Intramedullary Nail Coupling Mechanism for Alignment Guide Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intramedullary nail insertion systems face challenges such as the invisibility of bone-anchor fixation holes and the potential bending of the intramedullary nail during insertion, making it difficult to accurately locate and align instruments for fixation.
Innovation Solution
The system comprises an insertion handle and an aiming guide with couplers and latches that allow for quick coupling and decoupling, enabling the aiming guide to be positioned to guide instruments towards the bone-anchor fixation holes, even when the intramedullary nail is inserted with potential bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fluoroscopy is used to locate bone-anchor fixation holes, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy by moving object increases due to radiation exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an aiming guide as an intermediary device that mechanically links to the intramedullary nail. This guide provides physical alignment apertures that directly indicate the location of bone-anchor fixation holes without requiring fluoroscopy, thereby eliminating radiation exposure while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the fluoroscopy-based optical/radiological system with a mechanical alignment system. The aiming guide uses physical couplers, latches, and alignment apertures to mechanically determine and indicate fixation hole locations, substituting radiation-based measurement with mechanical geometry
2Ease of operation
If the intramedullary nail is inserted with potential bending, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic coupling mechanism between the aiming guide and intramedullary nail that can accommodate bending. The coupler and latch system allows the aiming guide to maintain accurate alignment with the fixation holes even when the nail bends during insertion, adapting to the changed geometry while preserving alignment precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the alignment system into separable components: the intramedullary nail, the aiming guide, and the coupler-latch mechanism. This segmentation allows the aiming guide to be independently positioned and secured to the nail, ensuring that alignment precision is maintained regardless of nail bending, while still allowing ease of insertion
3Reliability
If a secure coupling mechanism is used between aiming guide and insertion handle, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the coupling mechanism into distinct functional elements: a coupler component with engagement features and a latch component with corresponding features. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function simply, achieving reliable secure attachment while keeping individual component complexity low
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is designed to automatically engage with the coupler when the aiming guide is positioned on the insertion handle. The spring-loaded latch self-activates to secure the connection without requiring additional manual operations, thereby achieving reliable attachment while minimizing operational complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
In one example, a system has an insertion handle that can be coupled to an intramedullary nail and includes a first coupler that defines one of a recess and a projection, and one of a latch and an abutment surface. The system has an aiming guide that includes a guide body that defines at least one alignment aperture therethrough. The aiming guide includes a second coupler that can couple the guide body to the first coupler such that the at least one alignment aperture is positioned to guide an instrument towards at least one bone-anchor fixation hole of the intramedullary nail. The second coupler defines another of the recess and the projection, and another of the latch and the abutment surface. The first and second couplers can couple to one another by receiving the projection in the recess and by engaging the latch with the abutment surface.