Adjustable Pectus Bar Bridge Assembly for Faster Rib Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pectus bar hardware solutions for correcting pectus carinatum and pectus excavatum are cumbersome, time-consuming to install, and limit adjustability, making it difficult to secure to a patient's ribs effectively.
Innovation Solution
A pectus bar assembly that includes a first and second pectus bar, brackets, and a bridge that allows for independent translation and adjustment of the bars relative to each other, facilitating easy installation and adjustment during surgical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pectus bar hardware solutions are used, then the bars can be secured to the rib cage, but the installation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into modular components including the pectus bar, stabilizers, and connection hardware that can be independently positioned and secured. This segmentation allows for simplified installation where each component can be attached separately rather than as a single complex assembly, reducing installation time while maintaining securing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizers are designed with adjustable positioning capabilities along the pectus bar, allowing dynamic adaptation to different rib configurations. This adjustability enables quick positioning without requiring complex pre-planning or multiple trial placements, thereby reducing installation time while ensuring reliable securing to the ribs.
2Reliability
If traditional pectus bar hardware solutions are used, then the bars can be secured to the rib cage, but the adjustability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizers incorporate adjustable mechanisms that allow them to be positioned at multiple locations along the pectus bar and angled to match specific rib orientations. This dynamic adjustability provides versatility in adapting to different patient anatomies while maintaining secure attachment, directly addressing the limited adjustability of traditional solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows for adjustment of multiple parameters including the position of stabilizers along the bar, the angle of stabilizer attachment to ribs, and the spacing between multiple pectus bars. These parameter changes enable customization for each patient's specific anatomy while maintaining effective securing, overcoming the fixed-parameter limitations of traditional hardware.
3Reliability
If traditional pectus bar hardware solutions are used, then the bars can be secured to the rib cage, but the procedure becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the hardware system into separate modular components (pectus bars, stabilizers, connection elements), the installation procedure becomes less cumbersome as each component can be independently manipulated and positioned. This modularity simplifies the overall procedure compared to handling a single complex integrated assembly, while maintaining effective securing through the combined action of all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizers are designed to self-align with the ribs through their adjustable positioning mechanisms, reducing the need for complex alignment procedures or multiple adjustment steps. This self-aligning capability simplifies the installation process, making it less cumbersome while ensuring reliable attachment to the correct rib positions.
4Reliability
If traditional pectus bar hardware solutions are used, then the bars can be secured to the rib cage, but interference with ribs occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable positioning of stabilizers along the pectus bar allows optimization of the attachment geometry to minimize interference with adjacent ribs. By changing parameters such as stabilizer location, angle, and spacing, the device can be configured to secure effectively while clearing rib structures, eliminating the harmful interference effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizers are designed to engage specifically with target ribs at optimized locations, providing localized securing that avoids interference with non-target ribs. This selective engagement approach ensures that securing effectiveness is achieved at specific interaction points while minimizing harmful effects on surrounding rib structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A pectus bar assembly can include a first pectus bar and a second pectus bar engageable with a sternum. The pectus bar assembly can also include a first bar link connectable to the first pectus bar and translatable along the first pectus bar and can include a second bar link connectable to the second pectus bar and translatable along the second pectus bar. The pectus bar assembly can also include a bridge defining a longitudinal axis. The bridge can be connectable to the first bar link and the second bar link. The first bar link and the second bar link can be independently translatable along the bridge, and the first bar link and the second bar link can be independently rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bridge.