Medical Alignment Device Attachment for Precise Tool Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical tools for placing pedicle screws in vertebrae are often costly and bulky, limiting their availability in surgical suites, and there is a need for precise, three-dimensional alignment to avoid injury to surrounding structures.
Innovation Solution
An attachment apparatus and system that includes a base wall, side walls, and an alignment support to secure a medical alignment device, providing a secure fit and notifications for accurate three-dimensional alignment, and a processor to simulate and verify the desired insertion angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional surgical tools and machines are used to ensure correct pedicle screw placement angle, then alignment precision is improved, but device cost and bulk increase, reducing availability in surgical suites
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical system is divided into separate functional components: a handheld alignment device with sensors for measuring tool orientation, a separate processor for calculating alignment angles, and the surgical tool itself. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall system bulk and cost while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Complex mechanical alignment machines are replaced with electronic sensing and computational methods. The alignment device uses sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) to electronically detect tool orientation and a processor to calculate alignment angles, eliminating the need for bulky mechanical alignment apparatus.
2Manufacturing precision
If bulky and costly alignment machines are deployed, then three-dimensional alignment accuracy is improved, but the number of available surgical suites with suitable equipment decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment device is designed as a relatively simple, handheld unit that can be used for a single surgical procedure and then discarded or sterilized. This disposable or single-use design reduces the need for expensive, permanent installation of alignment equipment in every surgical suite, increasing availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment device is designed to be universally applicable to multiple surgical tools and procedures. It can attach to different surgical instruments and provide alignment guidance for various bone implantation procedures, making it versatile enough for widespread deployment across different surgical suites.
Data Source
AI summary
An attachment apparatus is disclosed to secure a medical alignment device to align a tool. The attachment apparatus may include a base wall providing a base alignment surface for abutting or positioned adjacent a first portion or first surface of the medical alignment device. The medical alignment device operable to provide an alignment of a tool, such as a three-dimensional alignment angle of the tool, and to provide a notification when the medical alignment device aligned with the tool as desired. The attachment apparatus may include a first side wall providing a side alignment surface for abutting or adjacent a second portion or surface of the medical alignment device; and an alignment support configured to align with a portion of the tool. A method is disclosed for aligning a tool or object using an attachment apparatus.