External Ankle Distraction Device with Spring-Loaded Load Bypass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for ankle osteoarthritis are invasive, irreversible, and often hinder normal ankle motion, with existing external distraction systems being cumbersome and prone to infection, while there is a need for a minimally invasive, reversible method that allows continued use of the ankle during treatment and effectively reduces pain and promotes healing.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising external members that receive the leg and foot, connected by a joint with a spring mechanism and bone securing elements, allowing weight to be partially or fully unloaded from the ankle joint, enabling continued use and promoting healing through distraction and load bypassing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional invasive surgical treatments (arthrodesis, replacement) are used to treat ankle osteoarthritis, then pain relief and joint function are improved, but the ankle motion is hindered and the treatment is irreversible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external distraction device as an intermediary system that applies controlled distraction forces to the ankle joint through bone anchors and external frames. This mediator enables pain relief through joint separation without requiring invasive fusion or replacement, preserving natural ankle motion while treating osteoarthritis symptoms
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the ankle joint by applying controlled distraction forces that separate the joint surfaces. This parameter change (joint separation distance) provides pain relief and creates space for cartilage regeneration while maintaining the joint's natural structure and motion capabilities, avoiding irreversible fusion
2Reliability
If existing external distraction systems are used to treat ankle osteoarthritis, then the ankle joint is distracted and pain is reduced, but the device is cumbersome and prone to infection
Solution Approach 1:
The distraction device is segmented into distinct functional components: bone anchors implanted in the tibia and calcaneus, connection elements that transmit distraction forces, and external frame structures that apply controlled separation forces to the ankle joint. This segmentation allows for simpler individual components that are easier to manufacture and less prone to infection while maintaining effective distraction functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the distraction mechanism from the joint space itself and relocates it to an external application system. By applying distraction forces from outside the joint through bone anchors and external frames, the system eliminates the need for complex internal joint space maintenance mechanisms, reducing device complexity and infection risk while preserving pain relief effectiveness
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional treatments are used to treat ankle osteoarthritis, then joint stability is improved, but the treatment is irreversible and requires long recovery time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a dynamic treatment approach where the distraction device can be adjusted, removed, or modified during the treatment course. The bone anchors and external frame allow for controlled distraction forces that can be modified over time, enabling joint stabilization for pain relief while maintaining the possibility of reversal and adaptation, contrasting with irreversible fusion procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The distraction device applies preliminary stabilization forces to the ankle joint that create a stable environment for pain relief and cartilage regeneration. This preliminary stabilization is sufficient for treatment purposes but does not permanently fuse the joint, allowing for shorter recovery times and the option to remove the device once healing is achieved, unlike irreversible fusion procedures
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
The device provides a reversible, minimally invasive solution that reduces pain and promotes healing by allowing continued use of the ankle, with potential for 40% improvement in pain and function at two years and a low complication rate, facilitating cartilage regeneration and bone remodeling.
Implementation Method 1
The joint includes at least one spring member
Data Source
AI summary
Ankle distraction or load bypassing devices include a shoe or shoe insert that securely holds a patient's foot, and a cuff that securely holds the patient's lower leg. A load bypassing device can transmit force between the cuff and the shoe or shoe insert bypassing a portion of the load around the joint. A distraction force generating mechanism between the cuff and the shoe or shoe insert can distract the patient's ankle, while permitting the ankle to flex at a joint which joins together the cuff and the shoe.