Medical Leg Support With Curved Ground Strips
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for rehabilitating damaged legs, such as after knee surgery or tissue injuries, often exacerbate the condition by placing unnecessary weight and stress on the injured area, and require expensive equipment that is not easily usable for daily tasks, limiting the range of motion and increasing the risk of further injury.
Innovation Solution
A medical leg support arrangement with rotatable ground engaging strips and adjustable resistance means, including wheels and mats or resilient cords, provides continuous support and adjustable resistance to facilitate a safe and progressive range of motion without weight-bearing stress on the damaged leg, allowing for convenient use at home and during daily activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional rehabilitation methods are used to exercise the damaged leg, then the range of motion can be improved, but unnecessary weight and stress are placed on the injured area causing potential further injury
Solution Approach 1:
The device introduces an intermediary mechanical system between the user's leg and the ground. The platform with wheels and ground-engaging strips acts as a mediator that enables motion while distributing forces away from the injured knee area, allowing rehabilitation exercise without direct weight-bearing stress on the damaged tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs an anti-weight mechanism where the user's body weight is supported by the platform and ground-engaging strips rather than being borne by the injured leg. The curved strips and wheel system create a counterbalancing effect that prevents harmful downward forces from reaching the damaged knee area during exercise motion.
2Reliability
If expensive and substantial exercise equipment is used to assist recovery, then rehabilitation can be achieved, but the equipment is difficult to use conveniently and safely throughout the day
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: a platform for foot placement, multiple wheels for ground engagement, curved ground-engaging strips for support, and resistance means for exercise control. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall device compact and easy to maneuver in home environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic elements including rotatable wheels that adapt to different ground surfaces, adjustable resistance means that can be modified as rehabilitation progresses, and flexible ground-engaging strips that conform to terrain variations. These dynamic features enable the device to be safely used in various locations throughout the day without requiring fixed installation or complex setup.
3Ease of operation
If a simple roller skate based arrangement is used for rehabilitation, then the device is easy to use, but there is no continuous support during initial contact and departure from the ground leading to potential injury
Solution Approach 1:
The ground-engaging strips are designed with curved profiles that provide continuous contact with the ground throughout the motion cycle. The curvature ensures that as the platform moves forward and backward, the strips maintain smooth ground engagement during initial contact, mid-motion, and departure phases, eliminating gaps in support that would otherwise cause instability or injury.
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 device enables increased range of motion and efficient rehabilitation by maintaining continuous support during circumferential motion, reducing the risk of further injury and allowing for progressive strengthening of the leg without the need for complex equipment, promoting confident and safe recovery.
Implementation Method 1
each rotatable ground engaging strip includes curved and/or arched up distal ends such that when in use weight bearing support of the arrangement is maintained upon initial contact and departure of the arrangement from the ground
Implementation Method 2
rotatable ground engaging strips on opposing sides of said platform, wherein each rotatable ground engaging strip includes curved and/or arched up distal ends
Implementation Method 3
resilient cords or springs to oppose and control the range of motion during leg exercise
Implementation Method 4
The friction between the ground engaging strips and ground provides traction to enable controlled motion during rehabilitation exercise
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4c
AI summary
A medical leg support arrangement including a main housing having a platform that a foot of a user would rest and be fasten there upon. Rotatable ground engaging strips on opposing sides of said platform, wherein each rotatable ground engaging strip includes curved and/or arched up distal ends such that when in use weight bearing support of the arrangement is maintained upon initial contact and departure of the arrangement from the ground so as to allow continuous support to the leg of the user during back and forth circumferential motion instigated by the user when ground engaging the arrangement.