Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology to Transfer Elbow Progressive Extension Orthosis Patent for RMB 201000
Recently, Tongji Hospital affiliated with Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology released a public notice on the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. The hospital intends to transfer the relevant technologies through negotiated pricing."Progressive Elbow Extension Orthosis"The relevant patents were transferred to the industry partner, with an agreement amount of RMB201,000 yuan. The inventor of this patented technology is Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDr. Zhang Yong and His Team。
Zhang Yong:M.D., Associate Chief Physician. Graduated from Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Has been engaged in clinical practice, teaching, and research in orthopedics for over ten years. Specializes in the treatment of fractures and trauma of the extremities, particularly upper limb, shoulder, and elbow injuries and fractures, as well as periarticular, pelvic, and acetabular fractures. Has led and participated in multiple national and provincial/ministerial-level research projects, and has published more than ten papers in SCI-indexed journals and authoritative domestic journals.
The utility model discloses aProgressive Elbow Extension Orthosis,It not only allows for progressive adjustment of elbow extension based on patient tolerance, but also enhances patient comfort and reduces pressure on the olecranon prominence of the elbow joint.
As the core joint for upper limb motor function, the elbow’s flexibility directly determines whether the hand can accurately perform complex movements such as grasping and extension. Clinically, conditions such as stroke, elbow trauma, and postoperative immobilization readily lead to flexion contracture of the elbow, resulting in limited range of motion. This significantly impairs patients’ ability to perform activities of daily living, including dressing, eating, and working, thereby becoming a key challenge in restoring upper limb motor function.
Such patients require orthoses to stretch the soft tissues surrounding the elbow joint, leveraging the biomechanical principles of tissue creep and stress relaxation to gradually increase range of motion and achieve functional rehabilitation. For instance, patients with hemiplegia following stroke often present with elbow flexion contractures and require long-term use of orthoses for passive stretching exercises; similarly, patients post-elbow trauma surgery need orthotic assistance to prevent joint stiffness caused by soft tissue adhesions.
Among the currently mainstream clinical treatment protocols, although studies have confirmed that the therapeutic efficacy of progressive elbow orthoses is significantly superior to that of dynamic elbow orthoses, they are still predominantly used in practical applications asDynamic Elbow Orthosisas the primary focus. More critically, existing orthoses generally adopt“Center of rotation aligns with the elbow joint axis”design concept, this design has inherent flaws: stress during traction is highly prone to concentrate at the proximal upper arm and distal forearm, causing intense local pressure and poor comfort for patients; some patients discontinue treatment due to intolerance.
Furthermore, traditional orthoses lack the functionality for progressive adjustment based on individual patient tolerance, making it difficult to meet the needs of different rehabilitation stages. They either fail to achieve optimal stretching effects due to insufficient traction force, or cause pain and even secondary injury due to excessive traction force.
Furthermore, some orthoses exert significant pressure on the olecranon prominence of the elbow joint, further exacerbating discomfort during wear, severely affecting patients' treatment compliance, and limiting the improvement of rehabilitation outcomes.
In light of these issues, there is an urgent clinical need for a novel orthosis that balances therapeutic efficacy, wearing comfort, and personalized adjustment, so as to overcome the current challenges in the rehabilitation of elbow flexion contracture.
It is precisely the pain points associated with traditional orthoses in clinical practice—such as stress concentration, poor comfort, and rigid adjustability—that have driven technological innovation in elbow rehabilitation devices. Developed by Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology,"Progressive Elbow Extension Orthosis", with its core advantage lying in structural innovationDeveloping an Integrated Solution for “Precision Traction + Comfortable Fit”From mechanical principles and structural design to detail optimization, a full-chain breakthrough has been achieved, fundamentally transforming the design logic and user experience of traditional orthoses.
The key technological breakthrough of this orthosis lies in its innovativeAdopts an off-axis elbow joint rotation design, fundamentally resolving the challenge of stress concentration. Traditional orthoses, due to the complete coincidence of their center of rotation with the elbow joint axis, cause stretching forces to be concentrated on the proximal upper arm and distal forearm, easily leading to local compression and pain.
The system incorporates a hinged link on each side of the upper and lower clamps, thereby offsetting the orthosis’s axis of rotation from the natural axis of the elbow joint. As a result, the stretching force is no longer confined to localized points but is evenly distributed across the entire contact surfaces of the upper and lower clamps.
This design significantly increases the load-bearing surface area, markedly reducing pressure per unit area and allowing patients to avoid localized compression during rehabilitation training. Even with prolonged wear, patients remain comfortable, thereby effectively improving treatment adherence.
