Adjustable Orthosis with Shoe Adapter for Rapid Donning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) face challenges such as difficulty in donning and doffing, shoe gear compatibility issues, and the need for oversized shoes, which can lead to rejection and increased costs due to permanent attachment requirements, limiting user mobility and convenience.
Innovation Solution
The SKATE™ Support System, a semi-custom, adjustable orthosis that can be worn over existing shoes, featuring a prefabricated metal skate platform with double-action ankle joints and various closure systems, allowing for rapid fabrication and easy application, accommodating different biomechanical needs with customizable designs for heel or toe entry and varus/valgus control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If permanent attachment methods are used for AFOs, then stability and support are improved, but ease of operation and shoe compatibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The AFO is divided into separate components: a shoe adapter that attaches to the shoe, an AFO body, and a lacing system. This segmentation allows the AFO to be easily assembled and disassembled while maintaining stability during use, resolving the contradiction between permanent attachment and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lacing system with eyelets and laces provides dynamic adjustability, allowing the user to tighten or loosen the AFO as needed. This dynamic mechanism enables secure attachment when needed while allowing easy removal when not needed, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If oversized shoes are used to accommodate AFOs, then device compatibility is improved, but comfort and mobility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe adapter is designed to nest within the shoe structure, with attachment points that integrate into the shoe's existing anatomy. This nesting approach allows the AFO to be accommodated within regular-sized shoes without requiring oversized footwear, maintaining both compatibility and mobility.
3Manufacturing precision
If custom fabrication processes are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity and time consumption deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The AFO components are pre-fabricated with standardized features such as pre-drilled eyelets, pre-formed adapter components, and pre-configured lacing systems. This preliminary preparation enables rapid assembly and customization without requiring time-consuming fabrication processes, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and productivity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable closure systems are implemented, then adaptability to different users is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lacing system with eyelets and laces serves multiple functions: it provides adjustable tightness, accommodates different foot shapes and sizes, allows for easy adjustment by the user, and works with various shoe types. This multi-functional design achieves high adaptability while maintaining relatively simple construction, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an ankle foot orthoses (AFO) that can be configured for either posterior or anterior entry of a user's injured or malfunctioning leg and foot without removing shoe gear on that foot. The AFO comprises a shoe-receiving foot shell, a pair of vertical struts connected to the foot shell and multiple shoe and leg retaining straps or binders. The several straps or binders, which include adjustable closures, are attached to the foot shell and/or the vertical struts to provide the user with the ability to align, properly position, and support the leg and foot for preferred orientation of the injured or malfunctioning leg and foot during the healing process of the thereof.