Tibial fixation brace

Abstract

The utility model discloses a tibia fixing support, including torso fixed part, connecting portion and lower limbs fixed part, torso fixed part is used for ring to the torso of animal. The front end of connecting portion is connected with torso fixed part. The rear end of connecting portion is connected with lower limbs fixed part, and lower limbs fixed part is used for ring to the two lower limbs of animal. Torso fixed part, connecting portion and lower limbs fixed part are integrally formed. The material used in the utility model is convenient to obtain and low in cost, and the design is simple, is suitable for various 3D printers, can be accurate to fit mouse limbs, and the fixing effect is good. Adopting leg full package design, fixing stable, is favorable to fracture healing. Moreover, the material can closely fit mouse body, reduces skin compression, blood circulation disorder and other complications. The tenacity and plasticity of the material are convenient for fine adjustment according to the recovery condition, ensure that the fixing is continuous and effective, has the advantages of light, clean, convenient to wear, can be repeatedly used etc.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of experimental equipment technology, and in particular to a tibial fixation brace. Background Technology

[0002] The unique anatomical features of the tibia make it a challenging area for fracture treatment in experiments. Due to the thin soft tissue coverage on the anteromedial aspect of the tibia in mice and the segmental distribution of its blood supply system, its main nutrient artery enters through the nutrient foramen on the posterolateral side of the upper third of the tibial shaft. Clinical data indicate that fractures in the middle and lower segments of the tibia have a significantly higher probability of delayed healing, nonunion, and soft tissue necrosis than fractures in other locations.

[0003] Current intramedullary nailing techniques for fixing the tibia in mice have four limitations. First, the surgical procedure is highly technical; precise placement of the intramedullary nail and locking pin positioning rely heavily on the surgeon's experience, and errors can easily lead to fixation failure or iatrogenic neurovascular injury. Second, open surgical trauma can disrupt the blood supply network at the fracture site, increasing the risk of postoperative infection. Furthermore, medullary canal reaming can cause a sudden increase in intracavitary pressure, increasing the risk of fat embolism syndrome compared to external fixation. Finally, post-infection management in mice requires a complex process of removing the internal fixation, debridement and drainage, and refixation, extending the treatment period by 4-6 weeks. Therefore, there is a need to develop a brace that is easy to use for fixing the tibia in mice or other animals in experiments. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a tibial fixation brace to solve the problems of the prior art.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a tibial fixation brace, comprising:

[0006] A trunk fixing part, which is used to loop around the trunk of an animal;

[0007] A connecting part, the front end of which is connected to the torso fixing part;

[0008] The lower limb fixing part is connected to the rear end of the connecting part, and the lower limb fixing part is used for the two lower limbs of the ringed animal;

[0009] The torso fixation part, the connecting part, and the lower limb fixation part are integrally formed.

[0010] In one embodiment, the tibial fixation brace is made of polyethylene terephthalate-copolymer-1,4-cyclohexanediol ester;

[0011] The torso fixation part, the connecting part, and the lower limb fixation part are integrally formed by printing.

[0012] In one embodiment, the torso fixing part is a sheet-like part extending along a first direction and detachably connected at both ends.

[0013] In one embodiment, the two ends of the torso fixing part along the first direction can be detachably connected by a rope, a buckle, or a magnetic attraction.

[0014] In one embodiment, the lower limb fixing part is a sheet extending along a first direction, and the lower limb fixing part is provided with a first connecting end and a second connecting end extending along a second direction at both ends along the first direction, and the first connecting end and the second connecting end are detachably connected.

[0015] In one embodiment, the first connecting end and the second connecting end can be detachably connected by a cord, a buckle, or a magnetic attraction.

[0016] In one embodiment, the lower limb fixation part has a hollowed-out portion.

[0017] In one embodiment, the connecting portion includes two connecting pieces extending in a second direction, with the front ends of the two connecting pieces connected to the torso fixing portion and the rear ends connected to the lower limb fixing portion.

[0018] In one embodiment, the tibial fixation brace further includes two ankle fixation parts for fixing the animal's ankle.

[0019] In one embodiment, the ankle fixation part is C-shaped and the distance between the two ends is 2mm-5mm.

[0020] This invention addresses the challenges of high surgical skill requirements, significant surgical trauma, and substantial infection risks associated with intramedullary nail fixation of fracture sites. It presents a tibial fixation brace for mice, offering advantages such as ease of operation, minimal trauma, and reliable fixation. The materials used are readily available and inexpensive, the design is simple, and it is compatible with various 3D printers. Furthermore, its personalized fit allows for precise conformation to the mouse limb, resulting in excellent fixation. The full-coverage design of the leg provides stable fixation and promotes fracture healing. The material also conforms closely to the mouse's body, reducing complications such as skin pressure and circulatory disturbances. The material's toughness and malleability allow for fine-tuning based on recovery progress, ensuring sustained and effective fixation. It is lightweight, easy to clean, convenient to wear, and reusable. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a tibial fixation brace according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 and Figure 3 They are Figure 1 A perspective view of the tibial fixation brace in the illustrated embodiment.

