Bioinjection Device Segmented Sheath for Bone Fracture Treatment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for treating bone fractures and degenerative bone tissue are hindered by the difficulty in accurately applying medicaments like antibiotics and bone morphogenic proteins directly to the site without damaging surrounding tissues due to the awkward positioning of bone fractures within soft tissues.

Innovation Solution

A bioinjection device that includes a housing with a rotatable lower gripping portion and a trigger member, featuring a shaft with a channel for a needle, which is used to deploy a membrane-encased cartridge containing pharmaceuticals or biologics directly into bone fractures or degenerative tissue during surgery, ensuring precise delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bone cement and healing agents are applied within the fracture using conventional methods, then the bone fracture can be treated, but the surrounding soft tissues may be damaged due to the awkward positioning of bone fractures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoiddamage to surrounding tissues
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the treatment process into distinct functional components: a protective sheath that isolates the injection path from surrounding tissues, a removable stylet that creates a controlled access channel, and a cartridge system that delivers medicaments precisely to the fracture site. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while minimizing harm to surrounding soft tissues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sheath acts as an intermediary protective barrier between the injection needle and the surrounding soft tissues. It provides a controlled pathway through the tissues to reach the fracture site without causing unnecessary damage, while the stylet serves as an intermediary tool to create and maintain the access channel during the injection process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If conventional injection methods are used to deliver medicaments to bone fractures, then treatment can be provided, but accurate delivery to the fracture site is difficult due to the positioning within soft tissues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedicament deliveryVSAvoiddelivery accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates dynamic elements including the movable sheath that can be advanced and retracted, the removable stylet that transitions from inserted to withdrawn position, and the cartridge ejection mechanism. These dynamic components allow the operator to adapt the device configuration to reach the fracture site accurately while maintaining ease of operation throughout the procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The stylet is pre-inserted through the sheath to create the access channel before the actual medicament injection. The cartridge is pre-loaded with the required medicaments and positioned within the device. These preliminary actions ensure that when the injection is performed, the path is already established and the medicaments are ready for precise delivery to the fracture site.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple healing agents and antibiotics need to be applied prior to cementing, then comprehensive treatment is achieved, but the complexity of applying multiple agents increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment optionsVSAvoidapplication process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device merges multiple medicament delivery functions into a single integrated system. The cartridge can contain multiple chambers with different healing agents and antibiotics, all delivered through the same access channel and injection mechanism. This combining approach provides comprehensive treatment while simplifying the application process compared to using separate injection devices for each agent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The device is designed with universal functionality to handle various types of medicaments including bone morphogenic proteins, antibiotics, and other healing agents. The cartridge system can be configured with different medicament combinations, and the same basic device structure accommodates multiple treatment protocols, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2343100B1Bioinjection device
Publication Date: 2012.09.12 SOLOMON CLIFFORD T
  • EP2343100B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2343100B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2343100B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The bioinjection device (10) has a housing (32) including a pistol grip (35) and an elongated barrel (10). A trigger (36) is pivotally mounted to the housing. A plunger (16) and needle (18) are slidable between a first position in which the plunger and needle are slidably disposed in the barrel and a second position in which the plunger and needle extend from an opening in the end of the barrel. A retaining member (14) is disposed about the opening at the end of the barrel. A spring-biased actuation mechanism connects the trigger with the plunger and needle. A membranous cartridge (12) containing bone morphogenic protein, antibiotics, and/or other medication is loaded into the retaining member. A surgeon can inject the cartridge into a bone fracture or degenerative bone tissue during surgery to deliver the medicament directly to the affected site.