Elastic Venous Compression Stocking Ankle Rheology
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elastic venous compression orthoses face difficulties in fitting and removal, particularly for elderly or mobility-impaired patients, due to the high pressure and narrowest point at the ankle, requiring excessive effort and accessories for distension.
Innovation Solution
Modifying the rheology of the orthosis at the ankle part to allow for a larger circumference without excessive effort, by adjusting the nature of core and weft yarns, wrapping, and knitting parameters, ensuring the elastic pressure during installation is significantly lower than the therapeutic pressure when worn, facilitating easier fitting and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If the orthosis is designed to exert strong compression at the ankle to achieve therapeutic pressure, then the therapeutic effect is improved, but the difficulty of fitting and removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the rheological parameters of the orthosis material at the ankle level, specifically adjusting the elasticity characteristics to create a transition zone. This allows the material to be more compliant during fitting (reducing the pressure penalty factor) while maintaining the required therapeutic compression when worn, thus resolving the contradiction between therapeutic effectiveness and ease of application.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different material properties to different zones of the orthosis. The ankle level incorporates a transition zone with modified elasticity characteristics, while other regions maintain their original compression properties. This localized modification allows easier fitting at the critical ankle region without compromising the therapeutic compression elsewhere.
2Stress or pressure
If the orthosis circumference at the ankle is reduced to provide narrow fit, then the compression effectiveness is improved, but the ability to pass the instep region during fitting deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the elastic modulus and pressure-circumference relationship parameters of the material at the ankle transition zone. This allows the orthosis to expand more easily during fitting (reducing the penalty factor) while maintaining the narrow circumference needed for effective compression when worn, thus resolving the contradiction between compression effectiveness and fitability.
3Stress or pressure
If the textile class of the orthosis is increased to provide higher compression, then the therapeutic effect for severe venous insufficiency is improved, but the difficulty of installation increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the rheological parameters of high-compression orthoses at the ankle transition zone, adjusting the elasticity characteristics to reduce the pressure penalty factor during fitting. This allows class III and IV orthoses to be installed more easily without reducing their therapeutic compression capability when worn.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies localized material modification at the ankle transition zone of high-compression orthoses. This transition zone has different elasticity properties than the rest of the garment, making it more compliant during installation while maintaining the high compression levels required for severe venous insufficiency treatment.
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
Enables easier and less strenuous fitting and removal of the orthosis without accessories, maintaining the therapeutic pressure when worn, thus addressing the installation challenges, especially for high-pressure classes.
Implementation Method 1
modifying the rheology of the orthosis, that is to say its elasticity characteristic (pressure/circumference characteristic), in this ankle part to facilitate fitting
Implementation Method 2
exerts in the circumferential direction an elastic return force capable of producing compression of the limb at a therapeutic pressure level
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
This compression stocking comprises a compression part, the ankle part of which when worn exerts a nominal textile pressure P0 for an ankle girth C0. When stretched to allow the instep region through, the ankle part exerts in the circumferential direction an elastic return force corresponding to a nominal textile pressure P1 for an instep girth C1 at the time of application. At least one of the following parameters: the nature of the core yarns used for the knit yarns and the weft yarn, the sheathing of the yarns, and the knitting of the yarns, is selected in such a way that for C1 = 1.38 C0, the nominal textile pressure P1 at the time of application is lower than 120% of the nominal textile pressure when worn P0. This makes the stocking easier for the patient to put on and take off simply on account of the intrinsic properties of the stocking and without recourse to any accessory.