Bone Shortening Guide System for Stable Osteotomy Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bone shortening osteotomies, particularly for the second metatarsal bone, face challenges in precise control, stabilization, visualization, and accurate positioning of bone fragments due to the bone's small size and soft tissue support, leading to complications such as misalignment and poor fixation.

Innovation Solution

A guide system comprising a block and a base is used to fix the bone, guiding a cutting component to separate a bone fragment, and then the block and base are moved relative to each other to align and fix the bone parts using fixation elements, ensuring precise alignment and stabilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a horizontal cut is made in the metatarsal bone, then the bone can be separated into fragments, but the distal fragment becomes unstable and difficult to control during the procedure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of bone separationVSAvoidstability of distal bone fragment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A guide system with a guide block and guide base acts as an intermediary device to stabilize the distal bone fragment during the osteotomy procedure. The guide block engages with the distal fragment while the guide base provides a stable platform, together forming a mechanical intermediary that controls and stabilizes the otherwise unstable bone fragment during cutting and fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the second metatarsal bone is shortened, then pain at the base of the second toe decreases, but precise determination of the amount of shortening becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain at base of second toeVSAvoidprecision of shortening amount

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide system provides visual and mechanical feedback to the surgeon during the shortening procedure. The guide block and guide base form a measurable framework that allows precise determination of the shortening amount through the guide passage geometry, enabling accurate control of the bone shortening while reducing pain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the osteotomy is performed at the distal end of the bone, then the bone can be shortened, but visualization of the osteotomy becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone shortening capabilityVSAvoiddifficulty of osteotomy visualization

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The guide system serves as an intermediary visualization tool, with the guide block and guide base forming a visible framework that allows the surgeon to directly observe the osteotomy site and bone fragment alignment, overcoming the difficulty of visualizing the distal end of the metatarsal bone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Stability of the object's composition

If fixation screws are inserted to hold the bone fragments, then the bone parts can be fixed, but slight misalignment may cause the screw to crack through the edge of the bone parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation of bone partsVSAvoidreliability of fixation screw placement

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide system provides real-time visual feedback and mechanical guidance that allows precise determination of the optimal screw path. The guide passage geometry ensures accurate screw placement while preventing misalignment that would cause the screw to crack through the bone edges, thereby improving fixation reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

5Productivity

If the distal part is shifted against the proximal part, then the bone can be shortened, but tension is applied on the toe extensors and the toe flexors become relaxed causing the toe to cock up

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone shorteningVSAvoidtoe cocking

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide system acts as an intermediary that controls and stabilizes the distal bone fragment during the shortening procedure. By providing mechanical support and precise positioning through the guide block and guide base, the system prevents uncontrolled movement that would cause tension on toe extensors and relaxation of flexors, thereby preventing toe cocking while achieving bone shortening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250302492A1Method and system for shortening a bone

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 TRIMED INC

AI summary

A method and a guide system for performing a bone osteotomy. The guide system has a block defining first and second edges each for guiding a cutting component. The block and a cooperating base each is configured to be releasably fixed in an operative position relative to a bone. The block has a connector that cooperates with a connector on the base to guide relative movement of the base and block substantially along a first line. Separation of a bone fragment formed using the guided cutting component produces a gap of a first width between facing surfaces on relatively movable bone parts, with the base and block fixed one each thereto. The block and base are configured so that with the bone fragment separated, the block and base can be guidingly relatively moved to thereby: a) reduce the width of the gap from the first width; b) move the facing surfaces towards each other; and c) place the bone parts in a desired relationship. The bone parts can be fixed to each other in different manners to maintain the desired relationship.