Curvilinear Bone Distractor Housing to Prevent Tissue Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing distractors that use a threaded rod for curvilinear distraction can damage surrounding tissue due to pivoting motion.

Innovation Solution

A distractor device with a threaded rod enclosed in a housing, guided by parallel lateral faces of a housing, allowing for non-linear distraction without pivoting, and featuring a ball joint and anti-relapse mechanism for precise control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a threaded rod is used for curvilinear distraction, then non-linear bone distraction is achieved, but surrounding tissue is damaged due to pivoting motion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurvilinear distraction capabilityVSAvoidtissue damage from pivoting

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The distractor device is divided into separate functional components: a threaded rod for linear distraction, a guide body with curved guide surface for directional control, and a bone plate assembly. This segmentation allows the threaded rod to perform purely linear distraction while the guide body handles the curvilinear path, eliminating pivoting motion that causes tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A guide body with a curved guide surface is introduced as an intermediary between the threaded rod and the bone plate. This guide body constrains the movement path and ensures that the distraction force is applied along the desired curvilinear trajectory without requiring the threaded rod itself to pivot, thereby protecting surrounding tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the threaded rod is exposed for operation, then easy access for distraction is provided, but surrounding tissue is vulnerable to damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility for distraction operationVSAvoidtissue exposure to threaded rod

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The threaded rod is nested within the bone plate assembly, with only the necessary operational portions exposed. The housing and guide body structure enclose the threaded rod while maintaining access to the drive mechanism, providing tissue protection without compromising the ability to perform distraction operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The bone plate and housing structure act as a protective shell that encloses the threaded rod and other internal components. This shell provides a barrier between the sharp threaded rod and surrounding tissue, while still allowing access to the operational interface for performing distraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If a curved path is implemented using traditional linear distractors, then curvilinear distraction is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurved distraction pathVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide body combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides the curved guide surface for directional control, houses the threaded rod mechanism, and interfaces with the bone plate. This merging reduces the overall number of separate components while achieving curvilinear distraction capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bone plate serves multiple functions: it attaches to the bone, houses the threaded rod, provides the curved guide surface through its geometry, and protects surrounding tissue. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for separate components for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Protects surrounding tissue and enables precise, non-linear bone distraction with controlled movement, ensuring positive distraction without tissue damage.

Implementation Method 1

The guide body (18) has an internal thread which is in engagement with the external thread of the main shaft (15), so that a rotation of the main shaft (15) effects a displacement of the guide body (18) along the main shaft (15)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Implementation Method 2

The lateral faces are substantially lateral outer surfaces of the housing and are used to guide a slide. The curvature can be defined depending on the requirement of the desired therapy.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCurved guide surface: Geometry

Data Source

PatentUS20250345095A1Distractor device

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 KARL LEIBINGER ASSET MANAGEMENT GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A distractor device includes a first and a second bone plate, a housing fixedly connected to the first bone plate, and two lateral faces that extend in parallel with each other and are at least partially curved. A slide is fixedly connected to the second bone plate and is arranged so as to be movable along the lateral faces such that a non-linear movement path of the slide is defined by the curvature of the lateral faces. A main shaft has an external thread. A guide body is operatively connected to the slide and has an internal thread in engagement with the external thread of the main shaft such that rotation of the main shaft effects a displacement of the guide body along the main shaft and thus a displacement of the slide along the non-linear movement path. The main shaft is located within a receiving space in the housing.