Autologous costal cartilage ear support bonding bearing device

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of ear shaping and reconstruction surgery, particularly relates to an autologous costal cartilage ear stent bonding and bearing device, and aims to solve the problem that in order to simulate a thin-layer structure of a natural auricle, cartilage subunits are generally engraved to be extremely thin, so that the cartilage subunits are prone to plastic deformation in the bonding process. The device comprises a bearing mechanism; the bearing mechanism comprises a bearing disc and bearing liquid filled in the bearing disc; the bearing disc is configured to contain cartilage subunits to be bonded; and the bearing liquid is medical liquid with biocompatibility. When the bonding and bearing device for the autologous costal cartilage ear stent is used, the bearing liquid applies upward buoyancy to the cartilage subunit in the bearing disc, so that the cartilage subunit suspends in the bearing liquid for bonding operation, and then the mechanical clamping force required for fixing the cartilage subunit in the bonding process is reduced; and the compression effect of gravity on the cartilage subunit is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of ear plastic and reconstructive surgery technology, and specifically relates to an autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding and bearing device. Background Technology

[0002] In ear deformity repair and ear reconstruction surgery, autologous rib cartilage is widely regarded as the preferred material for constructing ear scaffolds due to its excellent biocompatibility, tissue stability, and lack of immune rejection. The auricle, as a complex surface organ, relies on the precise matching and coordinated configuration of multiple delicate subunits such as the helix, concha, antihelix, and antitragus to maintain its morphological integrity.

[0003] In current clinical practice, the surgeon first sculpts and processes the autologous rib cartilage into independent or combined subunit structures, and then uses forceps to repeatedly clamp and press it to complete the application of adhesive and splicing of multiple subunits, finally bonding them into a composite ear support with a three-dimensional contour.

[0004] However, in order to simulate the thin-layered structure of the natural auricle, each cartilage subunit is usually sculpted to be extremely thin. This causes the cartilage subunits to undergo plastic deformation during the bonding process, resulting in problems such as helix collapse, blurred antihelix, and stiff subunit connection, which affect the morphological restoration of the ear framework and the postoperative repair effect.

[0005] More importantly, the apposition surfaces between cartilage subunits are not planar, but rather irregular structures with complex three-dimensional curvature. During the adhesion process, the surgeon needs to constantly change the observation perspective to ensure that the alignment of each subunit in three-dimensional space is accurate, which further exacerbates the difficulty of operation and the challenge of controlling adhesion precision. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, namely that each cartilage subunit is typically sculpted to be extremely thin in order to simulate the thin-layered structure of the natural auricle, leading to the easy plastic deformation of the cartilage subunits during the bonding process, this invention provides an autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding device.

[0007] The device includes a support mechanism; the support mechanism includes a support disk and a support liquid filled in the support disk; the support disk is configured to accommodate the cartilage subunit to be bonded; the support liquid is a biocompatible medical liquid and its density is configured to suspend the cartilage subunit in the support liquid, so as to reduce the mechanical clamping force required to fix or adjust the position of the cartilage subunit during the bonding process through buoyancy support.

[0008] Furthermore, the carrier liquid can be in a low-temperature state or a normal-temperature state; when the carrier liquid is in a low-temperature state, it is configured to reduce the polymerization rate of the adhesive and prolong the in vitro survival time of the cartilage subunit; when the carrier liquid is in a normal-temperature state, it is configured to accelerate the polymerization rate of the adhesive to promote the adhesion and curing of the cartilage subunit.

[0009] Furthermore, it also includes a zoned temperature control mechanism; the zoned temperature control mechanism is configured to locally raise the temperature of the carrier liquid in the bonded area of ​​the cartilage subunit, so that the carrier liquid in that area switches from a low temperature state to a normal temperature state, so as to accelerate the polymerization and curing of the adhesive; while the carrier liquid in the remaining areas is maintained at the low temperature state, so as to provide a suitable environment for subsequent bonding operations and extend the in vitro survival time of the unbonded cartilage subunit.

[0010] Furthermore, the supporting mechanism also includes an overhead bracket and a contour positioning structure; one end of the overhead bracket is connected to the supporting plate, and the other end is detachably connected to the contour positioning structure; the contour positioning structure includes a supporting plate and multiple positioning bosses; the multiple positioning bosses are all connected to the supporting plate, and their arrangement on the supporting plate corresponds to the anatomical structure of the patient's ear support, for spatial positioning and limiting of the cartilage subunit.

[0011] Furthermore, the zoned temperature control mechanism includes multiple liquid delivery structures; each liquid delivery structure includes a liquid delivery cone and a flow guide; the top of the support plate has multiple positioning holes, each positioning hole being located below the corresponding cartilage subunit adhesion area; the liquid delivery cone is detachably inserted into the corresponding positioning hole for injecting heated support liquid into the cartilage subunit adhesion area, so that the support liquid in that area switches from a low temperature state to a normal temperature state; the flow guide is inserted into the outlet of the liquid delivery cone for guiding the support liquid to flow around the cartilage subunit and buffering the impact force generated when the support liquid flows out.

