Auditory Ossicle Prosthesis with Breakable Web Elements for Variable Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current auditory ossicle prostheses face challenges in adapting to individual anatomical variations and require a large number of different geometries and sizes, leading to complications during surgery and suboptimal sound conduction, with existing solutions failing to provide sufficient flexibility and variability.
Innovation Solution
The auditory ossicle prosthesis features breakable web elements with predetermined break points, allowing for easy reconfiguration during surgery to adapt to specific patient anatomy, reducing the need for multiple prostheses and enhancing flexibility and sound conduction by allowing variable surface areas and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single standard prosthesis geometry is used, then the number of prostheses needed is reduced and inventory is simplified, but the ability to adapt to individual anatomical variations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis is divided into a base element and multiple detachable radially outer portions that can be selectively attached or removed. The web elements connecting these portions are designed with predetermined break points, allowing the portions to be easily separated from the base element. This segmentation enables a single standard prosthesis to be configured in multiple geometries by attaching or removing different combinations of radially outer portions, thereby adapting to various anatomical conditions without maintaining multiple complete prosthesis types.
Solution Approach 2:
The prosthesis transitions from a static, fixed-geometry design to a dynamic, reconfigurable structure. The breakable web elements allow the prosthesis to change its configuration during surgery based on anatomical requirements. The radially outer portions can be selectively attached or detached to modify the effective surface area and shape of the securing element, enabling the same base prosthesis to adapt dynamically to different patient anatomies.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different prosthesis geometries are prepared for surgery, then adaptability to individual anatomy is improved, but surgical complexity and the number of prostheses needed increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base element of the prosthesis is designed as a universal component that can serve multiple functions by combining with different radially outer portions. A single base element can be configured to work with various combinations of radially outer portions to create different effective geometries and surface areas, allowing one standard prosthesis to replace multiple specialized prostheses in the surgical inventory.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the prosthesis into a reusable base element and interchangeable radially outer portions, the system eliminates the need to maintain multiple complete prosthesis types. The radially outer portions can be selectively attached or removed during surgery to achieve the required geometry, significantly reducing the number of different prosthesis geometries that need to be prepared and stored.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the headplate is made rigid for structural stability, then manufacturing and assembly are simplified, but the ability to adapt to tympanic membrane position and avoid pressure peaks is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The headplate is segmented into a rigid base element and detachable radially outer portions connected by breakable web elements. This segmentation allows the base element to provide structural stability while the detachable portions can be selectively removed to reduce surface area and prevent pressure peaks on the tympanic membrane. The breakable web elements enable easy modification of the headplate configuration during surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The headplate design applies different properties to different regions: the base element maintains rigid structural stability, while the radially outer portions can be selectively removed to create local adaptations. This allows the prosthesis to have both rigid structural support and localized flexibility to adapt to the specific anatomical conditions of each patient's tympanic membrane.
Data Source
AI summary
An auditory ossicle prosthesis (10) which comprises, at one end, a plate-shaped first securing element (11) for bearing on the tympanic membrane or on the footplate of the stirrup, and, at its other end, a second securing element (12) for mechanical connection to the ossicular chain or to the inner ear, and also a connection element (13) that connects the two securing elements so as to conduct sound, wherein the first securing element has a radially inner coupling area (14) for coupling the first securing element to the connection element, and also a plurality of web elements (15, 15′, 15″) for radial connection of the coupling area to radially outer portions (16, 16′, 16″) of the first securing element, is characterized in that the web elements are of such a geometric configuration, and their material so chosen, that the web elements can be easily broken off and the radially outer portions appended to them detached from the first securing element, such that the external diameter of the first securing element is reduced in this area. This means that the number of different prostheses to be kept ready during an operation can be reduced to a single standard prosthesis, without losing the possibility of optimal adaptation of the prosthesis to the specific case of use.