Correction Clamp Assembly for Minimally Invasive Bunion Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical procedures for correcting bone deformities like hallux valgus, such as Lapidus bunionectomy, require extensive soft tissue dissection, leading to complications like reduced blood flow, nerve damage, swelling, and prolonged healing, while existing devices struggle to minimize tissue disruption and ensure precise bone alignment.
Innovation Solution
A correction clamp assembly comprising an elongate bridge, first and second blocks, and pins, allowing for the manipulation and temporary fixation of bones with minimal tissue disruption, featuring sliding and rotational mechanisms to align and secure bones in the correct position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional surgical procedures are used to correct bone deformities, then bone alignment can be achieved, but extensive soft tissue dissection is required causing reduced blood flow, nerve damage, and prolonged healing
Solution Approach 1:
The correction clamp assembly serves as an intermediary device that bridges the first and second metatarsals, enabling precise bone alignment and temporary fixation without requiring extensive soft tissue dissection. The clamp's bridge portion spans between the bones while the blocks attach to each metatarsal, creating a mechanical link that maintains corrected positioning during healing.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: a bridge portion for spanning between bones, first and second blocks for attaching to individual metatarsals, and multiple pins for secure fixation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while minimizing overall tissue disruption.
2Ease of operation
If extensive soft tissue dissection is performed to access bone, then bone manipulation is possible, but blood flow is limited and healing is slowed
Solution Approach 1:
The correction clamp assembly is positioned and secured on the bones before permanent fixation is applied. This preliminary action allows the bones to be held in the corrected position temporarily, maintaining alignment during the critical initial healing phase without requiring continuous extensive exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp assembly acts as a temporary intermediary fixation device that maintains bone alignment during the early healing period, after which it can be removed once permanent fixation has taken hold, reducing the duration of foreign object presence in the body.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple pins and blocks are used for bone fixation, then bone positioning stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge portion merges the first and second blocks into a single integrated structure that spans between the metatarsals. This combining of elements creates a stable triangular configuration that enhances bone positioning stability while reducing the number of separate components compared to using independent fixation devices for each bone.
Solution Approach 2:
The pins are designed with specific local qualities: they extend through both the block and metatarsal bone, providing localized anchoring points that maximize fixation stability at critical interfaces while keeping the overall device design relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A correction clamp assembly that permits a physician to surgically correct a bunion or similar deformity is provided. The assembly includes an elongate bridge, as well as first and second blocks slidably or rotatably connected to the elongate bridge. More specifically, first block is configured to slide along a slot formed in the elongate bridge, as well as rotate relative thereto. Additionally, the second block is configured to rotate relative to the elongate bridge. First and second pins may be configured to extend through the first and second block, and then into various pieces of bone. Once a cut is made in a portion of joint or bone, the pins can thereafter be moved towards and away from one another to position the respective pieces of bone in a desired location. Locking screws may also be provided to releasably secure the blocks relative to the bridge.