Elastic Head Reflex Hammer with Weighted Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reflex hammers are inconsistent in delivering percussion, often cause excessive force leading to injury, are bulky, or expensive, and lack flexibility in design.
Innovation Solution
A reflex hammer design that utilizes a polymer head with adjustable elasticity and a dense weighted portion within the shaft, allowing for modulation of impact force and mechanical advantage, while enabling diverse shapes and reduced material costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the head of the reflex hammer is made heavier to increase effectiveness, then the impact force increases, but the device becomes bulkier and less flexible in design
Solution Approach 1:
The reflex hammer is divided into two distinct parts: a lightweight polymer head and a separate dense weighted portion within the shaft. This segmentation allows the head to be small and flexible while the weight is concentrated in the shaft, achieving effective impact force without increasing overall device bulkiness.
Solution Approach 2:
Density is distributed non-uniformly throughout the device. The head uses low-density polymer material for flexibility and comfort, while the shaft contains a concentrated high-density weighted portion. This local quality differentiation optimizes both impact effectiveness and device compactness.
2Force
If the head of the reflex hammer is made of rigid material to deliver strong impact, then the impact force increases, but the risk of injury and pain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines two different materials with complementary properties: a polymer head that provides flexibility and pain reduction, and a dense material in the shaft that provides mechanical advantage and impact force. This composite structure delivers effective impact while minimizing harm to the patient.
3Force
If the head of the reflex hammer is made of dense material to increase mechanical advantage, then the impact force increases, but the flexibility in shape design and material selection decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the functions of the head and shaft by using different materials. The polymer head allows for diverse shapes and designs, while the dense weighted portion in the shaft provides the necessary mechanical advantage. This segmentation enables both design flexibility and effective performance.
4Strength
If traditional materials are used for the head to ensure durability, then the strength increases, but the cost increases and design flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer head is designed to be lightweight and cost-effective, replacing expensive traditional materials. While individual polymer heads may have different durability characteristics, the overall device becomes more economical to manufacture and replace, improving ease of manufacture and reducing cost.
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 design ensures a consistent and predictable impulse delivery, reducing pain and risk of injury, while offering greater flexibility and safety in neurological assessments.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing the elasticity of the head of the device while maintaining the mechanical advantage of the hammer
Implementation Method 2
maintaining the mechanical advantage of the hammer using dense material within or among the distal aspect of the hammer
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held reflex hammer made up of an elastic head with a mass dense distal portion used in the assessment, diagnosis, or other functions with a person, animal, or other living thing. A method of balancing the weight of the reflex hammer and elasticity of the head with the utility of the device to elicit deep tendon reflex responses upon percussion, impulse, or force applied against a tendon or muscle. A dense material is positioned in or outside the shaft of the device, thereby freeing the head to consist of an elastic material while maintaining the normal functional characteristics of a reflex hammer such as modulating the mechanical advantage of the hammer while enabling modulation of the percussion, impulse, or force exerted onto the target area. The reflex hammer may be swung or otherwise accelerated before impacting the target, transferring the momentum of the device onto the target while minimizing risk of pain, injury, or harm towards the recipient or user of the device. This device may be used for medical, veterinary, chiropractic, naturopathic, or other purposes. The shape of the reflex hammer head may be designed in different shapes, including animals, cars, planes, plants, weapons, living things, objects, real, virtual, or imagined.