Moveable Perineal Post for Lateral Traction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surgical tables lack the ability to controllably apply lateral traction to the femur, limiting their effectiveness in certain surgical and diagnostic procedures where lateral distraction of the hip joint is required.

Innovation Solution

A surgical system with a moveable vertically oriented perineal post coupled to a bed, allowing axial movement along a rail to apply both inferior and lateral traction to a patient's leg, comprising a support assembly, a rail, and a bolster for enhanced positioning and traction control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed vertically oriented perineal post is used, then the patient's leg can be maintained in inferior traction, but the ability to apply lateral traction to the femur is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraction direction flexibilityVSAvoidperineal post structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The perineal post is transformed from a fixed structure to a moveable one that can travel along a rail, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to apply different directions of traction (inferior and lateral) as needed during surgery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The traction application system is segmented into independent functional components: the perineal post for inferior traction, the rail system for guiding movement, and the control mechanism for positioning, allowing each component to perform its specific function independently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If excessive axial traction is applied to maintain leg position, then the leg can be kept in the desired orientation, but the risk of nerve palsy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleg positioning stabilityVSAvoidnerve palsy risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of traction direction from purely axial to a combination of axial and lateral components, allowing the femur to be distracted laterally while maintaining leg positioning, thereby reducing the harmful effects of excessive axial traction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The moveable perineal post acts as an intermediary mechanism that translates the surgeon's control into controlled lateral movement, mediating between the need for leg positioning stability and the need to reduce nerve palsy risk through reduced axial traction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9918890B2Surgical Table with Moveable Perineal Post

Publication Date: 2018.03.20 INNOVATIVE ORTHOPEDIC TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A system for securing and manipulating a patient during a medical procedure comprises a support assembly coupled to a bed and configured to support a patient's leg. In addition the system comprises a rail coupled to the support assembly. The rail has a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. In addition, the system comprises a perineal post movably mounted to the rail and oriented in a generally vertical direction. The post assembly is configured to move axially along the rail between a first position and a second position.