Patella Brace with Hinge Assemblies for Knee Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing knee braces fail to securely stabilize the patella during bending motions due to offsetting forces and lack of rigid coupling, leading to inadequate support and potential subluxation.
Innovation Solution
A patella brace design featuring anatomically contoured rigid shells with hinge assemblies, compression members, and adjustable straps with hook and pile fasteners that provide direct compression and secure attachment to the femur and tibia, preventing rolling and maintaining patella alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If elastomeric straps are used to apply pressure to the patella, then compression force is improved, but the brace rolls during knee bending due to offsetting forces
Solution Approach 1:
The brace is divided into separate functional components: rigid shells for structural stability, hinge assemblies for controlled movement, and elastomeric straps for compression. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with others, preventing the rolling issue while maintaining compression force.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly acts as an intermediary between the rigid shells and the elastomeric straps, coordinating their interaction during knee bending. This mediator ensures that the straps apply compression force without creating offsetting forces that would cause the brace to roll.
2Temperature
If soft elastic knee braces are used, then warmth and compression are improved, but support to the user is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The brace combines soft elastic materials for warmth and comfort with rigid shell materials for structural support. This composite construction allows the brace to simultaneously provide thermal comfort and mechanical support, resolving the contradiction between softness and strength.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid shells with hinge assemblies are used, then patella alignment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assemblies provide dynamic adaptation to knee bending motions, allowing the rigid shells to maintain proper alignment with the femur and tibia throughout the range of motion. This dynamic design achieves stable patella alignment without requiring an overly complex fixed structure.
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 effectively stabilizes the patella by distributing tension evenly, preventing subluxation and providing enhanced support during bending, especially between 20 and 50 degrees of knee flexion, facilitating quicker healing of torn collagen fibers.
Implementation Method 1
elastomeric straps or bands which run snugly along the side of the knee. As the knee bends, tension in the straps or bands increases to apply greater pressure towards a patella
Implementation Method 2
Straps 180 connect to buckles 170 and compression member 200. Straps 180 wrap from buckles 170, between padding disposed about the inside of a rigid shells 110 and 120, and fasten to compression member 200
Data Source
AI summary
A patella brace has two rigid shells, a compression member coupled about the two rigid shells, and two hinge assemblies operatively connecting the two rigid shells for allowing translation, wherein the compression member restrains a joint while the two rigid shells translate about the two hinge assemblies.