Modular Shoulder Immobilizer With Double Figure-9 Straps for Easy Fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoulder immobilizers are uncomfortable, difficult to use, and lack versatility, leading to user non-compliance and prolonged recovery times due to improper fitting and lack of adaptability to different recovery stages and protocols.
Innovation Solution
A modular shoulder immobilizer with a double figure-9 strap configuration and an open-frame arm apparatus that evenly distributes load, provides intuitive donning and doffing, and allows for adjustable tension to accommodate various user anatomies and rehabilitation needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing shoulder immobilizers use multiple straps for securement, then the immobilizer provides adequate support and stability, but the complexity of donning and doffing increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The immobilizer is divided into distinct functional modules: a torso portion with integrated shoulder support structure, a separate arm support component, and a fastening system with differentiated straps. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the torso portion provides structural stability while the modular arm support can be easily attached and removed, simplifying the overall donning process while maintaining support integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
A simplified intermediate fastening mechanism is introduced between the straps and the body, using a central adjustment system that controls multiple straps simultaneously. This intermediary device allows the user to secure or release all straps with a single action, reducing the complexity of managing multiple individual straps while maintaining adequate securement of the immobilizer.
2Reliability
If the immobilizer positions the arm in fixed abduction for surgical protocol compliance, then proper shoulder immobilization is achieved, but user comfort and circulation are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The arm support component is designed with dynamic adjustment capabilities, allowing the abduction angle to be modified within a controlled range. The support structure includes adjustable articulation points and flexible positioning mechanisms that enable the arm to be maintained in the prescribed abducted position for surgical protocol compliance, while also allowing minor adjustments to accommodate individual anatomical variations and prevent excessive pressure on nerves and blood vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
The immobilizer incorporates localized pressure distribution features at critical areas such as the axilla and elbow. Padding and contoured surfaces are strategically placed to reduce pressure on the ulnar nerve and major blood vessels, allowing the arm to be held in the required abducted position without causing circulation restrictions or discomfort. The local quality of the contact surfaces is optimized to balance immobilization effectiveness with tissue protection.
3Ease of operation
If the immobilizer design is simplified for easy use, then ease of operation improves, but adaptability to different recovery protocols and user anatomies decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The immobilizer is designed as a universal system that can accommodate multiple recovery protocols and user anatomies through standardized adjustment mechanisms. The torso portion features adjustable strap lengths and positioning points that can be configured for different body sizes. The arm support component can be positioned at various angles and secured at multiple locations, allowing the same device to satisfy different surgical protocols (e.g., varying degrees of abduction, different immobilization durations) while maintaining ease of operation through consistent user interface elements.
4Reliability
If existing immobilizers anchor about the neck for support, then the shoulder is adequately immobilized, but user comfort decreases and neck pain occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The neck anchoring function is extracted from the traditional design and redistributed to the shoulder and torso regions. The immobilizer uses the broader surface area of the shoulder girdle and upper torso to provide the necessary support and stability, eliminating the need for neck anchoring. This is achieved through a torso portion that distributes forces across a larger area, reducing pressure on the neck while maintaining adequate shoulder immobilization through improved force distribution vectors.
Data Source
AI summary
A shoulder immobilizer and arm apparatus are provided for enhanced comfort and ease of use for rehabilitating a shoulder. The shoulder immobilizer includes a double figure-9 strap configuration to support the weight of an injured arm and shoulder comfortably. The shoulder immobilizer can be stepped down for modular construction and use depending on a user's needs. The shoulder immobilizer may be configured to cooperate with a corresponding arm apparatus, including an open-frame sling allowing for elbow extension and a simplified strap configuration.