Adjustable Lordosis Orthopedic Insert Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Customization of orthotic back braces to accommodate individual lordosis curvature is costly and time-consuming, requiring extensive customization procedures such as casting and heat application to achieve proper fit and support.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable lordosis orthopedic insert with modular components, including a first support member and a second adjustable member, allows for customizable lordosis settings through a system of apertures and fasteners, enabling secure attachment to an orthotic back brace with adjustable compression features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional customization procedures (casting, heat application, trimming) are used to fit the lordosis insert to the patient's anatomy, then the back brace provides stable spine support, but the manufacturing cost and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The lordosis insert is divided into multiple segments with different curvature radii (first, second, and third segments) that can be independently selected and combined. This segmentation allows the insert to be customized for different spinal curvature requirements without requiring complete recasting or remanufacturing, thereby reducing both cost and time while maintaining spine support stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an adjustable mechanism that allows the lordosis insert to be dynamically reconfigured between different curvature settings. The insert can be adjusted between a first configuration (with a first radius of curvature) and a second configuration (with a second radius of curvature), enabling the same insert to adapt to different patient anatomies without requiring multiple custom-made inserts, thus reducing manufacturing costs and time.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single lordosis insert design is used for all patients, then manufacturing is simplified and cost-effective, but the back brace cannot accommodate individual variations in spinal curvature
Solution Approach 1:
The lordosis insert incorporates an adjustable mechanism that enables it to be reconfigured between different curvature settings. The insert can be adjusted between a first configuration (with a first radius of curvature) and a second configuration (with a second radius of curvature), allowing a single standardized insert design to accommodate multiple patient anatomies with different spinal curvatures, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention designs the lordosis insert to perform multiple functions: it can be configured for different curvature radii, accommodate various patient sizes, and provide support for different spinal conditions. This multi-functionality is achieved through the adjustable mechanism and segmented design, allowing a single insert design to serve multiple patient needs without requiring multiple specialized inserts, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while enhancing versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable lordosis orthopedic insert and method of adjusting the lordosis orthopedic insert for an anatomy of a patient has a first support member configured to support a lordosis of a user's spine and a second adjustable member permanently connected to the first support member. The second adjustable member also has a relatively movable other end with a plurality of lordotic position settings to match corresponding first support member lordotic attachment positions to enable the first support member to conform to a desired setting angle. Fasteners extend through the first support member and the second adjustable member to permanently fix one of the plurality of lordotic position settings to configure the first support member at the desired lordosis setting angle. When appropriately adjusted to a setting angle, the lordosis orthopedic insert can be mounted within the flexible padded covering member for fixation to an appropriate back.