Modular Orthopedic Drill Guide for Foot Fracture Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a drill alignment guide instrument specifically designed for foot and ankle soft tissues and bone repair applications, particularly in the mid-foot region where bone fractures are difficult to fixate due to complex bone geometries.
Innovation Solution
An orthopedic drill guide that provides accurate alignment and compression for drilling and screw placement, featuring a modular design with a guide housing for receiving a sleeve with a longitudinal bore for a Kirschner wire or drill bit, and a depth gauge device for measuring the depth of the K-wire, enabling precise targeting and measurement during bone screw installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a drill alignment guide instrument is used for foot and ankle bone repair, then drilling accuracy and screw placement precision are improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for modular components and compression capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The drill guide is divided into multiple modular components including an elongated body, first arm member, second arm member, guide housing, and sleeve that can be assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows the complex functionality to be achieved through coordinated simple parts, improving drilling accuracy while managing device complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The guide housing is configured to receive the sleeve, which contains the longitudinal bore for the K-wire or drill bit. This nested arrangement integrates multiple functions (guiding, compression, depth control) within a compact structure, achieving high precision drilling while minimizing the overall device footprint
2Adaptability or versatility
If the second arm member is made longitudinally movable along the elongated body, then the adaptability to different bone geometries is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional movement mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The second arm member is designed with longitudinal movability along the elongated body, transitioning from a static to a dynamic structure. This allows the drill guide to adapt to various bone geometries and fracture patterns in the foot and ankle region, while the movement mechanism is kept simple through straightforward mechanical guidance
3Ease of repair
If the guide housing is configured to removably receive the sleeve, then the ease of repair and component replacement is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional connection interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The guide housing and sleeve are designed as separable components with standardized connection interfaces. This segmentation enables easy replacement of worn or damaged sleeves while maintaining the overall drill guide structure, improving maintainability with minimal impact on device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The removable sleeve interface is designed to accommodate different types of K-wires and drill bits through a universal connection system. This multi-functional interface allows the same guide housing to work with various surgical instruments, improving ease of repair and component interchangeability without significantly increasing complexity
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 drill guide ensures accurate alignment and compression, facilitating precise drilling and screw placement in complex foot and ankle bone structures, enhancing the ability to repair fractures and stabilize bone pieces effectively.
Implementation Method 1
An elastically compressible member such as a coil spring is provided within the bore extending between the closed first end of the elongated body and the piston
Data Source
AI summary
A drill guide assembly having an elongated body is configured with a first and second arm members extending from the elongated body. The second arm member is configured and adapted to be longitudinally movable along the elongated body towards and away from the first arm member for reducing fractured bones for repair. A guide housing provided on the second arm member is fitted with a removable sleeve. The removable sleeve is provided with a longitudinal bore for guiding a guide wire or a drill bit for drilling into the bones.