Osteotomy Opening Jack With Locking Hinge Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current osteotomy procedures lack the ability to provide adjustable opening jacks that can accommodate both sloped and non-sloped openings, and fail to prevent stress and macro fractures of the lateral bone cortex during knee osteotomies.
Innovation Solution
The development of an adjustable opening jack with a novel locking hinge mechanism and adjustable separation arms, allowing for broader application scopes, bone plate specificity, and variable bone size capability, which constrains movement in either the vertical plane or anterior-posterior slope trajectory, enabling either straight or sloped openings depending on the surgeon's preference and plate used.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed design opening jack is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate both sloped and non-sloped openings or various bone sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The opening jack incorporates a movable distal end that can be positioned at multiple locations along the longitudinal axis, and a rotatable upper body that can be oriented at different angles. This dynamic configuration allows the same device to accommodate both sloped and non-sloped openings, as well as various bone sizes, without requiring multiple fixed-design devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening jack is designed with universal applicability through its adjustable features: the distal end can engage different positions on the bone, the upper body can rotate to match different slope angles, and the separation arms can be adjusted for various opening widths. This multi-functional design allows a single device to perform multiple functions that would otherwise require several specialized tools.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a non-adjustable opening jack is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but it lacks bone plate specificity and variable bone size capability
Solution Approach 1:
The opening jack is divided into distinct functional segments: a lower body with a distal end for bone engagement, an upper body for rotational adjustment, and separation arms for width control. Each segment can be manufactured independently using standard machining processes, and then assembled through straightforward mechanical connections, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while enabling adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates adjustable parameters including the longitudinal position of the distal end, the rotational angle of the upper body, and the separation distance between the separation arms. These parameters can be modified during surgery to match specific bone plate requirements and variable bone sizes, providing customization without requiring custom-manufactured devices for each case.
3Ease of operation
If the opening jack allows free movement, then the operation is flexible, but stress and macro fractures of the lateral bone cortex may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The opening jack incorporates a lateral cortex protection feature that preemptively prevents harmful stresses before they can cause fractures. The protection mechanism is integrated into the device structure and activates automatically during the opening procedure, counteracting potential damaging forces on the lateral bone cortex before they can result in stress fractures or macro fractures.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening jack acts as an intermediary device between the surgical force applied to open the osteotomy and the lateral bone cortex. By incorporating protection features and controlled movement mechanisms, the device mediates the interaction, allowing necessary opening flexibility while filtering out harmful stress concentrations that would otherwise be transmitted directly to the vulnerable lateral cortex.
Data Source
AI summary
Adjustable opening jacks with designs that incorporate a novel locking hinge mechanism and adjustable separation arms to achieve broader scopes of application, bone plate specificity, and variable bone size capability during various osteotomy procedures. The locking hinge mechanism constrains the upper body from moving in either the vertical plane or anterior-posterior (AP) slope trajectory depending on the mode of application. The opening jack has a configuration that allows for a straight and/or sloped opening.