Calcaneal Bone Plate Targeting Guide for Sustentaculum Tali
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for aligning a bone plate with the calcaneus during calcaneal fracture surgery require manual placement and multiple fluoroscopic images, increasing procedure time and radiation exposure, as they lack precise guidance for fixing the plate to dense bone areas.
Innovation Solution
A calcaneal targeting guide with a tali targeting opening and elongated openings allows for precise alignment of a fixation screw into the sustentaculum tali, reducing the need for extra surgical tools and fluoroscopic images by guiding the screw placement into dense bone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If free hand placement of bone plate is used to align with dense bone, then the bone plate can be fixated with a screw into dense bone, but the procedure time increases and more fluoroscopic images are required
Solution Approach 1:
A targeting guide serves as an intermediary device between the bone plate and the dense bone area. The guide includes a guide body with a guide opening that aligns with the mounting opening of the bone plate, and a targeting opening that directs the fixation screw into the dense bone. This intermediary tool eliminates the need for freehand placement and multiple fluoroscopic images while ensuring reliable fixation.
2Reliability
If free hand placement of bone plate is used to align with dense bone, then the bone plate can be fixated with a screw into dense bone, but the radiation exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The targeting guide acts as a mechanical intermediary that provides direct visual and tactile guidance for aligning the bone plate and directing screws into dense bone. The guide's geometric design allows the surgeon to achieve proper alignment without relying on multiple fluoroscopic images, thereby reducing radiation exposure to both the patient and surgical team while maintaining fixation reliability.
3Measurement precision
If targeting guide with elongated openings is used to align tali targeting opening with sustentaculum tali, then precise screw placement into dense bone is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The targeting guide is segmented into distinct functional components: a guide body with a guide opening for bone plate alignment, and a targeting opening with elongated openings for precise screw direction. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while keeping the overall device relatively simple. The elongated openings provide precise alignment guidance without requiring complex mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A calcaneal targeting device includes a guide body configured to target a corresponding calcaneal bone plate. The guide body includes at least one mounting opening that is configured to align with a corresponding mounting opening of the calcaneal bone plate, at least one targeting opening configured to align with a corresponding fixation opening of the calcaneal bone plate, and a guiding portion that includes a tali targeting opening and a first elongated opening that has a first length. The first elongated opening is configured to allow sliding of a guide wire across the first length and align the tali targeting opening with a sustentaculum tali.