Knee Joint Assist Device with Triangular Linkage and Resin Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing knee/elbow joint assist devices face challenges in maintaining initial corrective force and preventing deformation under repeated loads, while also requiring a structure to limit movement and prevent drooping, and they often lack sufficient strength and weight reduction.
Innovation Solution
A knee/elbow joint assist device with connection members that form a triangle structure, using sliding portions with arcs of 180° or larger, and made of resin for integral formation, which includes a connection-restraining member to interlock arms and limit movement, and employs link mechanisms to reduce load on the joint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If aluminum alloy is used for the arm structure, then the device can be adjusted to match patient symptoms, but the arm undergoes plastic deformation under repeated loads and cannot maintain initial corrective force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from aluminum alloy to resin, fundamentally altering the mechanical properties. The resin material provides both the necessary adaptability for shaping to match patient symptoms and the stability to maintain corrective force without plastic deformation under repeated loads.
2Strength
If a connection member structure is used to support inner and outer arms, then the device can provide joint support, but movement of the connection member cannot be limited and drooping occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the connection member with the inner and outer arms into an integral structure. This combination eliminates relative movement between components, preventing drooping while maintaining the strength necessary for joint support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a triangular geometric configuration in the spatial arrangement of the connection member and arms. This triangular structure provides inherent stability by distributing forces across multiple dimensions, preventing movement and drooping while maintaining joint support capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate components are used for arms and connection members, then the device can be manufactured with simpler processes, but the overall strength and weight efficiency are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple components (arms and connection members) into a single integral resin structure. This merging improves overall structural strength and weight efficiency while the resin casting process maintains manufacturing simplicity by eliminating complex assembly operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
[Object] It is an object of the present invention to provide a knee/elbow joint assist device capable of restricting motion of a connection member and capable of preventing the connection member from drooping down. [Solving Means] One connection member 31 and the other connection member 32 are placed on a knee/elbow joint, one end of the one connection member 31 is turnably connected to the other end portion 31b of one inner arm 10b, the other end of the one connection member 31 is turnably connected to the other end 31a portion of the one outer arm 10a, one end of the other connection member 32 is turnably connected to one end portion 32b of the other inner arm 20b, the other end of the other connection member 32 is turnably connected to one end portion 32a of the other outer arm 20a, and a central portion of the one connection member 31 and a central portion of the other connection member 32 are restrained by a connection-restraining member 33.