CN117982285A - A knee orthotic brace based on shape memory polymer 4D printing - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a knee joint orthopedic brace based on shape memory polymer 4D printing. The medical instrument manufacturing field is related to, and the brace material all includes shape memory material to by thigh brace, shank brace, rotating member and connecting piece constitute. The rotation member contains a knee rotation structure, and all the components are manufactured by a 4D printing technology. The initial state is the state before the patient is not corrected, and the deformation angle is calculated by scanning and acquiring data along with the advancement of the orthopedics. The brace reaches the deformation purpose through external force drive under satisfying deformation condition, more laminating patient's body surface, continuously corrects knee joint deformity. The support has the function of multiple deformation, does not need frequent replacement in the whole process, is simple to operate, has low cost and is easy to accept by people.

Description

A knee orthotic brace based on shape memory polymer 4D printing

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of medical device manufacturing, and in particular to a knee joint orthosis brace based on shape memory polymer 4D printing.

Background technique

Common types of knee deformities in minors are genu varum and genu valgum, which are the common X-shaped legs and O-shaped legs. Genu varum refers to the internal rotation of the femur and the external rotation of the tibia at the knee joint; genu valgum refers to the external rotation of the femur and the internal rotation of the tibia at the knee joint. The main causes are as follows: Rickets: This is one of the main causes of genu varum and genu valgum, especially in infants and children. Rickets is caused by vitamin D deficiency or metabolic disorders, which leads to abnormal bone development and thus causes knee deformities; Osteomalacia: This disease is more common in adults and is related to living conditions, poor environmental hygiene, lack of sunlight, and lack of calcium and vitamin D in the diet. Osteomalacia can cause bones to soften and deform, thus causing knee deformity; Trauma and fractures: fractures or trauma around the knee joint may lead to abnormal bone healing, thus causing genu varum or genu valgum; Endocrine diseases: Certain endocrine diseases, such as hyperparathyroidism and congenital vitamin D absorption disorder, may also cause bone deformity, thus causing genu varum or genu valgum.

Currently, the correction methods for the above problems can be divided into non-surgical methods and surgical methods. Non-surgical methods mainly adjust the lateral collateral ligament or medial collateral ligament of the knee joint through splints, leggings, exercises, corrective insoles, etc., so that the stable structure of the inside and outside of the knee joint can be restored to normal. For patients who need to quickly return to normal joint state and appearance, especially those with severe knee varus and knee valgus deformities, surgery is an effective treatment method. Specific surgical methods include osteotomy, hemi-epiphysis block, U-shaped nails and total knee replacement.

Knee orthosis is an auxiliary device used to treat knee deformity, which has the function of correcting, supporting and protecting the knee joint. The disadvantages of existing treatment options are divided into two categories. Non-surgical: splints and leggings may restrict the joints and affect the normal movement of the joints. Long-term use may aggravate joint stiffness and muscle atrophy; long-term use of corrective insoles may cause abnormal plantar pressure, affect walking posture, and may even aggravate knee varus or knee valgus; exercise requires perseverance, which may be difficult for some people to persist, and incorrect exercise methods may aggravate joint deformity. Surgical: Surgery is a traumatic treatment option. Orthopedic surgery is a complex surgery with certain surgical risks. Rehabilitation therapy, long-term follow-up observation and rehabilitation training are required after surgery. For some severe bone or joint deformities, multiple surgeries are required to achieve the ideal treatment effect. Therefore, orthopedic surgery usually costs a lot, which is an economic burden for some families.

Summary of the invention

In view of the problems existing in the above-mentioned background technology, the present invention proposes a knee orthopedic brace based on shape memory polymer 4D printing, which is characterized in that shape memory polymer is a material with shape memory and deformable functions. By combining shape memory polymer with 4D printing technology, a knee orthopedic brace with intelligent shape memory function can be produced. When the brace is driven by an external force to deform, the brace in the initial state before correction can be deformed multiple times to achieve continuous correction of knee deformity. 4D printing technology can be customized according to the knee deformity status of different patients, so that the brace can better fit the patient's body surface, be more comfortable to wear, and have a better correction effect.