[0023] Reference numerals: 10. Tibial fixation brace; 11. First direction; 12. Second direction; 1. Trunk fixation part; 2. Connecting part; 3. Lower limb fixation part; 31. First connecting end; 32. Second connecting end; 33. Hollowed-out part; Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the various embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will understand that many technical details have been provided in the various embodiments of this utility model to facilitate a better understanding of this application. However, the technical solutions claimed in the claims of this application can be implemented even without these technical details and with various variations and modifications based on the following embodiments.

[0025] Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims, the word “comprising” and its variations, such as “including” and “having”, shall be understood to have an open, inclusive meaning, that is, to be interpreted as “including, but not limited to”.

[0026] The embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide a clearer understanding of the purpose, features, and advantages of this utility model. It should be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of this utility model, but are merely illustrative of the essential spirit of the technical solution of this utility model.

[0027] Throughout this specification, references to "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Therefore, the appearance of "in an embodiment" or "an embodiment" in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be combined in any manner in one or more embodiments.

[0028] The singular forms “a” and “the” used in this specification and the appended claims include plural references unless otherwise expressly stated herein. It should be noted that the term “or” is generally used to mean “and / or” unless otherwise expressly stated herein.

[0029] In the following description, in order to clearly demonstrate the structure and working method of this utility model, a number of directional terms will be used. However, terms such as "front", "back", "left", "right", "outside", "inside", "outward", "inward", "up", and "down" should be understood as convenient terms and not as limiting terms.

[0030] This utility model relates to a tibial fixation brace 10, such as Figure 1-3 As shown, the device includes a trunk fixing part 1, a connecting part 2, and a lower limb fixing part 3. The trunk fixing part 1 is used to loop around the animal's trunk, while the connecting part 2 has a front end and a rear end. The front end connects to the trunk fixing part 1, and the rear end connects to the lower limb fixing part 3. The lower limb fixing part 3 is used to loop around the animal's two lower limbs. The trunk fixing part 1, the connecting part 2, and the lower limb fixing part 3 are integrally formed.

[0031] In the experiment, the probability of delayed healing, nonunion, and soft tissue necrosis in the middle and lower segments of the tibia in mice was significantly higher than that in fractures in other locations. The tibia fixation brace 10 of this invention is integrally molded, facilitating processing, and can be used to fix the tibia in mice. The trunk fixation part 1 ensures reliable fixation and balanced force distribution at the fracture site, restricts trunk movement, and prevents the lower limb fixation part 3 from being torn or damaged, thus affecting healing.

[0032] As a preferred embodiment, the tibial fixation brace 10 is made of polyethylene terephthalate-copolymer-1,4-cyclohexanediol ester, and the trunk fixation part 1, the connecting part 2, and the lower limb fixation part 3 are integrally formed using 3D printing technology. This material is easy to use, has good stability, is recyclable, and the tibial fixation brace 10 is simple to manufacture and easy to operate using 3D printing.

[0033] During rehabilitation fixation, the printed tibial fixation brace 10 is softened and shaped by immersing it in 80°C warm water. After cooling, the trunk mounting part 1 is installed on the mouse's trunk, with the mouse's trunk and pelvis tightly attached to the inner wall of the brace. Specifically, the trunk fixation part 1 can be looped around the mouse's trunk, while the lower limb fixation part 3 can be fitted onto the mouse's two lower limbs for fixation.

[0034] In one embodiment, the torso fixing part 1 is a rectangular plate extending along a first direction 11, and the two ends of the torso fixing part 1 along the first direction 11 are detachably connected. For example, ropes can be provided at both ends of the torso fixing part 1 to fix the two ends. Alternatively, magnets or buckles can be provided at both ends of the torso fixing part 1 to fix the two ends.

[0035] Preferably, the lower limb fixing part 3 is a sheet extending along the first direction 11. The lower limb fixing part 3 is provided with a first connecting end 31 and a second connecting end 32 extending along the second direction 12 at both ends along the first direction 11. The first connecting end 31 and the second connecting end 32 protrude from both sides of the lower limb fixing part 3 along the second direction 12. The first connecting end 31 and the second connecting end 32 are detachably connected.

[0036] After the first connecting end 31 and the second connecting end 32 are assembled and connected, they will form a ring, which is used to fit over the mouse's lower limbs to fix the mouse's lower limbs.

[0037] The detachable connection method of the first connecting end 31 and the second connecting end 32 can also be the above-mentioned rope, magnetic method or buckle, etc., without limiting the specific implementation of the first connecting end 31 and the second connecting end 32.