[0012] Furthermore, the liquid delivery structure includes an auxiliary cold light lamp; the auxiliary cold light lamp is connected to the liquid delivery cone for providing illumination to the cartilage subunit adhesion area; the flow guide is configured as a light-transmitting structure to allow the light emitted by the auxiliary cold light lamp to pass through and illuminate the cartilage subunit adhesion area.

[0013] Furthermore, it also includes a projection guidance mechanism; the projection guidance mechanism includes an overhead support and a projector; the overhead support is connected to the support plate; the projector is mounted on the overhead support, and its projection end faces the support plate, for projecting a guidance image onto the support plate to assist in the adhesion of the cartilage subunit; the guidance image projected by the projector includes a bonding surface projection line, and the bonding surface projection line forms a preset geometric relationship with the adjacent positioning boss.

[0014] Furthermore, the geometric relationship includes tangential relationship, where the projection line of the mating surface is tangent to the outline of the positioning boss or the line connecting two adjacent positioning bosses at a preset position; or,

[0015] The geometric association includes alignment association, where the start point, end point, or control point of the mating surface projection line is aligned with the center, edge, or mark point of the positioning boss; or, the geometric association includes distance association, where the mating surface projection line and the positioning boss maintain a preset constant distance; or the geometric association includes angle association, where the mating surface projection line and the line connecting two adjacent positioning bosses form a preset angle.

[0016] Furthermore, the projector is configured to overlay geometric association marks on the projection line of the mating surface, the visual encoding of the geometric association marks corresponding to the type of the geometric association relationship; the geometric association marks include one or more of the following: vertical marks, tangent marks, alignment marks, distance marks, and angle marks; the vertical marks are configured as short horizontal lines or T-shaped marks, displayed in a first color; the tangent marks are configured as tangent arrows or arc marks, displayed in a second color; the alignment marks are configured as dots or crosshairs, displayed in a third color; the distance marks are configured as parallel dashed lines with distance values ​​marked, displayed in a fourth color; and the angle marks are configured as arcs with angle values ​​marked, displayed in a fifth color.

[0017] Furthermore, the projector is configured to dynamically adjust the display status of the projection line of the bonding surface and the geometric association mark according to the real-time deviation; when the real-time deviation is less than a first threshold, the geometric association mark is displayed in a confirmed state; when the real-time deviation is between the first threshold and the second threshold, the geometric association mark is displayed in a prompt state, and the deviation direction and distance are displayed; when the real-time deviation is greater than the second threshold, the geometric association mark is displayed in a warning state, and a deviation warning indicator is displayed.

[0018] In summary, the technical effects achieved by this invention are as follows:

[0019] 1. When the autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding support device provided by the present invention is used, the supporting liquid applies an upward buoyancy to the cartilage subunit placed in the support plate, so that the cartilage subunit is suspended in the supporting liquid for bonding operation, thereby reducing the mechanical clamping force required to fix the cartilage subunit during the bonding process and reducing the pressure effect of gravity on the cartilage subunit, thus solving the problem that the cartilage subunit is prone to plastic deformation during the bonding process.

[0020] 2. When adjusting the posture of the cartilage subunit, the surgeon only needs to apply a small deflection stress to adjust the orientation of the cartilage subunit. Throughout the process, the cartilage subunit is always uniformly supported by buoyancy, avoiding deformation or damage caused by local stress concentration.

[0021] In addition, since the cartilage subunits are in a suspended state, all their surfaces are fully exposed in the operating field, which facilitates precise alignment and adhesion by the surgeon, significantly improving the anatomical accuracy and aesthetic effect of the ear framework construction.

[0022] 3. In the process of bonding, the cartilage subunit of the autologous rib cartilage ear scaffold provided by the present invention is always immersed in a biocompatible carrier liquid, avoiding dehydration, oxidation and decreased cell activity caused by exposure to air, effectively prolonging the in vitro survival time of the cartilage subunit, and providing a good biological basis for its survival and remodeling after subsequent transplantation.

[0023] 4. When using the autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding device provided by this invention, a projector projects guiding images (such as the bonding surface projection line, ideal alignment line, etc.) onto the support plate. The surgeon can compare the projected outline with the edge of the cartilage entity in real time when placing the cartilage subunit, significantly improving the accuracy of alignment judgment during bonding. A preset geometric relationship (such as tangency, alignment, distance, angle, etc.) is formed between the projected image and the positioning protrusion, allowing physical constraints and visual guidance to work together, further improving the positioning accuracy and anatomical reconstruction of the cartilage subunit in three-dimensional space. Projection guidance reduces the surgeon's dependence on the observation angle, enabling the alignment and bonding of multiple subunits from the same viewpoint, reducing operational difficulty, and avoiding cartilage deformation or damage caused by repeated clamping and adjustment. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Other features, objects, and advantages of this application will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding device provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 A top view of the autologous rib cartilage ear support adhesive bearing device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, excluding the projection guide mechanism;

[0027] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the autologous rib cartilage ear support adhesive bearing device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 An exploded three-dimensional structural diagram of the bearing mechanism provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the contour positioning structure provided in this invention;

[0030] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the liquid delivery structure provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 7 An exploded three-dimensional structural diagram of the liquid delivery structure provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the driving structure provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the circulating heating structure provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the cooling mechanism provided in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0035] icon:

