Bendable Bone Perforator with Repositionable Teeth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional osteotomy procedures that cut or drill bones result in significant bone loss, whereas the bone perforation method allows for bone retention by creating a perforation and breaking it along the perforation path, minimizing bone material loss.
Innovation Solution
A bone perforator with teeth that can be either fixed or repositionable, formed as a bendable sheet, is used to create a perforation in the bone by hammering, allowing for access and replacement of bone tissue without cutting or drilling, thereby reducing bone loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If traditional cutting or drilling methods are used for osteotomy, then access to tissue beneath the bone is achieved, but significant bone material is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The bone perforator is segmented into multiple teeth arranged in a specific pattern, allowing the tool to create a perforation path through the bone without removing large sections. The teeth are spaced to penetrate the bone at intervals, creating a series of holes that form a continuous perforation line when hammered together
Solution Approach 2:
The bone perforator is constructed as a flexible or bendable sheet that can be shaped to conform to the curved surface of bones. This flexibility allows the rigid teeth to be positioned at precise locations on curved bone surfaces, maintaining the perforation function while adapting to various anatomical geometries
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed single-file pattern of teeth is used, then the perforator can be manufactured simply as a bendable sheet, but the perforation path is limited to single-file patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The bone perforator incorporates repositionable teeth that can be moved along the sheet to different positions before being secured. This dynamic feature allows the same basic tool to create various perforation patterns (single-file, curved, circular, or custom patterns) by simply repositioning the teeth, eliminating the need for multiple specialized tools while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
3Adaptability or versatility
If the perforator teeth are repositionable, then various perforation patterns can be created, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The repositioning mechanism is segmented into simple, discrete components such as individual tooth pieces that can be moved independently, or simple snap-fit features that allow teeth to be repositioned and secured. This segmentation keeps each component simple while collectively providing versatile repositioning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible sheet itself serves as the repositioning mechanism, allowing teeth to be temporarily held in various positions during shaping, then permanently secured by bending and shaping the flexible material. The flexibility of the sheet provides the repositioning capability without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms
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
The bone perforation method effectively minimizes bone loss during surgical procedures like hip replacement by allowing the bone to be broken and repositioned along the perforation, facilitating access and replacement while preserving bone material.
Implementation Method 1
The surgeon can impact the bone perforator, such as with a mallet or hammer (hereinafter referred to as 'hammering'). The hammering can drive teeth on the bone perforator into the bone, thereby creating a perforation in the bone.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgeon can place a bone perforator in contact with a bone, and can hammer on the bone perforator. The hammering can drive teeth on the bone perforator into the bone, thereby creating a perforation in the bone. The surgeon can pry or break the bone along the perforation, can access tissue beneath the bone as needed, and can replace the bone along the perforation. In some examples, the bone perforator is formed as a bendable sheet having teeth in a fixed, single-file pattern, with a hammerable surface opposite the teeth. In other examples, the bone perforator has repositionable teeth.