[0038] To reduce the weight of the lower limb fixation part 3, multiple hollow parts 33 can be provided inside the lower limb fixation part 3. Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the cutout portion 33 consists of two symmetrically arranged circular holes. Of course, in other embodiments, the cutout portion 33 can also be a region with multiple mesh structures.

[0039] The connecting part 2 includes two connecting pieces extending along the second direction 12. The two connecting pieces are spaced apart, and their front ends are connected to the torso fixing part 1, while their rear ends are connected to the lower limb fixing part 3. This effectively hollows out the middle part of the connecting part 2, which reduces weight and increases the flexibility of the connecting part 2.

[0040] Preferably, the tibial fixation brace 10 further includes two ankle fixation parts for fixing the animal's ankle. In one specific embodiment, the ankle fixation parts are C-shaped and the two ends are spaced 2mm-5mm apart in the circumferential direction.

[0041] The distance between the two ends of the ankle fixation part is adjustable according to the size of the mouse's ankle. However, if the distance is too small, it will limit the range of adjustment; if the distance is too large, it will reduce the contact area and affect the stabilization effect. Moreover, multiple studies have shown that when the ankle fixation part is C-shaped and the distance between the two ends along the circumference is less than 2 mm, the swelling rate of the mouse limb increases by 15%, and when it is greater than 5 mm, the probability of fixation failure increases by 20%. By installing the ankle fixation part, the volume of the ankle can be increased, so that the tibial fixation brace 10 can be clamped and fixed on the limb after fracture reduction. It is simple to operate and easy to disassemble.

[0042] This invention addresses the challenges of high surgical skill requirements, significant surgical trauma, and substantial infection risk associated with intramedullary nail fixation of fracture sites. It presents a tibial fixation brace 10 designed to fix the tibia of mice, offering advantages such as ease of operation, minimal trauma, and reliable fixation.

[0043] Furthermore, the materials used in this invention are readily available and inexpensive, the design is simple, and it is compatible with various 3D printers. It also offers personalized fit, precisely conforming to the mouse's limbs for excellent fixation. The full-coverage design for the legs provides stable fixation and promotes fracture healing. Moreover, the material closely conforms to the mouse's body, reducing complications such as skin pressure and impaired blood circulation. The material's toughness and malleability allow for fine-tuning based on recovery progress, ensuring continuous and effective fixation. It is also lightweight, easy to clean, convenient to wear, and reusable.

[0044] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but it should be understood that, if necessary, aspects of the embodiments can be modified to utilize aspects, features, and concepts from various patents, applications, and publications to provide other embodiments.

[0045] In light of the detailed description above, these and other changes can be made to the embodiments. Generally, the terminology used in the claims should not be considered limited to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and claims, but should be understood to include all possible embodiments together with the full scope of equivalents enjoyed by these claims.

[0046] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments are specific examples of implementing the present invention, and in practical applications, various changes can be made to them in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tibial fixation brace, characterized in that, include: A trunk fixing part, which is used to loop around the trunk of an animal; A connecting part, the front end of which is connected to the torso fixing part; The lower limb fixing part is connected to the rear end of the connecting part, and the lower limb fixing part is used for the two lower limbs of the ringed animal; The torso fixation part, the connecting part, and the lower limb fixation part are integrally formed.

2. The tibial fixation brace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tibial fixation brace is made of polyethylene terephthalate-copolymer-1,4-cyclohexanediethanol ester; The torso fixation part, the connecting part, and the lower limb fixation part are integrally formed by printing.

3. The tibial fixation brace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The torso fixing part is a sheet-like part extending along a first direction and its two ends are detachably connected.

4. The tibial fixation brace according to claim 3, characterized in that, The two ends of the torso fixing part along the first direction can be detachably connected by a rope, buckle or magnetic attraction.

5. The tibial fixation brace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower limb fixation part is a sheet extending along a first direction, and the lower limb fixation part is provided with a first connecting end and a second connecting end extending along a second direction at both ends along the first direction, and the first connecting end and the second connecting end are detachably connected.

6. The tibial fixation brace according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first connecting end and the second connecting end can be detachably connected by a rope, buckle or magnetic attraction.

7. The tibial fixation brace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower limb fixation part has a hollowed-out section.

8. The tibial fixation brace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting part includes two connecting pieces extending along a second direction. The front ends of the two connecting pieces are connected to the torso fixing part, and the rear ends are connected to the lower limb fixing part.

9. The tibial fixation brace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tibial fixation brace also includes two ankle fixation parts, which are used to fix the animal's ankle.

10. The tibial fixation brace according to claim 9, characterized in that, The ankle fixation part is C-shaped with a spacing of 2mm-5mm between its two ends.

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