A knee joint orthosis brace based on shape memory polymer 4D printing, comprising a thigh brace, a calf brace, a rotating member, and a connecting member connecting the thigh brace, the calf brace and the rotating member;

The thigh brace and the calf brace are both composed of a U-shaped back plate, and the U-shaped back plate of the thigh brace, the U-shaped back plate of the calf brace and the rotating member are connected by a connecting member, and the connecting member is located on both sides of the two U-shaped back plates and the rotating member;

The thigh brace, the calf brace, and the connector connecting the thigh brace, the calf brace and the rotating member in the knee joint orthosis brace are pressed under special conditions to cause their angles to shift, thereby applying force to the side of the knee joint for correction;

The thigh brace, the calf brace, the rotating member, and the connecting member connecting the thigh brace, the calf brace and the rotating member are all manufactured by 4D printing.

Furthermore, the thigh brace is customized according to the shape and size of the patient's thigh and is made through 4D printing technology, and has good fit and support.

Furthermore, the calf brace is customized according to the shape and size of the patient's calf and is made through 4D printing technology, and has good fit and support.

Furthermore, the rotating part is customized in a suitable size according to the patient's body surface data, is manufactured through 4D printing technology, and has the function of knee joint rotation and bending.

Furthermore, the connecting member is used to connect the thigh brace, the calf brace and the rotating member together, so that the entire orthopedic brace has better stability and load-bearing capacity.

Furthermore, the rotating part includes a roller structure and a connecting plate connecting the thigh brace and the calf brace, the connecting plate is connected to the U-shaped back plate of the thigh brace and the calf brace, two slots are provided in the roller structure, and the connecting plate is provided with two bosses at the left and right ends with a certain angle, which are embedded and connected through a mortise and tenon structure, and are connected and fixed through a central axis to achieve relative rotational movement between the two.

Furthermore, the thigh brace, calf brace and rotating member can apply pressure to offset their angles, and the offset can be a fine adjustment of the relative position between the thigh brace and the calf brace to help correct the posture and angle of the knee joint. The offset is to apply force to the side of the knee joint to help correct the shape and position of the knee joint. The knee joint orthopedic brace can provide effective support and correction of the knee joint, which is helpful for the correction and treatment of deformities of patients.

The knee orthosis brace based on shape memory polymer 4D printing described in the present invention has the following intended effects compared with the prior art:

The knee orthosis brace based on shape memory polymer 4D printing described in the present invention is made of shape memory polymers and has a low density, which means that they are relatively light, which is very important in the fields of biomedicine and the like. They can undergo large deformations and can return to their original shape under certain conditions. This property makes them very useful in a variety of applications. Compared with other high-tech materials, shape memory polymers are less expensive to manufacture, which makes them more attractive in many applications.

Shape memory polymers can maintain their properties during repeated deformation and recovery, which makes them ideal for the circular economy. Their shape changes can be controlled by changing external stimuli such as temperature, light, electric fields or magnetic fields. This stimulus responsiveness makes them widely used in fields such as sensors, actuators and smart devices. Shape memory polymers are biodegradable, which is very important for environmental protection and sustainable development. Shape memory polymers usually have good strength and durability and can maintain good performance in various environments. Shape memory polymers can be customized and manufactured through different processing methods to meet the needs of specific applications. Shape memory polymers have good stability to most chemicals and are not prone to corrosion or chemical reactions.

The knee orthotic brace based on shape memory polymer 4D printing described in the present invention can meet the personalized requirements of patients, and different personalized models can be designed according to the body surface data of different patients, thus providing the possibility for personalized customization.

The knee orthotic brace based on shape memory polymer 4D printing described in the present invention can prepare various complex three-dimensional structure models using 4D printing technology to meet the different needs of patients; 4D printing technology can quickly print and shape, is simple to operate, low in cost, strong in practicality, and is easily accepted by people.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of an orthopedic brace according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the rotating member in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the connecting member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1-thigh brace, 2-calf brace, 3-rotating member, 4-connecting structure, 301-roller structure, 302-connecting plate, 303 central axis, 401 connecting member, 402 connecting axis, 301-1 front groove, 301-2 rear groove, 302-1 front boss, 302-2 rear boss, 302-3 angle offset structure

Detailed ways

The technical solution of the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

A knee orthotic brace based on shape memory polymer 4D printing, with reference to FIG1 , depicts a new type of orthotic brace that combines medical engineering and ergonomics.

