Self-locking Coracoclavicular Fixation Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical techniques for stabilizing acromioclavicular joint injuries, such as those involving the coracoclavicular ligaments, often require invasive methods like bone tunneling, which can lead to complications like coracoid fractures, clavicular fractures, and hardware failure, and lack adjustable and self-locking devices that do not require additional tools or bone tunneling.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable and self-locking fixation device comprising spans and receiving apertures that form closed loops around anatomical structures, allowing secure fixation without bone tunneling or additional tools, enabling easy adjustment and securement of the device without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If bone tunneling techniques are used to secure prosthetic devices or tendon grafts, then fixation strength is improved, but the risk of coracoid and clavicular fractures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bone tunneling step from the fixation process entirely. The coracoclavicular fixation device is secured to the coracoid process using a coracoid button that attaches to the outer surface of the bone, eliminating the need to drill through the coracoid and avoid the harmful effects of bone tunneling while maintaining fixation strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The coracoid button acts as an intermediary element between the fixation device and the coracoid process. Instead of directly anchoring into bone tunnels, the device connects to the bone surface through the button, which distributes forces and reduces the risk of fractures while maintaining secure attachment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If current prosthetic devices are used with coracoid looping technique, then avoidance of bone tunnels is achieved, but device adjustment difficulty and need for additional tools increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation device incorporates an adjustable mechanism that allows dynamic modification of the loop size and tension. The device can be adjusted intraoperatively to achieve optimal reduction and stabilization of the acromioclavicular joint, and the adjustment process does not require additional specialized tools beyond standard surgical instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to be universally applicable with a standardized adjustment mechanism that can be operated using common surgical tools. The coracoid button and fixation device work together as an integrated system that combines the benefits of bone tunnel avoidance with ease of adjustment, making the device versatile for different surgical scenarios.
3Ease of operation
If adjustable and self-locking features are added to the fixation device, then ease of adjustment and security are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation device incorporates a self-locking mechanism that automatically secures the adjustable components in place once the desired tension and positioning are achieved. The device locks itself without requiring additional locking tools or complex fastening procedures, providing ease of adjustment while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable and self-locking fixation device for fixedly securing two structures wherein the device comprises two spans and a receiving aperture configured to receive the spans and form a closed loop around a first structure. The two spans are further configured to secure and lock onto each other so as to form a second closed loop around the two structures and secure the two structures in a tensioned state.