Flexible Meshed Finger Restraint for Arthroscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for restraining a patient's fingers during limb arthroscopy and surgery risk releasing the fingers if excessive force is applied, disrupting the surgical process, and are often complex and costly.
Innovation Solution
An extended flexible meshed enclosure is used in conjunction with a grooved support plate and a hooked and looped strap to securely capture the patient's fingers, eliminating the need for supplemental wires or springs, thereby ensuring retention without excessive pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a flexible meshed enclosure is used to restrain the patient's fingers, then the tension on the fingers increases with applied pressure, but excessive tension may cause the fingers to be released from the enclosure
Solution Approach 1:
The finger restraint system is divided into multiple independent finger loops within the meshed enclosure, with each loop capable of independently securing an individual finger. This segmentation allows the tension to be distributed across multiple separate restraint points rather than relying on a single continuous enclosure, preventing finger release even when excessive force is applied to one area.
Solution Approach 2:
A supplemental wire or spring is introduced as an intermediary element between the meshed enclosure and the finger. This intermediary component provides additional securing force and acts as a safety mechanism that prevents the finger from being released from the enclosure, even when excessive tension is applied to the enclosure itself.
2Reliability
If supplemental wires or springs are added to prevent finger release, then finger retention reliability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a flexible meshed enclosure made of thin film material that can conform to the shape of the patient's fingers. This flexible structure provides adequate restraint through its elastic properties and conformal fit, eliminating the need for rigid supplemental wires or springs while maintaining finger retention reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible meshed enclosure is used, then the ability to accommodate finger movement is improved, but the risk of finger release under excessive force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The meshed enclosure is designed with dynamic properties that allow it to adapt to finger movement while maintaining restraint. The flexible mesh structure can deform and conform as fingers move, providing continuous accommodation of position changes. Meanwhile, the inherent elasticity and tension distribution in the dynamic mesh structure prevent finger release even under excessive force conditions.
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
This solution effectively retains the patient's fingers during surgery, preventing accidental release due to excessive force, while simplifying the sterilization process and reducing material costs.
Implementation Method 1
a hooked and looped strap is wrapped around the end of the meshed enclosure surrounding each of the patient's fingers
Implementation Method 2
a hooked and looped strap is wrapped around the end of the meshed enclosure surrounding each of the patient's fingers
Data Source
AI summary
An extended flexible meshed enclosure is arranged between a patient's hand and a grooved support plate upstanding from the associated operating table to support the patient's hand during surgery of the patient's associated limb. To assist in holding the patient's fingers within the meshed enclosure, a hooked and looped strap is wrapped around the patient's finger and surrounding meshed enclosure.