Flexible Cerclage Wire Passer with Flat Surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cerclage devices for passing wires or cables around bones are often rigid, difficult to use, and prone to soft tissue interposition, which can lead to complications such as vascular or nerve injury due to their inability to conform closely to the bone's curvature and lack of tactile feedback for precise placement.

Innovation Solution

A flexible cerclage wire passer with a flat surface and curved distal end that can be guided by a finger to lie flat on the bone, allowing for safe and efficient passage of wires or cables while preventing soft tissue interposition, featuring an appendage guide that accommodates the finger and provides tactile feedback for precise placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid cerclage passer is used, then the device is easier to manufacture and maintain structural integrity, but it cannot conform closely to the bone's curvature and is prone to soft tissue interposition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of soft tissue interpositionVSAvoidability to conform to bone curvature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cerclage passer incorporates a flexible tube with a flat surface that can conform to the bone's curvature while maintaining structural integrity. The flexible material allows the device to adapt to different bone shapes and sizes, preventing soft tissue interposition by closely following the bone contour.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The device transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can adapt its shape during operation. The flexible tube allows the passer to bend and conform to the bone's curvature as it is passed around the bone, enabling precise placement while preventing soft tissue interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a flexible cerclage passer is used, then the device can conform closely to the bone's curvature, but it may lack tactile feedback for precise placement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecise placement accuracyVSAvoidtactile feedback

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The flat surface of the flexible tube acts as an intermediary that transmits tactile information from the bone to the surgeon's finger. This design allows the surgeon to feel the bone's contour and the device's position through the flat surface, providing necessary tactile feedback while maintaining close conformity to the bone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the cerclage wire is passed too far away from the bone surface, then there is reduced risk of vascular or nerve injury, but soft tissue interposition prevents adequate tightening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadequate wire tighteningVSAvoidvascular or nerve injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible tube with flat surface enables the cerclage wire to be passed extremely close to the bone surface by allowing the device to conform precisely to the bone contour. This close placement ensures adequate wire tightening while the flexibility and flat surface design minimize the risk of vascular or nerve injury by distributing pressure evenly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS11020161B2Tactile cerclage wire and cable passer and methods of use

Publication Date: 2021.06.01 SKINNER HARRY B

AI summary

A surgical device is disclosed which provides a safe means of passing a cerclage wire around a bone and the technique for accomplishing this task is described. This device uses the tactile sensation of the human hand to achieve appropriate placement of the cerclage wire. Thus, Irregularities in the bone fragments of a fracture or bone graft augmenting a fracture can safely be encircled and secured. The device permits retrograde placement of the cerclage wire compatible with available manufactured devices.