Ossicular Prosthesis With Elastic Pliers Head
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing auditory ossicle prostheses often exert force on the ossicles during placement, causing damage and complicating the surgical process due to their design, which includes zigzag-shaped clamping jaws that apply pressure.
Innovation Solution
A two-part or multi-part head element with clamping jaws that can be adjusted like pliers, allowing for easy placement without exerting force on the ossicles, with features such as deformable bars and corrugated surfaces to adapt to different ossicle thicknesses and ensure secure fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If zigzag-shaped clamping jaws are used to secure the prosthesis on the auditory ossicle, then the fixation is secure, but force is exerted on the auditory ossicles causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping jaws are designed with elastic deformability, allowing them to dynamically adapt to the auditory ossicle surface. The jaws can elastically deform during placement to accommodate the ossicle without exerting excessive force, then maintain secure fixation through elastic recovery. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between secure fixation and avoiding damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping jaws are designed with changeable geometric parameters, specifically the zigzag shape that can elastically deform. By changing the physical state of the jaws from rigid to elastically deformable, the system can achieve both secure fixation and minimal force exertion on the ossicles during different phases of placement and fixation.
2Device complexity
If the head element is designed as a single rigid piece, then the structure is simple, but the clamp cannot be opened for easy placement
Solution Approach 1:
The head element is segmented into multiple parts (first head part and second head part) connected by a deformable bar. This segmentation allows the clamp to be opened by deforming the bar, separating the clamping jaws for easy placement on the auditory ossicle, while maintaining overall structural simplicity compared to complex mechanical opening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable bar connecting the head parts acts as a flexible element that can be easily deformed to open the clamp. This flexible connection allows simple manual operation for opening and closing the clamp during surgical placement, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and ease of operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the clamping jaws are fixed in position, then the structure is stable, but they cannot adapt to different ossicle thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping jaws are designed with elastic deformability, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position and shape to accommodate different ossicle thicknesses. The elastic bar connecting the head parts can be deformed to change the jaw position, providing adaptability while the elastic recovery provides structural stability during fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The geometric parameters of the clamping jaws and connecting bar are designed to be changeable through elastic deformation. This allows the system to adapt to different ossicle dimensions by changing the physical state of the elastic components, while maintaining structural stability through the inherent elastic properties of the materials.
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 simplifies the placement and fixation of auditory ossicle prostheses, preventing damage to the ossicles and ensuring secure attachment, while allowing for precise adjustment to fit various anatomical configurations, thus enhancing surgical efficiency and reducing the risk of premature detachment.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic bar (10) connects the two clamping jaws (9) to one another at adjustable distances. The two head parts (4), whose distance from one another can be changed by deforming the bar (10), can be moved towards one another by the surgeon using, for example, forceps. The clamp (3) opens when the head parts (4) are brought closer together, i.e. the two clamping jaws (9) move away from one another
Implementation Method 2
If the surgeon opens the forceps and slowly releases the ossicle prosthesis, the jaws of the clamp spring together and clamp the ossicle prosthesis to the ossicles. In particular, the clamping jaws spring back elastically into the initial position or in contact with the auditory ossicles when the head parts are released. They rest against the auditory ossicles with a preload and thereby hold the auditory ossicle prosthesis on the auditory ossicles
Implementation Method 3
The inner sides or inner edges of the clamping jaws (9) facing one another have a corrugation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention proposes forming an auditory ossicle prosthesis (1) in one piece from sheet metal, like pliers, with two congruent clamps (3), which can be opened and closed with a two-part head element (2), the head parts (4) of which act as pliers handles. The auditory ossicle prosthesis (1) can be clamped onto an auditory ossicle without exerting any force on the auditory ossicle.