Radiolucent Drill Jig for Blocking Screw Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for placing blocking screws during intramedullary nail procedures lack accurate guidance and verification, often requiring additional personnel and interfering with X-ray imaging, leading to inefficiencies and potential errors in fracture alignment and stabilization.

Innovation Solution

A radiolucent instrument with an adjustable and rotatable frame and mounting portion for precise placement of blocking screws, allowing verification before insertion and aiding single-surgeon alignment of fracture fragments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a metal jig is used for blocking screw insertion, then the surgeon has guidance for placement, but the jig interferes with X-rays and image enhancers preventing verification of blocking screw placement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblocking screw placement accuracyVSAvoidX-ray interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument changes its material parameter from metal to radiolucent material, allowing X-rays and image enhancers to pass through without interference while maintaining the structural integrity needed for guiding blocking screw placement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The instrument uses composite or radiolucent materials that combine the mechanical properties needed for guidance with the radiological transparency required for imaging verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If a free-hand technique is used for blocking screw insertion, then the procedure is simple, but the surgeon lacks effective guidance leading to placement errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedure simplicityVSAvoidblocking screw placement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The radiolucent instrument serves as an intermediary guide between the surgeon's hand and the bone, providing mechanical guidance for accurate blocking screw placement while allowing full visibility for verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If additional personnel are used to position fracture fragments, then proper alignment is achieved, but operating room efficiency decreases and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture fragment alignmentVSAvoidoperating room efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument enables the surgeon to independently align and position fracture fragments using the instrument's built-in alignment features, eliminating the need for additional personnel to assist with positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If blocking screws are placed without verification, then the procedure is faster, but placement errors occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedure speedVSAvoidplacement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument allows verification of blocking screw placement through radiolucent imaging before final insertion, enabling the surgeon to correct any positioning issues in advance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9301767B2Instrument for fracture fragment alignment and stabilization

Publication Date: 2016.04.05 SMITH & NEPHEW INC

AI summary

An instrument for locating an axis of a blocking screw is disclosed. The instrument is applicable for a retrograde installation of a femoral intramedullary device or an antegrade installation of a tibial intramedullary device. The instrument includes a drill jig with a radiolucent frame portion and a mounting portion. The mounting portion is adapted to connect to an intramedullary device, and the frame portion has at least one aperture for locating the axis of the blocking screw. The drill jig is adjustable to locate the aperture in a longitudinal or rotational direction relative to the intramedullary device.