Padded Rigid-Core Knee Therapy Support for Exercise Comfort

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing physical therapy devices for knee rehabilitation are cumbersome, uncomfortable, and inadequate, hindering rehabilitation effectiveness due to lack of specific design for required exercises.

Innovation Solution

A knee joint physical therapy device with a rigid or semi-rigid core, padding, and straps with handles, designed to provide comfortable support and facilitate various exercises, including a cylindrical or semicylindrical body with a retaining band for foot retention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a rolled-up towel is used to support a joint during exercise, then the device is simple and comfortable, but it is too soft to provide adequate support and may come unrolled during exercise

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecomfortVSAvoidsupport adequacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device combines a rigid or semi-rigid core with soft padding and fabric cover to create a composite structure that provides both adequate support and comfort. The rigid core ensures structural integrity and support adequacy, while the soft padding and fabric cover maintain comfort during exercise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The device uses a flexible fabric cover over the rigid core to provide a comfortable interface with the patient's body. The flexible cover conforms to body contours while the rigid core maintains structural support, resolving the contradiction between comfort and support adequacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of manufacture

If generic equipment like ropes, bands, or towels is used for physical therapy, then the equipment is readily available, but it is cumbersome and not designed specifically for required exercises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment availabilityVSAvoidexercise facilitation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is designed as a multi-functional physical therapy tool that can facilitate various knee rehabilitation exercises including heel slide, quad set, and short arc quad exercises. The standardized design with retaining band and strap handles makes it universally applicable to different exercise requirements while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a rigid structure is used to provide adequate support, then support adequacy is improved, but comfort during exercise deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport adequacyVSAvoidcomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The device applies different material properties to different parts: the core provides rigid support where structural integrity is needed, while the padding and cover provide soft comfort where body contact occurs. This localized differentiation of material qualities resolves the contradiction between support adequacy and comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12403353B2Knee joint physical therapy device

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 WILLIAMS BRANDON

AI summary

A device for facilitating physical therapy exercises of the knee having a cylindrical or semicylindrical body having a rigid core, padding, and a vinyl cover. A strap is attached to the body at each end and may have one or more handles for grasping by a patient.