3D-Scanned Custom Hand Brace Generation for Injury-Specific Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand braces are often too wide, long, rigid, or flexible in various sections, failing to provide suitable support for a patient's hand injury, and may prevent further injury, while requiring lengthy hospital visits and insurance approvals for custom medical-grade braces.
Innovation Solution
A method using three-dimensional scanning to generate a custom hand brace model based on a patient's anatomy and injury type, enabling rapid production and delivery through advanced manufacturing systems, such as 3D printing, without the need for hospital visits or lengthy insurance processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a three-dimensional scan is performed to capture precise anatomical data, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical scanning to create a three-dimensional digital copy (mesh model) of the patient's hand anatomy. This digital copy serves as a precise template for generating the custom brace, eliminating the need for complex physical measurement tools and manual drafting while achieving high manufacturing precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If a custom hand brace is manufactured through advanced manufacturing systems, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-processing the scanned anatomical data to generate a standardized three-dimensional mesh model and pre-configuring the brace geometry based on the injury type. This preparation enables rapid manufacturing through additive manufacturing, reducing production time while maintaining high precision through the pre-calculated custom geometry.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a template brace model is deformed to fit the patient's hand, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically deforming the template brace model through controlled geometric transformations based on the patient's specific anatomical measurements and injury characteristics. The deformation process adjusts key parameters such as thickness, curvature, and joint positioning to create a customized brace that fits the individual patient while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the template design.
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 custom hand brace securely fits the patient's hand, providing necessary support for injury recovery without limiting dexterity, and is conveniently obtained through direct scanning and manufacturing, reducing wait times and costs.
Implementation Method 1
compiling optical data captured during a three-dimensional scan of a target hand of the patient
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-based method for generating a custom hand brace for a patient includes compiling optical data captured during a three-dimensional scan of a target hand of the patient into a three-dimensional hand model of the target hand; and receiving a diagnosis for an injury to the target hand of the patient. Based on the diagnosis, the method includes generating a custom hand brace model by extracting a first set of points from the three-dimensional hand model to generate an initial hand brace model; forming an interior surface of the initial hand brace model based on the first set of points; deforming the interior surface of the initial hand brace model into alignment with an exterior surface of the three-dimensional hand model to generate the custom hand brace model; and queuing the custom hand brace model for fabricating at an advanced manufacturing system.