Hand Prosthesis Metacarpus Volume Sealing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current hand prostheses lack a robust and versatile metacarpus element that can be effectively sealed against environmental influences and easily adapted for both left and right-hand configurations, leading to inefficiencies in design and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A metacarpus element with a basic body and cover forming a volume, made from materials like metal or composite, featuring a connecting element for finger frame elements and a thumb element receiver, and equipped with a sealing ring for protection against dust and water, allowing for symmetrical design suitable for both left and right-hand prostheses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the metacarpus element is designed with separate basic body and cover, then sensitive components can be protected against environmental influences, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of sensitive componentsVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The metacarpus element is divided into a basic metacarpus body and a metacarpus cover that can be separated from each other. This segmentation allows the cover to be removed for accessing sensitive components while providing protection when assembled, directly resolving the contradiction between protection and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Sensitive components are nested within the volume formed by the basic metacarpus body and metacarpus cover. This nesting arrangement protects components within the enclosed space while maintaining a compact overall structure, addressing both protection and complexity concerns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a sealing ring is added between basic metacarpus body and metacarpus cover, then impermeability to dust and water is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpermeability to dust and waterVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing ring is introduced as an intermediary element between the basic metacarpus body and metacarpus cover. This sealing ring acts as a mediator that prevents dust and water penetration while maintaining the detachable connection, resolving the contradiction between impermeability and manufacturing ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of repair

If the metacarpus element is designed as detachable, then ease of repair and component access is improved, but reliability of connection may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent accessibilityVSAvoidconnection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The detachable connection between basic metacarpus body and metacarpus cover enables easy component access for repair and maintenance while maintaining structural integrity through proper connection elements, resolving the contradiction between repairability and connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20230210673A1Metacarpus element with volume for a hand prosthesis

Publication Date: 2023.07.06 VINCENT SYST

AI summary

Metacarpus element for a hand prosthesis,wherein the metacarpus element comprises at least one connecting element for connecting the metacarpus element to at least one finger frame element, and wherein the metacarpus element comprises a basic metacarpus body and a metacarpus cover, and the basic metacarpus body, together with the metacarpus cover, define a volume.