Rotatable Orthopedic Nail Collar for Post-Implant Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopedic fixation devices for long bone fractures, such as femur fractures, often result in misalignment during initial stabilization, leading to complications like joint wear and arthritis due to the difficulty in achieving precise alignment during the intramedullary nailing procedure.
Innovation Solution
An orthopedic nail system comprising a shaft and a collar that can be rotated and locked relative to each other, allowing for post-implantation adjustment of bone alignment, facilitated by an alignment tool for precise repositioning and stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional intramedullary nailing is used for quick stabilization, then treatment speed is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The orthopedic nail is divided into separate modular components: a shaft portion and a collar portion that can be independently positioned and then locked together. This segmentation allows the surgeon to quickly insert the shaft for immediate stabilization while later adjusting the collar's position relative to the shaft to achieve precise alignment, thus resolving the contradiction between quick stabilization and precise alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is designed to be rotatable relative to the shaft before final locking, transforming a static fixed-position nail into a dynamic adjustable system. This allows the alignment to be optimized after insertion by rotating the collar to the desired angular position, then locking it in place, thereby achieving both quick initial stabilization and subsequent precision alignment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the collar is made rotatable relative to the shaft, then alignment adjustability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation and locking functionality is achieved through separate, simple retention features on the shaft and collar that engage with each other. Rather than incorporating a complex integrated locking mechanism, the design uses discrete retention features that allow rotation and then locking, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention features act as intermediaries between the shaft and collar, providing a simple mechanical interface that enables rotation and subsequent locking. These intermediate features mediate the interaction between the two components, allowing relative movement and then securing the desired position without requiring complex locking mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If retention features allow rotation between collar and shaft, then post-implantation alignment correction is improved, but risk of unintended decoupling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention features are designed to automatically engage and lock the collar to the shaft once the desired rotational position is achieved. This preliminary locking action ensures that the connection is secured before the patient leaves the operating room, preventing unintended decoupling while maintaining the ability to correct alignment during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The design converts the potential harm of a loose connection into a benefit by using retention features that allow controlled rotation and then automatically secure the position. The very feature that enables adjustment (rotational freedom) also triggers the locking mechanism that prevents unintended decoupling, turning a potential risk into a safety feature.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are directed to an orthopedic nail that includes a shaft extending from a first end to a second end and defining one or more openings positioned proximate to the first end. Each opening can accept an orthopedic screw. The shaft can also define a first retention feature positioned proximate to the second end. The orthopedic nail can include a collar that couples to the shaft and defines one or more openings each configured to accept an orthopedic screw. The collar can define a second retention feature that engages with the first retention feature, where the first and second retention features allow the collar to be rotated with respect to the shaft and prevent the collar from decoupling from the shaft. The orthopedic nail can include a lock coupled to the collar and configured to engage with the shaft to prevent rotation of the collar with respect to the shaft.