Conformal Hand Brace with Adjustable Tension and Ventilated Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand braces are uncomfortable, unattractive, and prone to sweat absorption, leading to stains and hygiene issues, which discourages patients from wearing them due to their rigid structure and fabric covering.
Innovation Solution
A conformal hand brace with a palmar surface designed to match the digital representation of a patient's hand, featuring an adjustable thumb section and open back for easy placement, made of hard plastic with a smooth inner surface for comfort and ventilation, and adjustable tension settings using a band with multiple settings for optimal fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid structure with fabric covering and padding is used to provide support and immobilization, then the brace provides necessary structural support and stability, but it becomes uncomfortable to wear, absorbs sweat causing stains, and requires periodic washing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional fabric covering with a thin film or coating layer that provides protection without absorption. The rigid structural elements are covered with a non-absorptive material that prevents sweat penetration while maintaining structural integrity, thus resolving the contradiction between needing rigid support and avoiding sweat absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material construction combining rigid structural components with a protective outer layer that has different properties from traditional fabric. This composite approach maintains the strength and immobilization function while eliminating the sweat absorption problem inherent in fabric coverings.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid structure is used to immobilize the hand, then the brace provides necessary support and stability, but it reduces comfort and wearability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies thin film coverings over the rigid structural elements, creating a interface that is smooth and comfortable against the skin while the underlying rigid structure maintains immobilization stability. This resolves the contradiction by decoupling the comfort function from the structural function.
3Strength
If fabric covering is used to enclose the brace, then the brace is protected and structurally complete, but it absorbs liquids causing stains and hygiene issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces absorbent fabric with a thin film or coating that provides protective coverage without liquid absorption capabilities. This thin film layer maintains the protective enclosure function while eliminating the harmful sweat absorption and staining properties of traditional fabric.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the problematic sweat absorption property into a benefit by using a material that redirects sweat away from the skin surface, allowing it to evaporate or be managed without causing stains or hygiene issues, thus transforming the harmful absorption property into a beneficial non-absorptive characteristic.
Data Source
AI summary
A conformable hand brace includes a support surface for supporting palm portion of a patient's hand and an adjustable mechanism that allows the cross section of the brace to be adjusted. The brace can be adjusted to provide a close fit as the geometry of the hand changes. The inventive system allows the conformable hand brace to be designed automatically by a computer based upon anatomical measurements.