Bone Closure Assembly with Flexible Strap and Locking Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone fixation devices, such as stainless-steel wires and bone plates, often damage bones and inadequately compress bone portions, leading to movement and discomfort during surgical procedures like sternal reapproximation.
Innovation Solution
A bone closure assembly comprising a strap device with a buckle and locking cap, and a handheld closing device that efficiently secures bone portions by looping a strap around them and tightening it using a plunger rod and tensioning member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If wire-type fixation devices are used to secure bone portions, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but bone damage occurs due to digging or cutting into the bone portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible strap instead of rigid wire to wrap around bone portions. The strap material is designed to be compliant and non-cutting, eliminating the digging and cutting effects caused by rigid wires while maintaining the cost-effectiveness of simple materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the fixation device from rigid wire to flexible strap with controlled elasticity. This parameter change allows the device to conform to bone surfaces without concentrating stress at sharp edges, thereby preventing bone damage while remaining cost-effective.
2Ease of manufacture
If wire-type fixation devices are used to secure bone portions, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but compression uniformity deteriorates resulting in bone portion movement and tissue rubbing
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible strap distributes compression forces evenly across the bone portions it wraps around, unlike rigid wires that create localized pressure points. This flexibility ensures uniform compression while preventing bone movement and surrounding tissue rubbing, all while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The strap device incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities allowing surgeons to optimize compression levels during surgery. The flexible nature of the strap enables real-time adjustment to achieve uniform compression across varying bone geometries, improving stability without increasing cost.
3Stability of the object's composition
If bone plate with threaded holes is used to secure bone portions, then stabilization is improved, but device complexity and time-consuming operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible strap provides stabilization through continuous wrapping around bone portions, eliminating the need for rigid bone plates with multiple threaded holes and screws. This approach achieves comparable stabilization with significantly reduced device complexity and shorter surgical time.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential stabilization function from complex bone plate systems and implements it through a simple flexible strap mechanism. By removing unnecessary components like threaded holes, multiple screws, and complex positioning mechanisms, the device achieves stabilization with minimal complexity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If bone plate with threaded holes is used to secure bone portions, then stabilization is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome positioning and affixing
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible strap can be easily positioned and adjusted around bone portions during surgery, unlike rigid bone plates that require precise positioning and complex screw insertion. The flexibility allows intuitive placement and adjustment, maintaining stabilization while dramatically improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A bone closure assembly that includes a buckle and a strap having a first end fixedly attached to the buckle. The strap is configured for looping around bone portions. The bone closure assembly also includes a locking cap removably connected to the buckle. The locking cap is configured for securing the strap within the buckle to secure the bone portions together.