Adjustable Orthosis Elliptical Head Size Fit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Custom-made orthoses for spasmodic torticollis are not versatile or cost-effective for general use due to size-specific design, making it burdensome for wearers to find a fitting size.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable orthosis with a substantially elliptic shape that can be adjusted to fit various head sizes using a belt-shaped adjuster with surface fasteners, ensuring proper pressure distribution without pressing the head, allowing for standardized production and fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the orthosis is designed in a custom-made manner to fit each individual's head size, then the therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but the versatility and cost-effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The orthosis incorporates an adjustable connecting member that allows the distance between adjustment portions to be dynamically changed. This enables a single standardized orthosis design to adapt to different head sizes by adjusting the connecting member length, thereby maintaining therapeutic effectiveness across diverse users without requiring custom-made variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of the orthosis size through adjustment mechanisms. By allowing the distance between adjustment portions to be varied within a predetermined range, the orthosis can be tuned to fit different head circumferences, effectively transforming a static standardized design into a dynamically adaptable one.
2Reliability
If the orthosis is designed in a custom-made manner for each individual, then the therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but the cost and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The orthosis is designed as a universal product that can serve multiple users with different head sizes. By incorporating an adjustable connecting member, a single standardized design achieves the functionality of multiple custom-made sizes, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable connecting member allows the orthosis to dynamically adapt to different users without requiring multiple static size variants. This dynamic adjustment capability enables mass production of a single standardized design, reducing manufacturing costs compared to producing multiple custom-made sizes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standardized orthoses are produced in various sizes, then the versatility is improved, but the size management complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of managing multiple static size variants, the invention uses a single standardized design with a dynamic adjustment mechanism. Users can adjust the connecting member to fit their specific head size, eliminating the need for complex size classification and inventory management of multiple orthosis variants.
Solution Approach 2:
A single standardized orthosis design with adjustable features serves the function of multiple size-specific orthoses. This universal design simplifies size management by replacing a complex multi-size system with a single adaptable system, reducing inventory complexity and simplifying distribution.
4Ease of manufacture
If the orthosis has a fixed size, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in finding a fitting size
Solution Approach 1:
The orthosis incorporates a dynamic adjustment mechanism that allows users to easily modify the size to fit their head. This maintains manufacturing simplicity of a standardized design while dramatically improving ease of operation, as users can self-adjust the connecting member to achieve a proper fit without needing to search for the correct pre-manufactured size.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable connecting member enables users to independently adjust the orthosis size to fit their own head dimensions. This self-service capability eliminates the burden of finding the correct size, as each user can customize the fit themselves, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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 adjustable orthosis effectively induces rotational movement, alleviating spasmodic torticollis symptoms across different head sizes without the need for custom fitting, enhancing usability and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the outer layer (2) has elasticity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An orthosis is adjustable to the head size of a wearer, and induces a rotational movement of the head. The orthosis 1 includes: an outer layer 2 which maintains a substantially elliptic shape; and a buffer 3 provided on the inner periphery of the outer layer 2, and buffers predetermined sites on the head. When the orthosis 1 is worn deviating from a state where the minor axis of the substantially elliptic shape corresponds to the width of the head, pressers 24a, 24b are formed which press the predetermined sites on the head with a stronger force than a force before deviation. The outer layer 2 includes adjustment portions 23a and 23b which can be close or apart in the minor axis direction of the substantially elliptic shape. The orthosis 1 further includes an adjuster 4 which adjusts the adjustment portions 23a, 23b so that the length of the minor axis of the substantially elliptic shape can correspond to the width of the head.