Prosthesis Hinge Switching Resistance for Safe Stair Descent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinged connecting apparatuses for lower limb prostheses do not ensure complete safety, particularly when the user needs to descend inclined surfaces, stairs, or steps, as they allow free and potentially hazardous bending without adequate resistance control.
Innovation Solution
A hinged connecting apparatus with a resistance-switching mechanism and sensors to detect support contact, preventing unintended bending by imposing maximal resistance when no support is detected and allowing free flexion when a support is present, ensuring safe movement and configuration changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the hinged connecting apparatus allows free bending of the prosthesis, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety deteriorates when descending inclined surfaces or stairs
Solution Approach 1:
The resistance value of the hinged connecting apparatus is made dynamic and adjustable based on detected conditions. The system transitions between a first resistance value (higher resistance) when no support is detected and a second resistance value (lower resistance) when support is detected, allowing the apparatus to adapt its mechanical properties to different operational contexts and resolve the contradiction between ease of bending and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
A detection device provides feedback about the operational condition (support detection) to a control device, which then adjusts the resistance value of the hinged connecting apparatus accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically switch between safety-oriented and ease-of-operation-oriented resistance values based on real-time conditions.
2Reliability
If the hinged connecting apparatus imposes maximal resistance to prevent bending, then the safety is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The resistance value is dynamically adjusted based on detected conditions. When support is detected, the system switches to a lower resistance value that facilitates easier bending and operation, while maintaining higher resistance only when necessary for safety, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The resistance parameter of the hinged connecting apparatus is changed between two distinct values (first resistance value and second resistance value) based on the operational condition. This parameter switching allows the system to optimize both safety and ease of operation by selecting the appropriate resistance level for the current situation.
3Reliability
If the resistance value is switched between high and low based on support detection, then the safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A detection device acts as an intermediary between the operational condition (support detection) and the resistance control mechanism. This intermediary component simplifies the overall system architecture by providing a clear condition signal that triggers the appropriate resistance value, making the complexity manageable and organized.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical resistance control mechanisms with a system that incorporates detection devices and control logic, potentially using electrical or electronic controls to manage the resistance switching. This substitution can simplify the mechanical complexity while achieving the same safety function through more precise and controllable means.
Data Source
AI summary
Hinged connecting apparatus (1) for a lower limb prosthesis (2), the hinged connecting apparatus (1) comprising a first device (1000) intended to oppose a predetermined resistance during flexion of the prosthesis (2), this resistance being switched by said first device (1000) between two values which are a predetermined minimal value and a predetermined maximal value.