Modular Cranial Prosthesis with Sliding Dovetail Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Decompressive craniectomy patients are left without skull protection, leading to vulnerability and discomfort due to cumbersome external helmets or prostheses, which are cosmetically unappealing and difficult to manage.

Innovation Solution

A modular cranial prosthesis assembly comprising interconnected panels that can be secured under normal headwear, providing customized protection without surrounding the entire cranium, made from materials like metals, plastics, and ceramics, with a sliding dovetail interface for secure connection and distribution of loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional external helmets or prostheses are used to protect the cranial bore, then patient safety is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to cumbersome manipulation and difficulty to manage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidprosthesis complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The prosthesis is divided into multiple panels that can be separately positioned and connected. Each panel can be independently manipulated and secured to the cranium, reducing the complexity of handling a single large cumbersome prosthesis while maintaining protective coverage of the cranial bore.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The modular panels are designed to nest together through interconnected features, allowing them to be stored compactly and easily assembled. The panels connect through recesses and protrusions that enable secure assembly without complex fastening mechanisms, simplifying the overall device while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If traditional external helmets or prostheses are used to protect the cranial bore, then patient safety is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to cumbersome manipulation and difficulty to manage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidease of management

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The prosthesis design allows for dynamic adjustment and positioning of individual panels to accommodate different patient head sizes and shapes. The panels can be easily assembled, disassembled, and repositioned, providing operational flexibility that simplifies management compared to fixed traditional helmets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If modular panels are used to cover only the cranial bore, then ease of operation is improved, but area of coverage worsens by not surrounding the entire cranium

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of managementVSAvoidcoverage area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The prosthesis provides concentrated protective coverage specifically at the cranial bore area where it is most needed, rather than uniformly covering the entire cranium. This localized approach maintains ease of operation while providing adequate protection to the vulnerable exposed brain tissue through targeted panel placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20240252330A1External cranial prosthesis

Publication Date: 2024.08.01 CORNELL UNIVERSITY

AI summary

A cranial prosthesis can be locatable adjacent to an exterior portion of a head and can include a body defining an interior surface locatable adjacent to the exterior portion of the head. The prosthesis can include a projection extending laterally outward along a first edge of the body and a slot extending inward along a second edge of the body, the slot configured to receive a projection of an adjacent prosthesis to secure the cranial prosthesis to an adjacent prosthesis.