Bunion Correction Guide System for Metatarsal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bunion correction methods, including medications, wearable devices, and surgery, are either ineffective in correcting the deformity or come with significant discomfort, scarring, and lengthy recovery times.
Innovation Solution
A bunion correction guide system that uses a series of actuation mechanisms to multi-directionally align and stabilize the first metatarsal capital fragment, allowing for gradual correction of the bunion deformity through distraction, rotation, displacement, and stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgery is performed to correct bunion deformity, then pain and deformity are significantly reduced, but recovery time is lengthy and painful
Solution Approach 1:
The guide system performs preliminary alignment and positioning of the metatarsal bone before the actual corrective surgery. By pre-establishing the correct anatomical orientation through the guide system's alignment features, the surgeon can execute the correction more efficiently, reducing overall recovery time while maintaining high effectiveness in deformity correction
Solution Approach 2:
The guide system acts as an intermediary tool between the surgeon and the metatarsal bone. It provides a mechanical framework that facilitates precise bone realignment during surgery, enabling less invasive correction procedures that reduce recovery time while achieving reliable deformity correction
2Reliability
If wearable devices are used to pull or push on toes, then bunion deformity correction is attempted, but devices are bulky and require consistent patient compliance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the bulky wearable mechanical correction devices with a surgical guide system that uses precision mechanical guides and alignment tools. This substitution eliminates the need for continuous patient compliance with wearable appliances, as the correction is achieved through a controlled surgical procedure using the guide system's precise mechanical alignment features
3Object-affected harmful factors
If medications are administered to ease pain and inflammation, then pain is reduced, but joint deformity is not corrected
Solution Approach 1:
The guide system extracts and addresses the root cause of the deformity (misaligned metatarsal bone) rather than merely treating the symptoms (pain and inflammation) through medications. By mechanically realigning the bone through the guide system's alignment features, the solution simultaneously resolves both the harmful pain factors and the underlying deformity correction requirement
Data Source
AI summary
The invention disclosed herein describes a bunion correction guide system or bunion guide system that is a percutaneous, minimally invasive system (MIS) to multi-directionally control or align the first metatarsal capital fragment (distal articular portion of the first metatarsal or metatarsal head) in four (4D) dimensions to its desired or proper anatomical position and cosmetic alignment by operating different mechanical actuation mechanisms.