Helical Distractor for 3D Bone Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current internal distraction osteogenesis methods only allow for movement in a single translational direction, limiting the degrees of freedom and treatment possibilities for surgeons.
Innovation Solution
The development of a helical distractor and a 3D distractor that allow for translational and rotational movements in multiple directions, enabling six degrees of freedom, by using a distractor body with a helical or twisted shape and a movable foot assembly with an advancement gear and internal teeth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional linear distractor is used, then the device structure is simple, but the movement is limited to a single translational direction
Solution Approach 1:
The movable foot is nested within the distractor body, with the advancement gear positioned inside the tubular distractor body. This nested configuration allows the movable foot to translate and rotate along the longitudinal axis while remaining contained within the overall device structure, enabling complex 3D movement without proportionally increasing external device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The advancement gear utilizes a helical or curved tooth configuration that engages with internal teeth on the distractor body. This curved gear design converts rotational input into combined translational and rotational movement of the movable foot, providing six degrees of freedom while maintaining a relatively simple overall device architecture
2Adaptability or versatility
If a distractor allowing six degrees of freedom is designed, then treatment options are enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The advancement gear serves multiple functions simultaneously: it translates the movable foot along the longitudinal axis, rotates the movable foot about the longitudinal axis, and engages with the internal teeth for controlled movement. This multi-functional component reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each degree of freedom, simplifying the manufacturing process while providing six degrees of freedom
Solution Approach 2:
The distractor is segmented into distinct functional components: a fixed foot, a movable foot, an advancement gear, and internal teeth. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using standard machining processes, then assembled together, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while enabling complex 3D movement capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
A helical distractor, including: a distractor body having an open tubular shape including: a fixed footplate attached to a first end of the distractor body; first and second body edges; first and second key grooves in the first and second body edges, respectively; and an end cap at a second end of the distractor body; a movable foot including: body threads; a first key configured to engage the first key groove; a second key configured to engage the second key groove; and a movable footplate; an advancement screw with a threaded portion inside the distraction body, wherein the threaded portion is configured to engage the body threads of the movable foot, wherein the movable foot moves along the distractor body when the advancement screw is rotated, and wherein the distractor body is configured to cause the movable foot to rotate as it moves along the distractor body.