External Fixation Spinal Cord Impact Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spinal cord injury models for animals are limited by high costs, errors in physical quantity measurements, invasive fixation methods, and difficulty in achieving standardized damage, which complicates the assessment of treatment effects and nerve regeneration.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus using multiple sensors, including an acceleration sensor, load cell sensor, LED, and photo sensor, to accurately measure impact parameters and control the impactor's fall, eliminating the need for high-priced video systems and invasive fixation, while allowing for precise external fixation and motion control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a high-speed video camera system is used to measure impact velocity and displacement, then measurement capability is improved, but system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical/video-based measurement system with a mechanical sensor system. Acceleration sensors (piezoelectric or piezoresistive) are mounted on the impactor to directly measure acceleration during impact, eliminating the need for high-speed cameras and complex video analysis systems while achieving comparable or superior measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using expensive high-speed video cameras to capture and analyze impact dynamics, the patent uses affordable acceleration sensors that directly copy the physical quantity of interest (acceleration) during impact. This provides a cost-effective alternative that maintains measurement accuracy without requiring complex optical systems.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pedicle screws are used to fixate the guide member to the vertebral body, then fixation stability is improved, but risk of nerve or vascular injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guide member from the invasive pedicle screw fixation system and replaces it with an external fixate member that attaches to the vertebral body through non-invasive or less invasive means. This removes the guide member from the spinal canal environment, eliminating the risk of nerve or vascular injury while maintaining fixation stability through external attachment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate external fixate member that mediates between the need for stable fixation and the avoidance of invasive procedures. This external fixator serves as a mediator that provides stable attachment for the guide member without requiring penetration into the spinal canal, thus avoiding direct contact with nerves and blood vessels.
3Manufacturing precision
If the guide member is fixed inside the body using pedicle screws, then positioning accuracy is improved, but invasive procedures and associated risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by fixingating the guide member externally rather than internally. Instead of inserting screws into the vertebral body to achieve positioning accuracy, the external fixate member achieves comparable positioning accuracy through external attachment, thereby simplifying the surgical procedure and avoiding invasive fixation.
4Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are integrated into the impactor, then impact parameter measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensing functions into a single integrated sensor unit mounted on the impactor. The acceleration sensor (piezoelectric or piezoresistive) combines multiple measurement capabilities into one device, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying integration while maintaining comprehensive impact parameter measurement accuracy.
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
Enables accurate and cost-effective measurement of impact parameters, reduces the risk of nerve or vascular injury, and allows for clear distinction between treatment groups, facilitating standardized damage and improved assessment of spinal cord injury models.
Implementation Method 1
the impactor is provided with an acceleration sensor to calculate acceleration of the impactor, and velocity at moment of impact is calculated by integrating acceleration from the time of free-fall of the impactor to the moment of impact
Implementation Method 2
a load cell sensor connected to the tip
Implementation Method 3
an LED and a photo sensor to detect position of the impactor
Implementation Method 4
dropping an impactor in free fall to impact the spinal cord
Implementation Method 5
a weight with a defined mass dropped from a preset height
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an apparatus generating spinal cord contusive model of animals, including an external fixation member fixed outside a body of an experiment animal, an impactor configured to impart a spinal cord of the experiment animal, and an impactor guide member fixed to the external fixation member to guide a fall of the impactor, wherein the impactor is provided with an acceleration sensor.