Equine Tendon Support with Internal Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tendon and ligament support devices for horses suffer from issues such as unreliable positioning, excessive pressure concentration leading to skin and soft tissue injuries, accidental movement, lateral dislocation of the tensile member, inability to withstand high dynamic loads, lack of adjustability, and inadequate energy dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A tendon and ligament support device with a vertically anchored tensile member that redistributes pressure evenly onto the palmar/plantar aspect of the limb, features adjustable support levels, a stabilizing member to prevent lateral dislocation, and a design that maintains correct positioning and prevents upward slippage under high loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the tensile member is anchored externally on the outer surfaces of the collars, then the device structure is simpler, but the device experiences lateral dislocation and unreliable positioning during use
Solution Approach 1:
The tensile member is anchored internally within the collar structure rather than externally. The anchor points are positioned inside the collar walls, creating a nested configuration where the tensile member is contained within the protective enclosure of the collar, preventing lateral dislocation while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring system transitions from a two-dimensional external surface attachment to a three-dimensional internal volumetric anchoring. The tensile member extends through the collar wall and is secured within the internal volume, adding a depth dimension to the anchoring mechanism that prevents lateral movement
2Strength
If the collars are made stiff and non-flexible to resist compression loads, then the device can withstand high compression forces, but excessive pressure concentration occurs on the skin causing injury
Solution Approach 1:
The collar structure employs varying material properties and structural characteristics at different locations. The external surface features padding and pressure-distributing geometries to protect the skin, while the internal structural elements maintain high stiffness to resist compression loads, creating localized quality variations that satisfy both requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is constructed as a composite structure combining stiff compression-resistant materials with softer pressure-distributing layers. This multi-material construction allows the collar to simultaneously withstand high compression forces while distributing contact pressures evenly across the skin surface
3Reliability
If the tensile member is made inelastic to resist tensile strain, then the device can effectively limit joint extension, but the device cannot withstand extremely high dynamic tensile loads without structural failure
Solution Approach 1:
The tensile member system incorporates dynamic characteristics that allow it to adapt to varying load conditions. The member can exhibit controlled elasticity under extreme dynamic loads to prevent catastrophic failure, while maintaining sufficient stiffness under normal operational loads to effectively limit joint extension
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring system is designed with pre-loaded stress distribution and load-path optimization to cushion against extreme dynamic tensile loads. The internal anchoring geometry and material selection are optimized beforehand to dissipate and distribute peak loads, preventing sudden structural failure
4Ease of manufacture
If the anchor points are located on the outside surface of the rigid collars, then the device is easier to assemble, but the compression load causes the collar to articulate outward creating pressure concentration on the limb
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of anchoring the tensile member to the external surface of the collar, the anchoring system is inverted to attach internally within the collar structure. This reversal of the anchoring location eliminates the mechanism by which external articulation causes pressure concentration, as the tensile member now pulls from within the collar rather than from its outer surface
Data Source
Figure 1A~2C
Figure 3A~4B
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
A reusable rehabilitation support for the treatment of equine flexor tendon and suspensory ligament injury comprising a first cannon collar for embracing the limb above the joint, a second pastern collar for embracing the limb below the joint, a connecting hinge to provide articulation and separation between the first and second collars and a connecting vertical tensile member adjacent the palmar or plantar aspect of the equine limb. The support is distinguished by having improved positioning on the limb comprising a horizontal stabilizing member to prevent both lateral and vertical dislocation of the support during rehabilitation exercise. The support also provides improved pressure redistribution methods to increase safety for the horse during rehabilitation comprising an internally anchored tensile member and an improved construction method for increased strength and durability. The invention also describes a multiuse, reusable injury treatment device to significantly reduce disposable bandaging material wastage.