Charcot Foot Fixation With Modular Rod-Plate and Weight-Bearing Sole
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatments for Charcot foot deformity lack customized patient solutions that integrate internal and external fixation systems and provide a weight-bearing platform, complicating post-surgical mobility.
Innovation Solution
A fixation system combining internal and external fixation systems, including a rod-plate system and a shaft system, with modular components and a weight-bearing sole, allowing for customizable and stable bone alignment and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If general internal fixation systems (screws, plates, bolts, nails) are used to correct Charcot foot deformities, then bone alignment can be achieved, but the system lacks customization for individual patient needs and does not provide integrated external fixation support
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation system combines multiple fixation methods (internal fixation with screws/plates and external fixation with frames/pins) into a single integrated system that can address diverse patient needs. The system allows simultaneous use of internal and external fixation components to correct deformities while providing customizable support based on individual patient requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation system is divided into separate modular components including internal fixation elements (screws, plates, rods) and external fixation elements (frames, pins, wires). These segmented components can be selectively assembled and configured to match specific patient anatomies and injury patterns, enabling customization without requiring a completely new design for each case.
2Ease of operation
If external fixation systems with frames, pins, and wires are used for Charcot foot correction, then external support and alignment can be provided, but the system does not enable early weight-bearing mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges internal fixation components with external fixation components into an integrated construct. The internal fixation provides stable bone-to-bone contact and load transfer, while the external fixation provides additional support and alignment. This combination enables early weight-bearing mobility by distributing mechanical loads across both internal and external structures, reducing the burden on any single component.
3Reliability
If internal and external fixation systems are integrated for customized patient solutions, then comprehensive bone alignment and support can be achieved, but the device complexity and construction difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation system is designed with pre-configured components and standardized interfaces that allow for preliminary assembly and planning before surgery. Internal and external fixation elements are designed to work together with predetermined attachment points and alignment features, reducing the complexity of intraoperative integration and enabling reliable bone alignment through pre-planned constructive approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
A fixation system for immobilizing a skeletal structure is provided. It includes an internal fixation system having a rod-plate subsystem, a shaft subsystem, and a midfoot plate subsystem. It further includes an external fixation system adapted to connect to the internal fixation system and having a sole that provides a weight-bearing platform underneath a patient's foot to enable a patient to walk with the fixation system.