[0036] 100. Supporting mechanism; 110. Supporting plate; 120. Overhead bracket; 130. Contouring positioning structure; 131. Supporting plate; 132. Positioning boss; 200. Zoned temperature control mechanism; 210. Liquid delivery structure; 211. Liquid delivery cone; 212. Flow guide; 213. Auxiliary cold light lamp; 220. Drive structure; 221. On / off valve; 222. Liquid delivery manifold; 223. Drive pump; 230. Circulating heating structure; 231. Circulating valve; 232. Heating tank; 233. Heating rod; 300. Cooling mechanism; 310. Thermoelectric cooler; 320. Finned radiator; 330. Cooling fan; 400. Projection guide mechanism; 410. Overhead bracket; 420. Projector. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The present application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0038] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. This application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0039] The present invention provides an autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding and bearing device, including a bearing mechanism 100.

[0040] The following combination Figures 1-10 A detailed description of the structure and shape of the autologous rib cartilage ear framework adhesive support device is provided:

[0041] The support mechanism 100 includes a support disk 110 and a support liquid filled in the support disk 110; the support disk 110 is configured to accommodate the cartilage subunit to be bonded; the support liquid is a biocompatible medical liquid and its density is configured to suspend the cartilage subunit in the support liquid, so as to reduce the mechanical clamping force required to fix or adjust the position of the cartilage subunit during the bonding process by means of buoyancy support.

[0042] In this embodiment, the carrier liquid applies an upward buoyancy force to the cartilage subunit placed in the carrier plate 110, so that the cartilage subunit is suspended in the carrier liquid for bonding. This reduces the mechanical clamping force required to fix the cartilage subunit during the bonding process and reduces the pressure caused by gravity on the cartilage subunit, thereby solving the problem that the cartilage subunit is prone to plastic deformation during the bonding process.

[0043] When adjusting the orientation of the cartilage subunit, the surgeon only needs to apply a small deflection stress to achieve the orientation adjustment. Throughout the process, the cartilage subunit is uniformly supported by buoyancy, avoiding deformation or damage caused by local stress concentration.

[0044] In addition, since the cartilage subunits are in a suspended state, all of their surfaces are fully exposed in the operating field, which makes it easy for the surgeon to make precise alignment and adhesion from any angle, significantly improving the anatomical accuracy and aesthetic effect of the ear framework construction.

[0045] Meanwhile, throughout the entire bonding process, the cartilage subunit remains immersed in a biocompatible carrier solution, avoiding dehydration, oxidation, and decreased cell activity caused by exposure to air. This effectively prolongs the in vitro survival time of the cartilage subunit, providing a good biological basis for its subsequent survival and remodeling after transplantation.

[0046] To ensure sufficient time for the assembly of cartilage subunits:

[0047] The carrier fluid can be in a low-temperature state or a normal-temperature state; when the carrier fluid is in a low-temperature state, it is configured to reduce the polymerization rate of the adhesive and prolong the in vitro survival time of the cartilage subunit; when the carrier fluid is in a normal-temperature state, it is configured to accelerate the polymerization rate of the adhesive to promote the adhesion and curing of the cartilage subunit.

[0048] In this embodiment, the adhesive has the properties of inhibiting polymerization at low temperatures and accelerating polymerization at high temperatures, and its type includes, but is not limited to, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate.

[0049] During the assembly of cartilage subunits, the carrier fluid is switched to a low-temperature state to reduce the polymerization rate of the adhesive, thereby slowing down the bonding and curing of the cartilage subunits and providing sufficient time for subsequent assembly of cartilage subunits.

[0050] In addition, low temperature can reduce the rate of intracellular enzymatic reactions, thus lowering the metabolic rate of chondrocytes compared to normal temperature. This significantly reduces the consumption of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the accumulation of acidic metabolic wastes such as lactic acid, thereby preventing rapid cell apoptosis due to energy depletion and acidification of the internal environment. At the same time, low temperature can stabilize the phospholipid bilayer structure of the cell membrane, reduce the abnormal opening of ion channels on the cell membrane, inhibit the generation and accumulation of ROS, protect the integrity of key organelles such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, reduce irreversible cell damage, and maintain the basic activity of chondrocytes. Low temperature can also inhibit the activity of matrix metalloproteinases, delay the decomposition of the cartilage matrix, protect the morphological stability of cartilage, and provide good structural support for cell survival.

[0051] During the bonding and curing of cartilage subunits, the polymerization rate of the adhesive is accelerated by switching the carrier liquid from a low temperature state to a normal temperature state, thereby promoting the bonding of the cartilage subunit and shortening the time for clamping the cartilage subunit, thus avoiding bonding misalignment caused by the surgeon's hand tremors.

[0052] To improve the assembly accuracy of cartilage subunits:

[0053] like Figure 1 As shown, it also includes a projection guidance mechanism 400; the projection guidance mechanism 400 includes an overhead support 410 and a projector 420; the overhead support 410 is connected to the support plate 110; the projector 420 is mounted on the overhead support 410 and its projection end faces the support plate 131, for projecting guidance images onto the support plate 131 to assist in the adhesion of cartilage subunits.

