Hinged Equinus Brace Knee Extension Locking Gastrocnemius Stretch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current night splints and braces fail to effectively stretch the gastrocnemius muscle due to lack of knee extension locking, leading to inadequate treatment of equinus, and are often uncomfortable and cumbersome, resulting in poor user compliance.
Innovation Solution
A hinged equinus brace with adjustable components, including medial and lateral rods, knee and ankle hinges, and a footplate, that allows for locking the knee in extension and ankle in dorsiflexion, providing targeted stretching of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, and is designed for comfort and adjustability to accommodate various leg lengths and conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If current night splints are designed to be simple and comfortable, then ease of operation improves, but they fail to lock the knee in extension, resulting in inadequate stretching of the gastrocnemius muscle
Solution Approach 1:
The brace is divided into multiple functional segments: a footplate for ankle support, medial and lateral rods for structural support, knee hinges for knee extension locking, and ankle hinges for ankle dorsiflexion locking. Each segment performs a specific function, and together they achieve both comfort and effective gastrocnemius stretching by independently controlling different joints.
Solution Approach 2:
The brace incorporates dynamic hinge mechanisms that allow controlled movement at the knee and ankle joints while maintaining stability during the stretching phase. The knee hinge enables extension locking when needed, and the ankle hinge enables dorsiflexion locking, creating a dynamic system that adapts to the user's anatomical needs while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.
2Reliability
If current night splints are made cumbersome to ensure proper fit and function, then treatment effectiveness improves, but user compliance deteriorates due to discomfort during sleep
Solution Approach 1:
The brace applies local quality by providing targeted support and locking mechanisms only where needed: the knee hinge with locking mechanism provides extension stability at the knee, while the ankle hinge with locking mechanism provides dorsiflexion stability at the ankle. The footplate provides localized support for the foot and ankle, while the rods provide lateral support. This localized approach ensures treatment effectiveness without making the entire device cumbersome.
Solution Approach 2:
The brace allows for parameter changes through adjustable components that can be customized to fit individual user needs. The medial and lateral rods can be adjusted for different leg lengths and anatomical variations, and the hinge mechanisms can be configured to provide appropriate locking at different angles. This adjustability ensures both effectiveness and comfort for different users.
3Ease of manufacture
If the brace structure is simplified, then ease of manufacture improves, but the ability to lock knee and ankle joints simultaneously deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The brace merges multiple locking functions into an integrated structure where the knee hinge and ankle hinge work together to simultaneously lock both joints. The medial and lateral rods are combined with the footplate and hinge mechanisms to create a unified structure that provides both knee extension locking and ankle dorsiflexion locking through a coordinated system of mechanical linkages.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and processes used to treat ankle equinus for users with specific conditions such as young age, diabetes, or clubfoot. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a brace and the corresponding method of use to treat equinus by stretching the Gastrocnemius muscle.