Gyroscope Medicine Ball for Automated Joint Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medicine balls are ineffective for treating unstable joints as they do not automatically apply randomized forces, which are necessary for proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques, and require manual application by a physical therapist, making the treatment time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A medicine ball with a gyroscope housed inside a rotatable capsule, controlled by a programmable controller and user interface, which generates and adjusts randomized forces without manual intervention, allowing for automated application of forces to unstable joints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a physical therapist manually applies randomized forces to unstable joints, then the treatment effectiveness is improved through proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, but the time consumption and labor intensity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The medicine ball is designed to automatically generate and apply randomized forces without requiring continuous manual intervention. The gyroscope-powered capsule autonomously creates perturbations, allowing the treatment device to serve itself and eliminating the need for a physical therapist to continuously apply forces during treatment sessions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical action of a physical therapist applying forces is replaced by an automated mechanical system consisting of a gyroscope-powered capsule that generates randomized forces. This substitution transitions from human-powered mechanical application to an automated mechanical generation system, reducing time consumption while maintaining treatment effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional medicine balls are used for strength training, then the user can perform exercises, but the treatment of unstable joints is ineffective because the ball does not generate random forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexercise functionalityVSAvoidjoint treatment effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The medicine ball transitions from a static object to a dynamic system that actively generates randomized forces through its gyroscope-powered capsule. This dynamic capability allows the ball to adapt during exercise, providing both strength training functionality and effective joint treatment by creating the necessary random perturbations for proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The medicine ball is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional strength training exercises and specialized joint treatment for unstable joints. The integrated gyroscope capsule enables the ball to provide both conventional resistance training and therapeutic randomized force application, making it a universal device for both fitness and rehabilitation purposes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Extent of automation

If the gyroscope is housed inside a rotatable capsule within the medicine ball, then automated randomized forces are generated, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated force applicationVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gyroscope is nested inside a rotatable capsule, which itself is housed within the medicine ball. This nested configuration allows the complex automated force-generating mechanism to be compactly integrated into the medicine ball structure, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining automated functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The gyroscope, capsule, and medicine ball are merged into an integrated system where the capsule serves as both a housing for the gyroscope and the mechanism for force transmission. This merging of components reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall device structure while achieving automated randomized force generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 efficient and automated treatment of unstable joints by simulating rhythmic stabilization with randomized directional forces, reducing the need for manual therapist intervention and improving motor control and stabilization.

Implementation Method 1

A medicine ball has a gyroscope housed inside a rotatable capsule

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGyroscope: Gyroscope

Implementation Method 2

the gyroscope as well as the rotatable capsule are controlled together to produce random perturbations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPrecession: Precession

Data Source

PatentUS11717716B2Medicine ball and method of operating thereof

Publication Date: 2023.08.08 KOH CHAU ERN

AI summary

A medicine ball has a gyroscope housed inside a rotatable capsule, a user interface configured to receive a user input, a programmable controller, and a power source each communicatively coupled with the user interface. In operation, the power source supplies power to the gyroscope, the rotatable capsule, and the programmable controller in response to receiving the user input at the user interface. The programmable controller controls the movement of the gyroscope and the rotatable capsule in response to receiving the user input at the user interface.