Prosthetic Sensor Carrier Knitted Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern prostheses with integrated sensors are expensive and require a time-consuming adaptation phase for users, involving frequent adjustments of sensors and stimulators, which is cumbersome and difficult to manage.

Innovation Solution

A sensor carrier with a knitted fabric tube having different knitting structures for secure attachment and positioning of sensors on a prosthesis, allowing easy installation and removal, and featuring protective layers to prevent mechanical stress and wrinkling, enabling reliable operation and extended service life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sensors are permanently integrated into the prosthesis, then the prosthesis provides reliable sensory feedback to the user, but the prosthesis becomes expensive and requires time-consuming adjustments during the adaptation phase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensory feedback reliabilityVSAvoidprosthesis complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The prosthesis system is divided into two independent parts: a permanent prosthesis component and a separate sensor carrier with sensors. The sensor carrier can be attached or detached as needed, allowing the sensors to be separated from the prosthesis structure itself. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable sensory feedback when the sensor carrier is attached, while avoiding the need for permanent integration that increases complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If sensors are permanently installed in the prosthesis, then the prosthesis provides stable sensor positioning, but the adjustment and familiarization phase becomes very time-consuming involving multiple specialist visits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor positioning stabilityVSAvoidadaptation phase time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor carrier is designed with dynamic attachment and detachment capabilities, allowing it to be easily installed and removed by the user without requiring specialist intervention. The carrier features a retention section that secures it to the prosthesis during use, providing stable sensor positioning, but can be quickly removed for cleaning or replacement. This dynamic design eliminates the need for time-consuming permanent adjustments while maintaining positioning stability during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If sensors are integrated into the prosthesis, then the prosthesis provides continuous sensory feedback, but cleaning and maintenance become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensory feedback continuityVSAvoidcleaning ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the sensors into a detachable sensor carrier rather than integrating them permanently into the prosthesis, the system allows the sensor carrier to be removed for easy cleaning and maintenance. The prosthesis itself remains clean and hygienic, while the sensor carrier can be independently cleaned or replaced without disassembling the prosthesis structure, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous feedback and cleaning ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Measurement precision

If the prosthesis is designed with built-in sensors, then the prosthesis provides accurate pressure detection, but any repositioning of sensors becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor repositioning ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor carrier is designed with a retention section that allows for dynamic attachment and detachment, enabling easy repositioning or replacement of the entire sensor carrier on the prosthesis. The sensor carrier maintains accurate pressure detection through its knitted structure that ensures proper positioning, but can be removed and reattached at different locations without difficulty, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and repositioning ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3659558B1Sensor holder for fitting to a prosthesis
Publication Date: 2022.01.19 SAPHENUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY GMBH
  • EP3659558B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3659558B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3659558B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a sensor carrier (10) for mounting on a prosthesis, comprising a base body (20) for receiving sensors, wherein the base body (20) has a sensor section (25) with sensors. The base body (20) has a retention section (30) for holding the base body on a prosthesis part and a knitted fabric tube (21). The retention section (30) has a first knitted structure (32) which enables the base body (20) to be held securely on the prosthesis part, and the sensor section (25) has a different knitted structure (27) which enables the sensors to be positioned securely relative to the prosthesis part.