Air Bladder Joint Assist Apparatus with Dynamic Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing joint assist devices are cumbersome and ineffective due to fixed padding that does not adapt to varying leg sizes, leading to reduced effectiveness and slippage during use, and require specialist assistance for switching between anterior and posterior cruciate ligament support, with separate devices needed for heat or cold therapy.
Innovation Solution
A functional joint assist apparatus featuring an air bladder with multiple air cells and a hook and loop fastener system for secure attachment, allowing selective air injection for customizable support and integration of a steam pack for hot or cold treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If fixed thickness padding is used in the assister, then the structure is simple, but the effect decreases depending on flexion or extension of the knee joint
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed thickness padding with an air bladder system that can dynamically adjust its volume and pressure. The air bladder is connected to an air pump that can inflate or deflate the bladder in real-time, allowing the padding to adapt to different knee flexion angles and provide consistent support throughout the range of motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the padding from fixed thickness to variable volume by using an air-filled bladder. The air pump controls the air pressure and volume within the bladder, enabling the padding to maintain optimal thickness regardless of knee joint position, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and functional reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If hook and loop fasteners are used to fix the assister to the leg, then the attachment method is simple, but the assister slips down during use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pneumatic attachment system where an air bladder is inflated to create friction and pressure against the leg, securing the assister in place. The air pump provides continuous pressure to maintain attachment stability, preventing slippage while keeping the attachment mechanism relatively simple.
3Reliability
If separate devices are used for knee support and heat/cold therapy, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall system becomes cumbersome and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated device. The air bladder system serves dual purposes: providing mechanical support for the knee joint and serving as a medium for heat/cold therapy. The same air pump that inflates the bladder for support can also deliver hot or cold air for therapeutic purposes, eliminating the need for separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The air bladder and air pump system is designed to perform multiple functions: mechanical support through inflation, heat therapy through hot air delivery, and cold therapy through cold air delivery. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by maintaining optimized function while reducing the number of separate devices needed.
4Reliability
If specialist assistance is required to switch between anterior and posterior cruciate ligament assisters, then the assister design can be specialized, but the replacement process becomes time-consuming and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic reconfiguration of the assister function through the air pump system. By controlling which air cells are inflated or deflated, the user can switch between anterior and posterior cruciate ligament support modes without physical replacement. The air pump dynamically adjusts the bladder configuration to provide the required support direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the user to independently switch between different assister functions by operating the air pump controls, eliminating the need for specialist assistance. The self-service capability resolves the contradiction by maintaining specialized function while enabling easy user-operated replacement.
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 apparatus provides secure, adaptable support for joint rehabilitation, preventing slippage and enabling simultaneous heat or cold therapy, allowing for effective reconstruction and quicker recovery of damaged areas without the need for multiple devices or specialist assistance.
Implementation Method 1
an air bladder having a cut hole and divided into a plurality of air cells so that air is injected into at least one of the air cells
Implementation Method 2
a steam pack providing cold steaming or hot steaming may be further provided at the other side of the air bladder
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a functional joint assist apparatus including an air bladder having a cut hole and divided into a plurality of air cells so that air is injected into at least one of the air cells; and a fixing unit coupled to a front surface or a rear surface of the air bladder to attach or detach the air bladder to/from the joint.