Adjustable Distractor Strap for Limb Distraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional distractor straps for limb distraction in surgical procedures often have excess material, leading to a significant gap between the limb and the distractor apparatus, hindering access to the joint and complicating surgical operations.
Innovation Solution
A distractor strap design featuring a cinch strap with an adjustable closed loop and a cross strap, including cinch and cross pads, which allows for adjustable tension and positioning to minimize slack, facilitating improved access to the joint by shortening the distance between the distractor apparatus and the limb.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the strap is made longer to accommodate patients of various sizes, then adaptability is improved, but a significant gap develops between the distal end of the limb and the distractor apparatus, worsening access to the joint
Solution Approach 1:
The strap incorporates an adjustment mechanism that allows the effective length of the strap to be dynamically changed during the procedure. This enables the strap to accommodate different patient sizes while eliminating excess slack to maintain proper positioning and access to the joint.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism changes the parameter of strap length to eliminate excess material. By shortening the effective length of the strap after initial placement, the system maintains adaptability for various patient sizes while resolving the gap issue that hinders joint access.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the strap contains excess material to accommodate various patient sizes, then adaptability is improved, but the distance between the distractor apparatus and the limb increases, worsening surgical access
Solution Approach 1:
The strap system transitions from a fixed length design to a dynamic adjustable design. The adjustment mechanism allows the strap length to be modified in situ, enabling the system to adapt to different patient anatomies while maintaining optimal positioning with minimal distance to the joint.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism effectively removes or extracts the excess strap material that creates the problematic gap. By taking out the unnecessary length through the adjustment mechanism, the system maintains adaptability while eliminating the harmful excess distance.
Data Source
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AI summary
Distractor straps for use with distractor apparatuses are disclosed. In one embodiment, a distractor strap includes a cinch strap having a free end and a second end. The second end of the cinch strap includes an adjustment mechanism receiving the free end of the cinch strap such that the cinch strap forms a closed loop. A diameter of the closed loop is adjustable with the adjustment mechanism. The distractor strap further includes a cross strap comprising a first loop, a second loop, and strapping connecting the first loop and the second loop. The cinch strap is positioned in the first loop and the second loop such that the cross strap extends across the diameter of the closed loop formed by the cinch strap and the cross strap and the cinch strap are slidable with respect to one another.