Modular Knee Orthosis with Adjustable Hinge Stops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current knee joint orthoses for animals lack the ability to be individually adjusted to meet specific clinical needs and are not easily modifiable during therapy, limiting their effectiveness in providing tailored support and rehabilitation.
Innovation Solution
A modular, thermoformable knee joint orthosis with an upper support module connected to a lower support module via hinges, featuring a replaceable token and adjustable buckles, allowing for customizable fit and range of motion adjustment, including connection to a talocrural joint module for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed design of knee joint orthosis is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot be individually adjusted to meet specific clinical needs
Solution Approach 1:
The orthosis is divided into multiple modular components including upper support module, lower support module, hinges, stops, and replaceable tokens. Each module can be independently adjusted or replaced to meet different clinical requirements, enabling individualization without requiring a completely custom-designed orthosis for each patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The orthosis incorporates movable hinges with adjustable stops that allow dynamic modification of the range of motion. The replaceable tokens can be positioned at different locations on the lower support module to change the mechanical axis and support characteristics, enabling the device to adapt to varying clinical needs during therapy progression.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a non-modular orthosis design is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the orthosis cannot be modified during therapy
Solution Approach 1:
The orthosis is constructed from separate modular components that can be manufactured independently using standard manufacturing processes. The replaceable tokens and adjustment mechanisms are designed as separate parts that can be produced through conventional methods, maintaining ease of manufacture while enabling post-manufacturing customization during therapy.
Solution Approach 2:
The orthosis allows modification of key parameters such as range of motion, support location, and mechanical axis through the adjustment of stops and positioning of replaceable tokens. These parameter changes are achieved through simple mechanical adjustments rather than requiring complex manufacturing processes, enabling therapy adaptation without increasing manufacturing complexity.
3Ease of operation
If an adjustable hinge mechanism with stops is used, then the range of motion can be controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism incorporates stops with recesses that receive protrusions on the hinge arms, creating a simple mechanical stop system. This allows the range of motion to be adjusted by repositioning the stops along the hinge axis, providing easy control over articulation without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or multiple moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop mechanism uses a simple recess-protrusion geometric relationship that replicates the hinge structure. The stops are positioned at specific locations along the hinge axis, and their recesses match the protrusions on the hinge arms, creating a symmetrical and simple mechanical interface that is easy to manufacture and adjust without adding significant complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A knee joint orthosis for animals comprising an upper support module constituting an upper hoop provided with two arms connected by hinges to a lower support module, which is provided with a middle hoop and a lower hoop as well as a replaceable token placed in front of the lower support module, each of the hinges being provided with an oval stop provided with a recess.