Secondly,Progressive Adjustment System Based on the Three-Point Force Principle,Achieved personalized adaptation of rehabilitation protocols.The orthosis utilizes an upper clamp, a lower clamp, and an extension traction strap.These three key points form a stable three-point force system. The stretching strap, made of elastic material, allows for flexible adjustment of traction force based on the patient’s tolerance.
Compared to the limitations of traditional dynamic splints, which rely on fixed tension, and progressive splints, which involve cumbersome adjustment processes, this system allows patients to gradually increase their range of extension during rehabilitation. This approach not only avoids pain or secondary injury caused by excessive tension but also prevents compromised rehabilitation outcomes due to insufficient tension. It effectively enables a scientific, tolerance-based rehabilitation strategy (“proceeding according to one’s capacity”), accommodating individual differences among patients in terms of injury type, rehabilitation stage, and physical tolerance.
Precision optimization of detailed design further enhances comfort and practicality. The extension traction strap is specifically designed with a through-hole for the olecranon of the elbow joint to pass through, directly avoiding continuous pressure on the olecranon prominence exerted by traditional devices, thereby alleviating local discomfort. The upper clamping groove of the upper clamp and the lower clamping groove of the lower clamp conform to the physiological curves of the upper arm and forearm, while the secure fixation provided by the first and second fixation straps ensures that the orthosis does not shift or slip off during movement. The densely distributed ventilation holes on the clamps effectively improve air circulation, preventing stuffiness and moisture accumulation caused by prolonged wear.
Furthermore, the elastic stretching strap not only increases the load-bearing area at the elbow joint but also leverages its inherent properties to maintain relative positioning, thereby reducing the risk of displacement during movement and further ensuring the stability of the stretching effect.
As the demand for rehabilitation of elbow joint dysfunction continues to grow, the global market for elbow orthoses and rehabilitation devices has witnessed a surge in technological upgrades. Companies both domestically and internationally are focusing on addressing the pain points of traditional products, driving innovation across multiple dimensions—including structural design, material application, and intelligent adaptation—thereby forming“Optimization and Upgrading of Traditional Orthoses + Gradual Implementation of Intelligent Rehabilitation Equipment”competitive landscape.
Xiamen Qikang Rehabilitation Equipment Co., Ltd.R&D"An Elbow Orthosis", with its core design centered on multi-angle adjustment and comfortable adaptation. The product comprises an angle adjuster, upper arm side plates, forearm side plates, and two fixation assemblies. By leveraging the interaction between the slider and sliding rod of the angle fixation assembly, the protrusion engages into the slot to rapidly secure the forearm angle, thereby resolving the cumbersome angle-fixation operations associated with traditional products. The second fixation assembly can be flexibly positioned along the sliding track; combined with Velcro-style connecting strips and padding, it significantly enhances conformity to arms of varying sizes. Furthermore, the outer side plate is equipped with a protractor and triangular through-holes to visually indicate the range of motion, while the suspension component effectively reduces the burden on the wearing area, making it suitable for postoperative immobilization and rehabilitation scenarios involving elbow joint dysfunction.
Hangzhou Zhongkang Rehabilitation Assistive Devices Co., Ltd.Deeply Cultivating the Field of Rehabilitation Devices, Launched“An Adjustable Elbow Orthosis”, focusing on innovations in adjustability and practicality. The product adopts a combined structure of fixed and movable brackets. Through the design of sliding slots and telescopic plates in the telescopic assembly, it can accommodate arms of different lengths; rotating the movable rod locks the position via pressure blocks and anti-slip pads. The adjustment component utilizes the meshing transmission between the driving wheel and the driven wheel, working in conjunction with a knob and scale markings to precisely control the range of joint motion, thereby preventing secondary injuries during rehabilitation training. Furthermore, the guide-slide locking assembly allows for flexible adjustment of the forearm sling position, while the hot compress pad on the side of the fixed bracket aids in promoting recovery. The combination of adhesive straps and adhesive layers simplifies the donning process, making it suitable for post-operative rehabilitation and elbow joint functional training scenarios.
Swiss Hocoma AGis a leading enterprise in the field of global neurorehabilitation robotics. Its launchedArmeoPower Upper Limb Rehabilitation Training SystemIt includes a functional rehabilitation module for the elbow joint, utilizing robotic arm drive and multi-dimensional force feedback technology to precisely control joint range of motion and assistive force magnitude. It is suitable for graded rehabilitation training in patients with moderate to severe upper limb motor dysfunction. The system simulates natural human movement trajectories through built-in algorithms and dynamically adjusts training parameters based on real-time patient performance, supporting the development of personalized rehabilitation plans.ArmeoPower has obtained CE certification,and has been deployed and utilized in numerous high-level rehabilitation centers worldwide.