Adjustable Extremity Guide for Precise Fixation Wire Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bone fixation implants for fusing bones, such as those used in hammertoe correction, are rigid and require multiple components, leading to increased costs and less desirable healing outcomes due to their limited adjustability and need for customization.
Innovation Solution
A surgical guide system with a guide instrument featuring adjustable grouping members, sighting channels, and back guide members to facilitate precise placement of fixation wires, allowing for flexible and customizable bone fixation procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional bone fixation implants are used, then bone fusion is achieved, but the implants are rigid and have very limited adjustability intraoperatively
Solution Approach 1:
The guide instrument incorporates movable grouping members that can be adjusted along the guide body during the surgical procedure. Each grouping member can be repositioned to different locations along the longitudinal axis, allowing dynamic adaptation to different bone configurations and fixation requirements without changing the overall rigid structure of the guide instrument.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide instrument is divided into multiple independent grouping members (first, second, and third grouping members) that can be individually adjusted along the guide body. Each grouping member with its through-holes can be positioned independently to accommodate different wire placement requirements, providing segmented adjustability while maintaining overall structural integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components with intricate mating features are used, then customization for different bones and patients is achieved, but costs increase and procedural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide instrument is designed as a single universal device that can be adapted to different bone types and patient requirements through the adjustable grouping members. The same guide instrument can accommodate various fixation wire configurations without requiring multiple specialized components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining broad customization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functional features (guiding, positioning, wire placement) are combined into a single integrated guide instrument structure. The grouping members are directly mounted on the guide body, eliminating the need for separate components with intricate mating features, thereby simplifying the overall device while maintaining customization capability.
3Reliability
If conventional bone fixation implants are used, then bone fusion is achieved, but multiple procedures are required to achieve desired outcome
Solution Approach 1:
The guide instrument is positioned and adjusted before wire insertion to establish the optimal configuration for fixation. The grouping members are pre-positioned at the desired locations along the guide body, allowing all fixation wires to be placed in a single procedure without requiring multiple surgical interventions to achieve the desired bone fusion outcome.
Data Source
AI summary
A system configured to guide one or more wires or fixation elements toward one or more bone segments of extremity bones is provided.