Heat-Formable Splint with Removable Support Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional splints lack customization to fit individual limb shapes and movements, providing inadequate support and immobilization, especially for the arm, wrist, and hand, and are not easily adjustable or efficient to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A splint design featuring a main body that wraps around the arm, wrist, and hand with removable and heat-formable support members, allowing for a contoured configuration that conforms to the user's shape, providing adjustable support and resistance, and featuring supplemental pockets and support members for enhanced fit and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a prefabricated bandage member is used to enclose the limb, then the splint can be easily manufactured, but it cannot be customized to fit individual limb shapes and movements
Solution Approach 1:
The splint is divided into a main body portion and separate removable support members. The main body provides the basic structure while the support members can be independently selected, inserted, or removed to customize the fit and support level for different users and conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The main body is designed with multiple pockets that can accommodate different types and configurations of support members. This universal design allows a single main body to serve multiple functions and adapt to various limb shapes, sizes, and injury conditions by simply changing the support members.
2Reliability
If additional support members are added to provide extra support, then the support and immobilization effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are designed to be removable and interchangeable, allowing the splint to dynamically adapt to different support requirements. Users can add or remove support members based on the specific injury condition, activity level, and recovery stage, transforming a static device into a dynamic one.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are nested within pockets of the main body, with each pocket designed to hold a specific support member. This nesting approach organizes multiple support elements in a compact, orderly manner that minimizes overall complexity while maximizing support functionality.
3Ease of operation
If the splint is designed to conform to a desired orientation or shape, then the comfort and effectiveness is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than manufacturing the entire splint in a complex custom shape, the invention applies local quality by providing a simple main body with localized contoured support members. Each support member is shaped to provide specific local support where needed, while the main body remains relatively simple and easy to manufacture.
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
The splint provides customized support and immobilization, adapting to individual shapes and movements, while being efficient to manufacture and allowing for quick use, offering improved comfort and effectiveness in treatment and recovery.
Implementation Method 1
The support member is preferably configured to be heated such that after heating, the support member is placed on the person and can then be configured such that the customized contoured configuration is provided to the person
Data Source
AI summary
A splint for facilitating the recovery of a person from injury, to provide additional support, or to prevent further injury from being done to one or more body parts, such as the arms, hands, and fingers. The splint may provide customizable and changeable embodiments to better assist a person in healing and may provide additional support.