Pivoting Prosthetic Cover Element for Joint Gap Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prosthetic devices often have gaps between parts that expose the joint to environmental influences and risk clothing entanglement, and existing cover solutions are complex and difficult to fit or remove.
Innovation Solution
A pivotably mounted cover element that follows the movement of the prosthesis parts, covering the gap through form-fitting and/or force-fitting mechanisms, ensuring coverage during flexion and extension movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cover element is provided to cover the gap between prosthesis parts, then the joint is protected from environmental influences and clothing entanglement, but the cover structure becomes complex and difficult to fit or remove
Solution Approach 1:
The cover element is designed to be pivotable about a pivot axis, allowing it to dynamically follow the movement of the prosthesis parts during flexion and extension. This dynamic design enables the cover to maintain coverage of the gap without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms, as the pivotable connection automatically adapts the cover's position to the prosthesis's movement state.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover element is coupled to the joint upper part via a coupling element that integrates multiple functions: it provides form-fitting and force-fitting connection, enables pivotable movement, and transmits motion from the prosthesis parts to the cover. This merging of functions into a single coupling mechanism simplifies the overall structure while maintaining effective gap coverage.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the cover element is rigidly fixed to cover the gap, then coverage is maintained, but the cover cannot follow the movement of prosthesis parts during flexion and extension
Solution Approach 1:
The cover element is mounted pivotably about a pivot axis on the prosthesis part or joint component, enabling it to dynamically adapt its position as the prosthesis flexes and extends. This pivotable connection ensures the cover maintains stable coverage of the gap throughout the range of motion without requiring rigid fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element between the cover and joint upper part is designed to automatically respond to the movement of the prosthesis parts. As the prosthesis joint moves during flexion and extension, the coupling element transmits this motion to the cover element, which then pivots accordingly to maintain proper coverage. This passive feedback mechanism ensures continuous adaptation without complex control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A prosthetic system with a prosthesis, which has two prosthetic parts that are pivotally connected together about a joint axis via a prosthetic joint with a joint upper part and with a joint lower part, and a cover element, which at least partly covers a gap between the two prosthetic parts or between one prosthetic part and the joint lower part. The cover element is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis on one prosthetic part, a component of a cosmetic prosthetic element, said component being secured to one prosthetic part or one joint part or the prosthetic joint and is coupled to the joint upper part of the prosthetic joint via at least one coupling element in a form- and/or force-fitting manner such that a pivotal movement of the prosthetic parts about the joint axis leads to a simultaneous pivotal movement of the cover element about the pivot axis.