Circular External Fixator Snap-on Ring Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional circular external fixators are laborious to assemble, obstruct wire placement, difficult to reconfigure during surgery, and pose risks for patients when manually adjusting compression/distraction, often causing skin damage due to structural components.
Innovation Solution
A circular external fixator design featuring snap-on connections between rings and spacer members, allowing tool-free assembly and disassembly, with externally arranged spacer members that do not obstruct wire placement and are made of magnetically compatible materials for ease of use and reduced risk of skin damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional fastening systems and structural components are used in circular external fixators, then structural strength and stability are ensured, but assembly becomes laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fixator is divided into modular components (rings, struts, wires, fastening systems) that can be independently assembled and configured. This segmentation allows for rapid assembly by simply connecting pre-fabricated modules rather than assembling complex integrated structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening systems are extracted and positioned externally on the rings rather than being integrated into the ring structure itself. This extraction simplifies the ring design and allows wires to pass through without obstruction while maintaining structural integrity through external fastening mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If traditional structural components and fastening systems are used, then structural stability is maintained, but wire placement becomes obstructed and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Fastening systems are extracted from the ring structure and positioned externally, creating clear pathways for wire insertion and manipulation. This allows wires to pass through ring bores without obstruction from nuts, bolts, or other fastening components.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system is moved from a two-dimensional plane within the ring cross-section to a three-dimensional external position, allowing wires to occupy the previously blocked space within the ring while fasteners occupy external space.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixator designs are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but repositioning and reconfiguration during surgery become difficult and laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The modular component design allows individual rings, struts, and fastening systems to be independently removed, repositioned, or replaced during surgery without affecting the entire fixator structure, enabling rapid reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixator design incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities where struts can be lengthened or shortened and fastening systems can be repositioned along ring bores, allowing the structure to adapt to intraoperative findings without complete disassembly.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If nuts or segments of bars are used in conventional systems, then structural connection is achieved, but skin damage and lacerations occur particularly at patient joints
Solution Approach 1:
Protruding fastening components such as nuts and bar segments are extracted from positions that contact patient skin, particularly at joint areas. The fastening systems are repositioned to external locations where they do not interfere with skin integrity while maintaining structural connection strength.
5Ease of operation
If traditional manual adjustment mechanisms are used, then compression/distraction adjustment is possible, but patient operation is difficult with high risk of error
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening systems are designed to be self-explanatory and self-adjusting, with intuitive mechanisms that reduce the cognitive load and skill requirement for patient operation, thereby reducing errors while maintaining adjustment capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A circular external fixator, comprising a plurality of rings mutually associated by means of spacer members, each of said rings comprising a plurality of axial bores adapted to engage a fastening means for wire retaining devices. The rings have coupling portions for the connection of the spacer members; each coupling portion has a radial slot adapted to receive a head of one of the spacer member with a snap-on connection.