TESTING A NEW ORTHOTIC JOINT AND FABRICATION SYSTEM

研究计划提出测试一种消除侧栏的矫形支撑平台。首席研究员获得了一项矫正关节的专利，该专利通过将止动和锁定结合到专有的层压技术中来消除侧栏。这种系统提供的一些好处是重量更轻，更好的舒适性和美观性，以及更低的制造成本。带铝边杠的钢是目前膝关节矫形器中使用最普遍的机械关节材料。该研究证明了无侧杆支撑的可行性和效益。此外，发展目标是实现矫形器的最佳功能支持和最高水平的舒适度，以及设备本身的最佳强度。矫形器的机械强度测试和生物力学功能测试将在达特茅斯学院塞耶工程学院对主体矫形器和使用代理腿的市售矫形器进行。波士顿麻省总医院的生物运动实验室将进行一项人体研究。人体研究将包括对矫形器测试的主观质量评级，因为矫形器对患者依从性的可接受性很重要。积累的数据还将决定对基本停止/锁定运动接头设计和层压技术进行必要的更改，从而进一步优化商业化潜力。建议的商业应用：有超过一百万的客户使用刚性功能性膝关节矫形器，还有更多的客户使用其他类型的膝关节矫形器。这些客户可以受益于更轻，更量身定制，更不笨重的无侧杠矫形系统。提出的专利膝关节使用复合钢筋代替侧栏。

The research plan proposes to test an orthotic bracing platform that eliminates sidebars. The principal investigator received a patent for an orthotic joint that eliminates sidebars by incorporating the stops and locks into the proprietary laminating technique. Some benefits offered by such a system are lighter weight, better comfort and cosmesis, and lower fabrication costs. Steel with aluminum sidebars are currently the most prevalent mechanical joint materials used in knee orthoses. This study could demonstrate feasibility and benefit of sidebarless bracing. Additionally, developmental aim is to achieve orthoses with optimum functional support and highest level of comfort for the user, and optimum strength of the device itself. Mechanical strength testing of orthoses and testing of biomechanical functionality will be conducted on subject orthoses and commercially available orthoses using a surrogate leg, at The Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. The Biomotion Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston, will conduct a human study. The human study will include a subjective quality rating of orthoses tested because of importance of orthoses acceptability for patient compliance. Data accumulated will also determine any changes necessary in the basic stopping/locking motion joint design and laminating technique that will further optimize commercialization potential. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: There are over one million clients wearing rigid functional knee orthoses and many more that have knee joints that cross the knee in other types of orthoses. These clients could benefit from a lighter, more tailored, less bulky sidebarless orthotic system. The proposed patented knee joint uses composite reinforcement instead of sidebars.