Expandable Rhenium Alloy Bone Fixation Device

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for stabilizing bone fractures are invasive, cause significant trauma, and often result in complications such as misalignment, muscle atrophy, and increased risk of thrombosis.

Innovation Solution

An expandable medical device made from a rhenium-containing metal alloy is partially or fully inserted into a fractured bone, providing improved ductility and tensile strength to facilitate fixation, repair, and stabilization of the bone fracture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional fixation methods (casts, splints, external frames) are used, then bone fracture stabilization is achieved, but prolonged immobilization occurs causing muscle atrophy and discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture stabilizationVSAvoidimmobilization duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces external mechanical fixation systems (casts, splints, external frames) with an internal expandable fixation device that provides stabilization through controlled expansion within the bone canal. This substitution eliminates prolonged external immobilization while maintaining fracture stability, allowing early mobilization and reducing muscle atrophy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixation device utilizes controlled expansion parameters to transition from a compressed delivery state to an expanded fixation state within the bone canal. This parameter change enables the device to provide internal stabilization without requiring prolonged external immobilization, resolving the contradiction between stabilization reliability and immobilization duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If compression plates and screws are used, then fracture stabilization is achieved, but large surgical incisions and soft tissue disturbance occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture stabilizationVSAvoidsoft tissue disturbance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the fixation function from external compression plates and screws and relocates it within the bone canal through an expandable device. This extraction eliminates the need for large external incisions and soft tissue dissection, providing the same stabilization reliability while minimizing soft tissue disturbance and vascular damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixation approach transitions from external dimensional fixation (plates on bone surface) to internal dimensional fixation (expandable device within bone canal). This dimensional change allows stabilization to be achieved from the inside, eliminating the need for large external incisions and reducing soft tissue trauma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If intramedullary nailing is used, then fracture stabilization is achieved, but cortical reaming and bone marrow displacement occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture stabilizationVSAvoidcortical reaming

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional intramedullary nailing approach by using a device that expands within the existing canal rather than requiring reaming and nail insertion. This inversion eliminates cortical reaming and bone marrow displacement while achieving the same stabilization reliability through controlled expansion and conforming to the natural canal geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The expandable fixation device utilizes a flexible, conformable structure that adapts to the intramedullary canal geometry without requiring aggressive reaming. The device can be compressed for delivery and then expanded to provide fixation, avoiding the harmful effects of cortical reaming and bone marrow displacement associated with traditional nailing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If traditional intramedullary nails are used, then fracture stabilization is achieved, but hardware migration and improper placement occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture stabilizationVSAvoidplacement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamic expandable device that transitions from a compressed delivery state to an expanded fixation state, allowing precise positioning within the bone canal. The device can be guided into place using a guidewire and then expanded to provide stable fixation, eliminating hardware migration and improving placement precision compared to rigid traditional nails.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a guidewire as an intermediary tool to facilitate precise placement of the expandable fixation device within the bone canal. The guidewire serves as a mediator that guides the device to the correct position before expansion, ensuring proper placement and preventing hardware migration, thereby improving manufacturing precision and stabilization reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250082376A1Expandable system for repair of bone fractures

Publication Date: 2025.03.13 MIRUS LLC

AI summary

A system for percutaneous fixation and stabilization of a fracture with a spanning, expandable structural frame placed in the intramedullary canal of the bone comprising an expandable medical device.