Support Dressing Resilient Arms Spinal Torsion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current supports for the lower back, such as heat packs, cold packs, lumbar belts, and traditional taping techniques, are inadequate in preventing or reducing the risk of injuries caused by excessive or undesired torsion, which is a significant contributor to lumbar disc injuries and chronic pain.

Innovation Solution

A support dressing featuring a conformable material with an adhesive and at least one resilient component that provides stiffness to prevent or reduce undesired torsion and bending, incorporating materials like plastics, metals, or composite materials that return to their original orientation, aiding in maintaining correct posture and reducing injury risk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If traditional taping techniques or lumbar belts are used to provide back support, then some stability is improved, but they fail to prevent excessive torsion and are often thick, heavy, and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespinal stabilityVSAvoidsupport structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support dressing is divided into multiple arms (typically four) that can be independently positioned around the torso. Each arm contains or is associated with resilient components that provide localized support. This segmentation allows the dressing to provide comprehensive spinal support while remaining flexible and comfortable, avoiding the need for a single bulky structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dressing incorporates resilient components (such as foam or elastic materials) at specific locations within the arms, particularly at regions that contact the torso. This localized placement of supportive elements provides targeted anti-torsion support where needed most, while other areas of the dressing remain flexible and conformable, reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If heat packs or cold packs are used to treat back pain, then short-term comfort is improved, but they do not alter mechanical dysfunction or prevent injury

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain and discomfortVSAvoidinjury prevention effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support dressing merges multiple functions into a single device: it provides mechanical support to prevent torsion and stabilize the spine, while also incorporating thermally active components (heat or cold packs) to address pain and discomfort. This combination ensures that the dressing not only prevents injury through proper support but also actively treats symptoms, making it more reliable than separate treatments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The dressing is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: mechanical support, injury prevention, pain relief, and comfort enhancement. The resilient components provide structural support and anti-torsion protection, while the thermal components address pain and inflammation. This multi-functionality makes the dressing a comprehensive solution that reliably addresses both prevention and treatment needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the support dressing incorporates resilient components for anti-torsion support, then injury prevention is improved, but the dressing may become less conformable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjury preventionVSAvoidconformability to body

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support dressing utilizes flexible materials such as elastic fabrics, foam, or thin resilient layers as its primary structure. These materials inherently provide anti-torsion support through their elastic properties while simultaneously conforming to the contours of the torso. The flexible nature of these materials ensures that the dressing maintains both injury prevention capability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The dressing employs composite material construction, combining resilient supportive layers (such as foam or elastic materials) with flexible outer fabrics. This composite structure allows the resilient components to provide necessary anti-torsion support while the flexible outer layer ensures conformability and comfort. The synergistic combination of materials resolves the contradiction between support and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The dressing effectively limits torsional and bending movements, reducing the risk of injury and pain by providing additional resistance through proprioceptive feedback, allowing for comfortable day-to-day activity while maintaining spinal stability and mobility.

Implementation Method 1

at least one resilient component which may serve to prevent or reduce undesired torsion of the body part to which the dressing is applied

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10561517B2Support dressing

Publication Date: 2020.02.18 FLO BACK

AI summary

A support dressing comprises a conformable material that is capable of conforming to a body part when secured thereto; an adhesive for releasably securing the dressing to the body part; and at least one resilient component that has greater stiffness than the flexible material. It is particularly useful in preventing or reducing undesired torsion, for example, for the neck.