[0054] In this embodiment, the overhead bracket 410 suspends the projector 420 above the support plate 131. The projector 420 then projects a guide image onto the support plate 131. The type of guide image includes, but is not limited to, the overall outline of the auricle, the normal direction of the cartilage subunit cladding surface, the splicing boundary, and the ideal alignment line. This allows the surgeon to simultaneously refer to the superposition state of the projected outline and the solid edge when placing the cartilage subunit, confirming whether the cladding surface of the cartilage subunit is tightly fitted and whether the alignment is accurate. This assists in the adhesion of the cartilage subunit, thereby improving the splicing accuracy of the cartilage subunit.

[0055] In order to operate on another bonded area of ​​the cartilage subunit while ensuring the curing speed of the already bonded area:

[0056] like Figure 1 As shown, it also includes a zoned temperature control mechanism 200; the zoned temperature control mechanism 200 is configured to locally raise the temperature of the carrier liquid in the bonded area of ​​the cartilage subunit, so that the carrier liquid in that area switches from a low temperature state to a normal temperature state, so as to accelerate the polymerization and curing of the adhesive; while the carrier liquid in the remaining areas is kept at a low temperature state to provide a suitable environment for subsequent bonding operations and extend the in vitro survival time of unbonded cartilage subunits.

[0057] In this embodiment, the zoned temperature control mechanism 200 locally heats the carrier fluid in the bonded area of ​​the cartilage subunit, so that the carrier fluid in that area switches from a low temperature state to a normal temperature state, thereby accelerating the polymerization and curing of the adhesive in the bonded area of ​​the cartilage subunit, while the carrier fluid in the remaining areas is kept at a low temperature state to provide a suitable environment for subsequent bonding operations and extend the in vitro survival time of unbonded cartilage subunits.

[0058] To locally heat the carrier fluid in the bonded area of ​​the cartilage subunit:

[0059] like Figure 2 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the zoned temperature control mechanism 200 includes multiple liquid delivery structures 210; each liquid delivery structure 210 includes a liquid delivery cone 211 and a flow guide 212; the top of the support plate 131 has multiple positioning holes, each positioning hole being located below the corresponding cartilage subunit adhesion area; the liquid delivery cone 211 is detachably inserted into the corresponding positioning hole for injecting heated carrier liquid into the cartilage subunit adhesion area, so that the carrier liquid in this area switches from a low temperature state to a normal temperature state; the flow guide 212 is inserted into the outlet of the liquid delivery cone 211 for guiding the carrier liquid to flow around the cartilage subunit and buffering the impact force generated when the carrier liquid flows out.

[0060] In this embodiment, the delivery cone 211 injects heated carrier liquid into the cartilage subunit bonding area. The high-temperature carrier liquid mixes with the carrier liquid at a low temperature and diffuses outward from the delivery cone 211 as the center to locally raise the temperature of the carrier liquid in the bonded area of ​​the cartilage subunit, thereby switching the carrier liquid in this area from a low temperature state to a normal temperature state.

[0061] In addition, by inserting the flow guide 212 into the outlet of the liquid delivery cone 211, the carrying liquid is guided to flow around the cartilage subunit, thereby preventing the liquid flow from directly impacting the surface of the cartilage subunit; at the same time, the flow guide 212 can also buffer the impact force generated when the carrying liquid flows out, further protecting the cartilage subunit from mechanical damage caused by the liquid flow.

[0062] To meet the micromanipulation field of vision required for cartilage subunit adhesion:

[0063] like Figures 6-7 As shown, the liquid delivery structure 210 includes an auxiliary cold light lamp 213; the auxiliary cold light lamp 213 is connected to the liquid delivery cone 211 and is used to provide illumination to the cartilage subunit adhesion area; the flow guide hood 212 is configured as a light-transmitting structure to allow the light emitted by the auxiliary cold light lamp 213 to pass through and illuminate the cartilage subunit adhesion area.

[0064] In this embodiment, the light emitted by the auxiliary cold light lamp 213 is uniformly projected onto the cartilage subunit suspended in the carrier fluid through the flow guide 212. Because the costal cartilage has a certain degree of translucency and the carrier fluid is an optically clear medical liquid, some of the light can penetrate the cartilage tissue, so that the surgeon can clearly observe the microscopic details such as the outline, surface texture, thickness distribution and the alignment of the splicing edges of the cartilage, thereby improving the visualization of deep operations and facilitating high-precision alignment and seamless adhesion.

[0065] To drive the injection of heated carrier fluid into the already bonded area of ​​the cartilage subunit:

[0066] like Figure 3 and Figure 8 As shown, the zoned temperature control mechanism 200 also includes a drive structure 220; the drive structure 220 includes multiple on / off valves 221, a liquid delivery manifold 222, and a drive pump 223; one end of each of the multiple on / off valves 221 is connected to the inlet of multiple flow guides 212, and the other end is connected to the liquid delivery manifold 222; the outlet of the drive pump 223 is connected to the liquid delivery manifold 222, and is used to deliver the heated carrier liquid through the liquid delivery manifold 222 and the on / off valves 221 to the corresponding flow guide 212 and release it.

