Prosthetic Coupling Device Ball Bearing Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prosthetic devices, particularly lower-extremity prosthetics, face challenges in easy removal and replacement, weight-bearing capability, and secure connection, which complicates patient use and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A prosthetic coupling device featuring a rotatable barrel with internal barrel threads and a threaded sleeve, a detachable coupler with a ball bearing system, and a retaining ring for secure locking and tactile feedback, allowing quick and secure attachment and detachment of prosthetic components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a secure locking mechanism is used to ensure weight-bearing capability, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical locking systems with a ball bearing-based locking mechanism. The ball bearing set engages with detents on the coupler and barrel to provide secure locking while maintaining simplicity. This substitution reduces the number of moving parts and simplifies the overall coupling mechanism while ensuring reliable weight-bearing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the spherical geometry and contact properties of ball bearings to transform the locking mechanism. By changing from traditional threaded or clamped connections to ball bearing engagement, the system achieves both security and simplicity. The ball bearings can support axial and radial loads effectively, providing reliable weight-bearing support with a compact design.
2Ease of operation
If a detachable coupling system is used to enable easy removal and replacement, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is divided into distinct segments: the coupler, the ball bearing set, the barrel, and the retaining ring. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently. The coupler can be easily attached and detached from the barrel by rotating the barrel, which moves the ball bearings to engage or disengage from the detents. This modular design simplifies operation while maintaining secure connection during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball bearing set acts as an intermediary between the coupler and the barrel. During attachment, the ball bearings are positioned to engage with detents on both components, creating a secure mechanical lock. During detachment, rotating the barrel moves the ball bearings out of engagement, allowing easy removal. This intermediary mechanism ensures both ease of operation and reliable connection.
3Reliability
If multiple locking components are used to ensure secure connection, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple locking functions into a single rotational motion of the barrel. The barrel's rotation simultaneously moves the ball bearings to engage or disengage from detents on both the coupler and the barrel itself. The retaining ring is integrated into the barrel, eliminating the need for separate locking steps. This consolidation allows secure connection to be achieved with a simple quarter-turn motion, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring reliable locking.
Data Source
AI summary
A prosthetic coupling device includes an internal mount including a proximate shaft portion and a distal mounting portion, a threaded sleeve formed around the distal mounting portion of the internal mount, the threaded sleeve including outer threads, and a rotatable barrel formed around the proximate shaft portion and the distal mounting portion of the internal mount, the rotatable barrel including internal barrel threads that interface with the outer threads of the threaded sleeve. The prosthetic coupling device further includes a detachable coupler formed to fit within the distal mounting portion of the internal mount, the detachable coupler including a coupler detent formed on a radially external surface of the detachable coupler. The prosthetic coupling device further includes a horizontal ball bearing shaft formed through the internal mount, the horizontal ball bearing shaft housing a ball bearing set wherein the ball bearing set interfaces with the coupler detent to lock the detachable coupler to the internal mount when the outer threads of the threaded sleeve are fully seated into the internal barrel threads.