Elastically Deformable Convex Plantar Arch for Adaptive Foot Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rehabilitation orthopedic insoles are not adaptable to the evolving posture of patients during rehabilitation, requiring frequent replacements and being cumbersome, and they lack optimal damping during foot movement due to predetermined and compact design elements.
Innovation Solution
A rehabilitation orthopedic insole with a removably mounted elastically deformable convex plantar arch shell, featuring a self-gripping reversible fixing system and optional additional characteristics such as a stack of flexible layers and a thermoplastic core, allowing for modular adjustment and optimal alignment with the patient's foot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional rehabilitation orthopedic insoles are used, then foot positioning is improved, but the insoles cannot adapt to evolving patient posture and require frequent replacements
Solution Approach 1:
The plantar arch incorporates an elastically deformable convex shell that dynamically adapts to changing patient posture during rehabilitation. The shell's elastic properties allow it to deform and conform to the evolving contours of the patient's foot arch, providing continuous optimal support without requiring replacement as the patient's posture improves.
Solution Approach 2:
The insole design allows for changing physical parameters of the plantar arch through the use of elastically deformable materials with specific elastic moduli. The convex shell's elasticity enables it to change its deformation characteristics based on the patient's rehabilitation progress, adapting the support parameters automatically as the foot arch evolves.
2Device complexity
If conventional insoles with predetermined compact elements are used, then structure is simplified, but damping during foot movement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The plantar arch utilizes a flexible convex shell made of elastically deformable material that provides effective damping during foot movement. This flexible shell structure absorbs and dissipates mechanical energy from impact and movement, providing superior damping compared to compact rigid elements, while maintaining a relatively simple overall insole structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The convex shell is constructed from composite materials that combine structural integrity with energy absorption capabilities. The elastically deformable material composition allows the shell to provide both structural support and effective damping, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and energy dissipation performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If removable and repositionable elements are added to insoles, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insole is segmented into a base sole and a separate removably mountable plantar arch with the convex shell. This segmentation allows the plantar arch to be independently adjusted, removed, or replaced while keeping the rest of the insole structure simple. The modular design provides adaptability without requiring the entire insole to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The plantar arch with the convex shell serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, damping, and adaptive positioning. The same component achieves all these functions through its elastic deformation capability, eliminating the need for multiple separate complex mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
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 solution provides a simple, flexible, and modular rehabilitation orthopedic insole that can evolve with the patient's posture, ensuring optimal rehabilitation by maintaining proper foot positioning and providing effective damping and support, thus reducing the complexity and burden of frequent replacements.
Implementation Method 1
a plantar arch arch comprising a shell of elastically deformable convex shape
Implementation Method 2
the repositionable fixing covering is a covering of a self-gripping reversible fixing system
Data Source
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Figure 7a~8
AI summary
A plantar arch support, designed to be mounted on an orthotic rehabilitation insole, is provided to support the arch of a patient with a convex, elastically deformable footbed. An orthotic rehabilitation insole incorporating such a plantar arch support, as well as a walking aid incorporating such an orthotic insole, are described.