Orthopedic Targeting Device for Bone Hole Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The precise placement and alignment of transverse holes in orthopedic implanted devices, such as nails or rods, during surgical procedures are challenging due to the inability to visually target these holes from outside the body, requiring complex and inaccurate methods for reaming.
Innovation Solution
A targeting device with a targeting arm, target lock, and rotation arrestor is provided, featuring apertures for aligning and reaming transverse holes, allowing for precise alignment and locking mechanisms to ensure accurate hole placement in orthopedic devices like nails or rods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional targeting methods are used for reaming transverse holes in orthopedic devices, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the precision and accuracy of hole placement deteriorates due to inability to visually target holes from outside the body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a targeting device as an intermediary tool between the surgeon and the orthopedic device. This device includes a targeting arm with apertures that align with transverse holes in the implanted device, allowing the surgeon to accurately target and ream holes from outside the body without direct visual access to the hole locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The targeting device creates a physical copy or representation of the hole locations in the orthopedic device. The apertures in the targeting arm are positioned to correspond exactly with the transverse holes in the implanted device, enabling accurate reproduction of the required hole placements through the targeting apertures.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex targeting mechanisms are introduced to improve accuracy, then hole placement precision improves, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The targeting device is segmented into distinct functional components: a targeting arm with apertures for alignment, a lock mechanism for securing the targeting arm in position, and a rotation arrestor for preventing unwanted rotation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while keeping the overall device manageable in complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The targeting device incorporates dynamic elements including a lock mechanism that can selectively restrain the targeting arm in locked and unlocked positions, and a rotation arrestor with a button that can engage or disengage to allow or prevent rotation. These dynamic features enable precise positioning without requiring permanently complex fixed structures.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple locking and arrestor mechanisms are added to prevent movement, then positioning stability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to additional components to manipulate
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism and rotation arrestor are designed to be self-servicing through simple user actions. The button-operated rotation arrestor and lock mechanism allow the surgeon to easily engage and disengage locking functions without requiring complex adjustment procedures, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring stability when locked.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of a targeting device for use with systems, methods, and apparatuses for fusion, stabilization, and/or fixation of bones are disclosed. In one embodiment, a targeting device is provided, the targeting device comprising: a targeting arm including a targeting portion, a radial portion, and at least one aperture oriented in the targeting portion; a target lock; and a rotation arrestor including an arresting engagement portion, an elongated shaft, and a button operatively connected to the arresting engagement portion.