Stairway Step Aid with Offset Support Structures for Knee Rest
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with lower limb injuries face difficulties in mobility, particularly when navigating stairs, as they need to minimize weight on affected limbs to avoid further injury or falling, and existing solutions do not adequately address this challenge.
Innovation Solution
A step aid device with multiple support structures positioned on stairs, allowing users to position their knee on a sturdy surface, reducing weight on the affected limb by using one support structure on one stair and another offset structure on the next, enabling safe climbing and descending with minimal pressure on the affected leg.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a patient uses their affected lower limb to climb stairs, then they can maintain independence and mobility, but they risk putting pressure on the injured limb causing further injury or falling
Solution Approach 1:
The step aid device serves as an intermediary tool between the patient and the stair. The device includes a support structure with a knee rest that allows the patient to position their affected knee on a stable surface, thereby transferring the load from the affected lower limb to the device and the unaffected limb, eliminating the harmful pressure while maintaining mobility independence
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a patient avoids using the affected limb to climb stairs, then they reduce the risk of injury, but they lose mobility independence and may require assistance
Solution Approach 1:
The step aid device enables the patient to independently navigate stairs without requiring assistance from others. The device is designed to be self-supporting with a stable base and knee rest that allows the patient to autonomously position themselves and transfer weight, maintaining mobility independence while avoiding pressure on the affected limb
3Reliability
If a support structure is placed on each stair, then the patient can securely position their knee and distribute weight, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The step aid device is segmented into multiple independent support structures, with each structure positioned on a specific stair. Each segment includes a base portion and a knee rest portion, allowing the patient to distribute weight across multiple stable points while maintaining simplicity in the design of each individual component
4Reliability
If the support structures are positioned offset from each other, then the patient can properly distribute weight across stairs, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Each support structure is locally adapted to its specific position on the stair, with the knee rest portion positioned to match the contour of the stair and the base portion anchored to provide stable weight distribution. This local customization ensures proper weight distribution while the overall device design maintains ease of operation through consistent user interaction patterns
Data Source
AI summary
A step aid device has a series of support structures positioned on a flight of stairs to assist a user with a lower leg injury to climb the stairs. A first support structure may be disposed on a first plane. The first support structure has a first side, a second side oppositely disposed from the first side, and a perimeter disposed between the first side and the second side. A second support structure may be disposed on a second plane. The second support structure has a first side, a second side oppositely disposed from the first side, and a perimeter disposed between the first side and the second side. The second support structure the second plane may be offset from the first plane.