Flexible-to-Rigid Bone Fixation Device for Minimally Invasive Fracture Repair

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current bone fixation methods, such as intramedullary rods and external fixation, are invasive, cause tissue damage, and have complications like infection and prolonged recovery times, while lacking ease of insertion and minimizing trauma.

Innovation Solution

A bone fixation device with a flexible-to-rigid body that can be inserted through a single portal and actuated remotely to grip the bone, providing mechanical support and allowing for axial, torsional, and angular adjustments, which can be deployed and removed through a single end, minimizing tissue disruption and facilitating healing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If intramedullary rods or external fixation devices are used for bone fixation, then mechanical support and fracture stabilization are achieved, but tissue damage, infection risk, and trauma increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical supportVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible-to-rigid body that can be inserted in a flexible state through minimal incision and then transformed into a rigid state inside the bone to provide mechanical support. This eliminates the need for invasive rods or external fixation devices, significantly reducing tissue damage and infection risk while maintaining fracture stabilization capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the ability of the flexible-to-rigid body to change its physical state from flexible to rigid through parameter changes (such as temperature or phase transition). This allows the device to be inserted easily in flexible state and then provide strong mechanical support in rigid state, resolving the contradiction between ease of insertion and mechanical strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional fixation devices are inserted, then fracture stabilization is achieved, but insertion complexity and trauma increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture stabilizationVSAvoidinsertion ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamic device that can change its properties from flexible to rigid. The flexible state enables simple insertion through minimal incision, while the rigid state provides reliable fracture stabilization. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between ease of insertion and fracture stabilization reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible-to-rigid body is designed as a segmented or layered structure that allows progressive transformation from flexible to rigid state. This segmentation enables the device to be inserted easily and then progressively activated to provide stabilization, simplifying the insertion process while ensuring reliable fracture fixation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple incisions are made for device insertion and adjustment, then fixation capability is improved, but recovery time and trauma increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation capabilityVSAvoidrecovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible-to-rigid body is designed as a multi-functional device that can be inserted through a single incision and then adjusted remotely to provide various fixation capabilities (axial, torsional, angular adjustments). This eliminates the need for multiple incisions while maintaining comprehensive fixation capability, significantly reducing recovery time and trauma

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a remote actuation mechanism that serves as an intermediary to adjust the flexible-to-rigid body after insertion. This allows all fixation adjustments to be made through the single insertion site without requiring additional incisions, reducing trauma and accelerating patient recovery while maintaining full fixation adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8287541B2Fracture fixation device, tools and methods

Publication Date: 2012.10.16 ARTHREX INC

AI summary

A bone fixation device is provided with an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and having a first state in which at least a portion of the body is flexible and a second state in which the body is generally rigid, an actuatable gripper disposed at a distal location on the elongated body, a hub located on a proximal end of the elongated body, and an actuator operably connected to the gripper to deploy the gripper from a retracted configuration to an expanded configuration. Methods of repairing a fracture of a bone are also disclosed. One such method comprises inserting a bone fixation device into an intramedullary space of the bone to place at least a portion of an elongate body of the fixation device in a flexible state on one side of the fracture and at least a portion of a hub on another side of the fracture, and operating an actuator to deploy at least one gripper of the fixation device to engage an inner surface of the intramedullary space to anchor the fixation device to the bone. Various configurations are disclosed for allowing a device body to change shape as it moves from a flexible state to a rigid state.