Orthopedic Brace Electrical Stimulation for Muscle Atrophy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Orthopedic devices, such as braces for osteoarthritis, often lead to muscle weakening due to over-reliance on the brace for support, which delays muscle recovery and can exacerbate the condition, as they immobilize the joint and reduce quadriceps function.

Innovation Solution

An orthopedic device with an integrated electrical stimulation system that activates muscle groups and provides feedback on proper muscle activation during gait and joint movement, using sensors and electrodes to stimulate muscles like the quadriceps and gluteus medius, reducing pain and load on affected compartments, and promoting muscle use through biofeedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a brace immobilizes the knee joint to provide support and reduce pain, then joint stability is improved, but muscle strength deteriorates due to over-reliance and disuse atrophy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint stabilityVSAvoidmuscle strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to detect joint position and movement, providing real-time feedback through electrical stimulation to guide proper muscle activation patterns during gait, enabling users to maintain joint stability while actively engaging muscles to prevent atrophy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces passive mechanical immobilization with an active neuromuscular control system that uses electrical stimulation to guide muscle activation, allowing joint support without the negative effects of complete immobilization on muscle strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a brace provides corrective support to reduce pain, then pain relief is improved, but muscle recovery is delayed due to reduced muscle activation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain reliefVSAvoidmuscle recovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides real-time feedback on proper muscle activation timing during gait cycles, enabling users to maintain pain relief through bracing while simultaneously learning and practicing correct muscle engagement patterns to accelerate recovery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares and guides muscle activation in advance of movement, teaching users proper muscle engagement patterns before full recovery is achieved, thereby reducing overall recovery time while maintaining pain relief

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Force

If a brace takes up muscle function to provide support, then joint support is improved, but quadriceps function deteriorates due to replacement of muscle activity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint support forceVSAvoidquadriceps function

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to detect when quadriceps activation is needed and provides electrical stimulation feedback to guide proper muscle engagement, enabling users to maintain joint support while actively using their quadriceps rather than relying passively on the brace

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 device effectively reduces pain, strengthens muscles, and improves joint alignment by providing timely muscle activation and biofeedback, thereby enhancing recovery and reducing the progression of osteoarthritis.

Implementation Method 1

An orthopedic device with an integrated electrical stimulation system that activates muscle groups and provides feedback on proper muscle activation during gait and joint movement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical stimulation: Electrical Impedance Tomography

Implementation Method 2

using sensors and electrodes to stimulate muscles like the quadriceps and gluteus medius

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSensor detection: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS9775662B2Electrical stimulation for orthopedic devices

Publication Date: 2017.10.03 OSSUR HF

AI summary

An orthopedic device includes a brace support having at least one strap for providing corrective orientation of a joint and unloading of the joint, and an electrical stimulation system for providing an electrical signal to a user's musculature at or proximate to the joint. The electrical stimulation system provides at least one electrical pulse to the musculature in supplement to the corrective orientation of the joint to induce contraction of the musculature. The electrical stimulation system may include at least one electrode for generating the electrical pulse, and a sensor module for determining movement and orientation of a user's limb for selectively activating the at least one electrode according to predefined criteria and feedback from the sensor module.