Motorized Traction Device for Lower Limb Fracture Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current traction devices for femur and tibia fractures lack stability and precision, requiring multiple assistants and occupying valuable operating space, which can lead to suboptimal fracture reduction and prolonged surgery times due to manual adjustments and limited ability to correct bone angles.
Innovation Solution
An automatic traction device with a triangular support frame, adjustable K-wire installations, and motorized mechanisms for precise control of leg position and angle, allowing for single-operator use and improved stability during intramedullary nailing procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If two assistants manually perform traction to reposition fractured bones, then the operation can be performed with simple equipment, but the stability and precision of fracture reduction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical traction system (two assistants) with an automated mechanical traction device featuring motorized actuators, lead screws, and programmable control. This substitution provides precise, stable, and repeatable fracture reduction while eliminating human variability and fatigue, directly resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates self-adjusting mechanisms where the control system automatically calculates and executes the required traction forces and movements based on pre-programmed parameters. The system performs self-positioning and self-stabilization of fracture fragments, reducing the need for complex manual intervention while maintaining high precision.
2Reliability
If two assistants perform manual traction, then the equipment remains simple, but the operating space is occupied and the reduction effect is unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the human operators from the operating space by automating the traction function into a dedicated device. The mechanical arms and actuators are designed to operate within the available surgical space without blocking the surgeon's access to the patient, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving reliability through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The device features dynamically adjustable mechanical arms with variable stiffness and positioning capabilities. The system can adapt its configuration in real-time during the procedure, allowing the surgeon to optimize both the stability of fracture reduction and the availability of operating space as needed throughout the surgery.
3Manufacturing precision
If existing traction devices are used to straighten the lower limb, then the bone alignment can be corrected, but the patient's leg must be kept straight which complicates intramedullary nail implantation
Solution Approach 1:
The device provides dynamic control over the positioning of the lower limb, allowing the surgeon to maintain the leg in a bent position during intramedullary nail implantation while still achieving precise bone alignment through automated traction. The system can hold the leg at any angle and make fine adjustments, enabling both complex alignment corrections and versatile surgical approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The traction device is divided into independent modular components that can act on different segments of the limb separately. This segmentation allows the surgeon to correct bone alignment at the fracture site while maintaining the natural bent position of the knee and hip joints, thus achieving precise alignment without compromising surgical adaptability.
4Productivity
If manual traction by assistants is used, then the device complexity is low, but the surgery time is prolonged due to repeated adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual adjustment operations with an automated control system that uses sensors, motors, and computer control to perform traction and positioning. This eliminates the need for repeated manual adjustments by assistants, significantly reducing surgery time while the programmable nature of the system allows for quick reconfiguration without complex manual setup.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic traction device for a lower limb fracture osteosynthesis includes a chassis structure, a lower leg supporting structure and an upper leg supporting structure connected two by two. The automatic traction device further includes a tibia distal position adjusting device, for adjusting a position and an angle of a distal end of a tibia, on the lower leg supporting structure and close to the first end portion of the lower leg supporting structure; and a tibia proximal position adjusting device, for adjusting a position and an angle of a proximal end of a tibia, on the lower leg supporting structure and close to the second end portion of the lower leg supporting structure.