Both the thigh brace 1 and the calf brace 2 are composed of a U-shaped back plate. This U-shaped back plate design adapts to the curve of the knee joint and provides stable support and protection for the knee joint. The U-shaped back plate has been specially ergonomically optimized to effectively disperse pressure and reduce discomfort after long-term use.

In terms of mechanical structure, the core of the orthotic brace is the rotating part 3. This rotating part 3 connects the thigh brace 1 and the calf brace 2, so that they can still maintain flexible movement under special circumstances. The rotating part is a 4D printed mortise and tenon structure. This innovative design not only improves the adaptability and comfort of the orthotic brace, but also ensures its stability in various activity scenarios.

The connecting structure 4 is placed on both sides of the two U-shaped back plates and the connecting plate 302 as the stability of the entire brace. This design not only ensures the stability of the orthopedic brace during use, but also improves its load-bearing capacity. Whether standing, walking or bending, the orthopedic brace is stable.

The orthosis also has unique pressure and angle offset functions. In certain cases, the orthosis can be better adapted to the individual knee shape by applying appropriate pressure or adjusting the angle offset. This personalized adjustment not only helps to improve the orthosis effect, but also brings a more comfortable use experience to the patient.

In FIG. 1 , a thigh brace 1 and a calf brace 2 are orthopedic fixation devices that are tightly and comfortably fixed to the patient's legs to stabilize the correction of the knee joint.

The rotating member 3 is a component, which is located at the patient's knee joint, so that the knee joint can perform appropriate relative movement. This design fully considers the characteristics of human physiology and the functional requirements of the knee joint in normal movement. It assists the knee joint through natural movement instead of forced correction, thereby reducing damage and discomfort to the knee joint.

The connecting structure 4 connects all other parts in a strong and flexible way, ensuring the stability and functionality of the whole device. It can be fine-tuned according to the needs and comfort of the patient, so that the relative positions between the thigh brace 1, the calf brace 2 and the rotating member 3 can be controlled.

The pressure applied by the thigh brace 1, the calf brace 2 and the swivel 3 is calculated to shift the angle. This adjustment not only corrects the posture of the knee joint, but also adjusts its angle so that it gradually returns to normal, providing strong support for the patient's recovery process. In addition, this fine-tuning technology can be personalized according to the patient's specific situation to meet the needs of different patients.

In the process of correcting the knee joint, the patient's skin surface will be scanned first. This step is not only to obtain the current state data of the knee joint, but also to compare it with the original data, so as to accurately calculate the angle that needs to be adjusted. In this way, it is ensured that the orthotic brace can accurately act on the knee joint, laying the foundation for the subsequent correction work.

When choosing the driving method, many factors are considered comprehensively, such as individual differences of patients, performance of orthotic braces, etc. Different methods such as temperature drive, electronic thermal drive or external force drive have the common goal of providing stable and effective force for knee correction. Under certain conditions, these forces will be adjusted according to the previously scanned and calculated angle data to ensure that the entire correction process is safe and effective.

The deviation of the angle must be strictly based on the calculated data. Any deviation may lead to poor correction effect and may even cause unnecessary pain and safety hazards to the patient. Use scientific methods and precise data to guide the correction process to ensure that patients can obtain the best treatment effect.

Data deformation does not just mean making simple changes to data, but emphasizes the entire process of data processing. From data acquisition to data analysis to data application, each step is crucial. In this process, the data needs to be scanned and compared repeatedly to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data. Each deformation requires strict compliance with the data processing rules and careful comparison of each scan result to discover and correct possible errors. When performing data deformation, the quality and reliability of the data must be ensured.

2 , the rotating member 3 includes a roller structure 301 , a connecting plate 302 and a central shaft 303 , and the rotating member 3 is a composite component.

