External Fixator Strut Indicators for Accurate Patient Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adjusting bone alignment devices, such as external fixators, is a challenging and error-prone process for patients, often leading to incorrect strut adjustments that can cause significant setbacks in bone alignment treatment.
Innovation Solution
An adjustment compliance device is attached to the external fixator, featuring indicator elements that provide real-time feedback and guidance on which strut to adjust, in what direction, and by how much, aligning with a predetermined prescription.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of struts is performed without guidance, then the patient can independently adjust the device, but errors in identifying and adjusting the correct strut occur frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates visual feedback through light-emitting indicators (LEDs) that illuminate to identify which strut should be adjusted next. The system provides real-time feedback by lighting up specific indicators corresponding to the active strut, guiding the patient to adjust the correct component and preventing errors in strut selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color-coded light-emitting indicators to communicate adjustment information to the patient. Different colored lights indicate different struts or adjustment states, providing intuitive visual cues that help the patient identify the correct strut to adjust without confusion.
2Reliability
If visual indicators are added to guide strut adjustment, then identification accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator system is segmented into multiple independent light-emitting elements, each corresponding to a specific strut. This segmentation allows the system to provide precise guidance for each individual strut while keeping each indicator component simple and modular, making the overall system manageable despite having multiple indicators.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to be self-guiding through automatic indicator activation. The system automatically determines which strut needs adjustment and illuminates the corresponding indicator without requiring external input or complex control mechanisms, reducing the overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability.
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 ensures accurate and compliant strut adjustments, improving the likelihood of successful bone alignment by providing clear, real-time indicators and reducing the risk of errors.
Implementation Method 1
the light element may include a light emitting diode (LED) light element configured to emit a plurality of colors of light
Data Source
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AI summary
An adjustment compliance device and systems and methods for use with an external fixator are disclosed. The adjustment compliance device can be attached to a strut of an external fixator and may include at least one indicator element to indicate adjustment parameters for an active step of an adjustment process for the external fixator. The adjustment parameters may include an active strut and/or a direction of adjustment for the strut. The adjustment compliance device may receive the adjustment parameters from a user device. The at least one indicator element may include a light element operative to emit light in a color corresponding to the active strut. The at least one indicator element may include a light element configured to indicate a direction of rotation of the active strut. As a result, a patient can more effectively comply with an adjustment prescription, thereby improving the likelihood of successful bone alignment.