Weight Distribution Exoskeleton for Protective Garment Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Occupational injuries such as back, hip, and knee fatigue are common among professionals, particularly those in medical fields like interventionalists, due to the weight and static postures required for protective garments during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A weight-distribution exoskeleton system that includes a load attachment mechanism, multiple leg structures with pelvis joints, and a foot member to engage with a load such as a protective garment, distributing its weight to the floor and reducing the burden on the wearer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If shielding garments are worn for radiation protection, then radiation protection is improved, but weight on the trunk increases causing neck, shoulder, and back pain
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful weight of the shielding garment from the wearer's body by using a mobile scaffold to suspend the garment above the wearer, thereby maintaining radiation protection while eliminating the weight burden that causes neck, shoulder, and back pain
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile scaffold acts as an intermediary between the shielding garment and the wearer, supporting the garment's weight and transferring it to the floor through the scaffold's legs, rather than having the wearer's body support the weight directly
2Object-affected harmful factors
If shielding garments are worn, then radiation protection is improved, but risk of neck, shoulder, and back injuries increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the injurious element (weight of the shielding garment) from the wearer's body, thereby maintaining radiation protection while eliminating the primary cause of neck, shoulder, and back injuries
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile scaffold provides prior support for the shielding garment weight before the wearer would experience the harmful effects, preventing injury before it occurs by continuously bearing the weight throughout the procedure
3Force
If spinal orthotics are used to carry loads, then some spinal offloading is achieved, but maneuverability is restricted and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the load-carrying function from the wearer's body and spinal muscles by using an external mobile scaffold to support the shielding garment, achieving complete spinal offloading without the maneuverability restrictions of body-worn orthotics
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile scaffold serves as an external intermediary that carries the load without restricting the wearer's movement, unlike spinal orthotics that are integrated with the body and limit range of motion
4Weight of moving object
If mobile scaffolding is used to suspend protective garments, then weight distribution is improved, but obtrusiveness in treatment room increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention moves the support structure from a body-worn dimension (orthotics on the back) to a vertical overhead dimension (scaffold above the wearer), distributing weight through the vertical space of the treatment room rather than adding bulk to the wearer's back
Data Source
AI summary
A weight-distributing exoskeleton capable of supporting and/or control the distribution of at least part of the weight of a protective garment and/or face shield proximate the knee of the user. The exoskeleton may include a plurality of leg structures, each leg structure including a knee joint or knee hinge configured to bear the load of the protective garment, and a foot member including a magnetic quick release mechanism configured to control quickly engage with and release from the leg structures. The weight of the protective garment and/or face shield is transferred to the floor such that the user bears little to no burden of carrying it.