Lateral Light-Emitting Device for Intra-Medullary Guide Wire
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intra-medullary guide wires with integrated lighting devices face issues such as high power consumption, risk of tissue damage, contamination from body fluids, and manufacturing complexity due to the axial light emission and exposed light source, which limits their effectiveness and durability in intra-medullary nailing procedures.
Innovation Solution
A lateral-emitting device with a closed main body, a front-end protecting unit, a light-scattering unit, and a light intensity modulating unit, designed to connect with any intra-medullary guide wire, enhances light efficiency by scattering and modulating light for lateral emission, preventing fluid permeation and protecting the light source from bone tissue collision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the light source is arranged at the front end of the guide wire to illuminate from within the body, then the risk of additional trauma is reduced and operation efficacy is improved, but a significant portion of the emitted light travels axially and is not useful for detecting the screw hole on the lateral side, requiring increased light power that causes higher power consumption and potential tissue injury from high temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the light emission direction from axial (one-dimensional) to lateral (two-dimensional) by positioning the light source at the side of the guide wire rather than at the front end. This dimensional change allows light to emit perpendicular to the guide wire axis, directly illuminating the lateral screw hole area without requiring increased power, thus resolving the contradiction between operational efficacy and power consumption.
2Illumination intensity
If the light source is disposed in an open structure to emit light through lateral sides, then lateral illumination is achieved, but the lighting device is easily permeated by body fluids causing device malfunction or tissue contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a transparent protective coating or shell covering the light source, allowing light to pass through while preventing body fluids from penetrating and damaging the lighting device. This thin film approach maintains lateral illumination capability while providing fluid protection, resolving the contradiction between light emission effectiveness and device reliability.
3Device complexity
If the lighting device and medullary guide wire are fixed in one piece, then the structure is simplified, but the manufacturing difficulty increases due to the small diameter of the guide wire (about 3 mm)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lighting device into separable components that can be assembled onto the guide wire after manufacturing, rather than requiring integrated one-piece fabrication. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using appropriate processes, then assembled together, reducing overall manufacturing difficulty while maintaining structural simplicity.
4Device complexity
If the light source has no protecting device while proceeding the operation, then the structure is simplified, but the light source is easily damaged by colliding bone tissue, requiring discarding of the entire assembly which wastes resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a protective covering or shield around the light source that prevents direct contact with bone tissue during insertion and operation. This beforehand protection measures avoids potential damage to the light source, eliminating the need to discard the entire assembly if damage occurs, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and component durability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution improves light efficiency, reduces power consumption, prevents tissue damage and contamination, and simplifies manufacturing by enabling effective lateral light emission for screw hole positioning without damaging the light source, enhancing the intra-medullary nailing procedure's efficacy and resource utilization.
Implementation Method 1
a light-scattering unit, disposed in the accommodating space and arranged in back of the front-end protecting unit
Implementation Method 2
a light intensity modulating unit arranged inside the main body to modulate the light intensity to reduce the smear of the scattered light effect
Data Source
AI summary
A lateral light-emitting device for connecting a medullary guide wire is disclosed. The device comprises a closed main body, a front-end protecting unit for protecting the front end of the main body, and a connecting unit disposed at the distal end of the main body. The inside of the main body is further arranged with a lighting unit, a power supply unit, a light-scattering unit, a light intensity modulating unit, if necessary, and at least one transparent window. The device is able to fit to different types of medullary guide wires. The power supply unit provides power to the lighting unit to produce light emitted to the light-scattering unit and being diverted laterally through the transparent window of the main body after suitably modulating the light intensity. Thereby, the device is illuminated from within the bone cavity to allow observing the operating screw hole location from outside of the body and to enable precisely nailing while proceeding with the intra-medullary nailing procedure.