Implant Holder with Nested Sterile Tubes for Bone Anchor Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current implant handling systems are inefficient due to the need to sterilize multiple implants and tools, which is time-consuming and requires significant resources, including equipment and training.
Innovation Solution
The development of an implant holding system comprising an outer tube, an inner tube, and a holder that maintains the orientation of a bone anchor, allowing for individual sterilization and packaging of implants, reducing the need for bulk sterilization and minimizing equipment and training requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple implants are sterilized individually, then sterilization time and resource consumption increase, but implant availability and surgical readiness improve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sterilization process into individual implant-level units by providing separate sterile containers for each bone anchor. This segmentation allows each implant to be sterilized and packaged independently, eliminating the need for bulk tray sterilization and reducing overall sterilization time and resource consumption while maintaining complete sterilization coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary sterilization and packaging of individual implants before surgery. Each bone anchor is pre-sterilized and sealed in its own container, so that when needed during surgery, the implant is already sterile and ready for use. This eliminates the need for time-consuming intraoperative sterilization procedures.
2Reliability
If entire trays of implants are sterilized, then all implants are ensured to be sterile, but unnecessary sterilization of unused implants occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sterilization process from the traditional bulk tray approach by providing individual sterile containers for each bone anchor. This allows only the specific implants needed for a procedure to be sterilized and packaged, eliminating waste of sterilization resources on unused implants while ensuring complete sterility assurance for each individual implant.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts individual implants from the bulk tray system and provides separate sterile packaging for each bone anchor. This extraction allows only the necessary number of implants to be sterilized and packaged, removing the inefficiency of sterilizing entire trays when only a subset is needed for surgery.
3Manufacturing precision
If individual implant holders are used, then implant orientation is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the holder structure with the sterile container system, combining the functions of implant storage, orientation maintenance, and sterile packaging into a single integrated unit. The holder is designed as part of the sterile container assembly, eliminating the need for separate complex holder devices while maintaining precise implant orientation through the container's structural design.
Data Source
AI summary
Various implant holding systems are provided herein that include an outer tube, an inner tube, and a holder. The implant holding systems can be designed to hold various implants, such as bone anchors used in spinal operations. For example, one embodiment of an implant holding system can have an outer tube, an inner tube that can be disposed within the outer tube, and an implant holder that can be disposed within the inner tube. An individual bone anchor that has various configurations and sizes can be disposed within the holder, and the holder can engage the bone anchor to assist in maintaining an orientation of the bone anchor relative to the holder.