[0067] In this embodiment, the liquid delivery manifold 222 is connected to the flow guide 212 in the cartilage subunit bonded area by the on / off valve 221. The pump 223 drives the heated carrier liquid to be delivered to the corresponding flow guide 212 and released through the liquid delivery manifold 222 and the on / off valve 221 in sequence, thereby realizing the injection of the heated carrier liquid into the cartilage subunit bonded area.

[0068] To continuously inject heated carrier fluid into the bonded area of ​​the cartilage subunit:

[0069] like Figure 3 and Figure 9 As shown, the zoned temperature control mechanism 200 also includes a circulating heating structure 230; the circulating heating structure 230 includes a circulating valve 231, a heating tank 232, and a heating rod 233; one end of the circulating valve 231 is connected to the bottom of the support plate 110, and the other end is connected to the heating tank 232, for guiding the carrying liquid in the support plate 110 into the heating tank 232 through the circulating valve 231; the heating rod 233 is installed in the heating tank 232, and its heating end is located inside the heating tank 232, for heating the carrying liquid in the heating tank 232.

[0070] In this embodiment, when the heated carrier liquid in the heating tank 232 is lower than a preset threshold, this threshold ensures that the heated carrier liquid in the heating tank 232 can still meet the heating requirements after mixing with the carrier liquid at low temperature. The circulation valve 231 controls the carrier plate 110 to connect with the heating tank 232, so that the carrier liquid in the carrier plate 110 enters the heating tank 232 through the circulation valve 231. At the same time, the heating rod 233 heats the carrier liquid in the heating tank 232 to the required temperature. After the carrier liquid in the heating tank 232 is replenished, the circulation valve 231 controls the disconnection between the carrier plate 110 and the heating tank 232 to prevent the heated carrier liquid in the heating tank 232 from flowing back into the carrier plate 110 through the circulation valve 231, thereby maintaining the temperature stability of the carrier liquid in the carrier plate 110.

[0071] To prevent uncontrollable displacement of cartilage subunits in suspension and to guide the splicing of cartilage subunits:

[0072] like Figure 4 As shown, the support mechanism 100 also includes an overhead bracket 120 and a contour positioning structure 130; one end of the overhead bracket 120 is connected to the support plate 110, and the other end is detachably connected to the contour positioning structure 130; the contour positioning structure 130 includes a support plate 131 and multiple positioning bosses 132; the multiple positioning bosses 132 are all connected to the support plate 131, and their arrangement on the support plate 131 corresponds to the anatomical structure of the patient's ear support, and are used to spatially position and limit the cartilage subunit.

[0073] In this embodiment, based on the arrangement of multiple positioning protrusions 132 on the support plate 131, the surgeon can place multiple cartilage subunits sequentially at predetermined splicing positions. During this process, by matching the arrangement of the positioning protrusions 132 with the anatomical structure of the patient's ear support, the cartilage subunits are effectively guided to be precisely spliced. After the placement of the cartilage subunits is completed, the multiple positioning protrusions 132 provide stable spatial positioning and limitation for the cartilage subunits, thereby preventing uncontrollable displacement in a suspended state.

[0074] The first embodiment of the contour positioning structure 130 is as follows:

[0075] Multiple positioning bosses 132 are connected to the support plate 131, and their contour lines facing the cartilage subunit match the anatomical structure of the patient's ear support.

[0076] In this embodiment, by matching the contour line of the positioning boss 132 facing the cartilage subunit with the anatomical structure of the cartilage, the degree of conformity between the edge of the cartilage subunit and the contour line of the positioning boss 132 facing the cartilage subunit can be observed more intuitively, thereby significantly improving the anatomical restoration during the assembly process. At the same time, by making the positioning boss 132 contact or adhere to the surface of the cartilage subunit over a large area, the constraint force is evenly distributed on the entire contact surface of the cartilage subunit, significantly reducing the pressure per unit area, thereby avoiding deformation of the cartilage subunit or cell damage caused by local stress concentration. This contour positioning structure 130 is manufactured by additive manufacturing.

[0077] The second embodiment of the contour positioning structure 130 is as follows:

[0078] like Figure 5 As shown, multiple positioning protrusions 132 are all configured as pins so that the positioning protrusions 132 make point contact with the cartilage subunit; multiple positioning holes are provided on the top of the support plate 131; the positioning protrusions 132 are slidably inserted into the corresponding positioning holes so that their arrangement matches the anatomical structure of the patient's ear support.

[0079] In this embodiment, the guide fixation position is selected according to the bonding sequence of the cartilage subunits. Then, the positioning protrusion 132 is inserted into the positioning hole corresponding to the guide fixation position. At this time, the arrangement of the multiple positioning protrusions 132 corresponds to the anatomical structure of the bonded cartilage subunits. By adjusting the position of the positioning protrusion 132 inserted into the positioning hole, the cartilage subunits can be bonded one by one, thereby reducing the interference of the positioning protrusion 132 on the bonding process of the cartilage subunits.

