Force Redistribution Implants for Joint Load Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for joint disorders such as osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia involve invasive surgeries with high surgical morbidity and lengthy rehabilitation, offering only temporary relief and significant trauma to joints and associated tissues.
Innovation Solution
The use of selectively placed implants to redistribute forces within joints by displacing connective and muscle tissues, altering force vectors and moment arms without cutting bones, thereby achieving therapeutic effects with minimal tissue trauma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If invasive surgeries are performed to treat joint disorders, then therapeutic effects are achieved, but surgical morbidity and tissue trauma increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a force redistribution device as an intermediary element that alters force vectors and moment arms within the joint. This device acts as a mediator between the bones and connective tissues, redistributing loads to reduce stress on damaged areas without requiring invasive surgical intervention. The device includes bearing surfaces that interface with bones and force redistribution elements that interact with connective tissues, thereby achieving therapeutic effects while minimizing surgical morbidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the joint system by altering force vectors and moment arms through the implanted device. By modifying the distribution of forces and the geometric relationships (moment arms) between muscles, tendons, and bones, the device achieves therapeutic effects without the need for invasive bone cutting or tissue removal procedures.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If invasive surgeries are performed to treat joint disorders, then joint pain is alleviated, but rehabilitation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The force redistribution device serves as a non-invasive intermediary that alleviates joint pain by redistributing loads away from damaged areas. Unlike invasive surgeries that require extensive tissue disruption and healing, this device can be implanted with minimal surgical morbidity, thereby significantly reducing rehabilitation time while still providing effective pain relief.
3Duration of action of moving object
If invasive surgeries are performed to treat joint disorders, then temporary relief is achieved, but surgical trauma increases
Solution Approach 1:
The force redistribution device provides a sustainable, long-term solution by continuously redistributing forces within the joint through its bearing surfaces and force redistribution elements. This intermediary mechanism addresses the root cause of joint disorders through biomechanical optimization rather than temporary symptomatic relief, thereby providing durable therapeutic effects with minimal surgical trauma.
Data Source
AI summary
Pathologies of joints arising from improper force distributions are addressed by displacement of targeted connective and muscle tissues surrounding the joint in order to realign force vectors and alter moment arms loading the joint.