tension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nail correction devices face challenges such as difficulty in attaching to nails with varying curvatures and sizes, risk of injury, pain during application, and limited adjustability of force, especially in cases of inflammation.
Innovation Solution
A nail correction device featuring an adhesive element with a corrosion-resistant wire tension element that allows for continuous and stepless adjustment of force, enabling eccentric force application to lift the nail edges, with a design that minimizes risk of injury and pain during application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wire hooks are used to attach the brace under the nail edge, then the brace can be attached to the nail, but the risk of injury increases and the application becomes difficult in narrow or inflamed nail folds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adhesive element as an intermediary between the brace and the nail plate. Instead of directly inserting wire hooks under the nail edge (which causes injury risk), the adhesive element serves as a mediator that bonds the brace to the nail plate surface, eliminating the need for hook insertion into the narrow or inflamed nail fold while maintaining secure attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical hook insertion system with a chemical bonding system using adhesive. The adhesive element with cyanoacrylate adhesive substitutes the mechanical action of wire hooks penetrating the nail fold, thereby eliminating the injury risk associated with hook insertion while achieving reliable brace attachment
2Reliability
If adhesive braces are pressed onto the nail in a pre-tensioned state, then the brace can be fixed to the nail, but the application becomes painful for the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies adhesive to the adhesive element in advance before attaching the brace to the nail. The cyanoacrylate adhesive is applied to the adhesive element, which is then attached to the nail plate in an untensioned state. The brace is subsequently tensioned and fixed, allowing the adhesive to bond the components without requiring painful pressing of a pre-tensioned brace
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional application sequence: instead of pre-tensioning the brace and then pressing it onto the nail (which causes pain), the adhesive element is first bonded to the nail plate in an untensioned state, and then the brace is tensioned and secured. This reversal of the application sequence eliminates application pain while ensuring secure fixation
3Adaptability or versatility
If the force intensity of adhesive clips is varied by preselecting different cross-sections or thicknesses, then the force can be adjusted, but the adjustment cannot be done in a defined or stepless manner and is not reversible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic tensioning system where the wire brace can be continuously tensioned and adjusted after application. The wire is threaded through the adhesive element and can be tensioned to any desired degree, allowing continuous and reversible force adjustment. This dynamic system replaces the static pre-selected cross-section approach with a flexible, continuously adjustable tensioning mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the wire brace from a fixed cross-section design to a variable tension design. By applying tension to the wire brace after application, the force intensity can be continuously adjusted by changing the tension parameter. This allows defined, stepless, and reversible force adjustment without requiring different cross-sections or thicknesses
4Adaptability or versatility
If a one-piece wire brace is individually made for each patient, then the brace can be customized to the nail, but the application time increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the brace system into separate components: a reusable adhesive element and a wire brace. The adhesive element can be reused across multiple patients, while the wire brace is a simple component that requires minimal customization. This segmentation eliminates the need to individually craft a complete one-piece brace for each patient, significantly reducing application time while maintaining nail-specific adaptation through the adhesive element
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive element serves as a universal component that can be used with different wire braces for multiple patients. The adhesive element with its recess and bonding surface provides a standardized interface that works with various nail configurations, eliminating the need to create a completely custom brace for each patient while still achieving nail-specific adaptation
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 device provides effective and safe correction of ingrown nails by allowing for precise adjustment of force, reducing pain and risk of injury, and ensuring easy application without specialized training, while maintaining nail flexibility and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a wire loop (3) which is firmly embedded in the adhesive element (1) at least in its central region (9) and protrudes from the adhesive element (1) as a bracket only in this central region (9)
Implementation Method 2
By the defined and stepless shortening of the pulling element (3) and the fixing of the set position, a pulling force is generated which acts eccentrically on the nail (5)
Implementation Method 3
an adhesive element (1) which is glued to the nail (5)
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~10
AI summary
The device has a detention element (1) made of flexible plastic. The detention element is fixed to a sub-region of a nail plate (5) by an adhesive. A tension element (3) is releasable from the detention element. The tension element in the edge regions (2b) of the detention element is firmly embedded into the material of the detention element. The tension element exerts adjustable and definable traction force for transferring the bending moment to the nail plate. The detention element is formed with a recess for accommodating a loop of the tension element.