[0080] In applications where the positioning boss 132's angle is adjustable, the complex three-dimensional curved surface of the auricle's anatomy often results in a certain tilt angle between the contact surfaces of cartilage subunits. To accommodate this angle requirement, the top of the positioning boss 132 is equipped with a universal adjustment structure, enabling it to automatically adjust its tilt angle upon contact with the cartilage, achieving adaptive contact with the cartilage surface. Specifically, the top of the positioning boss 132 employs a ball-joint structure. When the cartilage is placed on the positioning boss 132, the ball-joint structure automatically rotates under gravity, ensuring that the contact surface of the top of the positioning boss 132 remains parallel to the lower surface of the cartilage, thereby evenly distributing the supporting force across the entire contact surface. This adaptive angle adjustment function not only improves the stability of the support but, more importantly, avoids localized stress concentration caused by non-parallel contact surfaces, effectively protecting the integrity of the cartilage tissue.

[0081] In applications where the positioning protrusions 132 are adjusted in a group, multiple positioning protrusions 132 can be adjusted synchronously as a whole to adapt to the fine-tuning needs of the overall ear support contour. For example, after the surgeon completes the initial bonding of multiple cartilage subunits, if the tilt angle or front-back position of the overall ear support deviates from the expected value, all positioning protrusions 132 can be moved synchronously according to the preset displacement amount and direction, thereby adjusting the position of the cartilage subunits placed on them as a whole. The lateral movement function of the positioning protrusions 132 is achieved through a special bottom structure design. The connection between the positioning protrusions 132 and the support plate 131 adopts a double-layer structure design. Specifically, a horizontally sliding base is provided in the positioning hole of the support plate 131. This sliding base is connected to the side wall of the positioning hole through a micro-guide rail or ball bearing structure, allowing it to move within a small range in the horizontal plane. The positioning protrusions 132 are then mounted on this sliding base through an elastic reset structure. When the surgeon moves the cartilage subunit, the force is transmitted through the cartilage to the positioning boss 132, which in turn causes the sliding base to produce a corresponding horizontal displacement within the positioning hole. This design allows the positioning boss 132 to maintain its insertion relationship with the positioning hole while possessing the ability to move laterally within a limited range.

[0082] The elastic repositioning structure is the key component for achieving the automatic return of the positioning protrusion 132 to its original position. This structure can be implemented in various forms. For example, a micro-spring can be placed around the sliding base; when the sliding base moves horizontally, the spring is compressed or stretched, generating a restoring force in the opposite direction of movement. Alternatively, materials such as elastic rubber rings or shape memory alloy wires can be used, utilizing their elastic deformation characteristics to achieve the repositioning function. When the external force applied by the surgeon disappears, the energy stored in the elastic repositioning structure is released, driving the sliding base, along with the positioning protrusion 132, back to its initial position. The ingenuity of this design lies in the fact that the positioning protrusion 132 maintains constant contact with the cartilage as it moves with the cartilage, providing continuous dynamic support; and it automatically repositions itself after the external force disappears, without interfering with the already bonded and fixed cartilage subunits.

[0083] During the autologous rib cartilage auricular graft bonding process, the combined use of the projector 420 and the movable positioning boss 132 allows the surgeon to precisely control the bonding position and orientation of the cartilage subunit. The geometric relationship between the two is explained in detail below through several specific embodiments.

[0084] In applications involving the bonding of the helix and antihelix, the surgeon needs to align the helix and antihelix cartilage subunits along a complex S-shaped curve. To this end, six positioning protrusions 132 are pre-set on the support plate 131, corresponding to the helix starting point, the highest point of the helix, the turning point of the posterior edge of the helix, the starting point of the upper foot of the antihelix, the starting point of the lower foot of the antihelix, and the center point of the antihelix body. The three-dimensional spatial coordinates of these positioning protrusions 132 are pre-calibrated and stored in the control system. The projector 420 projects the helix-antihelix bonding surface projection line onto the support plate 131, establishing various geometric relationships between this projection line and the positioning protrusions 132. At the starting point of the helix, the projection line is tangent to the contour line of the first positioning protrusion 132, ensuring that the starting direction of the apex is completely consistent with the anatomical direction. At the highest point of the helix, the projection line is tangent to the edge of the second positioning protrusion 132, guiding the surgeon to accurately align the apex of the helix cartilage at this position. At the turning point of the posterior edge of the helix, the projection line is simultaneously tangent to the contour lines on both sides of the third positioning protrusion 132, forming a double tangential constraint to ensure that the curvature change at the turning point conforms to the anatomical characteristics. At the same time, the endpoint of the projection line at the starting point of the superior crus of the antihelix is ​​perfectly aligned with the center point of the fourth positioning protrusion 132, indicating that this is the starting position of the superior crus cartilage of the antihelix. The endpoint of the projection line at the starting point of the inferior crus of the antihelix is ​​aligned with the edge marker point of the fifth positioning protrusion 132, with zero distance between them, ensuring seamless connection between the inferior crus cartilage and the main cartilage. The control point of the projection line at the center point of the antihelix body is aligned with the geometric center of the sixth positioning protrusion 132 to verify whether the placement of the antihelix body cartilage is centered. The system is also equipped with a dynamic verification mechanism. After the surgeon places the auricular cartilage in the predetermined position, the control system detects the degree of overlap between the cartilage edge and the projection line through image recognition. If the overlap is greater than 95%, the projection line is displayed in green and an accurate alignment prompt is shown. If the overlap is between 80% and 95%, the projection line is displayed in yellow and the offset direction and distance are shown. If the overlap is less than 80%, the projection line is displayed in red and a beeping warning is issued, prompting the surgeon to readjust.

