Orthopedic System Using Electrical Muscle Stimulation and Adjustable Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with impairments in voluntary muscle activation, such as those requiring prosthetic devices or orthotic fittings for lower extremities due to accidents, neuronal damage, or medical conditions, face challenges with mobility and gait patterns due to lack of sensory feedback and the heaviness and energy requirements of active prostheses.
Innovation Solution
An orthopedic technology system with stimulation electrodes to activate muscles, adjustable resistance devices, and sensors to control movement patterns, allowing for energy-efficient muscle contraction and movement regulation without complex motor drives, utilizing an energy store to support and adapt movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If active prostheses with external drives (electric motors) are used to compensate for motor defects, then motor function is restored, but the device becomes very heavy and requires a great deal of energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heavy motor drive from the system by using electrical muscle stimulation to activate the patient's own muscles, thereby eliminating the need for external motors while maintaining motor function compensation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical motor drive system with a physiological muscle activation system using electrical stimulation, substituting mechanical power generation with bioelectrical muscle control
2Power
If active prostheses with external drives are used to compensate for motor defects, then motor function is restored, but the device requires a great deal of energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the high-energy motor drive from the system by utilizing the patient's own muscle power through electrical stimulation, eliminating the need for high-energy external power sources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the patient's own muscles to serve as the power source for movement, with the stimulation device merely triggering the muscle's inherent contractile capabilities rather than requiring external energy input
3Ease of operation
If sensors and control devices are added to adjust movement resistance, then movement pattern control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs multiple functions including sensing muscle activity, determining gait phase, controlling stimulation timing, and adjusting resistance, thereby managing complexity through functional integration rather than adding separate components
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
Improves movement dynamics and kinetic energy within the orthopedic system, enabling controlled and desired movement patterns, reducing the need for heavy energy storage and motor-driven systems, while supporting movements like flexion and extension without dissipating kinetic energy as heat.
Implementation Method 1
at least one muscle of the patient is activated via the at least one stimulation electrode
Implementation Method 2
An energy store is assigned to the orthotic or prosthetic device, via which kinetic energy can be stored in the orthotic or prosthetic device and fed back to it in a controlled manner
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to an orthopaedic system with a. at least one stimulation electrode (10) for activating at least one muscle, b. an orthotic or prosthetic device (20) which can be placed on the body of a patient and can be secured thereon, with at least one joint (41, 42) via which a proximal and a distal component (21, 22; 22, 23) of the orthotic or prosthetic device (20) are connected pivotably to each other, c. at least one adjustable resistance device (30), which is arranged between the distal and the proximal component (21, 22) and via which a movement resistance against a pivoting of the proximal component (21) to the distal component (22) is adjustable, d. sensors (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) for detecting forces, positions, accelerations and/or moments, e. a control device (50) which is coupled to the sensors (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) and to the resistance device (30), processes sensor values from the sensors (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) and adjusts the resistance device (30) according to the sensor values.