Orthopedic Stabilization Device with Integrated Sensor Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy are at risk of injuries due to lack of sensation, which can lead to re-injuries and breakage of stabilization devices like walking boots and external fixators, especially with high body mass index increasing forces and stresses on the foot.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating sensors into stabilization devices to detect conditions and produce signals for determining dynamics and static loads, with a controller analyzing these signals to inform patients and physicians of potentially harmful conditions and prevent re-injuries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stabilization devices are used for patients with peripheral neuropathy, then foot stability and injury prevention are improved, but patients cannot detect device breakage or re-injury due to lack of sensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors that continuously monitor the stabilization device for breakage, excessive movement, and abnormal forces, then provide real-time feedback to patients via audible/visual alerts and to healthcare providers through wireless transmission. This compensates for the patients' lack of tactile feedback and enables timely intervention to prevent re-injury.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensors and controllers as intermediary elements between the stabilization device and the patient/healthcare provider. These intermediaries detect device conditions and patient status, converting physical states into actionable information that compensates for the patients' sensory deficits.
2Reliability
If sensors and controllers are added to stabilization devices, then real-time monitoring and injury detection are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the controller to perform multiple functions: processing data from various sensors, generating audible and visual alerts, wirelessly communicating with healthcare providers, and storing patient information. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A stabilization device can determine a condition of a human foot and can include a body, a pad, and a sensor. The body can be coupleable to a human foot. The pad can be coupleable to a distal portion of the body, and the pad can be configured to interface with a walking surface. The sensor can be securable to one of the body and the pad and the sensor can be configured to produce a sensor signal as a function of a sensed condition of the stabilization device.