Pneumatic Knee Flexion Device with Goniometer Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for preventing arthrofibrosis and improving knee flexion lack controlled and measured approaches, often leading to uncontrolled movements that can be painful and ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatically controlled knee flexion device comprising L-shaped frames, a movable and fixed plate, a pneumatic piston, and a hand-operated valve, along with a goniometer for precise angle measurement and control, allowing controlled and measured knee flexion exercises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual knee flexion exercises are performed without controlled devices, then the patient can move the knee freely, but the movement becomes uncontrolled and painful leading to ineffective treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pneumatic piston connected to a reservoir that can be filled or emptied to control the angle between the movable plate and fixed plate. This pneumatic mechanism provides smooth, controlled resistance during knee flexion exercises, allowing the patient to move the knee freely while maintaining reliable control over the range of motion and preventing painful uncontrolled movements.
2Device complexity
If no measurement device is used during knee exercises, then the device structure remains simple, but the angle and progress cannot be measured precisely leading to ineffective treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a goniometer that measures the angle between the movable plate and fixed plate and provides visual feedback through flags indicating the measured angle. This feedback mechanism allows patients to monitor their knee flexion progress in real-time, ensuring precise measurement of knee angle and range of motion without significantly complicating the overall device structure.
3Reliability
If a pneumatic piston with valve control is implemented, then controlled and measured knee flexion is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic piston system is designed to be manually operated by the patient themselves. The patient controls the inflation and deflation of the piston, and consequently the knee flexion angle, through direct manual operation without requiring external assistance or complex automated control systems. This self-service approach maintains reliability of control while minimizing device complexity.
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 device provides a safe and effective method for improving knee range of motion, reducing the risk of injury, and addressing refractory loss of motion, potentially reducing the need for repeat surgery and enhancing functional outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic piston pivotally coupled to the movable plate and pivotally coupled to the fixed plate, the pneumatic piston adapted and configured to control an angle between the movable plate and the fixed plate
Implementation Method 2
a hand operated valve operatively coupled to the pneumatic piston, the valve adapted and configured to control the flow of air into and out from the pneumatic piston
Implementation Method 3
a goniometer coupled to the movable plate and one of the L-shaped frames, the goniometer adapted and configured to indicate the angle between the movable plate and the fixed plate
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is an apparatus and method for use in a treatment for prevention of arthrofibrosis that includes a first and a second substantially L-shaped frames, each L-shaped frame having a first member and a second member extending from the first member in a substantially perpendicular direction and terminating in a first end, a fixed plate extending between the first members of the L-shaped frames, the fixed plate being parallel with the first members of the L-shaped frames, a movable plate pivotally coupled to the first ends of the first members of the L-shaped frames with, a pneumatic piston coupled to the movable plate and the fixed plate, a hand operated valve operatively coupled to the pneumatic piston and a goniometer coupled to the movable plate and one of the L-shaped frames, the goniometer adapted and configured to indicate the angle between the movable plate and the fixed plate.