Customizable Knee Brace With Adjustable Web Tension for OA Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing osteoarthritis braces are difficult to customize, often cause patient discomfort, and fail to provide adequate pain relief and alignment correction for osteoarthritis sufferers, particularly in redistributing biomechanical loads on affected knee compartments.
Innovation Solution
A customizable knee brace featuring a lateral upright with semi-rigid supports, a hinge, and an elastomeric web framework, along with adjustable tensioning elements, allows for personalized fit and load redistribution, providing frontal-plane three-point leverage offloading and extension assist.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional osteoarthritis braces are used, then knee alignment is corrected and load is redistributed, but the braces are difficult to customize and cause patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The brace incorporates adjustable components including the elastomeric web framework with tensioning elements, adjustable condyle pads, and flexible positioning of the lateral upright that allow the device to adapt dynamically to different patient anatomies and preferences, transforming a static brace into a customizable system
Solution Approach 2:
The invention allows modification of multiple parameters including web framework tension, condyle pad thickness and position, and lateral upright orientation, enabling precise adjustment of mechanical properties to match individual patient needs while maintaining effective load redistribution
2Ease of operation
If existing braces apply fixed forces through condyle pads, then load redistribution is achieved, but the braces fail to provide adequate pain relief and alignment correction
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms fixed-force application into a dynamic adjustable system where the elastomeric web framework and tensioning elements allow real-time modification of force magnitude and direction, enabling clinicians to optimize pain relief effectiveness for each patient
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple adjustable parameters including web tension, pad position, and upright orientation enable precise control over the mechanical forces applied to the knee, allowing optimization of both comfort and therapeutic effectiveness
3Strength
If the knee brace uses rigid support structures, then alignment correction is provided, but the braces cause patient discomfort and are difficult to customize
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric web framework replaces rigid support structures with a flexible membrane that can conform to individual patient anatomy while maintaining sufficient tensile strength to provide alignment correction and load redistribution
Solution Approach 2:
The brace combines materials with different mechanical properties including elastomeric webbing for flexibility and conformability, semi-rigid supports for structural integrity, and cushioning materials for comfort, creating a composite system that simultaneously achieves customization and alignment correction
Data Source
AI summary
A customizable knee brace for use in the treatment of osteoarthritis is provided. The customizable knee brace includes a lateral upright. The lateral upright includes at least a first semi-rigid support, a second semi-rigid support, and a hinge physically coupling the first semi-rigid support and the second semi-rigid support. The customizable knee brace further includes a thigh cuff constructed of formable material and coupled to the first semi-rigid support. The customizable knee brace further includes a shin cuff constructed of formable material and coupled to the second semi-rigid support. The customizable knee brace further includes an elastomeric web framework coupled to the lateral upright and configured to secure an area of a knee of a patient when wearing the customizable knee brace. The customizable knee brace further includes at least one tensioning element configured to adjust a tension of the elastomeric web framework.