Articulated External Fixator for Calcaneus Fracture Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current external fixators for calcaneus fractures are cumbersome, limit surgical visibility, and do not allow independent application of screws, complicating the surgical technique and hindering effective fracture reduction and stabilization.
Innovation Solution
A fixator with a rigid support for one clamp and independently articulating supports for the other two clamps, allowing angular movement and sliding, featuring radiolucent materials for improved visibility and adjustable screw orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a mini-external fixator with rigidly interconnected clamps is used, then the device provides structural stability, but it creates an important encumbrance that hinders the surgeon's visualization during surgery and radiographic checks
Solution Approach 1:
The fixator is divided into a rigid support structure and separately articulated clamp assemblies that can be positioned independently. The clamps are connected to the rigid support via articulated arms with hinges, allowing the clamps to be segmented from the main body and positioned without creating encumbrance in the surgical field.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp supports are articulated with hinges that allow angular displacement in three-dimensional space, moving the clamps from a fixed planar arrangement to a spatial configuration that eliminates encumbrance while maintaining structural stability through the rigid support.
2Device complexity
If clamps are rigidly interconnected on the same plane with limited rotation, then the device structure is simplified, but it complicates the surgical technique and prevents independent screw application
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp supports incorporate hinges that enable dynamic angular displacement, transforming the rigid static connection into a flexible articulated joint. This allows the clamps to be positioned at different angles and orientations independently, facilitating easier surgical application and independent screw insertion while maintaining overall structural integrity.
3Reliability
If six bone screws are used with the external fixator, then the stability of the device is increased allowing early mobilization, but the application becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fixator is pre-configured with six screw holes in the clamps, allowing all necessary screws to be applied simultaneously during surgery. The articulated clamp design enables efficient positioning of all six screws without requiring multiple surgical approaches or sequential adjustments, reducing overall surgical time while maintaining the stability benefits of six-screw fixation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an external fixator for orthopedic use, in particular for the treatment of calcaneus fractures, comprising: a rigid support for a first clamp for fixing bone screws; a second support for a second clamp that is hinged at an end of the rigid support; a third support for a third clamp that is hinged at an end of the rigid support; the rigid support being configured as a guide with the first clamp slidingly mounted thereon. The fixator according to the invention is made of radiolucent material with joint elements comprising partially radiolucent or radiopaque materials and configured to allow orienting the bone screws held by the clamps in directions that are tilted to each other.