Adjustable Wrist Traction Tower for Variable Patient Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional traction towers are limited in their ability to accommodate a wide variety of individual patient sizes during orthopedic medical procedures, such as wrist arthroscopy, affecting the efficiency and flexibility of surgical and radiographic procedures.
Innovation Solution
A wrist traction tower system with adjustable and flexible components, including a first and second tower that can move relative to each other, an elongated arm assembly, and a traction tower scale, allowing for customization to fit various patient sizes and providing sufficient space for medical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional traction towers are used, then the structure is simple and stable, but the ability to accommodate different patient sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The traction tower is divided into multiple telescoping segments that can extend and retract independently. The tower includes an inner tube and outer tube arrangement, allowing the height to be adjusted in discrete increments to accommodate different patient arm lengths while maintaining structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tower transitions from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic adjustable structure. The telescoping mechanism allows the tower height to be changed during procedures, providing adaptability for different patient sizes while maintaining simplicity through standardized mechanical components.
2Ease of operation
If the tower height is fixed, then the structure is simple and stable, but the positioning flexibility for different patients is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tower incorporates telescoping sections with locking mechanisms that allow height adjustment. The inner tube can extend relative to the outer tube, and vice versa, enabling the tower to be positioned at different heights to accommodate various patient arm lengths while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tower uses a nested tube configuration where an inner tube is positioned within an outer tube. This nesting arrangement allows compact storage when retracted and extended height when needed, providing positioning flexibility without adding significant structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tower is designed for a specific patient size, then the structure is simple, but the versatility for different patient sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The tower is manufactured as segmented components (inner tube, outer tube, locking mechanisms) that can be produced using standardized processes. These segments are then assembled to create towers of different heights, allowing versatility without requiring complex custom manufacturing for each patient size.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping tower design creates a universal structure that can serve multiple patient sizes. The same basic tower design with adjustable telescoping sections can accommodate a range of patient arm lengths, eliminating the need to manufacture different tower models for different patient populations.
Data Source
AI summary
A traction tower assembly and traction tower scale. The traction tower assembly includes a tower assembly including a first tower having a first side surface and a second tower having a second side surface positioned adjacent to the first side surface, wherein the second tower is movable with respect to the first tower in a first direction and in a second direction; and an elongated arm assembly attached to and extending from the tower assembly.