Deflectable Clamp for Veterinary Bone Fastener Linkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone replacement implants used in humans are not suitable for animals due to differences in joint loading patterns and lack of feedback, with limited treatment options for bone tumors in animals, particularly distal radial disease in canines, leading to issues like uncontrolled pronation and supination.
Innovation Solution
A compact, non-bulky clamp with a deflectable member for linking bone fasteners in a prosthesis assembly, providing adjustable and lockable linkage for efficient assembly and rigid fixation, suitable for radial replacement prostheses, allowing for multiple degrees of freedom to accommodate varying bone orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If human bone replacement implants are used in animals, then bone replacement is achieved, but the implants are not suitable due to differences in joint loading patterns and animal joint mechanics
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is designed with specific geometric features including a deflectable member with defined stiffness characteristics and engagement surfaces tailored to accommodate animal bone geometry and loading patterns. The receiving portions are shaped to match specific bone fastener configurations used in veterinary prosthetics, ensuring local adaptation to animal anatomical requirements while maintaining overall implant reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp incorporates adjustable parameters including the deflectable member's deflection characteristics and the relative positioning of receiving portions that can be modified to accommodate different animal species, bone sizes, and joint loading conditions. This allows the same basic clamp design to be adapted across different veterinary applications while maintaining reliable performance
2Strength
If a bulky clamp design is used for linking bone fasteners, then structural strength is achieved, but the clamp protrudes through the skin when implanted
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp design nests the deflectable member within the space between the two receiving portions, allowing the engagement mechanism to be contained within the overall clamp envelope. This nested arrangement provides the necessary structural strength for bone fastener engagement while keeping the external dimensions compact to prevent skin protrusion
Solution Approach 2:
The deflectable member engages bone fasteners through a deflection motion that utilizes the internal volume of the clamp rather than requiring external bulk. The engagement occurs through dimensional changes within the clamp's internal geometry rather than through external protrusions, achieving strength without increased external size
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple clamp design is used for linking bone fasteners, then ease of manufacture is achieved, but the clamp cannot provide rigid fixation to prevent pronation and supination
Solution Approach 1:
The deflectable member transitions from a flexible state during assembly to a locked rigid state when engaging the bone fasteners. This dynamic behavior allows the clamp to be manufactured as a single piece with integrated flexibility, then provide rigid fixation once deployed, achieving both ease of manufacture and stable fixation without complex multi-component assemblies
4Adaptability or versatility
If the clamp allows adjustment of bone fastener positions, then adaptability to bone orientations is achieved, but the assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is pre-designed with receiving portions and a deflectable member configured to accommodate multiple bone orientations and fastener positions. This preliminary configuration allows the surgeon to simply insert the bone fasteners into the appropriate receiving portions without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, achieving adaptability while minimizing assembly time
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 clamp enables effective treatment of distal radial disease by preventing pronation and supination, providing a stable and comfortable gait for animals, and can be used in both humans and animals, offering a cost-effective solution for bone replacement and arthrodesis at the wrist joint.
Implementation Method 1
the clamp having a deflectable member which deflects from a first position to a second position when one of the first and second components is introduced to its corresponding receiving portion
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp for a linkage for linking first and second bone fasteners of a prosthesis assembly, the clamp comprising a clamp body having a first receiving portion for receiving a first component of a prosthesis assembly and a second receiving portion for receiving a second component of the prosthesis assembly, the clamp having a deflectable member which deflects from a first position to a second position when one of the first and second components is introduced to its corresponding receiving portion, wherein when the deflectable member is in the second position and the other one of the first and second components is received by the clamp, the deflectable member is engageable with said other one of the first and second components.