[0085] In applications involving the bonding of the concha and tragus complex, the surgeon needs to bond the three subunits—the concha cartilage, cymba concha cartilage, and tragus cartilage—at the concha-tragus point, forming a three-way junction. To achieve this, a reference positioning protrusion 132 is set at the junction of the concha, cymba concha, and tragus as the center point of the junction. A projector 420 projects three bonding surface projection lines, connecting the pre-defined positions of the concha cartilage, cymba concha cartilage, and tragus cartilage. These three projection lines converge at the reference positioning protrusion 132. The angles between any two lines are obtained by measuring the patient's healthy ear or a standard ear mold. The angle between the concha and cymba concha projection lines is 45 degrees, the angle between the concha and tragus projection lines is 30 degrees, and the angle between the cymba concha and tragus projection lines is 25 degrees. The angle values ​​are displayed in real-time on the projection lines for the surgeon's reference and verification. In addition, three positioning protrusions 132 are set between the posterior edge of the concha cartilage and the anterior edge of the cymba conchae cartilage, corresponding to the upper, middle, and lower control points respectively. The projector 420 projects three parallel dotted lines, each maintaining a constant distance from the corresponding positioning protrusion 132. The distance between the dotted line and the protrusion at the upper control point is two millimeters, at the middle control point it is one and a half millimeters, and at the lower control point it is one millimeter. The distance values ​​are displayed in real time next to the dotted lines. When the cartilage placement causes the actual gap to deviate from the preset value by more than 0.3 millimeters, the color of the dotted line changes and the direction of the deviation is displayed. Near the tragus point of the concha, the system simultaneously applies angle correlation and distance correlation. While the three projection lines maintain a preset angle, the end of each projection line maintains a preset distance from the corresponding positioning protrusion 132. Combined marks are superimposed on the projection lines. For example, displaying 30 degrees and 2 millimeters on the concha projection line indicates that the angle between this point and the tragus projection line is 30 degrees and the distance from the positioning protrusion 132 is 2 millimeters.

[0086] In applications involving symmetrical guidance of the upper and lower crus of the antihelix, the surgeon needs to separately bond the upper and lower crus of the antihelix, ensuring they remain symmetrical relative to the central axis of the antihelix. To this end, three positioning protrusions 132 are placed at the central axis of the antihelix to calibrate the axis direction. A projector 420 projects the contact lines of the upper and lower crus of the antihelix. The two projection lines are mirror-symmetrical relative to the central axis, and symmetry markers are superimposed on the projection lines. The system calculates the distance and angle between the two projection lines and the axis in real time. When the symmetry deviation exceeds a preset threshold, the projection lines flash and display the deviation value. Simultaneously, a positioning protrusion 132 is set at the lower end of the central axis of the antihelix as a vertical reference point. The projector 420 projects a reference line perpendicular to the axis, which is aligned with the center of the lower positioning protrusion 132. The end of the projection line of the lower foot of the antihelix should intersect with this vertical line to ensure that the starting position of the lower foot cartilage is perpendicular to the axis. The vertical mark is displayed at the intersection. When the verticality deviation exceeds two degrees, the vertical mark turns red and displays the deviation angle. The system also displays the symmetry verification results and the verticality verification results simultaneously, forming a comprehensive alignment score. When any single score is lower than 90%, the system automatically enlarges the projection line of that area and prompts for priority adjustment.

[0087] To maintain the temperature stability of the carrier fluid in the carrier plate 110 at low temperatures:

[0088] like Figure 3 and Figure 10 As shown, it also includes a cooling mechanism 300; the cooling mechanism 300 includes a thermoelectric cooler 310, a finned radiator 320 and a cooling fan 330; the thermoelectric cooler 310 is connected to the support plate 110, and its cold end is in contact with the support plate 110, for maintaining the support fluid at a low temperature; the finned radiator 320 is connected to the hot end of the thermoelectric cooler 310, for increasing the heat dissipation area of ​​the thermoelectric cooler 310; the cooling fan 330 is configured to drive airflow through the finned radiator 320.

[0089] In this embodiment, the cold end of the thermoelectric cooler 310 absorbs heat from the carrier plate 110 and the internal carrier liquid, so that the temperature of the carrier liquid in the carrier plate 110 is stably maintained within a preset low temperature range; the heat generated by the hot end of the thermoelectric cooler 310 is conducted to the finned radiator 320 to increase the heat dissipation area of ​​the thermoelectric cooler 310, thereby accelerating the heat dissipation effect of the thermoelectric cooler 310; at the same time, the cooling fan 330 drives air to flow over the surface of the finned radiator 320 to accelerate the heat dissipation efficiency of the finned radiator 320.

[0090] The term "comprising" or any other similar term is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus / device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent in such process, method, article, or apparatus / device.

[0091] The technical solution of the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present invention is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding and bearing device, characterized in that: Including the load-bearing mechanism (100); The support mechanism (100) includes a support plate (110) and a support liquid filled in the support plate (110); The support plate (110) is configured to accommodate the cartilage subunits to be bonded; The carrier fluid is a biocompatible medical liquid, and its density is configured to suspend the cartilage subunit in the carrier fluid, so as to reduce the mechanical clamping force required to fix or adjust the position of the cartilage subunit during the bonding process through buoyancy support.

