Modular Knee Extension Device Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Following leg injury or surgery, patients often face challenges in regaining full knee extension, leading to abnormal joint motion, scar tissue formation, arthritis, and quadriceps weakness due to the inability to fully extend the knee, which can result in prolonged pain and inflammation.
Innovation Solution
A leg support device that can be configured to provide different levels of knee extension, featuring a detachable design with inclined surfaces and ankle/heel depressions to facilitate therapeutic exercises, allowing for adjustable positioning to promote knee extension and stretching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the support device is designed as a single continuous inclined surface for elevating the leg, then fluid drainage and swelling reduction are improved, but the ability to perform therapeutic knee extension exercises is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The support device is divided into multiple detachable sections (first section with proximal inclined surface, second section with distal inclined surface, and optional third section with foot support). These sections can be attached together to form a continuous inclined surface for elevation therapy, or separated to create gaps that enable therapeutic knee extension exercises. The attachment features allow easy assembly and disassembly between different therapeutic modes.
2Ease of operation
If the support device includes detachable sections for therapeutic exercises, then exercise mobility is improved, but the overall device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into modular sections that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each section has standardized attachment features that simplify the connection process, reducing the operational complexity despite the increased number of components.
Solution Approach 2:
Each detachable section is designed to serve multiple functions: the inclined surfaces provide both elevation support and exercise support, while the attachment features enable both stable connection during elevation therapy and easy separation during exercises. This multi-functionality reduces the need for entirely separate devices.
3Ease of operation
If the inclined surfaces form a continuous surface when assembled, then leg elevation comfort is improved, but the ability to suspend the knee for extension therapy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions between two dynamic states: assembled state where sections are connected to form a continuous comfortable surface for elevation, and detached state where sections are separated to create the necessary gap for knee suspension during extension therapy. The attachment features enable easy transition between these states.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular device is configured to provide different levels of knee extension to a patient by being moveable between an assembled or “rest” configuration and a detached or “therapy” configuration. The device includes a proximal section with an inclined upper surface and a separate distal section with an inclined upper surface. When attached, the proximal and distal sections form a single continuous incline for supporting a patient's leg. At least one of the sections also includes an ankle supporting cavity that holds the patient's ankle and heel and provides greater stretching/extension of the patient's knee.