Adjustable Implant Telescopic Linkage Orientation Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable surgical implants with telescopic bodies lack a mechanism to ensure stable and defined orientation during length adjustment, leading to potential instability and rocking motion.
Innovation Solution
The adjustable implant incorporates a telescopic body with a deflectable linkage featuring a partial gear engagement between linking segments, which ensures that pivotal motion occurs in a fixed ratio, stabilizing the implant's orientation during length adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a telescopic body is used to allow length adjustment, then adaptability is improved, but stability deteriorates due to potential rocking motion
Solution Approach 1:
A deflectable linkage with gear engagement is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the telescopic body's first and second portions. The gear teeth on the linking segments enforce a fixed ratio relationship, preventing independent motion that would cause rocking while still permitting controlled length adjustment through the telescopic mechanism.
2Device complexity
If a simple telescopic mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to undefined orientation during adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The deflectable linkage serves as a mediating structure that adds minimal complexity while significantly improving reliability. The gear engagement between linking segments provides a passive mechanical constraint that ensures consistent orientation without requiring active control systems or complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage is designed to be deflectable rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically adapt to the changing length of the telescopic body while maintaining the fixed ratio relationship. This dynamic flexibility enables the structure to accommodate adjustment movements while preserving orientation stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a stable and well-defined orientation of the implant during adjustment, preventing rocking motion and ensuring consistent performance across the range of motion.
Implementation Method 1
the first linking segment and the second linking segment are formed with projecting features configured to provide a partial gear engagement between the first and second linking segments such that, during adjustment of a length of the telescopic body and corresponding deflection of the deflectable linkage, pivotal motion of the first and second linking segments relative to the intermediate segment about the first and second pivot axes occurs in a fixed ratio defined by the partial gear engagement
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable implant includes a telescopic body with first and second portions in sliding engagement, and a deflectable linkage formed from a first linking segment, an intermediate segment and a second linking segment pivotally interconnected so that adjustment of a length of the telescopic body causes a corresponding deflection of the deflectable linkage. The first linking segment and the second linking segment are formed with projecting features that provide a partial gear engagement between the first and second linking segments such that, during adjustment of a length of the telescopic body and corresponding deflection of the deflectable linkage, pivotal motion of the first and second linking segments relative to the intermediate segment about the first and second pivot axes occurs in a fixed ratio defined by the partial gear engagement.