The roller structure 301, as a kind of mortise and tenon structure, has a very high degree of freedom, which enables it to rotate flexibly. This structure lies in the design of its front groove 301-1 and rear groove 301-2, which cooperate with the front boss 302-1 and rear boss 302-2 on the connecting plate 302 to form a stable and flexible connection method. This design enables the roller structure to cooperate closely with the connecting plate 302, further ensuring the stability of the entire device. The front boss 302-1 and rear boss 302-2 in the connecting plate 302 not only increase their own strength, but also form an effective cooperation with the roller structure 301, greatly improving the overall stability.

The angle offset structure 302-3 in the connecting plate 302 is a control rotation device with an angle adjustment function. This device enables the calf brace 2 and the thigh brace 1 to rotate relative to each other, so that the user can adjust the angle according to their needs, achieving personalized adaptation. More importantly, the angle offset structure has extremely high stability.

In addition, as a bridge connecting other components, the connection plate 302 is necessary to be strong and stable. The tight combination of the roller structure 301 and the connection plate 302 provides a solid guarantee for the stability of the overall structure. Even if other components are deformed, the special design of the roller structure 301 and the connection plate 302 can still be tightly combined with them, thereby ensuring that the stability of the overall structure is not affected.

The central axis 303 is the hub connecting the two. It connects and drives the roller structure 301 and the connecting plate 302, and forms a flexible rotational movement between the roller structure 301 and the connecting plate 302 through the central axis 303. This design not only improves the performance of the brace, but also provides more possibilities for various practical applications, showing adaptability and practicality, so that the device can better adapt to different environments and needs.

Referring to FIG3 , the connection structure 4 includes a connection member 401 and a connection shaft 402. The connection member 401 is used to connect the thigh brace 1, the calf brace 2 and the rotating member 3. The connection member 401 is located on both sides of the connection plate 302 in the two U-shaped back plates of the thigh brace 1 and the calf brace 2 and the rotating member 3. The connection shaft 402 is used to fix the connection member 401 and the thigh brace 1, the calf brace 2 and the rotating member 3 to ensure the stability and functionality of the entire device.

In FIG3 , the connection structure 4 is not only a simple connection tool, but also the core guarantee of the stability and functionality of the entire device. The material of the connection member 401 is solid, ensuring stability in various environments. It connects the thigh brace 1, the calf brace 2 and the rotating member 3, tightly combining the various parts. The design of the U-shaped back plate on both sides of the thigh brace 1 and the calf brace 2 and the two sides of the connection plate 302 in the rotating member 3 enhances the overall rigidity of the device and improves the stability of the device during use.

The connecting shaft 402 is manufactured by 4D printing technology, and is subjected to heat treatment and surface processing, so that it has the characteristics of being lightweight while ensuring strength and toughness. The function of the connecting shaft 402 is to fix the connecting member 401 and the thigh brace 1, the calf brace 2 and the rotating member 3, ensuring that the entire device can always remain stable during use, whether in motion or at rest, without worrying about displacement or loosening of the device.

Although the disclosure is disclosed as above, the protection scope of the disclosure is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, and these changes and modifications will fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (7)

1. The knee joint orthopedic brace based on shape memory polymer 4D printing is characterized by comprising a thigh brace, a shank brace, a rotating piece and a connecting piece, wherein the rotating piece comprises a knee joint rotating structure; thigh brace, shank brace, rotating member and connecting piece all are through 4D printing technique preparation.

2. The knee brace of claim 1, wherein the thigh brace comprises an upper support portion that fits over the upper portion of a human thigh and a lower support portion that fits under the human thigh.

3. The knee joint orthopedic brace of claim 1 or 2, wherein the calf brace comprises a calf support portion that fits a human calf.

4. The orthopedic knee brace of any of claims, wherein the swivel and connector comprise a shape memory polymer member fabricated by 4D printing techniques.

5. The orthopedic knee brace of any of claims, further comprising a stiffening member of shape memory polymer material fabricated by 4D printing techniques disposed on the swivel for increasing the strength and stability of the orthopedic brace.

6. The orthopedic knee brace of any of claims, further comprising an adjustable structure of the shape memory polymer member fabricated by 4D printing technology disposed on the swivel for adjusting the fit of the orthopedic brace according to the patient's specific condition.

7. The orthopedic knee brace of any of claims, further comprising a cushioning structure of the shape memory polymer member fabricated by 4D printing technology disposed on the swivel and the connector for reducing shock and friction during knee joint movement.