Body-positioning apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing body positioning apparatuses fail to adequately address the need for optimal load distribution across the spinal and pelvis structure, leading to muscle imbalances, pain, and potential spinal issues such as kyphosis, especially in long-term sitting or for individuals with severe impairments.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a seating element and a back element featuring a pelvis and lumbar-spine module, equipped with sensors and adjusting elements, which senses seat-related and rest-related pressures to adjust the seating and back elements dynamically, ensuring optimal pressure distribution across the coccyx, sacrum, and ischial tuberosities, thereby preventing malpositions and promoting a neutral spinal posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only seat-related pressures of the ischial tuberosities are sensed and positioned, then the ischial tuberosities are balanced, but the coccyx remains loaded and posture improvement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensing system is segmented into multiple independent sensing zones: first and second sensors for the ischial tuberosities and a third sensor for the coccyx. This segmentation allows independent monitoring and adjustment of pressure at each anatomical location, enabling comprehensive posture correction by addressing both ischial tuberosity balance and coccyx loading separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjusting element acts as an intermediary mechanism between the sensed pressure data and the body. It receives control signals based on pressure differences detected by the sensors and physically adjusts the seating surface to redistribute loads, thereby mediating the correction of both ischial tuberosity positioning and coccyx loading.
2Ease of operation
If positioning is realized about the sagittal axis only, then ischial tuberosities are positioned, but spinal curvature changes such as kyphosis cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning control is extended from a single sagittal axis to include the transverse axis by adding a rotation capability about the longitudinal axis of the user. This dimensional expansion allows the system to address both lateral balance (sagittal axis) and rotational alignment (transverse axis), thereby preventing spinal curvature issues like kyphosis that result from restricted movement patterns.
3Productivity
If femur positioning in upright seating position is implemented, then femur position is improved, but pelvis positioning for spinal improvement is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The adjusting element is designed with multi-functionality to perform both femur positioning and pelvis positioning tasks. By integrating rotation about the longitudinal axis in addition to sagittal axis adjustment, the single adjusting element can simultaneously address lower extremity positioning and pelvic alignment, thereby improving spinal posture through comprehensive pelvis positioning.
4Device complexity
If anatomical support in the thoracic spine region is insufficient, then device complexity is reduced, but kyphosis development is promoted
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest support structure is segmented into multiple functional modules: a pelvis and lumbar-spine module with adjusting elements and sensors, and a thoracic-spine module with additional adjusting elements. This segmentation allows targeted support at critical anatomical regions without requiring complex integrated mechanisms throughout the entire backrest, thereby preventing kyphosis through focused thoracic spine support.
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 effectively maintains a neutral position of the pelvis and spine, reducing the risk of muscle imbalances, pain, and spinal issues by ensuring optimal load distribution and promoting proper posture, even in inclined or lying positions.
Implementation Method 1
the sensors are connected to the computer unit and configured to sense seat-related and rest-related pressures of the user in the seating element and in the pelvis and lumbar-spine module
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (1) for positioning the body of a user (100), wherein the apparatus can be used in a seat or in the form of a rest, comprising a seating element (20), a pelvis and lumbar-spine module (13) and a computer unit (40), wherein the pelvis and lumbar-spine module comprises an adjusting element (117) and a sensor (113), and the seating element comprises an adjusting element (108) and three sensors (111, 112), wherein the sensors (111, 112, 113) sense seat-related and rest-related pressures, wherein the computer unit activates the adjusting elements, wherein a first and second sensor (112) and a third sensor (111) sense the seat-related pressure of the first and second ischial tuberosities (102) and of the coccyx (104), wherein the first and the second ischial tuberosities define an ischial-tuberosity level, wherein the adjusting element of the seating element compensates for the ischial-tuberosity level horizontally about the user's sagittal axis, and whereupon the adjusting element of the pelvis and lumbar-spine module tilts the user's pelvis (101) about the horizontal axis of the same until the seat-related and/or rest-related pressure of the coccyx has a value substantially equal to zero.