External Bone Fixation Structure With Integrated Threaded Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone fixation technologies, such as the Ilizarov apparatus and other external fixation devices, face challenges with difficult application due to small, steel components that require manual tightening and increase weight, restricting patient mobility and prolonging application time.
Innovation Solution
A bone fixation apparatus with a geometric structure made of aluminum, featuring rod and pin fixing slots with internal threads for easy attachment of rods and pins using setscrews, eliminating the need for external nuts and reducing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel nuts are used to fix the pins and rods in the Ilizarov apparatus, then the structural support is provided, but the operator has difficulty using these small parts during the application and the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the nut and washer components into a single integrated fixing element with an internal threaded structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate steel nuts and washers, reducing the number of small parts the operator must handle during application while maintaining the structural support function through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from steel to aluminum for the fixing elements. This material substitution reduces the weight of the fixation apparatus while the internal threaded structure maintains the fixing capability. The aluminum material provides sufficient strength for the application while being lighter and easier to manipulate.
2Reliability
If steel nuts are used to fix the pins and rods, then the fixation is achieved, but the weight increases and the patient mobility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material density parameter by replacing steel (high density) with aluminum (low density) for the fixing elements. This parameter change maintains the fixation reliability through the internal threaded structure while significantly reducing the overall weight of the fixation apparatus, thereby improving patient mobility.
3Reliability
If traditional fixation systems with separate nuts and washers are used, then the fixation function is provided, but the application time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components (nut, washer, and fixing structure) into a single integrated element with internal threading. This eliminates the need for separate assembly steps, reducing the application time while maintaining reliable fixation through the unified design that requires fewer manual operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal threaded structure is pre-formed as an integral part of the fixing element during manufacturing. This preliminary action of pre-threading eliminates the need for on-site threading operations, reducing the application time while ensuring reliable fixation from the outset.
Data Source
AI summary
A bone fixation apparatus is used in the treatment of bone and joint damage as well as the correction of skeletal deformities with an externally applied device that provides stabilization of damaged limbs. The bone fixation apparatus provides the operator with the speed and ease of application during the procedure, as well as the opportunity to continue the daily life of the applied living thing without any difficulty with the help of its geometric structure.