Calcaneal Plate Inserter with Adjustable Sled Drill Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tools for inserting calcaneal plates into the calcaneus bone are inadequate for accurately determining pilot hole locations and screw placement due to the bone's invisibility under the skin, and many are specific to a single plate size.
Innovation Solution
A calcaneal plate inserter tool with a body portion, plate retainer assembly, sled, and lock mechanism that allows for securement to various plate sizes, featuring a guide for aligning with retaining holes and a drill guide for precise pilot hole drilling and screw insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a guide tool specific to a single plate size is used, then the guide can be precisely aligned with retaining holes of that specific size, but the tool cannot be used with plates of different sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The guide tool is designed with an adjustable sled that can be positioned at multiple locations along the body, allowing the same tool to accommodate different plate sizes. The sled can be locked at various positions to maintain precise alignment with retaining holes regardless of which size plate is being used, making the tool universal across multiple plate sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The sled is made movable relative to the body portion, allowing dynamic adjustment of the guide's position. This movement capability enables the guide to adapt to different plate sizes while maintaining precise alignment, resolving the contradiction between fixed precision and variable adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sled is made movable to adjust for different plate sizes, then the tool becomes versatile, but the risk of misalignment or accidental movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment features and locking mechanism are pre-configured to guide the sled into correct positions before locking. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the sled is moved and locked, it automatically achieves proper alignment without requiring complex real-time adjustments during surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism acts as an intermediary between the movable sled and the fixed body, securing the sled at predetermined positions. This intermediary component maintains reliability by preventing accidental movement while preserving the ability to intentionally adjust between different plate sizes.
3Reliability
If a lock mechanism is added to secure the sled position, then alignment stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into discrete, simple components that can be independently positioned and secured. This segmentation allows the complex function of securing multiple positions to be achieved through simple, modular elements rather than a single complex locking system.
Data Source
AI summary
A calcaneal plate inserter tool includes a body portion, a plate retainer assembly coupled to the body portion, a sled coupled to the body portion and movable relative to the body portion, and a lock coupled to the body portion. The lock is operable between a lock position and an unlocked position. The lock impedes movement of the sled relative to the body portion when in the lock position. The sled also includes a guide portion.