Multiple Fulcrum Surgical Bender for Spinal Implants
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Surgeons face difficulties in bending new, stronger surgical implants made of advanced materials due to the high force and leverage required, which existing bending tools often struggle to provide, especially when dealing with unique patient anatomy.
Innovation Solution
A bender device with a multiple fulcrum mechanism that incorporates additional lever arms to multiply bending force, allowing for easier and more precise shaping of spinal rods and plates by distributing the applied force effectively across multiple pivot points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional single-fulcrum benders are used to bend surgical implants, then the device structure remains simple, but the bending force is insufficient for stronger implant materials
Solution Approach 1:
The bender is divided into multiple fulcrum points (first fulcrum and second fulcrum) along the lever arm, creating separate functional segments that each contribute to force multiplication. This segmentation allows the device to achieve high bending force while maintaining a manageable structural complexity by distributing the mechanical advantage across discrete points rather than requiring a single complex mechanism.
2Force
If hand bending is used for surgical implants, then the device portability is maintained, but the surgeon cannot generate sufficient force for newer stronger materials
Solution Approach 1:
The bender incorporates a dynamic lever arm system where the first and second fulcrums work together to create variable mechanical advantage throughout the bending stroke. As the lever arm moves through its range of motion, the distribution of force changes dynamically, allowing the surgeon to maintain control while generating significantly higher peak forces than static bending tools could provide.
3Strength
If larger diameter implants are bent, then the structural strength of the implant is improved, but the bending force required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple fulcrum system acts as an intermediary mechanical system between the surgeon's hand and the implant. The first fulcrum provides initial force multiplication, and the second fulcrum further amplifies this force while controlling the bending moment. This intermediary mechanism enables the transmission of sufficiently high forces to bend larger diameter implants without requiring the surgeon to directly apply extreme forces.
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 device significantly increases the bending force applied to surgical implants, reducing the required effort from the surgeon and enabling the bending of stronger materials and larger diameters, while maintaining a compact and lightweight design.
Implementation Method 1
the invention can be used to bend spinal rods, bone plates and/or other malleable products... incorporates an additional set of lever arms of unique design to greatly multiply and increase the amount of bending force applied to the implant
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical bender for use in bending and/or plastically deforming a variety of types and/or shapes of materials in medical and/or surgical applications. Various embodiments include a compact and easily sterilizable multiple fulcrum arrangement that utilizes a series of interlocked actuating lever arms to greatly multiply an actuating force applied to a pair of handles for application to an intended material.