Multi-Staple Inserter and Drill Guide for Orthopedic Fracture Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for stabilizing fractures in bones using staples and screws often require multiple tools and procedures, which can complicate the alignment and insertion of these implants, potentially leading to suboptimal fixation and prolonged healing times.
Innovation Solution
The development of a multi-staple inserter and an interfragmentary drill guide that allow for the simultaneous or sequential implantation of staples made from shape memory materials, such as nitinol or PEEK, across a fracture line, while ensuring proper alignment and trajectory of screws to avoid interference with the staples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple staples are inserted using separate inserters, then each staple can be implanted independently, but the procedure becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple staple insertion functions into a single multi-staple inserter device. The device includes a body with multiple staple receptacles, each capable of holding and inserting a staple independently. This merging of functions allows simultaneous or sequential insertion of multiple staples through one tool, improving surgical efficiency while reducing the number of separate devices needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-staple inserter is designed as a universal device that can accommodate and insert multiple staples of potentially different sizes and configurations. The body includes multiple receptacles that can be configured for different staple types, making the device versatile for various fracture fixation scenarios while maintaining a single unified tool.
2Manufacturing precision
If drill holes are created before staple insertion, then staple placement can be precise, but the alignment and trajectory control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The drill guide features pre-formed guide bores that are created during device manufacturing rather than requiring complex intraoperative alignment. These guide bores are precisely formed at predetermined angles and positions, allowing surgeons to simply insert drills through the guide bores without complex alignment procedures. This preliminary preparation of the guide structure achieves high precision while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The drill guide acts as an intermediary device between the surgeon and the bone. It includes guide bores that mediate the drilling process by providing pre-defined trajectories. The guide bores translate the surgeon's simple drilling action into precisely angled screw holes that accommodate staples at the correct orientation, eliminating the need for complex direct alignment.
3Strength
If screws are inserted to compress the fracture, then additional stabilization is achieved, but the screw trajectory may interfere with staple placement
Solution Approach 1:
The drill guide is segmented into distinct functional zones: guide bores for screw insertion and receptacle positioning areas for staple insertion. The guide bores are positioned and angled such that the resulting screw trajectories are spatially separated from the staple legs. This segmentation of the guide structure allows independent optimization of screw and staple placement paths, enabling both fixation methods to work together without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The drill guide utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement to resolve potential conflicts between screws and staples. The guide bores are angled and positioned in specific three-dimensional orientations that direct screws along trajectories that pass above or below the staple legs. By using dimensional positioning rather than simple planar arrangement, the device accommodates both screw and staple fixation without interference.
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 enables efficient and precise stabilization of fractures by allowing multiple staples to be strained and inserted using a single inserter, while the drill guide ensures that screws are aligned to complement the staples without interfering, thereby enhancing the stability and speed of the healing process.
Implementation Method 1
Elastic hinge regions of the staples bend about pins of the plates to pivot legs of the staples outwardly
Implementation Method 2
Described herein are methods and materials for implanting staples comprising shape memory material (e.g., nitinol, PEEK, etc.)
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-staple inserter and drill guide, and methods of use thereof, are disclosed therein. The orthopedic staples can also be used in addition to interfragmentary screws to apply further compression of the bone fragments.