Osteotomy Guide Alignment Using a Scaled Bone Feature Indicator

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current bone treatment assistance devices require inserting a rod into a feature point to confirm attachment position, which burdens the bone and is a cumbersome operation, making it difficult for surgeons to accurately assess the device's alignment.

Innovation Solution

An osteotomy assistance kit with an attaching position confirmation device that includes a feature point indication rod, a rod support unit, and a second support member with scales, allowing for precise alignment and attachment verification without physically thrusting the rod into the bone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a rod is thrust into a feature point to confirm attachment position, then the attachment accuracy can be verified, but the bone is subjected to burden and the operation becomes troublesome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment position verification accuracyVSAvoidbone burden

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A scale indicator is introduced as an intermediary element between the bone treatment assistance device and the bone. The scale indicator is attached to the device and displays attachment position information without requiring direct physical interaction with the bone, thereby eliminating the need to thrust a rod into the bone while still providing accurate verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical verification method of thrusting a rod into the bone is replaced with a visual indication system. The scale indicator provides attachment position feedback through visual display rather than mechanical insertion, reducing the mechanical burden on the bone while maintaining verification capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If a rod is thrust into a feature point to confirm attachment position, then the attachment accuracy can be verified, but the operation becomes troublesome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment position verification accuracyVSAvoidverification operation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The scale indicator is pre-attached to the bone treatment assistance device before the actual bone treatment operation. This preliminary setup allows for immediate and continuous attachment position verification during the procedure, eliminating the need for time-consuming rod insertion and verification steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The time-consuming mechanical operation of inserting and adjusting a rod is replaced with a pre-configured visual scale indicator system that provides immediate feedback, significantly reducing the time required for attachment position verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If a rod is thrust into a feature point to confirm attachment position, then the attachment accuracy can be checked, but it is difficult for the surgeon to objectively recognize the accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment position verification capabilityVSAvoidobjective recognition information

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The scale indicator uses visual display mechanisms (such as color-coded scales or position markers) to provide objective and easily recognizable attachment position information. The visual changes in the scale indicator allow the surgeon to immediately and objectively assess attachment accuracy without subjective judgment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The subjective mechanical verification method is replaced with an objective visual information system. The scale indicator provides clear, quantifiable attachment position data that can be objectively recognized and recorded, eliminating the ambiguity associated with manual rod insertion verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3590450B1Osteotomy assistance kit

Publication Date: 2023.11.01 TEIJIN NAKASHIMA MEDICAL CO LTD

Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2

AI summary

How accurately a bone treatment assistance device is attached to a target position on a bone to be treated is to be recognized, with a reduced impact on the bone and with reduced workload. An osteotomy assistance kit 1A includes a bone treatment assistance device 1 and an attaching position confirmation device 3. The attaching position confirmation device 3 includes a feature point indication rod 31 to be applied via a tip portion to a feature point of the bone, a rod support unit 32 that removably supports the feature point indication rod 31 such that the tip portion is indicating the feature point of the bone, and a second support member 33 that movably supports the rod support unit 32 and indicates one of scales on the rod support unit 32. The bone treatment assistance device 1 includes cutting slits 131 and 132, and first guide holes 15 (protrusions 151 to 156) that guides first rods set to a predetermined positional relation. The second support member 33 of the attaching position confirmation device 3 is attached to the protrusion 152 of the bone treatment assistance device 1.