Movable Joint With Threaded Shaft And Translating Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional prosthetic joints are often complex, bulky, and fail to provide sufficient motion control, leading to potential injuries due to unintended movement from locked positions and lack of continuous angular adjustment, making them inadequate for effective support and control of muscles, joints, or skeletal parts.
Innovation Solution
A simplified movable joint design featuring first and second joint sections with a shaft member and translating member, allowing for controlled angular adjustment and self-locking functionality, enabling continuous adjustment within a defined range of motion and improved safety and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional movable joints are used in prosthetic systems, then they can provide basic joint support and positioning, but they are complicated in design, bulky, and fail to provide sufficient motion control
Solution Approach 1:
The joint assembly is divided into distinct functional components: a housing, a shaft member with external threads, and a translating member with internal threads. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying the overall design and manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical locking mechanisms with a threaded translation system. Rotation of the shaft member is converted to linear translation of the translating member through thread engagement, providing precise motion control with simpler mechanics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional movable joints are used, then they can support joint positioning, but they fail to provide continuous angular adjustment and are difficult to adjust while being worn
Solution Approach 1:
The joint assembly allows dynamic adjustment of the angular position between joint sections during use. The translating member can be rotated along the shaft member to continuously adjust the angle, enabling adaptation to different positioning requirements while the device is worn.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous change of the angular parameter between joint sections through the threaded mechanism. By rotating the shaft member or translating member, the angular position can be continuously adjusted within the range of motion, providing versatile positioning capability.
3Reliability
If conventional movable joints are used, then they can provide joint support, but they are not capable of self-locking and may undesirably move from locked positions
Solution Approach 1:
The threaded engagement between the shaft member and translating member creates a self-locking mechanism. The friction and mechanical advantage of the threads prevent unintended movement from the locked position, and the system maintains its position without requiring additional locking components or active control.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded mechanism provides inherent resistance to unintended movement through thread friction and mechanical advantage before any adjustment is made. This prevents undesired movement from locked positions without requiring separate cushioning or locking elements.
4Strength
If conventional movable joints are used, then they can provide basic joint function, but they are bulky and do not provide sufficient support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into integrated components. The shaft member serves as both a structural support element and a threaded drive element. The translating member integrates the locking function and angular adjustment mechanism into a single component, reducing overall joint size while maintaining strength.
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 design provides greater control and support for orthopedic and prosthetic devices, ensuring stable positioning until adjusted, reducing the likelihood of injury and enhancing the natural movement of prosthetic limbs, while allowing for continuous adjustability and increased load handling.
Implementation Method 1
A translating member is attached to the at least one shaft member. To adjust the angular position between the first and second joint sections, the at least one shaft member can be rotated relative to at least one of the joint sections. This rotation causes the translating member to translate along the at least one shaft member
Implementation Method 2
In an embodiment, because of shear friction and/or a high mechanical advantage of the movable joint, the movable joint can be self-locking. In other words, an input force or torque applied to the second joint section will not move the second joint section, the translating member, or the at least one shaft member.
Implementation Method 3
the actuator can continuously adjust the movable joint within a range of motion defined by the movable joint, providing greater control of movement and functionality
Data Source
AI summary
A movable joint for use in a prosthetic or orthopedic system includes first and second joint sections arranged to rotate relative to one another. At least one shaft member is attached to and arranged to rotate relative to the first or second joint sections. A translating member is attached to the at least one shaft member. Translation of the translating member along a length of the at least one shaft member drives rotation of at least the first joint section and the second joint section.