Offset Intramedullary Nail Locking Holes for Stable Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for inserting locking screws into intramedullary nails are time-consuming and require skilled personnel due to the need for precise positioning and orientation of transverse locking holes, often resulting in incomplete fixation and potential deformation of the nail.
Innovation Solution
The design of an intramedullary nail with a locking hole arrangement featuring offset bores that allow for the insertion of locking members, which deform to create a force-fit engagement, ensuring accurate and stable fixation with reduced operation time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If locking screws are inserted through transverse locking holes in the leading end portion of the intramedullary nail, then angular stable fixation is achieved, but the operation time increases significantly and requires well-trained personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The locking holes are pre-formed in the intramedullary nail with precise positioning and orientation before implantation. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming intraoperative positioning and allows for rapid insertion of locking screws, thereby reducing operation room time while maintaining angular stable fixation
Solution Approach 2:
The self-aligning locking hole arrangement enables the locking screws to automatically align with the pre-formed holes during insertion, eliminating the need for skilled manual positioning. The system serves itself by providing inherent alignment features that guide the locking screws into the correct position, reducing dependency on operator expertise and minimizing operation time
2Ease of operation
If locking screws are inserted freehand into transverse locking holes, then the procedure is simpler, but the nail may be displaced or deformed and the fixation is not angle-stable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the manual freehand insertion method with a predetermined mechanical guide system. The locking holes are pre-formed with specific geometry and positioning that mechanically guide the locking screws into the correct orientation and position, eliminating the need for skilled manual manipulation while ensuring accurate and stable fixation
Solution Approach 2:
The locking holes are designed with specific geometric parameters (positioning, orientation, dimensions) that are optimized to receive the locking screws. By carefully controlling these parameters during nail manufacturing, the system ensures that simple freehand insertion results in precise alignment and stable fixation, transforming the insertion process from a skill-dependent procedure to a parameter-driven solution
3Reliability
If multiple locking screws are inserted to achieve angle-stable fixation, then fixation stability is improved, but the complexity and time consumption of the procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking hole arrangement is segmented into multiple pre-formed holes with specific positioning and orientations. This segmentation allows for the use of multiple locking screws to achieve comprehensive angular stable fixation, while each individual hole is independently optimized for simple insertion, thereby reducing the overall procedural complexity despite using multiple components
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 simplifies the locking process, reduces operation time, and enhances the stability of the intramedullary nail fixation by enabling precise alignment and deformation of the locking members within the nail, thereby improving surgical efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The locking member (50, 60) is deformable within the locking hole arrangement (30, 40) to provide a force-fit engagement
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
A system is proposed including an intramedullary nail (10) with a longitudinal nail axis (12), a first lateral portion (15), a second lateral portion (16) opposite to the first lateral portion, a longitudinal bore (20), and a locking hole arrangement having a first bore (30) being formed in the first lateral portion and a second bore (40) being formed in the second lateral portion. An axis of the first bore and an axis of the second bore are arranged with an offset (47) between each other, and are arranged so that a locking member may frictionally engage within both the first bore and the second bore.