Sliding Pivot Chin Support for Neck Brace Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopedic neck braces struggle to maintain proper sagittal positioning of the chin support over a wide range of neck lengths, leading to inadequate contact between the chin support and the patient's chin.
Innovation Solution
The orthopedic neck brace employs a sliding pivot mechanism to couple the chin support to the front neck piece, ensuring proper sagittal positioning. This mechanism is integrated with a height adjustment mechanism, allowing automatic operation of the sliding pivot to accommodate varying neck lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple pivot mechanism is used to couple the chin support to the neck support, then the device structure is simple, but the chin support cannot maintain proper sagittal positioning for long or short necks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from a fixed simple pivot to a sliding pivot mechanism that allows dynamic adjustment. The chin support can slide along the neck support structure, enabling it to adapt its position automatically based on neck length variations, thus maintaining proper sagittal positioning across different neck sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the pivot mechanism to allow positional variation. The sliding pivot enables changes in the spatial parameters of the chin support relative to the neck support, allowing the system to accommodate different neck lengths while maintaining proper anatomical alignment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment mechanisms are added to provide both vertical and sagittal adjustments, then the adaptability to different neck lengths is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring manual thumb screw adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by designing a mechanism where the chin support automatically adjusts its position based on the neck length. The sliding pivot mechanism allows the chin support to self-adjust vertically and sagittally without requiring manual intervention, making the system adapt to different neck lengths autonomously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the sliding pivot mechanism to automatically respond to neck length variations. The mechanism is designed in advance to perform the adjustment action automatically when the brace is applied, eliminating the need for subsequent manual adjustments.
3Extent of automation
If the chin support is mounted on a spring arm extending upwards from the wearer's torso, then continuous automatic vertical movement is achieved, but excessive movement in both vertical and sagittal directions occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a sliding pivot mechanism as an intermediate element between the chin support and the neck support. This intermediary structure guides and constrains the movement of the chin support, allowing automatic adjustment while preventing excessive movement in vertical and sagittal directions, thus maintaining stable positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamics by creating a controlled dynamic system where the chin support can move automatically within defined limits. The sliding pivot mechanism provides dynamic adjustment capability while maintaining stability through constrained motion paths, preventing the excessive movement problems associated with spring arm designs.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopedic neck brace has right and left sliding pivots that couple a torso rest with a chin support. Over a wide range from relatively long necks to relatively short necks, the sliding pivots tend to raise and lower the chin piece vertically, which automatically keeps the chin support at a right angle to the rest of the brace, and prevent undesirable sagittal offsets. Preferred embodiments combine the sliding pivots with a rack and pinion neck height adjustment mechanism.