Ankle Support Tool for Posterior Tibial Artery Puncture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical devices struggle to maintain the position of the posterior tibial artery during puncturing or bleeding procedures, especially when the ankle joint is bent, due to complex mechanisms and large device sizes.

Innovation Solution

A medical auxiliary tool with a simple structure featuring a sock-like member with first and second fixing portions across the ankle joint, connected by a length-adjustable belt-like member with hook-and-loop fasteners to maintain the ankle in a bent state, allowing for effective puncturing and bleeding control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rotation mechanism with motor is used to maintain ankle position, then the ankle can be held in bent state, but the device becomes complicated and large in size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to maintain ankle positionVSAvoiddevice structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the complex motor-driven rotation mechanism from the device, extracting only the essential function of maintaining ankle position. Instead of using an active motorized system, the invention uses a passive positioning mechanism where the lower leg support unit is held at a predetermined angle relative to the sole support plate, eliminating unnecessary components while preserving the core functionality of maintaining the ankle in a bent state during medical procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a rotation mechanism with motor is used to maintain ankle position, then the ankle can be held in bent state, but the device size becomes large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to maintain ankle positionVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the motor and associated rotation mechanism, dramatically reducing the device volume. The lower leg support unit is designed to be held at a predetermined angle without requiring active motorized adjustment, thereby minimizing the space occupied by the device while maintaining the essential function of positioning the ankle in a bent state for medical procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the rotation axis is disposed near the malleolus, then the ankle can be positioned, but puncturing and bleeding control on lower part of malleolus becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to maintain ankle postureVSAvoidaccessibility to puncture site
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the support structure into separate functional units: a sole support plate for foot positioning and a lower leg support unit for leg positioning. This segmentation allows the lower leg support to be adjusted independently to maintain the ankle in a bent state while keeping the malleolus area accessible for puncturing and bleeding control procedures, resolving the conflict between posture maintenance and procedural accessibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2992915B1Medical aid
Publication Date: 2022.12.14 TERUMO KK
  • EP2992915B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2A
  • EP2992915B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~4
  • EP2992915B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A medical auxiliary tool includes : a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion which are respectively fixed to a toe side site and a lower leg side site across the ankle while exposing the vicinity of the malleolus; and a connecting member which interlocks the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion with each other so as to maintain the joint of the ankle in a bent state.