Multi-Plane Hinge Brace for Humeral Fracture Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current humeral fracture braces are inadequate for non-surgically correcting distal third and midshaft humeral fractures, as they fail to immobilize the joint effectively and often result in significant angular deformity, particularly in overweight patients, due to their inability to control the distal fragment and correct varus, valgus, rotational, anterior, and posterior deformities.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable orthopedic brace with a hinge arrangement that allows the forearm cuff to rotate in multiple planes relative to the humeral cuff, incorporating an angular hinge and a range of motion hinge, enabling precise correction of angular deformities and providing adjustable fit for different patients through various pivot points and length adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If known humeral fracture braces are used for non-surgical treatment, then treatment cost is reduced and surgical risk is avoided, but the braces fail to control the distal fragment and result in significant angular deformity
Solution Approach 1:
The brace is divided into multiple functional segments: a humeral cuff portion, a forearm cuff portion, and a hinge arrangement connecting them. This segmentation allows independent control of proximal and distal fragments while maintaining overall structural integrity. The hinge arrangement itself is segmented into multiple hinges (e.g., first hinge for one plane, second hinge for another plane) to provide multi-directional control.
Solution Approach 2:
The brace incorporates a dynamic hinge arrangement that allows controlled movement in multiple planes. The hinges enable the forearm cuff to rotate relative to the humeral cuff in specific planes, providing dynamic adjustment capability to correct angular deformity while maintaining immobilization. This dynamic feature allows the brace to adapt to the fracture geometry and correct deformity actively rather than passively.
2Reliability
If existing braces stop short of traversing the distal fragment, then ease of application is improved, but a long lever arm remains at the fracture site which worsens deformity
Solution Approach 1:
The brace extends into the distal fragment region, adding a third dimension of control by traversing across the fracture site rather than stopping proximal to it. This dimensional extension allows the brace to create a shorter lever arm at the fracture site, improving mechanical control of the distal fragment while maintaining ease of application through the modular cuff and hinge design.
3Reliability
If known braces are used for midshaft fractures in overweight patients, then treatment is non-surgical and less expensive, but the upper arm rests in abducted position causing treatment failure
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge arrangement provides dynamic adjustment capability that allows the brace to accommodate various arm positions including abducted positions. The hinges enable controlled rotation in multiple planes, allowing the brace to maintain effective immobilization and deformity correction even when the patient's arm is in non-neutral positions, thereby improving adaptability to different patient body types and positioning requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A brace is provided for treating humeral fractures. The brace is secured to a patient's humerus and forearm. The brace utilizes a hinge system which enables the portion of the brace secured to the patient's forearm to rotate in a plurality of planes relative to the portion of the brace secured to the patient's humerus. The hinge system allows the brace to be adjusted to the most advantageous position for the patient. Once the brace has been adjusted to the most advantageous position, the hinge system can be locked so that the brace remains in that position.