Preloaded Orthopedic Adapter for Hammer Toe Implant Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hammer toe implants face issues such as difficulty in installation, tendency to separate, and temperature-sensitive materials that deploy prematurely, leading to pain and limited shoe wearability for patients.
Innovation Solution
An implant kit comprising an adapter with a preloaded hammer toe implant, featuring an elongated threaded portion and a blade portion, secured with serrated edges, and a driving adapter that allows for secure coupling with a driver shaft, enabling easy installation and retention within the adapter using an elastic O-ring or spring-biased bifurcated retaining clip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pin or rod is placed in the phalanxes to fuse the joints, then the hammer toe deformity is corrected, but the patient cannot wear closed toe shoes and experiences pain from the exposed ball
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into separate components: a threaded portion for bone engagement and a distinct ball portion. The adapter separates the implant from the driver shaft during installation, allowing the ball to be positioned internally without external exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is preloaded into the adapter, which then couples to the driver shaft. The adapter acts as an intermediary container that holds the implant securely during the installation process, nesting multiple components together in sequence.
2Reliability
If threaded implants with male-female connection mechanisms are used, then joint fusion is achieved, but the implants are difficult to install in situ and have a tendency to separate
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter serves as an intermediary device that simplifies the installation process. It provides a secure interface between the driver shaft and implant, eliminating the need for complex in-situ manipulation of threaded connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is pre-assembled and secured in the adapter before the installation procedure. This preliminary preparation ensures proper alignment and secure connection before the implant is introduced into the patient's foot.
3Force
If temperature-sensitive nitinol implants are used, then outward force on surrounding bone is provided, but the implant may deploy or expand prior to being installed
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter provides a protective environment for the implant before installation. It prevents premature deployment by maintaining the implant in a constrained state until it is ready to be installed in the patient's foot.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter acts as an intermediary that isolates the temperature-sensitive implant from environmental temperature changes during storage and handling, preventing unintended activation of the shape memory effect.
Data Source
AI summary
An implant kit has an adapter having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the first and to the second end, wherein the first end is configured for removably receiving and engaging an implant and the second end is configured for removably coupling to a driver shaft of an implant driving tool, and an implant preloaded into the first end of the adapter, the implant having an elongated threaded portion; and a blade portion extending from the elongated threaded portion, and having two serrated edges, wherein the blade portion is received in the first end of the adapter and the elongated threaded portion of the implant is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the adapter.