Joint Orthosis Assembly with Turnable Strap Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing knee orthosis designs fail to effectively stabilize the knee joint during movement due to straps sliding on the tubular web, leading to inconsistent tightening and inadequate support.
Innovation Solution
A joint orthosis assembly featuring a web with pivotally connected arm units and elastically stretchable straps, along with a fastening subassembly that allows strap ends to be turnably coupled, ensuring consistent tension and stability across various joint positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the straps are fixed to the tubular web and supporting linkage without turnable coupling, then the structure is simple, but the straps slide during leg movement and cannot maintain consistent tightening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by introducing turnable coupling mechanisms (pivot connections and buckles) that allow the straps to dynamically adjust their position and maintain consistent tension during leg movement. The pivot connections enable the arm unit to rotate with the knee joint, while the buckles allow the straps to be repositioned to prevent sliding, thereby maintaining reliable stabilization without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses intermediary elements (pivot connections and buckles) as mediators between the straps and the supporting structure. These intermediaries facilitate relative movement and adjustment, allowing the straps to maintain consistent tightening while accommodating the dynamic movement of the leg and knee joint, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
2Reliability
If the straps are tightened to stabilize the knee joint, then the stabilization effectiveness improves, but the straps may slide during movement causing inconsistent tension
Solution Approach 1:
The turnable coupling mechanisms enable the strap system to dynamically adapt during leg movement. The pivot connections allow the arm unit to rotate with the knee joint, while the buckles enable the straps to be repositioned to maintain optimal tension, making it easier to maintain consistent stabilization effectiveness throughout the range of motion.
3Reliability
If the arm unit is rigidly connected to maintain stability, then the structural stability improves, but the orthosis cannot accommodate joint movement from extended to flexed position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing rigid connections with pivot connections at the arm unit. This allows the arm unit to rotate and accommodate the knee joint's movement from extended to flexed position while maintaining structural stability through the pivot connection's controlled movement and the strap tensioning system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of connection rigidity from rigid to pivoting. The pivot connection allows angular movement to accommodate joint flexion while maintaining structural integrity, and the strap tensioning system adjusts the tension parameter to maintain stability throughout the range of motion.
Data Source
AI summary
A joint orthosis assembly includes a web, an arm unit, a strap unit, and at least one fastening subassembly. The web has three web portions for being wrapped on an upper limb structure, a lower limb structure, and a joint between the upper and lower limb structures, respectively. The arm unit is retained on the web and includes two arms which are pivotally connected, and which are for being disposed at lateral sides of the upper and lower limb structures, respectively. The strap unit includes two straps each being wound about the web to be coupled between the two arms. The fastening subassembly is configured to permit an end of at least one of the straps to be turnably coupled to a corresponding one of arms.