Head-Controlled Orthopedic Device for Upper Extremity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopedic devices for upper extremities lack the ability to intuitively and easily adjust resistance opposing movement in one direction, making it difficult for users with motor limitations or those working in uncomfortable positions to control the movement of joints, particularly when manual actuation is impossible or impractical.
Innovation Solution
The orthopedic device incorporates a controller that adjusts resistance based on the position and location of the wearer's head, allowing for intuitive control without using hands or arms, utilizing mechanical, electronic, or mechatronic control to modify resistance by measuring head movements and applying corresponding forces or locks to joints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed resistance force is applied to support the upper extremity in a raised position, then the arm can be held in position, but the resistance opposing arm lowering cannot be adjusted and makes the movement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The resistance force is made dynamically adjustable through a control unit that modifies the resistance based on detected head position. This allows the resistance to adapt between supporting the arm in a raised position (high resistance) and facilitating arm lowering (reduced resistance), resolving the contradiction between position stability and movement ease.
Solution Approach 2:
A feedback mechanism using head position sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, or magnetic field sensors) provides continuous information about the user's intended movement. The control unit processes this feedback and adjusts the resistance force accordingly, enabling intuitive control of arm movement resistance without manual intervention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual control mechanisms are provided for adjusting resistance, then resistance can be adjusted, but users with motor limitations or prosthetic hands cannot operate them
Solution Approach 1:
The head position serves as an intermediary control interface between the user's intent and the resistance adjustment mechanism. By detecting head position through sensors and translating it into resistance force adjustments via the control unit, the system provides an accessible control method that bypasses manual operation requirements while maintaining full resistance adjustment capability.
3Force
If the applied force facilitates holding arms in raised position, then upper arm support is improved, but the force defines resistance that opposes joint movement in the lowering direction
Solution Approach 1:
The support force is made dynamically controllable, transitioning between providing resistance to maintain raised position and reducing resistance to facilitate lowering. The control unit adjusts the force magnitude based on real-time head position detection, allowing the same force mechanism to serve both opposing functions at different times.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
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AI summary
The invention relates to an orthopedic device (1) for at least one upper extremity (2), said device (1) comprising at least one positioning element (6) that has at least two movement elements which can be moved one relative to another in a first direction, characterised in that a movement of said movement elements one relative to another in a first direction encounters a resistance and in that said device (1) comprises a control unit configured to adjust this resistance depending on the position and/or the location of a head (16) of the carrier of the device (1).