Length-Adjustable Ossicle Prosthesis with Clamp Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing auditory ossicle prostheses face difficulties in easily adjusting the distance between the head and foot elements, making it challenging for surgeons to customize the length for individual patients, as current mechanisms require elastic compression or limited shaft movement.
Innovation Solution
A design featuring a head element with a clamp mechanism that includes guide and clamping elements, allowing for adjustable and secure attachment to a connecting element, with a lock to maintain position and prevent rotation or displacement, enabling easy length adjustment and secure fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the head element is made slidable on the connecting element for length adjustment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability is worsened because the head element may rotate or shift position during adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp mechanism transitions from a static fixed position to a dynamic adjustable position. The head element can slide along the connecting element when the clamp is open, allowing dynamic length adjustment, and then locks into a stable position when clamped closed, providing reliability for the chosen length.
Solution Approach 2:
The head element is divided into functional segments: the clamp body with guide elements for controlled movement, the clamping elements for securing the connecting element, and the locking mechanism for maintaining position. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function while working together to resolve the contradiction.
2Reliability
If the clamp mechanism is added to the head element for secure attachment, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp mechanism is merged with the head element as an integrated unit rather than a separate component. The guide elements, clamping elements, and locking mechanism are all part of the head element structure, reducing the number of separate parts while maintaining the reliability of secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The head element serves multiple functions: it provides the attachment point for the eardrum, incorporates the clamp mechanism for securing the connecting element, and includes the locking mechanism for position maintenance. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate components for each function.
3Reliability
If the head element is clamped tightly to the connecting element, then the reliability is improved by preventing rotation and shifting, but the ease of operation is worsened by making length adjustment more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping force is dynamic rather than static. When adjustment is needed, the clamp can be opened to reduce clamping force, allowing easy sliding and repositioning. Once the desired length is achieved, the clamp is closed to increase clamping force, securing the position and preventing rotation or shifting under load.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping action occurs periodically during the adjustment process: open for adjustment, close for fixation, open for re-adjustment if needed, and close for final fixation. This periodic switching between clamped and unclamped states allows both ease of operation during adjustment and reliability during final use.
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
Facilitates easy and precise adjustment of the distance between the head and foot elements, ensuring stable attachment without deformation or rotation, even under loads, while allowing for customization to different diameters of connecting elements.
Implementation Method 1
The clamp is designed to be elastically compressible in an axial plane of the ring through the open circumferential point
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a length-adjustable ossicle prosthesis (1) having a cylinder pin as a connection element (4) which connects a foot element (3) to a head element (2). The head element (2) is provided for arrangement on an inside of the eardrum and the foot element (3) is provided for attachment to an incus in a human ear. According to the invention, the head element (2) is designed as an elliptical ring (5) having an opening (7) which can be closed by closing a lock (12) having a hook (10). Two guide and clamping elements (8) protrude inward from the ring (5), between which guide and clamping elements the connection element (4) is displaceably guided when in an open position and which fix the head element (2) in place and against rotation on the connection element (4) when the ring (5) is closed and the guide and clamping elements (8) are clamped against the connection element (4) as a result.