Cranial Fixation Device with Elastic Arms for Bone Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current craniotomy procedures often result in aesthetically unacceptable closure of cranial bone limbs, with potential for misalignment, rotation, or projection, and do not effectively manage tension on the brain, especially in cases of post-surgical brain edema.
Innovation Solution
A device with elongated elastic arms and a cortical riser, allowing fine adjustment to bone thickness, which can be inserted into craniotomy holes or cuttings, combined with a lower base for enhanced stability and load distribution, and an applying device for simplified assembly, ensuring proper alignment and reduced brain tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate metal or wire staples are used to fasten the bone limb, then the bone limb can be fixed to the cranial crown, but the closure is not aesthetically acceptable and the bone limb may be projected, recessed, slanted or rotated
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple functional segments: a base portion that distributes pressure, multiple elastic arms that can be independently positioned, and a fastening mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to address specific requirements - the base for pressure distribution and the elastic arms for precise positioning of the bone limb at multiple points, thereby achieving both reliability and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic arms are designed to be flexible and adaptable rather than rigid, allowing them to conform to the specific geometry of the cranial crown and bone limb. This dynamic capability enables precise alignment and positioning while maintaining secure fixation, resolving the contradiction between reliable fixing and precise aesthetic closure.
2Reliability
If drill holes are made for placing staples, then the bone limb can be fastened, but brain tension increases especially in case of brain edema
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single fastening point through drill holes, the device distributes the fixation across multiple elastic arms that contact the bone limb at various points. This segmentation of the fixation mechanism eliminates the need for deep drill holes into the brain while maintaining reliable fixation, thereby reducing brain tension and edema risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The base portion of the device is designed to distribute compression loads across a wider area of the cranial crown before the fastening action occurs. This prior cushioning of forces prevents concentration of stress that would otherwise require deeper drill holes and increase brain tension, allowing reliable fixation with minimal intrusion into brain tissue.
3Ease of operation
If a single drill hole is used, then the procedure is simplified, but the device cannot be properly positioned or the hole shape may be irregular
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed with a universal base portion that can accommodate various hole shapes and sizes, as well as irregular cranial surfaces. The multiple elastic arms can be positioned flexibly to work from a single drill hole location while still achieving proper device orientation and function, thus maintaining procedural simplicity while gaining positioning adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic arms provide dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the device to adapt its configuration based on the specific geometry created by the drill hole. This flexibility enables proper device positioning even when working from a single hole or when the hole shape is irregular, maintaining both ease of operation and adaptability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides a stable and aesthetically acceptable closure of cranial bone limbs, effectively managing compression loads and reducing brain tension through improved load distribution and elasticity, suitable for various hole shapes and sizes.
Implementation Method 1
The device has elastic arms, joined to the cortical riser, and ending in small elongated arms placed transversally with respect to the axis of the elongated elastic arms
Data Source
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AI summary
A device (10) is described, for fastening a cranial limb to the cranial crown (17) adapted to be positioned both into a craniotomial hole and into a craniotomial cutting, comprising: a cortical supporting riser (12); first closing means (11, 13) operatively connected to the riser (12); second closing means (14) to be fastened to the riser (12) to complete its closing; a handle (15) connected to the cortical riser (12); and a base (5) for a better cooperation with the elastic arms (11); the first closing means (11, 13) are composed of at least two elastic arms (11) operatively connected to the cortical riser (12) and that end each one in at least one small transverse arm (13).