Osteoarthritis Knee Orthosis With Inflatable Bladder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current osteoarthritis knee braces lack a corrective and therapeutic force system to rehabilitate the knee joint and surrounding muscles, leading to incomplete pain relief and abnormal gait correction, which can progress the disease and lead to secondary conditions like hip osteoarthritis, and they do not effectively delay the progression of osteoarthritis or strengthen leg musculature.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic OA knee brace with adjustable polycentric and uni-centric hinges, inflatable bladders, and a swing-assist system that applies corrective forces to balance the knee joint, prevent abnormal rotation, and recruit atrophied muscles, allowing for fine-tuning of the brace to provide optimal support and alignment, thereby improving gait kinetics and joint space balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple knee brace structure is used to support the joint, then ease of manufacture and device complexity are improved, but the ability to provide corrective and therapeutic force to rehabilitate the knee joint and surrounding muscles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The brace is divided into multiple functional components: polycentric hinge mechanism for alignment, inflatable bladders for corrective force application, swing-assist system for gait correction, and adjustable elements for customization. Each segment performs a specific rehabilitation function while maintaining overall system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The brace integrates multiple functions into a single device: joint support, muscle rehabilitation through corrective force, gait correction, and adjustable alignment. This multi-functional design provides comprehensive rehabilitation without requiring multiple separate devices.
2Ease of manufacture
If a static knee brace design is used, then manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture are improved, but the ability to adapt to changing patient conditions and fine-tune corrective forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The brace incorporates dynamic elements including inflatable bladders that can be adjusted in real-time, movable fulcrum positions, and adjustable swing-assist mechanisms. These dynamic features allow the brace to adapt to changing patient conditions and provide customized corrective forces without requiring complex manufacturing.
3Device complexity
If no corrective force system is incorporated, then device complexity and manufacturing cost are reduced, but the ability to correct abnormal gait and delay osteoarthritis progression deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The brace uses an inflatable bladder system to generate corrective forces. The bladders can be inflated to specific pressures to apply controlled therapeutic forces to the knee joint and surrounding muscles, enabling gait correction and rehabilitation without complex mechanical actuation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The corrective force system allows adjustment of multiple parameters including bladder inflation pressure, fulcrum position, and swing-assist tension. These parameter changes enable customization of therapeutic forces to match individual patient needs and progressions, effectively delaying disease progression.
4Reliability
If a complex hinge system with multiple degrees of freedom is used, then the ability to correct abnormal rotation and improve joint space balance is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The polycentric hinge system automatically adapts to the patient's knee anatomy and movement patterns through its geometric design. The hinge centers self-align during movement, reducing the need for manual adjustment while maintaining accurate joint space balance and correcting abnormal rotation without complex control mechanisms.
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 brace significantly reduces pain, corrects abnormal gait, delays osteoarthritis progression, strengthens leg musculature, and reduces the need for surgical intervention by providing continuous rehabilitation and support, allowing patients to maintain mobility without total knee replacement surgery.
Implementation Method 1
A dynamic OA knee brace with adjustable polycentric and uni-centric hinges, inflatable bladders, and a swing-assist system that applies corrective forces to balance the knee joint
Implementation Method 2
inflatable bladders, and a swing-assist system that applies corrective forces to balance the knee joint, prevent abnormal rotation, and recruit atrophied muscles
Data Source
AI summary
An osteoarthritis knee brace includes at least one vertical strut with upper and lower portions, at least one pivoting hinge intermediately disposed there between, a shin cuff attached to the vertical strut lower portion and positioned below the hinge and a thigh cuff attached to the vertical strut upper portion and positioned above the hinge. The brace further includes at least one inflatable bladder system for applying a corrective and therapeutic force to the osteoarthritis damaged knee joint and the surrounding areas thereof, and which is removeably positionable thereabout. Still further, the brace includes at least one insert enclosed within the inflatable bladder system for equally distributing the corrective and therapeutic force at each point at which the inflatable bladder system applies a corrective and therapeutic force.