Leg Brace with Stirrup and Adjustable Attachments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with leg injuries or amputations face limited mobility due to existing mobility devices that either restrict arm use or require inaccessible environments, and current prosthetics are costly and require frequent customization.
Innovation Solution
A leg brace with a frame, stirrup, and adjustable attachment assemblies that allow for secure fitting to the user's leg, enabling weight-bearing support without pressure on the injured area and accommodating various leg sizes and amputations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wheelchair is used for mobility, then the person can move independently without applying pressure to the injured area, but the person is restricted to wheelchair-accessible areas and cannot use hands freely
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the weight-bearing function from the upper body (arms and hands) and transfers it to the lower body through the leg brace structure. The stirrup engages the ground to support weight, while the frame transfers loads through the user's sound leg, completely removing the need for arm support and enabling hand freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg brace acts as an intermediary mechanical structure between the ground and the user's body. The stirrup serves as the ground interface, the frame provides structural mediation, and the attachment assemblies mediate the connection to the user's sound leg, creating a complete load path that bypasses the injured area and eliminates arm dependency.
2Reliability
If crutches are used for mobility, then the person can move without applying pressure to the injured area, but the person cannot carry objects or perform simple tasks and must use arm strength for balancing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the balancing and support functions from the arms and hands, transferring all weight-bearing and stabilizing loads to the sound leg through the frame structure. This eliminates the need for arm strength in balancing and frees the hands to perform tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using the upper body (arms and hands) to support the lower body as with crutches, the invention inverts the support hierarchy by using the lower body (sound leg) to support the upper body and injured leg through the frame structure.
3Ease of operation
If a leg scooter is used for mobility, then the person has increased mobility without straining arms, but the person is still restricted to areas with ramps and platforms and must hold onto handlebars
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the ground-engaging function from the hands (by removing handlebars) and places it at the feet through the stirrup. This eliminates the need to hold onto support structures while maintaining arm freedom and reducing strain.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg brace provides universal mobility across all terrains and environments without requiring specialized infrastructure like ramps or platforms. The stirrup design allows engagement with any ground surface, making the device adaptable to stairs, uneven surfaces, and various architectural features.
4Reliability
If custom-fitted prosthetic limbs are provided to amputees, then the amputees can regain essential capabilities, but the cost is high and frequent refitting is required due to body changes
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment assemblies incorporate adjustable mechanisms that allow the frame to adapt to changing body dimensions over time. Users can modify the attachment position and configuration as their body changes due to atrophy or growth, eliminating the need for complete refitting while maintaining functional capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The prosthetic system is divided into separate, independently adjustable components including the frame, stirrup, and attachment assemblies. This segmentation allows individual parts to be adjusted or replaced without affecting the entire system, reducing refitting costs and simplifying manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A leg brace includes a frame and a stirrup coupled to a lower end of the frame for engaging a ground surface during use. The leg brace further includes a first attachment assembly coupled to an upper end of the frame that is configured to removably secure the frame to a first portion of a user's leg and a second attachment assembly coupled to a lower end of the frame that is configured to removably secure the frame to a second portion of a user's leg.