2. The autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding and bearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The carrier fluid can be in a low temperature state or a normal temperature state; When the carrier fluid is at a low temperature, it is configured to reduce the polymerization rate of the adhesive and prolong the in vitro survival time of the cartilage subunit. When the carrier fluid is at room temperature, it is configured to accelerate the polymerization rate of the adhesive to promote the adhesion and curing of the cartilage subunits.

3. The autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding and bearing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a zone temperature control mechanism (200); The zoned temperature control mechanism (200) is configured to locally raise the temperature of the carrier liquid in the bonded area of ​​the cartilage subunit, so that the carrier liquid in that area switches from a low temperature state to a normal temperature state, thereby accelerating the polymerization and curing of the adhesive. The carrier fluid in the remaining areas is maintained at the low temperature to provide a suitable environment for subsequent bonding operations and to extend the in vitro survival time of the unbonded cartilage subunits.

4. The autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding and bearing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The load-bearing mechanism (100) also includes an overhead bracket (120) and a contour positioning structure (130). One end of the overhead bracket (120) is connected to the bearing plate (110), and the other end is detachably connected to the contour positioning structure (130). The contour positioning structure (130) includes a support plate (131) and multiple positioning bosses (132). The multiple positioning bosses (132) are all connected to the support plate (131), and their arrangement on the support plate (131) corresponds to the anatomical structure of the patient's ear support, and are used to spatially position and limit the cartilage subunit.

5. The autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding and bearing device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The zoned temperature control mechanism (200) includes multiple liquid delivery structures (210); The liquid delivery structure (210) includes a liquid delivery cone (211) and a flow guide (212). The top of the support plate (131) is provided with a plurality of positioning holes, each of which is located below the corresponding cartilage subunit adhesion area; The delivery cone (211) is detachably inserted into the corresponding positioning hole for injecting the heated carrier fluid into the cartilage subunit adhesion area so that the carrier fluid in the area switches from a low temperature state to a normal temperature state. The flow guide (212) is inserted into the outlet of the liquid delivery cone (211) to guide the carrier liquid to flow around the cartilage subunit and to buffer the impact force generated when the carrier liquid flows out.

6. The autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding and bearing device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The liquid delivery structure (210) includes an auxiliary cold light lamp (213). The auxiliary cold light lamp (213) is connected to the liquid delivery cone (211) and is used to provide illumination to the cartilage subunit adhesion area; The flow guide (212) is configured as a light-transmitting structure to allow light emitted by the auxiliary cold light lamp (213) to pass through and illuminate the cartilage subunit adhesion area.

7. The autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding and bearing device according to claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes film projection guidance organizations (400); The projection guidance mechanism (400) includes an overhead support (410) and a projector (420). The overhead support (410) is connected to the bearing plate (110). The projector (420) is mounted on the overhead support (410) with its projection end facing the support plate (131) to project guiding images onto the support plate (131) to assist in the adhesion of the cartilage subunits; The guide image projected by the projector (420) includes a bonding surface projection line, and the bonding surface projection line forms a preset geometric relationship with the adjacent positioning boss (132).

8. The autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding and bearing device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The geometric relationship includes tangential relationship, where the projection line of the mating surface is tangent to the outline of the positioning boss (132) or the line connecting two adjacent positioning bosses (132) at a preset position. or, The geometric relationship includes alignment relationship, where the starting point, ending point or control point of the projection line of the mating surface is aligned with the center, edge or mark point of the positioning boss (132); or, The geometric relationship includes distance relationship, and the projection line of the mating surface and the positioning boss (132) maintain a preset constant distance; The geometric relationship includes angular relationship, where a preset angle is formed between the projection line of the mating surface and the line connecting the two adjacent positioning protrusions (132).

9. The autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding and bearing device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The projector (420) is configured to overlay geometric association marks on the projection line of the mating surface, wherein the visual encoding of the geometric association marks corresponds to the type of the geometric association relationship; The geometric association markers include one or more of the following: vertical markers, tangent markers, alignment markers, distance markers, and angle markers; The vertical marker is configured as a short horizontal line or a T-shaped marker, and is displayed using a first color; The tangent marker is configured as a tangent arrow or an arc marker, and is displayed in a second color; The alignment marker is configured as a dot or a crosshair and displayed in a third color; The distance marker is configured as a parallel dashed line and labeled with the distance value, and is displayed using a fourth color; The angle marker is configured as an arc and labeled with the angle value, and is displayed using the fifth color.

10. The autologous rib cartilage ear support bonding and bearing device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The projector (420) is configured to dynamically adjust the display status of the bonding surface projection line and the geometric association mark according to the real-time deviation; When the real-time deviation is less than the first threshold, the geometric association marker is displayed as a confirmed status; When the real-time deviation is between the first threshold and the second threshold, the geometric association marker is displayed as a prompt, and the deviation direction and distance are shown. When the real-time deviation exceeds the second threshold, the geometric association marker is displayed as a warning and a deviation warning indicator is shown.

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