Scapula Stabilizing Orthosis with Pivotable Pressure Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices fail to provide a simple and comfortable method for stabilizing the scapula position and facilitating arm movement, especially during heavy physical tasks or therapeutic contexts, where scapular instability can lead to dysfunction.
Innovation Solution
An orthosis system with a torso fixation harness, a pressure element coupled to the scapula, and an arm fixation mechanism, which applies a normal pressure force to maintain the scapula's natural position through translational and pivotable movements, mimicking the scapulohumeral rhythm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pad fixed to the harness presses onto the scapula to support its position, then the scapula receives direct pressure support, but the device lacks dynamic adaptability to scapular movement during arm lifting
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure element is coupled to the harness in a translational and/or pivotable way, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and orientation relative to the scapula during arm movement. This dynamic coupling enables the support device to adapt to the changing geometry of scapular movement while maintaining continuous pressure contact, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
2Device complexity
If the pressure element is rigidly fixed to the harness, then the structure is simple, but it cannot follow the natural scapulohumeral rhythm during arm movement
Solution Approach 1:
The translational and/or pivotable coupling between the pressure element and harness introduces minimal complexity while enabling the pressure element to follow the natural scapulohumeral rhythm. The coupling allows controlled movement degrees of freedom that match physiological motion patterns without requiring complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device acts as an intermediary between the fixed harness and the moving scapula, transmitting forces while accommodating relative motion. This intermediary component enables the system to bridge the gap between structural stability and physiological adaptability.
3Reliability
If the orthosis uses extensive fixation means and multiple support elements, then scapular stability is improved, but wearing comfort and simplicity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and isolates the essential stabilization function to a single pressure element that applies force at the critical scapular location. By removing unnecessary support elements and fixation points, the device achieves effective scapular stabilization with minimal structure, thereby improving wearing comfort while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns an orthosis (10) for stabilizing the position of the scapula (3) at least during a lateral movement of an arm (8) related to the scapula (3), comprising a torso fixation means (20), in particular a harness, fixable to the torso (2) of a person (1), and a pressure element (30) in a translational and/or pivotable way coupled to the torso fixation means (20) for applying a normal pressure force onto the scapula (3), as well as an arm fixation means (40) fixable to the arm (8), in particular to the upper arm, of the person (1), wherein the arm fixation means (40) is connected to the pressure element (30) by means of a coupling device (50) and wherein the position of connection (51) of the coupling device (50) to the pressure element (30) is realized in a distance h1 to the position of coupling (31) between the pressure element (30) and the torso fixation means (20), such that a movement of the arm (8), in particular a lifting movement (401), of a person (1) attached to the orthosis (10) is transferred by the coupling device (50) to the pressure element (30) such that the pressure element (30) is moved essentially together with the scapula (3). The invention also concerns a method for stabilizing the position of the scapula (3), a system (300) for moving an arm (8) of a person (1) and a method for lifting a load (200).