Finger Brace Alignment and Soft Fixation for Tendovaginitis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing finger braces for treating tendovaginitis excessively fix the affected finger, restricting daily movements and increasing the risk of joint disorders due to their rigid structure.
Innovation Solution
A finger brace with an elastically deformable pad and guidelines for precise alignment, allowing soft fixation without impairing physiological functions, featuring a tape component with an adhesive part and offset guidelines for easy application and adjustable tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid fixation material with reinforcing parts is used to fix the affected finger, then the finger is held in an extended state, but the bending function of the finger is hindered and daily finger-bending movements are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rigidity parameter of the fixation material by replacing rigid reinforcing parts with an elastic pad that has adjustable elastic modulus. This allows the fixation strength to be sufficient for treatment while permitting necessary finger movements for daily activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by placing the elastic pad only at the specific location of the affected finger joint rather than using rigid reinforcement along the entire finger. This localized approach provides fixation where needed while preserving overall finger flexibility.
2Reliability
If the entire finger is excessively fixed in an extended state, then the affected joint is stabilized, but the risk of joint disorders increases due to excessive fixation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the mechanical parameters of the fixation material by using an elastic pad with controlled elasticity rather than rigid materials. This parameter change allows joint stabilization to prevent tendovaginitis while avoiding excessive fixation that could cause joint disorders.
3Reliability
If a sheet or film base with multiple reinforcing parts is used, then the finger joint is fixed, but the structure covers parts of the finger other than the affected part
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the unnecessary reinforcing parts from the fixation structure, keeping only the essential elastic pad at the affected joint location. This simplifies the device structure and reduces coverage to only the necessary affected area.
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 comfortable and effective fixation of the affected finger, minimizing interference with daily activities while preventing excessive rigidity and joint disorders.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive part (5) provided on the tape component (2) so as to join two layers of the tape component (2) to each other when the tape component (2) is wrapped around a finger
Implementation Method 2
an elastically deformable pad (3) provided at a prescribed position along a longitudinal axis of the tape component (2)
Data Source
AI summary
A finger brace for use in the treatment of finger tendovaginitis includes a tape component formed in a band shape of prescribed length and width, an elastically deformable pad provided at a prescribed position along a longitudinal axis of the tape component, and an adhesive part provided on the tape component so as to join the two layers of the tape component to each other when the tape component is wrapped around a intended finger. Owing to a first guideline provided along the longitudinal axis of the tape component offset from the lateral midpoint of the tape component by a prescribed distance, the patient can wear the finger brace at the appropriate position on the affected part.