One-Hand Clamping Device for External Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional external fixation systems require tedious and time-consuming adjustments of pins and wires to bars, often necessitating two hands and involving complex loosening, adjusting, and retightening processes, which complicates the alignment and stabilization of bone fragments during fracture reduction.
Innovation Solution
A clamping device with a first and second clamping system, each comprising outer and inner jaws, a base component, and a post component, allowing for relative movement in roll, pitch, and yaw directions, enabling one-hand provisional locking and simplifying the assembly process by transitioning through open, provisionally locked, and locked positions, while maintaining a low profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fixation components are used requiring clamping or locking of pins/wires to bars, then secure joining is achieved, but the surgeon must spend inordinate amounts of time loosening, adjusting, and retightening fixation components
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation component incorporates a dynamic mechanism that transitions between locked and adjustable states through a single motion. The jaw assembly can be quickly released and repositioned without the tedious process of loosening and retightening, allowing the system to adapt during surgery while maintaining secure fixation when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The component is pre-configured with a release mechanism that enables immediate adjustment without requiring prior loosening steps. The jaw assembly is designed to be preliminarily positioned and then quickly secured, eliminating the time-consuming sequential operations of conventional clamps
2Reliability
If conventional fixation components require two hands for operation, then secure control is achieved, but operational efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation component is segmented into distinct functional elements: a jaw assembly for securing the pin/bar, a release mechanism for quick adjustment, and a mounting interface. This segmentation allows the surgeon to operate the release mechanism with one hand while maintaining stable control of the positioning, dividing the functions between hands more efficiently
3Ease of operation
If ball joint is used to allow roll, pitch and yaw movement, then mobility for ease of placement is achieved, but the pin to bar centerline distance increases increasing the moment arm and moment loading
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a dynamic joint mechanism that provides mobility during the placement phase, allowing roll, pitch, and yaw movements for ease of positioning. Once the pin and bar are aligned and secured, the joint transitions to a locked state that minimizes the moment arm and eliminates play, thereby reducing moment loading on the fixation component
Data Source
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AI summary
Clamping devices for an external fixation system comprise a first clamping system and a post component extending into the first clamping system. The first clamping system comprises a first outer jaw and a first inner jaw having an inner surface facing the outer jaw, the outer and inner jaws together forming an opening for receiving a first fixation element of the external fixation system. The clamping device further comprises a trigger system that releases the first outer and first inner jaw from an open bar-receiving condition to a provisionally locked condition.