Dynamic Splint Hand Support Resilient Material

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Solution Overview

Problem

Individuals with neurological injuries such as stroke or cerebral palsy often experience upper extremity impairments due to hypertonicity, where the muscles in their hands are spastic and resist positioning, making it difficult to extend their wrists or fingers to grasp objects, as existing dynamic splints may not provide sufficient resistance to counteract increased muscle tone effectively.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic splint assembly for the hand featuring a forearm support section made of malleable material and a hand support section made of resilient material, which generates a continuous restoring force to oppose bending, allowing for selective orientation of the wrist and fingers, with adjustable straps and thumb support sections to facilitate various degrees of flexion and extension, and optional use of hook-and-loop materials for secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a dynamic splint uses resilient material in the hand support section, then it generates a continuous restoring force to counteract hypertonicity and extend fingers, but it may not provide sufficient resistance for severe cases of increased muscle tone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestoring forceVSAvoideffectiveness against hypertonicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The splint uses a composite construction with a resilient hand support section (made of elastomeric material) and a rigid or semi-rigid forearm support section (made of rigid material). This combination allows the hand section to provide continuous restoring force while the forearm section provides structural stability and can be adjusted to increase resistance for severe hypertonicity cases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The forearm support section can be adjusted between rigid and semi-rigid states, allowing the resistance provided by the splint to be modified. This enables the splint to adapt to different severity levels of hypertonicity by changing the mechanical properties of the forearm support section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the forearm support section is made of malleable material, then the wrist can be selectively oriented in various fixed dispositions, but it does not generate continuous restoring force for wrist extension

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewrist positioning optionsVSAvoidrestoring force for wrist extension

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The splint is divided into two functional segments: a forearm support section made of malleable material for selective wrist positioning, and a hand support section made of resilient material for providing continuous restoring force to fingers and thumb. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If existing dynamic splints are used for hypertonicity, then they offer slight resistance to hold joints in certain positions, but they do not provide enough force to balance increased muscle tone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint positioningVSAvoidresistance force

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

Different sections of the splint have different material properties tailored to their specific functions: the hand support section uses resilient material with high elastic modulus to provide strong restoring force for fingers and thumb, while the forearm support section uses malleable material for easy wrist positioning. This local differentiation of material quality allows the splint to provide both ease of operation and sufficient force where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 dynamic splint assembly effectively counters hypertonicity by providing a continuous restoring force to extend the fingers and thumb, enabling patients to achieve extended positions that would otherwise be impossible, aiding in rehabilitation and therapy by offering adjustable resistance and secure fitting.

Implementation Method 1

The hand support section comprises a resilient material that, in response to bending, such as during flexion of an abutted finger, generates a continuous restoring force in opposition to such bending

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS7458947B2Dynamic splint assemblies

Publication Date: 2008.12.02 SAEBO

AI summary

A dynamic splint assembly for a hand includes a forearm support section configured to abut the dorsal side of a forearm and span a wrist; and a hand support section connected to the forearm support section. The hand support section is configured to abut the dorsal side of the hand including the dorsal side of the length of a finger. The hand support section comprises a resilient material that, in response to bending, such as during flexion of the finger, generates a continuous restoring force in opposition to such bending, whereby the finger in flexion is urged toward extension. The forearm support section, in contrast, does not generate, in response to bending, a continuous restoring force in opposition to such bending, whereby a wrist may be selectively oriented in one of many fixed dispositions having varying degrees of flexion and extension relative to a forearm.