Osteotomy Accessory with Saw Guides for Bone Shortening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone-shortening osteotomy procedures are inefficient and imprecise, requiring multiple operational steps and expensive titanium implants, which are often unnecessary due to the need for custom fabrication to achieve precise bone shortening.
Innovation Solution
A set comprising a standard implant and an accessory with guides and threaded holes that correspond to the implant, allowing for precise sawing and drilling of the ulna, enabling the surgeon to perform the osteotomy with minimal steps and using a standard implant, reducing material waste and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a custom titanium implant is used to achieve precise bone shortening, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into a standard base component and a custom positioning accessory. The accessory contains the precise spacing geometry for the predetermined distance, while the implant itself remains a standard, simple plate. This segmentation allows the complex precision requirements to be isolated to the disposable accessory rather than the permanent implant.
Solution Approach 2:
The accessory acts as an intermediary tool that temporarily provides the precise spacing geometry during surgery. It includes guides and threaded holes that correspond to the implant, enabling accurate positioning and bone shortening without requiring the implant itself to be custom-fabricated. The accessory is removed after use, leaving only the standard implant.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple operational steps are performed to achieve precise osteotomy, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into the single accessory component: it provides spacing for the predetermined distance, contains guides for saw blade positioning, includes threaded holes for screw placement, and serves as a temporary fixation device. This consolidation reduces the number of separate tools and steps required during surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The accessory is designed with pre-configured spacing and guide geometries that establish the precise osteotomy parameters before the actual bone cutting begins. The threaded holes are positioned in advance at the correct locations, allowing screws to be inserted without additional measurement or positioning steps during the critical osteotomy phase.
3Strength
If expensive titanium implants are used, then strength is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory is designed as a disposable, inexpensive component that performs the precise positioning and guiding functions during surgery. It can be made from cheaper materials since it is removed after use. The permanent implant remains a standard, cost-effective design without requiring expensive custom fabrication, while the accessory provides the necessary precision at minimal cost.
Data Source
AI summary
Set suitable for use in a bone-shortening osteotomy of a predetermined distance, the set comprising: an implant (1) with threaded holes (8); an accessory (2) with successively a first segment (5), a second segment (6) and a third segment (7); wherein the first segment comprises first threaded holes (9) and wherein the third segment comprises second threaded holes (9), and wherein the second segment comprises two guides (10) which are each adapted to guide a saw blade (17) so that the osteotomy of predetermined distance (d) can be performed via the two guides.