Auditory Ossicle Prosthesis with Plastic Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing auditory ossicle prostheses face challenges in adapting to individual anatomical variations in the middle ear, requiring a large number of different geometries and sizes, and often result in pressure peaks and limited sound conduction due to rigidity, which complicates surgical procedures and postoperative flexibility.
Innovation Solution
The auditory ossicle prosthesis features a plate-shaped securing element with a radially inner coupling area and web elements that can undergo permanent plastic deformation, allowing for adjustable size and shape changes during surgery, enabling flexible adaptation to specific anatomical conditions without the need for multiple prostheses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the prosthesis is made rigid to maintain structural stability, then strength is improved, but adaptability to individual anatomical variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis is divided into multiple segments including a headpiece, shaft, and footpiece, with the headpiece further segmented into a rigid central portion and a flexible peripheral portion. This segmentation allows different parts to have different mechanical properties, enabling both structural stability and adaptability to individual anatomical variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The headpiece exhibits local quality differentiation where the central portion is rigid to maintain structural integrity while the peripheral portion is flexible to adapt to the tympanic membrane contours. This local variation in mechanical properties resolves the contradiction between overall strength and local adaptability.
2Strength
If the connection between headplate and shaft is stiff to ensure structural integrity, then strength is improved, but flexibility and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between headplate and shaft is segmented into a rigid central connection area and flexible peripheral areas, allowing the prosthesis to maintain structural integrity at the connection point while permitting controlled flexibility in other regions to adapt to anatomical variations.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the prosthesis have different rigidity characteristics - the central connection areas are rigid to ensure structural integrity, while peripheral regions are flexible to provide adaptability, resolving the contradiction between strength and flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple prostheses with different geometries are prepared to match individual anatomy, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal prosthesis design with a standardized shaft and footpiece combines with a customizable headpiece that can be adapted to different anatomical configurations. This multi-functional design allows one prosthesis type to serve multiple anatomical scenarios, reducing the need for multiple specialized prostheses.
Solution Approach 2:
The headpiece parameters (size, shape, peripheral flexibility) can be modified to match different anatomical conditions while maintaining the same basic prosthesis structure. This parameter variability within a standardized design reduces device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the headplate is designed to tilt relative to the connection element to follow tympanic membrane movements, then adaptability is improved, but pressure peaks on the tympanic membrane increase
Solution Approach 1:
The headpiece has a rigid central portion that maintains stable positioning and a flexible peripheral portion that can deform to follow tympanic membrane movements without transmitting excessive pressure, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible peripheral portion of the headpiece acts as a compliant interface that can deform to match tympanic membrane contours and movements, distributing forces more evenly and avoiding pressure peaks while maintaining adaptability.
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
This design allows for a single standard prosthesis to be easily reconfigured to match individual patient needs, reducing the number of prostheses required and enhancing sound conduction while minimizing complications related to rigidity and pressure peaks.
Implementation Method 1
a permanent plastic deformation is effected by stretching or pushing together the coupling area, web elements and radially outer portions in the plane of the plate-shaped first securing element
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 the 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) for radial connection of the coupling area to radially outer portions (16) of the first securing element, is characterized in that the coupling area, the web elements and the radially outer portions are of such a geometric configuration, and their material so chosen, that a plastic deformation is effected by stretching or pushing together in the plane of the plate of the first securing element, by means of which plastic deformation the external diameter of the first securing element is permanently increased or reduced. 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.