Ball Joint Compression Instrument for Angled Screw Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for fracture reduction and intrafragmentary compression often cause undesired damage due to friction and uneven contact when rotating compression screws, especially when the screw is inserted at an angle, leading to injury at the contact area.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a hollow shaft with a ball joint allowing rotation and pivot movement, enabling a flat and smooth abutment of the contact surface on the fragment, even when the screw is inserted at an angle, combined with a compression screw having different thread pitches for controlled fragment compression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the compression device rotates about its longitudinal axis to insert the screw, then the screw can be rotated and inserted into the fractured object, but the contact surface causes friction and uneven abutment that damages the contact area adjacent to the screw entry point
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the rotation function (hollow shaft) from the compression function (supporting element), allowing the shaft to rotate for screw insertion while the supporting element remains stationary to provide stable contact with the bone surface, eliminating friction damage
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the harmful rotational friction from the contact surface by allowing the hollow shaft to rotate independently while the supporting element maintains a fixed, stable contact with the bone, removing the source of damage while preserving screw insertion capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the screw is inserted at an angled orientation relative to the outer surface, then access to certain fracture locations is improved, but the end face of the compression device cannot abut evenly on the fragment surface causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a ball joint that allows dynamic adjustment of the supporting element's orientation relative to the hollow shaft, enabling the supporting element to maintain perpendicular contact with the bone surface while the shaft can be angled for optimal screw insertion access
Solution Approach 2:
The ball joint acts as an intermediary between the hollow shaft and supporting element, decoupling their orientations and allowing independent positioning - the shaft can be angled for access while the supporting element maintains stable, perpendicular contact with the fragment surface
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 reduces interference and damage by allowing stable and reliable fragment compression with reduced friction, enabling effective alignment and compression of bone fragments without causing additional injury, while allowing for angled screw insertion and controlled thread engagement.
Implementation Method 1
This may particularly be caused due to the rotation of the compression device creating friction
Implementation Method 2
the joint may include a ball joint, wherein the joint may include an outer spherical portion formed at the distal end of the hollow shaft, and an inner spherical portion formed at the supporting element
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for pressing fragments of a fracture against each other includes a compression device comprising a hollow shaft. The system has an inner engagement portion for engaging an outer feature of a screw head arranged at a distal end of the shaft. The system has a supporting element with a contact surface adapted to abut on one of the fragments, and a joint is provided between the supporting element and the hollow shaft. The joint is formed so as to allow a rotation of the shaft about a longitudinal axis thereof relative to the supporting element. Additionally, the joint is formed to allow a pivot movement of the supporting element relative to the shaft.