Helical Graft Containment Cage for Bone Space Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bone grafts often fail to remain in place at target sites during healing due to the lack of a containment device, leading to ineffective integration with the bone.
Innovation Solution
A bone graft containment device with helical structures that can be expanded, compressed, or curved to fit a target bone space, featuring a channel for graft material and a fixation plate for secure attachment to the bone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid container is used to hold bone graft material, then the graft is contained in place, but the device cannot adapt to irregular target bone spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The cage transitions from a rigid static structure to a dynamic collapsible structure that can be compressed and expanded. The collapsible body allows the device to be inserted in a compressed state and then expanded to fill the target bone space, providing both containment reliability and adaptability to irregular geometries.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage incorporates a curved or spherical collapse mechanism that allows the structure to collapse in multiple directions. This curvature enables the device to conform to the irregular three-dimensional geometry of target bone spaces while maintaining structural integrity for graft containment.
2Strength
If the cage structure is made rigid for structural support, then it provides stable graft containment, but it cannot be inserted into confined or irregular spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The cage employs a dynamic collapse mechanism that transforms the structure from a rigid support framework into a compact insertable form. Once deployed, the structure maintains its strength to provide stable graft containment, but during insertion it can be compressed to fit through small openings or irregular pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage structure is divided into multiple collapsible segments or struts that can independently compress and expand. This segmentation allows the rigid support elements to be broken down into smaller manageable sections for insertion, then reassembled into a strong supportive structure in place.
3Manufacturing precision
If a custom-shaped cage is manufactured for each patient's specific anatomy, then perfect fit is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsible cage design serves as a universal device that can be adapted to multiple different anatomical configurations. Rather than requiring custom manufacturing for each patient, the same basic collapsible structure can be compressed and shaped to fit various target bone spaces, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining anatomical adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows for post-manufacturing parameter changes by enabling the cage to be compressed, expanded, and deformed after insertion. This flexibility permits a single manufactured design to achieve different final configurations and fits, eliminating the need for precise pre-customization while maintaining manufacturing precision through controlled deformation.
Data Source
AI summary
A bone graft containment device includes a body formed via one or more helical structures extending about a longitudinal axis of the body from a first end to a second end to define a channel extending longitudinally therethrough. The channel is configured to receive a bone graft or bone graft substitute material therein, the one or more helical structures formed of a material permitting the body to be one of expanded, compressed and curved to fill a target space of a target bone.