Surgical K-wire Closure Element for Bone Screw Cement Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical K-wires and screw systems face challenges in preventing the emergence of bone cement at the distal end during the injection process, particularly when using hollow screws with lateral cement outlet openings, which can become clogged, leading to uneven cement distribution and potential complications.
Innovation Solution
A surgical K-wire with a closure element at the distal end that closes off the longitudinal channel of the bone screw, allowing controlled cement injection and preventing cement emergence, while being releasable for easy production and implantation, and a surgical screw system incorporating a K-wire with a closure element that forms a secure, long-term seal at the distal end.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If lateral cement outlet openings are provided in the bone screw, then cement can be injected in a controlled manner with uniform coating, but cement may emerge from the distal end and lateral openings may become clogged
Solution Approach 1:
The distal end of the longitudinal channel is divided into two functional zones: cement outlet openings for controlled cement injection and a closure element for preventing cement emergence. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
A closure element is introduced as an intermediary component within the distal end of the longitudinal channel. This closure element acts as a mediator that prevents cement from emerging at the distal end while allowing the cement outlet openings to function properly for controlled injection.
2Productivity
If the distal end of the longitudinal channel is left open, then cement can flow freely, but cement emergence at the distal end cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of the distal end outlet opening (allowing cement emergence) is extracted and replaced with a closure element. The closure element removes the problematic open outlet while preserving the beneficial cement injection capability through the lateral outlets.
Solution Approach 2:
The potential harm of cement leakage at the distal end is converted into a benefit by using the closure element to create a controlled environment. The closure element transforms the potentially harmful open distal end into a beneficial sealed structure that prevents leakage while maintaining injection efficiency.
3Reliability
If a closure element is added to the K-wire, then cement emergence is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is merged with the K-wire structure, forming an integrated assembly. This merging approach prevents cement leakage while minimizing the increase in device complexity by combining two functional components into a unified structure that can be manufactured and implanted as a single unit.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a surgical K-wire for guiding a bone screw comprising a longitudinal channel, which said K-wire comprises a proximal and a distal end, wherein a closure element for closing-off the distal end outlet opening of the longitudinal channel of the bone screw is arranged or formed at the distal end.Furthermore, an improved surgical screw system is proposed comprising a bone screw and such a surgical K-wire.