Bone Distraction Device with Embedded Reflectors for Regeneration Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone distraction devices lack means for monitoring bone tissue regeneration during the distraction osteogenesis process, making it difficult for practitioners to determine the proper progression and quality of callus formation.
Innovation Solution
An implantable medical device with a distraction body and embedded reflectors configured to reflect electromagnetic signals, coupled with an external calculation module to compute parameters representative of bone structure based on reflected signals, allowing non-invasive monitoring of bone regeneration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If no monitoring means is integrated in the distraction device, then the device structure remains simple, but the practitioner cannot determine whether the bone structure is regenerating properly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces electromagnetic reflectors as intermediary elements embedded in the distraction device. These reflectors interact with electromagnetic waves to provide information about bone regeneration status without requiring complex active sensing components. The reflectors serve as mediators between the bone tissue and the monitoring system, enabling passive monitoring of callus formation and bone healing progression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or electronic monitoring systems with a simpler electromagnetic-based monitoring approach. Instead of using active sensors, batteries, or microprocessors embedded in the device, the system uses electromagnetic waves interacting with reflectors to obtain bone regeneration information, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining monitoring capability.
2Reliability
If the distraction device includes monitoring capabilities, then bone regeneration can be monitored, but the device becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system leverages the bone tissue itself as the source of information. The electromagnetic waves interact with the natural properties of the bone and callus tissue, using the bone's own structural characteristics to provide monitoring data. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external active sensing components, maintaining reliability while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors bone regeneration by detecting changes in electromagnetic wave parameters (such as reflection coefficients, phase shifts, or amplitude variations) that occur as the bone tissue heals. These parameter changes provide reliable information about callus formation and bone strength without requiring complex monitoring hardware, as the measurements are based on fundamental electromagnetic properties of the tissue.
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
Enables remote and continuous monitoring of bone regeneration, providing accurate assessments of bone quality and progression, facilitating timely adjustments to the distraction protocol and ensuring successful bone fusion.
Implementation Method 1
at least one reflector configured to reflect an electromagnetic signal and being embedded in a surrounding tissue of the subject when the distraction body is attached to the bone of the subject
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a system for evaluating the evolution of the structure of a bone of a subject, said system comprising an implantable medical device comprising a distraction body and at least one reflector coupled to the distraction body, said distraction body being configured to distract osteotomically separated bone section bodies and comprising a first block for implantation and attachment to a first bone section, a second block for implantation and attachment to a second bone section separated from the first bone section by an osteotomy, an actuator configured to adjust the space between the first block and the second block when activated, enabling distraction between the first bone section and the second bone section, wherein said at least one reflector is configured to reflect an electromagnetic signal and is embedded in a surrounding tissue of the subject when the distraction body is attached to the bone of the subject, a calculation module configured to compute a parameter representative of the structure of the bone of the subject surrounding the bone distraction device, said parameter being computed from a reflected signal corresponding to a reflection, on the reflector embedded in the surrounding tissue of the subject, of an excitation signal comprising at least one frequency in the characteristic frequency range of the reflector, said reflected signal being representative of a dielectric constant of the surrounding tissue.