Adjustable Energy Absorber for Osteoarthritis Joint Load Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for osteoarthritis, such as joint replacement and external devices, fail to precisely control joint loads and account for the unique mechanics and anatomy of each joint, leading to limited success in alleviating pain and maintaining natural joint function.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable energy-absorbing device is developed to attach to joints, allowing for energy absorption, load reduction, and redistribution without limiting joint motion, featuring adjustable components that can be post-operatively adjusted to accommodate changing patient needs, incorporating feedback systems for precise adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If joint replacement or external devices are used to treat osteoarthritis, then pain relief and joint function are improved, but the ability to precisely control joint loads and maintain natural joint mechanics is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain relief and joint functionVSAvoidprecise control of joint loads and adaptation to individual joint mechanics

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The energy absorbing device incorporates adjustable components including a adjustable energy absorber with variable compression settings, allowing the device to dynamically adapt to different patient needs and joint mechanics. The device can be adjusted post-operatively to precisely control joint loads while maintaining pain relief and natural joint function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device allows modification of key parameters such as energy absorption capacity, compression force, and joint load distribution. By changing these parameters through adjustable mechanisms, the device can precisely control joint loads and adapt to individual patient anatomy and mechanics while providing reliable pain relief.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If fixed design energy absorbing devices are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to accommodate changing patient needs over time is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoidaccommodation of changing patient needs

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device transitions from a fixed design to a dynamic, adjustable system. The adjustable energy absorber can be modified post-operatively to accommodate changing patient needs, allowing the same device structure to serve multiple functional requirements over time without increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device is designed with pre-configured adjustment mechanisms that allow for future modifications. The adjustable components are prepared in advance to enable post-operative tuning, allowing the device to adapt to changing patient needs while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable components are added to the device, then adaptability to individual joint mechanics is improved, but device complexity and adjustment difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptation to individual joint mechanicsVSAvoidadjustment process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates feedback mechanisms that guide the adjustment process. By providing information about current device settings and their effects on joint mechanics, the feedback system simplifies the adjustment process and reduces the complexity of operating adjustable components, making it easier to adapt to individual joint mechanics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 effectively reduces joint load, absorbs energy, and maintains joint mobility, providing pain relief and promoting natural healing by adapting to individual joint mechanics and anatomy, thereby enhancing treatment outcomes for osteoarthritis.

Implementation Method 1

a compression spring configured about a shaft of the arbor base

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The energy absorbing device includes an arbor base having an arbor shaft and a compression spring configured about a shaft of the arbor base

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS8409281B2Adjustable absorber designs for implantable device

Publication Date: 2013.04.02 MOXIMED INC

AI summary

A system for manipulating energy transferred by members defining a joint. The system includes a first attachment structure configured to be attached to a first member of the joint and a second attachment structure configured to be attached to a second member of the joint. There is also an adjustable energy absorbing device attached to the first attachment structure and second attachment structure, wherein adjusting the energy absorbing device changes the load manipulating characteristics of the energy absorbing device.