Flail Chest Stabilization Device with Slider Connector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical methods for stabilizing flail chest, chest wall bone fractures, and correcting chest wall deformities often require fixation to muscles, ribs, or surrounding tissues, which can be invasive and ineffective for complex deformities.
Innovation Solution
A flail chest stabilization device comprising a pair of lateral bridges, main stabilization bars, a screw and slider-element connector assembly, and a slider introducer tool, which allows for stabilization without connecting to muscles, ribs, or surrounding tissues, using a unique configuration of parallel or crossed stabilization bars and antero-posterior stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing surgical methods are used to stabilize flail chest and chest wall fractures, then fixation to muscles, ribs, or surrounding tissues is achieved, but the procedure becomes invasive and may be ineffective for complex deformities
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization device is divided into multiple independent components including lateral bridges, main stabilization bars, connector assemblies, and slider elements. These segmented components can be independently positioned and adjusted to stabilize different regions of the chest wall without requiring invasive fixation to surrounding tissues, thereby maintaining stabilization effectiveness while reducing harm to patient tissue
Solution Approach 2:
The device introduces an intermediary stabilization structure that spans across the flail chest segment without directly connecting to muscles, ribs, or surrounding tissues. The lateral bridges and stabilization bars act as intermediaries that distribute stabilization forces across multiple attachment points, achieving reliable stabilization while avoiding direct invasive contact with sensitive biological structures
2Force
If the main stabilization bar is made thicker in the center region to impart greater central stabilization force, then central stabilization is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The main stabilization bar features variable thickness along its length, being thicker in the center region and thinner toward the ends. This local quality variation concentrates structural strength and stabilization force precisely where needed in the center region, while reducing material usage and overall device complexity in less critical areas
3Reliability
If the stabilization bars are configured in parallel or crossed arrangements, then stabilization coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization bar assembly is designed with universal connector elements and standardized components that can be configured in multiple arrangements (parallel or crossed) using the same basic parts. The connector assembly with sliders and slots provides multi-functional attachment capability, allowing the bars to be positioned in different configurations to address various chest wall deformities without requiring entirely different device components, thus improving stabilization coverage while controlling complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A flail chest stabilization device is provided that includes a pair of lateral bridges, a pair of main stabilization bars, a screw and slider-element connector assembly, and a slider introducer tool, where the slider introducer tool positions the slider-element, where the main stabilization bars are connected by the screw and slider connector assembly to the lateral bridges, where the stabilization bars are in a parallel configuration or crossed configuration.