Lateral Wedge Trimming for Knee Osteoarthritis Unloading
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current knee braces for treating compartmental osteoarthritis are often uncomfortable, bulky, and limited in their ability to unload the affected compartment, leading to inadequate pain relief and stiffness management.
Innovation Solution
A lateral wedge with a ramped surface and adjustable thickness, designed to provide a lift under the foot, which can be trimmed to customize the level of support, is used in conjunction with an unloading knee brace to redistribute pressure and alleviate pain and stiffness in the knee.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If unloading knee braces are designed to provide compartmental pain relief, then the load on the affected compartment is reduced, but the braces become bulky and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The knee brace is divided into separate functional components: a thigh cuff, a shin cuff, and a lateral wedge. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, reducing the need for bulky structural elements while maintaining effective compartmental unloading.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a lateral wedge component that operates in a different dimensional approach compared to traditional braces. By using a wedge-shaped insert rather than a bulky external frame, the solution achieves effective load redistribution through a compact, space-efficient design that eliminates bulkiness.
2Reliability
If unloading knee braces are designed to provide compartmental pain relief, then the load on the affected compartment is reduced, but the braces are limited in their ability to unload the affected compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral wedge is designed with adjustable thickness and customizable positioning, allowing the unloading force to be dynamically adjusted based on the patient's specific needs. This dynamic adaptability enables the brace to effectively unload the affected compartment while accommodating individual anatomical variations and severity levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention allows modification of key parameters including wedge thickness, wedge position, and material properties. These parameter changes enable customization of the unloading effect to match specific patient requirements, enhancing the ability to effectively unload the affected compartment for different cases of compartmental osteoarthritis.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional knee braces are designed to unload the affected compartment, then pain relief is provided, but the braces are bulky and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential unloading function from the bulky traditional brace structure and concentrates it into a compact lateral wedge component. By removing unnecessary structural elements and retaining only the core load-redistribution mechanism, the solution effectively reduces bone-on-bone contact while eliminating bulkiness and discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral wedge is designed as a thin, flexible component that can be easily integrated into the brace structure or used independently. This thin-film approach replaces bulky rigid structures while maintaining effective load redistribution, reducing device complexity and improving comfort without sacrificing pain relief capabilities.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
An orthopedic device (3) includes a lateral wedge (100) having posterior and anterior ends (116, 118), and upper and lower surfaces (102, 104). First and second sides (106, 108) extend between the upper and lower surfaces (102, 104). A thickness (T) is defined between the upper and lower surfaces (102, 104) that tapers from the first side (106) toward the second side (108) such that the lateral wedge (100) provides a lift under the foot of a user to unload pressure from an affected compartment of the knee. At least one trim line (520A) extends in a direction between the posterior and anterior ends (116, 118). The lateral wedge (100) is trimmable along the at least one trim line (520A) to vary or control the amount of lift by varying the thickness (T) of the lateral wedge (100) along the first side (106) relative to the second side (108).