Lateral Hinge Knee Brace with Figure-Eight Tensile Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional knee braces fail to adequately address knee injuries due to their design, which conflicts with natural knee movement, causes discomfort, and does not fit various leg shapes, leading to issues like valgus deformation, hyperextension, and short hinge lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A knee brace with a single lateral hinge mechanism and pressure points on the thigh and calf, featuring a flexible tensile element in a figure-of-eight configuration, and adjustable straps to accommodate different anatomies, allowing for natural knee rotation and preventing hyperextension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional knee braces use a single pivotal hinge to restrict knee movement to flexion and extension, then knee stability is improved, but natural knee rotation and flexion are conflicted causing discomfort and hinge wear
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed, allowing the pivot axis to move or adjust during knee movement. This enables the brace to adapt to the changing geometry of natural knee flexion and rotation, reducing conflict between the brace and natural movement patterns while maintaining stability
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism allows changes in geometric parameters (pivot axis position, rotation angles) during operation to match the natural kinematics of the knee. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by enabling both stability control and natural movement accommodation
2Reliability
If conventional knee braces are designed to inhibit knee extension, then overextension protection is improved, but the complex natural flexion movement is restricted causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism provides partial restriction of knee extension while allowing full natural flexion movement. This selective action approach protects against harmful overextension while maintaining natural movement patterns during normal flexion, resolving the contradiction between protection and comfort
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional knee braces use a symmetrical design with hinges on both sides, then knee stability is improved, but bulk interferes with equipment and fit adaptability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The knee brace uses an asymmetric design with a single hinge positioned on one side of the knee rather than symmetric hinges on both sides. This asymmetric configuration reduces bulk and interference with equipment while the adjustable straps and contoured design provide adequate stability and adaptability to different knee and leg shapes
4Stability of the object's composition
If conventional knee braces use tight straps to secure the brace, then stability is improved, but comfort is reduced and interference with equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strap system is designed to be dynamic and adjustable, allowing the wearer to optimize the balance between stability and comfort. The straps can be adjusted to provide adequate securing without excessive tightness, and the contoured design distributes pressure more evenly, reducing discomfort and interference with equipment
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 design effectively stabilizes the knee against valgus stress and MCL injuries, allows natural movement, and provides a comfortable, secure fit, reducing the risk of injury and prolonging the lifespan of the hinge mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible tensile element that extends partially around the upper and lower rotational elements and crosses between the upper and lower rotational elements, in a figure-of-eight configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A knee brace (10) according to the invention includes an upper leg formation (12), a lower leg formation (14) and a hinge mechanism (16) that is disposed entirely on the lateral side of the knee. The knee brace (10) has pressure formations (20, 24,62, 28) pressing on three pressure points: on the lateral aspect of the wearer's upper leg, on the lateral aspect of the wearer's lower leg, and against the knee complex on the medial aspect of the distal extremity of the femur. The three pressure formations are connected to one another by a stiff structure (18,16) which includes the hinge mechanism (16).