Wrist Support Structure with Angular Members for Position Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wrist-hand splints face challenges such as difficulty in adjusting to securely fit the forearm, failure to maintain the required wrist position during rest and activity, reduced grip strength, interference with hand movements, bulkiness, and difficulty in cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A wrist support structure featuring a rigid first support member on the forearm and a second support member extending at an angle to limit wrist motion, with adjustable fixing devices and a design that minimizes interference with the hand, allowing for secure attachment and comfortable wear while maintaining wrist alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional wrist-hand splint is designed to securely fit the forearm, then the wrist position can be maintained, but the splint becomes difficult to adjust and may require custom manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The splint incorporates adjustable components including a adjustable strap system with buckles and a movable carpal support that can be repositioned along the radius. These dynamic elements allow the splint to be customized for different forearm sizes and shapes while maintaining secure wrist position, eliminating the need for custom manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The splint is divided into separate modular components: a rigid radial support, a carpal support portion, and an adjustable strap system. This segmentation allows each component to be independently adjusted and positioned to achieve optimal fit and wrist stabilization without requiring custom manufacturing.
2Reliability
If the splint is designed to restrict wrist motion, then the wrist position is maintained, but grip strength is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The splint applies rigidity and motion restriction only to the carpal joint area through the carpal support portion, while leaving the metacarpal bones and finger joints completely free. This localized support maintains wrist position without interfering with grip strength, as the hand and fingers remain unrestricted.
3Reliability
If the splint uses a bulky design to provide adequate support, then the wrist position is maintained, but the splint becomes heavy and unwieldy
Solution Approach 1:
The splint extracts and eliminates unnecessary bulk by using a minimal rigid structure consisting of a thin radial support and a compact carpal support portion. The support achieves wrist stabilization through strategic placement and angular orientation of these minimal components rather than through mass, making the splint lightweight and comfortable for extended wear.
4Reliability
If the splint is designed to cover the wrist area, then the wrist position is maintained, but the splint interferes with hand and object manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The splint provides support only where needed at the carpal joint through the carpal support portion, while completely leaving the volar surface of the wrist, the hand, and the fingers exposed and unrestricted. This localized approach maintains wrist position without interfering with hand dexterity or object manipulation.
Data Source
AI summary
A support and corresponding system and method of using and producing the support, the support being for supporting a joint or body part of a wearer, the support having at least one rigid first support member, at least one fixing device for attaching the support to the wearer, and at least one second support member extending at an angle from the first support member. Optionally, the joint is a joint between first and second body parts, and the first body part is movable or pivotable relative to the second body part via the joint, and the support is arranged such that at least one of the fixing devices is operable to fix the support to the first body part, the at least one rigid support member covers at least part of at least one side of the first body part and extends over at least part of at least one side of the joint, the second support member is configured to extend to another side of the second body part to the first support member, the first support member is adapted to limit motion of the second body part and/or joint in a first direction, and the second support member is configured to limit motion of the second body part in a second direction.