Quick-Release Guide Assembly for External Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drill guides for external fixation systems have limitations, including misalignment issues that lead to unstable connections, and are inconvenient for surgeons due to fixed handle positions and lack of flexibility in sterilization and handling.
Innovation Solution
A quick-release guide assembly with a spring-actuated locking pin mechanism allows for easy attachment and detachment of a handle, enabling flexible positioning and use with various elements like drills, taps, and pins, improving alignment and handling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed handle structure is used in the drill guide, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the adaptability and ease of operation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The drill guide is divided into separate modular components: a body with multiple holes and a handle with a connecting portion. The handle can be detached and reattached to different bodies, allowing the same handle to be used with various drill guides for different surgical applications. This segmentation enables versatility while keeping individual components relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is designed with a universal connecting portion that can interface with multiple different body configurations. The connecting portion includes a tip end portion that can fit within different bushing types, and the handle bar can accommodate various drill instruments. This universal design allows one handle to serve multiple functions across different surgical scenarios.
2Ease of operation
If a fixed handle position is used, then the manufacturing precision is simplified, but the ease of operation and adaptability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The handle connection transitions from a fixed static relationship to a dynamic reusable connection. The handle can be detached and reattached multiple times, allowing surgeons to reposition or replace handles as needed during different surgical procedures. This dynamic capability improves operational flexibility without requiring complex integrated designs.
3Reliability
If multiple specialized handles are provided for different applications, then the measurement precision and reliability are improved, but the loss of substance and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing multiple specialized handles for different drill guide applications, the invention uses a single universal handle design that can interface with various body configurations through the standardized connecting portion. This reduces the number of unique components needed in the sterilization box and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining reliability across different applications.
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
The quick-release mechanism enhances the stability and accuracy of external fixation systems by allowing flexible handling and alignment of surgical instruments, reducing the risk of misalignment and improving surgical efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Each bushing includes an open-ended slot, and a key on the outside of the tip end portion of the handle structure mates within the slot when the handle is fitted into one of the bushings. This overall structural relationship properly positions the handle structure relative to the drill guide and additionally prevents relative rotation.
Data Source
AI summary
A quick-release guide assembly for an external fixation system has a body with at least one hole and a handle portion with a handle bar. The device body comprises at least one extension having a first coupling portion. The handle comprises a complementary second coupling portion, wherein one coupling portion comprising a spring actuated locking pin, wherein an actuator knob is provided to release the locking pin. Therefore the coupling portion of the handle can be releasably attached to the guide body, enabling a quick change of device bodies having different oriented and arranged holes.