Forward Head Posture Correction Collar with Adjustable Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthopedic devices fail to effectively correct forward head posture (FHP), which leads to chronic misalignment of the cervical spine, resulting in mechanical stress, pain, and various health issues, as they primarily focus on immobilization rather than progressive alignment correction.
Innovation Solution
A therapeutic collar with adjustable mechanisms that apply corrective forces to reposition the head relative to the shoulders, utilizing a support structure and adjustable displacement assembly to incrementally restore the natural lordotic curvature of the cervical spine, engaging the cheek and chin areas for comfortable and prolonged use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If current orthopedic devices focus on immobilization to stabilize the cervical spine, then spinal stability is improved, but progressive alignment correction capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The collar incorporates adjustable mechanisms including a ratchet system and foam padding that can be modified to progressively change the alignment force applied to the head. This allows the device to transition from a static immobilization tool to a dynamic correction system that adapts to the patient's healing progress, resolving the contradiction between stability and corrective capability.
2Force
If a rigid collar structure is used to provide strong corrective force, then alignment correction effectiveness is improved, but patient comfort and compliance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The collar uses differentiated padding materials with varying densities and firmness levels in different regions. Softer foam is used in contact areas for comfort, while firmer structural elements provide the necessary corrective force. This localized variation in material properties allows the collar to maintain both comfort and effectiveness simultaneously.
3Ease of manufacture
If the collar structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then production cost is reduced, but adjustability and customization capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is divided into modular components including separate padding sections, adjustment mechanisms, and structural elements that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows for simplified production of individual parts while maintaining the overall adjustability and customization capability of the complete device.
Data Source
AI summary
The posture correction collar is able to adjust a forward translation of the head of a hypothetical wearer relative to the shoulders. The collar comprises a first assembly having a support member shaped and dimensioned to wrap around at least a portion of the upper area of the body of the wearer. A second assembly is movable relative to the first assembly. The second assembly has a first adjustable mechanism to progressively and incrementally move relative to the first support assembly and a second adjustable mechanism to engage a portion of the head of the wearer. The first and second adjustable mechanisms are used to correct the posture of the wearer by promoting progressive and incremental movements of the head relative to the shoulders to achieve an anatomically desired condition.