Bone Plate Holder Cam Mechanism for Surgical Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
External immobilization of the spine is impractical due to its central role in the body and constant stresses, leading to reduced mobility and activity in patients with spinal fractures or degenerative conditions, while internal stabilization methods require precise alignment and minimization of tissue displacement during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A bone plate holder apparatus with a hollow elongate shaft, converging prongs, and a cam mechanism that allows for adjustable locking and unlocking positions, enabling precise alignment and secure attachment of bone plates during surgical procedures, allowing for flexible angle adjustments and reduced tissue trauma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If external immobilization is used for spinal conditions, then the spine is stabilized, but patient mobility and activity are significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (bone plate holder apparatus) that mediates between the bone plate and the surgeon's hand. The holder apparatus includes a cam mechanism that acts as a mediator to lock and unlock the bone plate at specific angles, enabling precise control during surgery while allowing the patient to be mobile afterward without external immobilization equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by creating a device that can transition between locked and unlocked states. The cam mechanism allows the bone plate holder to be dynamically adjusted during surgery and then locked into position, providing stability when needed while allowing flexibility during the surgical process. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by providing intraoperative adjustability without requiring postoperative immobilization.
2Manufacturing precision
If internal stabilization with bone plates is used, then precision in aligning broken bones is improved, but the surgical procedure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the surgical tool system into distinct functional components: the bone plate holder apparatus, the cam mechanism, and the bone plate itself. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the holder provides positioning, the cam provides locking, and the bone plate provides stabilization. This modular approach reduces overall procedure complexity by making each step more manageable and controllable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by using the bone plate holder apparatus to pre-position and pre-align the bone plate before final fixation. The holder apparatus allows the surgeon to adjust the bone plate to the correct angle and position in advance, using the cam mechanism to lock it temporarily. This preliminary positioning simplifies the subsequent fixation process and reduces overall surgical complexity while maintaining high precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If bone plate installation procedure is extended, then alignment precision is improved, but tissue displacement and trauma increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the dynamic cam mechanism to allow rapid locking and unlocking of the bone plate holder apparatus. This dynamic capability enables the surgeon to quickly adjust the bone plate position and lock it into the correct alignment without extending the surgical procedure. The ability to rapidly transition between unlocked and locked states minimizes the time the bone plate is exposed and reduces tissue trauma while achieving precise alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone plate holder apparatus performs preliminary alignment and positioning actions before final fixation is applied. By pre-positioning the bone plate at the correct angle and using the cam mechanism to lock it temporarily, the surgeon can achieve precise alignment more quickly. This preliminary action reduces the overall procedure duration and minimizes tissue displacement and trauma that would occur with prolonged surgical exposure.
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
Facilitates precise alignment and secure attachment of bone plates, minimizing tissue displacement and trauma, while allowing for flexible adjustments during surgery, thereby improving patient mobility and healing outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a cam having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft and proximate to the handle end, the cam being positioned to abut a second end of the rod, and having a variable radius such that the cam can alternatingly press and release the rod between a 'locked' and an 'unlocked' position, respectively
Implementation Method 2
an elongate rod disposed substantially parallel to and/or within the hollow shaft, the rod being sized to interfere with the prongs at a first end of the rod and press the prongs outward when the rod is pressed toward the working end of the hollow shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A bone plate holder apparatus having a hollow shaft, two or more prongs at a working end, and a rod slidingly disposed within the shaft can be attached with a bone plate such that the prongs interact with a fenestration in the bone plate. When the rod is depressed between the prongs, working surfaces of the prongs grip the interior surfaces of the fenestration, causing the bone plate holder apparatus to lock to the bone plate. Bone plate holder systems including a bone plate holder apparatus and bone plate can be used to install a bone plate in a surgical site in a patient, and the locking and unlocking functionality of the bone plate holder apparatus can permit adjustment of an angle of the bone plate holder apparatus relative to the bone plate with ease during surgery.