Height-Adjustable Walker Strut Mechanism for Orthopedic Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthopedic walkers lack the ability to adjust height, leading to suboptimal immobilization and fit for patients with varying leg lengths and injuries, requiring multiple devices for different levels of immobilization throughout the healing process, resulting in increased inventory needs for practitioners.
Innovation Solution
A walker with height-adjustable strut assemblies that can convert between fully extended and retracted configurations, accommodating different leg lengths and allowing for incremental height adjustments, along with optional removable strut assemblies and circumferential shells for enhanced support and fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple walker types (low top and high top) are provided to accommodate different injury levels and leg lengths, then immobilization effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The walker incorporates an adjustable strut assembly that allows dynamic modification of the walker height. The strut can be extended or retracted to convert the walker between low top and high top configurations, enabling a single device to adapt to different patient leg lengths and injury levels, thereby eliminating the need for multiple fixed-height walker types in inventory
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable walker is designed to perform multiple functions that previously required separate devices. By incorporating a height-adjustable strut mechanism, a single walker can serve both as a low top walker for foot injuries and as a high top walker for lower leg injuries, making the device universal and reducing inventory complexity
2Ease of manufacture
If walker height is fixed based on foot size, then manufacturing and sizing is simplified, but fit and immobilization quality deteriorates for patients with large feet but short legs
Solution Approach 1:
The walker incorporates an adjustable strut assembly that allows dynamic modification of the walker height. The strut can be extended or retracted to convert the walker between low top and high top configurations, enabling a single device to adapt to different patient leg lengths and injury levels, thereby eliminating the need for multiple fixed-height walker types in inventory
Solution Approach 2:
The walker height parameter can be changed by adjusting the strut assembly to different extensions. This allows the walker to maintain standardized manufacturing while providing customized height settings for individual patients, particularly those with atypical anatomy such as large feet but short legs
3Reliability
If heel wedge is added for Achilles tendon rupture to place foot in equinus position, then tendon stress is reduced, but walker fit deteriorates as calf raises high up from walker body
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable strut assembly allows the walker height to be dynamically increased when a heel wedge is inserted for Achilles tendon rupture treatment. By extending the strut, the walker body rises to accommodate the elevated calf position, maintaining proper fit and immobilization while the heel wedge continues to provide necessary tendon protection
Data Source
AI summary
A walker having height adjustment, and a method of use thereof, generally includes a base. Length adjustable strut assemblies are provided to allow the walker to be converted between a fully extended configuration, a high top walker configuration, and a fully retracted, low top walker configuration, as well as to numerous configurations having incremental heights between the fully extended and the fully retracted configurations. Thus, a modular support is provided that can be used to provide different levels of immobilization and can be used for various therapeutic purposes, can accommodate different patient leg lengths with one device, and allows practitioners to carry a reduced inventory.