Fracture Fixation Device with Flexible Nail and Extramedullary Clamp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible intramedullary nails struggle to provide adequate stabilization at fractures located in the proximal metaphysis where the medullary canal is wider, leading to displacement of the proximal fragment due to the lack of a tight fit.
Innovation Solution
A fracture fixation device comprising a flexible nail section that bends into a post-insertion configuration upon insertion, creating frictional forces within the intramedullary canal, and a nail fastening section with strategically positioned throughholes and locking screws for additional stabilization, allowing for extramedullary fixation without disrupting growth plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flexible intramedullary nail is used to treat fractures in the proximal metaphysis, then minimally invasive treatment is achieved, but adequate stabilization of the proximal bone fragment cannot be provided due to the wider medullary canal preventing a tight fit
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation device is divided into two distinct sections: a flexible intramedullary nail portion for minimally invasive insertion and an extramedullary clamp portion for secure stabilization. The clamp can be applied separately to the proximal bone fragment, allowing the nail to remain flexible for easy insertion while the clamp provides rigid fixation where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The extramedullary clamp acts as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between the flexible intramedullary nail and the proximal bone fragment. It attaches to the nail via the connecting element while simultaneously securing the bone fragment, thereby transferring and stabilizing forces that the flexible nail alone cannot provide.
2Ease of operation
If the medullary canal is wider at the proximal metaphysis, then easier insertion of the nail is achieved, but a tight fit between the nail and medullary canal cannot be created, leading to displacement of the proximal fragment
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves from a purely intramedullary approach to a combined intramedullary-extramedullary system. The clamp extends the fixation function to the extramedullary space, providing stabilization in a different dimensional plane than the intramedullary nail alone, thereby compensating for the lack of tight fit within the wider medullary canal.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the fixation system have different properties: the intramedullary nail portion is flexible for easy insertion and minimally invasive placement, while the extramedullary clamp portion is rigid to provide stable fixation. This local differentiation allows each component to optimize its function for its specific role.
3Reliability
If locking screws are added to the nail fastening section, then additional stabilization is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates throughholes with integrated locking mechanisms that can be secured using simple locking screws. The design allows the component to be self-contained and self-securing, reducing the need for additional complex external fixation mechanisms while still providing reliable stabilization.
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
Enhances stabilization of the proximal bone fragment to the intramedullary nail, preventing displacement and allowing for minimally invasive treatment of fractures in pediatric and adult patients, including those in challenging anatomical locations like the proximal metaphysis.
Implementation Method 1
When bending into the post-insertion configuration, the nail section creates frictional force at points where the nail section contacts an inner surface of the intramedullary canal
Data Source
AI summary
Fracture fixation devices and methods achieve stabilization of a bone fragment. A nail section of the device is dimensioned to be positioned within an intramedullary canal of a bone such that the nail section spans a fracture site in the bone. The nail section bends into a post-insertion configuration different from a pre-insertion configuration when inserted into the intramedullary canal. The nail fastening section is connected to the nail section by a connecting element on a first side of the fracture site. At least a portion of the nail fastening section is positioned outside the bone. A first end of the nail section and a second end of the nail fastening section are positioned on an opposite second side of the fracture site when the fracture fixation device is implanted in the bone.